“Why are you being so modest? I am talking about when you got that mad Lady Louise away from me when I was with my fiancée,” Felington said. “The woman has clearly lost her mind over me…”
“Oh!” Callum remarked. He was surprised that Felington had thought that he had steered Louise away because of him. “Why do you believe I did that because of you?” he asked.
Felington chuckled. “When I suggested that you keep her company so she would not ruin my happy moments, you refused. I am happy that you have come around,” Felington said.
Callum shook his head. He could not believe that Felington was so self-centered that he believed that everything that Callum did was because of him.
“Did Lady Louise talk about me when you steered her off?” Felington asked. “You can tell me. What did she say about me?” Felington persisted.
“As a matter of fact, she did not say anything about you. She was so happy with my company that she did not have the time to talk about you,” Callum said.
Felington’s face fell for a split second before it lit up again. “I know you are lying to protect her,” said Felington, “I can see you take your task as her…protectorpretty seriously. I know that I have an appeal to her but I just never knew why she is so desperate to have me.”
Callum scoffed. “Is that so?”
“Can’t you see? She hounds me and my fiancée everywhere we go. If that does not scream desperation, then I do not know what it is.”
“Have you tried talking to her and apologizing for your actions?” Callum asked.
“Apologizing?” Felington repeated, “I do not think I have offended her in any way.” Callum sighed, exasperated.Why did I think I could get him to see reason?
“Lady Louise is really so obsessed with me. It is unnerving,” Felington continued. His constant complaint was beginning to get on Callum’s nerves.
“Why do you keep talking about the Lady in such a manner?” Callum asked.
Felington shrugged. “Because she is just really desperate.”
Callum could not take it anymore at this point.
“From the little time that I have spent with her, I would say that she seems like a respectful lady,” Callum said.
Felington laughed. “If she were feeling so proper and respectful, why has she not gotten another man to court her by now?” he said, smugly.
“Well, she has a gentleman courting her already,” Callum said.
“Is that so?” Felington asked, looking rather unhappy at the news, “who is the gentleman?” Callum smiled.
“The man standing right in front of you. I have decided to court her myself. She is an incredible lady who would make a great wife for me…” Callum said, rather loudly so that the other gentlemen in the parlor would hear him.
Felington stared at Callum for a while before he burst into loud laughter. “You truly are a good friend for going through with our arrangement all the way, Langton,” Felington said, placing a hand on Callum's shoulder, “I could never be able to repay your good deeds even if I tried. I cannot believe that you have decided to take it even further by courting her.”
Callum frowned.Did he really think I am doing this for him?“You are…,” his voice trailed off. Callum was about to tell Felington that his courting Louise had nothing to do with him but he thought better of it. He did not want to tell Felington the true nature of his agreement with Louise especially as he did not trust his friend. Felington would probably tell everyone. Felington was rather awful and Callum would hate for him to ruin their plan and more importantly, Louise's reputation. So, instead of telling Felington the truth, Callum only smiled awkwardly.
“She is going to get heartbroken for the second time,” Felington said gleefully.
“Why do you seem happy by the thought that Lady Louise would be heartbroken for a second time?” Callum asked. Callum knew that Felington could be mischievous at times but his callousness toward Louise was quite extreme, even for Felington.
Felington shrugged. “At least, now you would be the one she would hound, not me. I do not want to ever have to deal with her again.”
Callum watched as his friend ranted on and on about Louise and he could not help but feel bad for the woman. He was not exactly sure why she seemed to bother him so much that he was ready to go out of his way to help her out but he was glad that he was doing it.
The fact that the poor lady had Felington wishing ill of her did not quite sit well with Callum so he was happy that Louise had him to keep her company. He could not help but feel for Louise's predicament and he wondered if it was because he had a similar experience in the past. Callum had been cheated on by the one woman he had truly loved and even now, he could not think about the incident without his heart hurting.
Callum was relieved to hear the gong finally announcing the meal was to be served. At least it would get him away from Felington who did not stop bragging about how he had broken Louise's heart and how she would never be able to get over him.
“She might go irrational and…”
Callum cut in. “The gong has been sounded for dinner. I will be going in now.”
