Her father wouldn’t yield on this. His anger toward the Cavanaghs ran too deep. “Oliver, back then, was the person who helped me return my family, Papa.”
“What?” Her father’s face went blank. “Did he tell you that? Lies!”
“No, it’s not a lie,” Louisa maintained her stance. “I remember him. In my memories, he was always too vague to recognize, but the moment he confessed, I recalled his face—but when he was young. That is not a lie.”
“And so what if he did help you? They should never have taken you in the first place! What about everything else that family has done to us?”
“And what of you, Papa? What have you done to that family? Oliver has only ever been kind to me and Leo when he probably has every reason to resent us because of this feud. I don’t care for it either. He is not the true enemy.”
“It doesn’t matter, I still forbid the match.”
“Igive my permission,” Louisa said sharply. Firmly.
“I give my permission, too.”
Louisa’s head swung to her brother, followed by her father’s deep scowl.
Leo.
She glanced back at her father, whose face was twisted with frustration, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. He was the head of the family, his word law, but it seemed he faltered when both his children stood against him, united in their rebellion.
“I won’t change my mind,” he bit out, but said nothing more.
Well, they were at an impasse, for she wouldn’t change her mind either.
Her gaze drifted back to Oliver.
Now all you need to do is wake up.
*
Oliver opened hiseyes to find himself in a soft bed surrounded by sweetness. What had happened? Camilla had fired a shot, her aim finding his arm. A flesh wound, he thought, nothing more. Then blackness had taken him. Damn it. Awareness of the chamber slowly settled in. His eyes shifted to where a soft hand held his.
“Louisa?” He grimaced at the gruffness of his voice.
“No, it’s Leo,” the youthful voice of Louisa’s brother came.
“Leo?” What happened to Louisa? Had she been hurt, too? No, then Leo would be her, not him.
“Do not look so disappointed,” the boy said, a hint of a pout in his tone. “Louisa is—”
“Here.” She suddenly breezed into the room, straight to him. The bed dipped as she settled onto the mattress. “You can go now, Leo.”
Leo let go of his hand, giving it a small pat, and spoke to his sister. “Father said since I have chosen to defy him, you and I should swap rooms and I must stand guard all night.”
“Then can you stand guard outside? I wish to discuss something with Oliver.”
“Very well,” Leo said reluctantly. “I shall return in a bit.”
Oliver’s eyes clung to Louisa, unwilling to lose sight of her, afraid if he blinked, she might disappear. There was no sign of her being injured, too. The tension in his body eased.
Her gaze returned to his with concern. “Does it hurt?”
Oliver took stock of his body. His arm stung, but other than that, he wasn’t any the worse for wear. “It’s bearable,” he muttered. “Were you worried?”
“I want to punch you for asking me that!” Her scowl brought him up short. “You had everyone worried. Even Mr. Helgate.”
Oliver furrowed his brow. He and Miles must not have left after all, and then come when they heard the shot. “Miles came as well?”
