“So, what do you think is going to happen with you and the Duke?” She asked.
Her aunt sighed. “Nothing. We are both too old for silly things like romance. That is for young people like you to indulge in. The Duke and I are simply going to enjoy each other's company here and go our respective ways after the party is over.”
Later that night, when Louise was settled in bed, she could not help but think about Callum, the kiss they shared, and how it made her feel. She was curious to know what his secret was, not because of the game but because she wanted to know him better. The secret hurt him deeply, and Louise could tell.
ChapterEight
Callum wandered into the breakfast room, tipsy and hungry from the previous night. The sight of several dishes on the table made his mouth water, and he quickly took one of the many vacant seats at the table. He was seated beside an old lady who had a rather smug look on her face.
It was when he had already taken the seat that he saw that he was sitting directly opposite Louise. Her eyes were trained on the food in the middle of the table, so Callum could tell she had spotted him earlier and was simply trying to avoid his gaze. After the incident during their game, he was not surprised that she was now avoiding him. Callum soon forgot about all these problems when breakfast started, and he delved in.
“Isn't it quite concerning that a lot of guests of the house have been leaving?” the smug old lady said to another old lady beside her.
“Well, I cannot blame those who are leaving. The party has been beyond boring and there is nothing exciting to do,” the other lady replied, “in fact, I heard that Lord Hetham and his family would also be leaving later today,” she said.
“We have been doing the same thing every single day. Eating breakfast, going into the garden, and then taking dinner. Nothing interesting has happened. If I wait till the end of today and nothing changes, I will have to leave myself,” the smug old lady said.
“Besides the engagement of the first day and the game that happened the next day, nothing interesting has happened. Pity to even call this a house party.”
Callum looked carefully at the empty seats and saw that more than a quarter of the guests were no longer at the party. He knew the number would only increase if nothing happened that would engage the attendees. Callum wished he could do something to make the party livelier as he would not want Louise to leave too soon. However, he was not the host, and he could not make decisions.
By this time, the breakfast was slowly ending, and people were beginning to leave one after the other. It was then that Callum saw Louise slipping out. While Callum was not done eating, he took after her and soon caught up to her in the drawing room.
“Lady Louise,” Callum called out.
Louise turned around, a smile on her face. “My Lord,” Louise said as she approached him.
Knowing that people were watching them, Callum chose his words carefully. “Would you care to sit with me, Lady Louise?” he asked.
“Of course, My Lord,” Louise replied.
Callum led her to a corner of the drawing room where they could talk without anyone hearing them. He waited until those whose eyes had been trailing them looked away before he began to talk to Louise.
“Why have you been avoiding me?” Callum asked.
Louise sighed. “I realized that I had been burdening you with my presence for far too long.”
“What are you talking about?” Callum asked, “Of course, I do not mind being around you at all times.”
“Is that so?” Louise asked, raising her eyebrows, “The events of the other night did not quite show that.”
“What night?” Callum asked, even though he knew what she was talking about.
Louise rolled her eyes. “Do not pretend to not understand what I am talking about.”
“Fine! I was just a little flustered,” he said.
“Is that so? You were so flustered that you were prepared to leave me all alone in a room that you invited me to in the first place,” Louise said angrily.
“And for that, I apologize,” Callum said, “I should have handled that better. You were being indiscreet, planting yourself in front of me like that.”
“Are you now ready to tell me that secret that is so important that you would leave before telling me?” Louise said.
Callum did not want to tell her, but for fear of upsetting her, he did not tell her that.
“I suppose I should apologize for pushing you so,” Louise said.
While Callum was thrilled that Louise had apologized, he did not wish to talk about the subject any further. Therefore, he changed the subject. “Look over there,” Callum said, pointing at the other end of the drawing room at his grandfather and Louise's aunt.
