Callum led her away while he droned on and on about the weather.
“This is the best weather we have had all summer,” Callum said.
Louise stood at a spot, arms crossed. “What is it that you want? I believe you did not lead me away from the Earl only to talk about the weather.”
“Ouch!” he said, feigning hurt, “that is quite a harsh thing to say to a man that you shared a kiss with,” he said.
Louise frowned as the memory of the kiss they had shared crossed her mind again.
“I have no idea what you are talking about, Lord Langton” she insisted, “now tell me why you led me away from Lord Felington.”
“Lady Louise, I led you away from there in order to save you from yourself,” he said.
“Save me from myself?” she asked, confused.
“With the way you kept talking to Felington and his fiancée, I knew that it was only a matter of time before you let him push you into losing control and saying something stupid,” he said.
“You do not know me. I would never say anything stupid,” she insisted.
The Marquess chuckled. “Then you really do not know Felington. He had been goading you and was patiently waiting for you to lose control so that he could label you a mad woman forever. Then, no one would want anything to do with you anymore.”
Louise pursed her lips as she pondered over what the Marquess had just told her. “And how do you know that?” she asked.
“Felington has been my best friend all my life, Lady Louise,” he said, “and I dare say I know him more than anyone else. I have seen Felington do this to more people than one.”
“And why would you suddenly want to save me?” she asked.
“Because I cannot help but feel sorry for you, Lady Louise,” he said.
Louise was taken aback but she appreciated his honesty.
“I suppose I have to thank you then,” she said, as she resumed walking with him. “But I do not want your pity.”
“The best appreciation that you can show me is to stop being infatuated with a man that does not want you,” the Marquess said.
Infatuated?“What do you mean? I am not infatuated with him,” Louise said.
“Is that so? Because I heard that you were desperately in love with him and that is why you are so hurt when you were forsaken by him,” the Marquess said.
“The Earl is a liar,” Louise said angrily, “I never loved him, and I never told him that I did. I am simply upset at him because he gave me a false promise and humiliated me. Instead of telling me the truth, he led me on and cast me off in the presence of everyone. “Now, I have lost the one chance at saving my mother and aunt from being driven out of our home. What could be worse? My reputation is ruined and no one would ever want to have anything to do with me again,” Louise bemoaned her fate. There was a moment of silence between them for a while and Louise began to regret telling him about her family’s situation. Until the Marquess eventually spoke.
“All is not lost yet,” Callum said.
Louise scoffed. “I said the very same thing to my mother but if we are to be honest, what else could possibly be done to save me anymore?” she asked.
“If your reputation is restored, you would begin to gain your suitors again,” the Marquess said, “and if you get a suitor who decides to court you and marry you, then your family would be protected.”
Louise nodded. She was surprised at the preciseness of the Marquess’ reasoning. She never penned him for the type who would be bothered by another person’s problem.
“You are right. However, it is impossible to revive my reputation at this point. Everyone witnessed what happened. There is nothing that can be done to save me,” she said.
“Not quite. I can help save your reputation and perhaps even find you a husband as well,” Callum said.
Louise blinked, confused. “That is impossible,” she said.
“If I pretend to court you for as long as this house party continues, we could find you a good match,” he said.
“That could not possibly work,” Louise said, “would the bachelors not stay away from me if they find that you are courting me?”
