“Lady Louise would not do that,” Callum insisted.
The Duke huffed. “You saw how she acted when Felington jilted her, didn't you?”
“She was not– Louise is not like that,” Callum said.
“All women are like that,” the Duke said, “a woman would see it as a sign of disrespect if you court her without the intention of engaging and marrying her.”
“Are you saying then that you plan on marrying Lady Louise's aunt then?” Callum asked.
The Duke's voice softened. “What I will do is none of your business, boy. You have to stop whatever you are doing with the poor lady this minute.”
“My situation with Lady Louise is not like that. We both already have an agreement.”
“I do not wish to know what this arrangement is. All I want is for you to put an end to it. I will not have you besmirching the good name of this family.”
ChapterEleven
Louise turned heads the moment she stepped into the ballroom in the company of her mother and aunt. Ladies her age glared at her while the men stared with admiration. She had no sooner stepped into the ballroom when Callum approached her. Louise smiled when she saw him.
“Thank you for the flower. I love them,” she said to him.
Callum smiled back, “I am glad. Now, can I fill your dance card as I would love to have a dance or two with the loveliest lady at the ball tonight?”
Louise blushed. “You flatter me, surely.”
“Louise,” Callum said, in a low tone, “you have no idea how enamoring your beauty is.”
“I certainly must not let your sweet words get in my head lest I begin to think that I am too good for any man,” Louise said.
Callum laughed as he wrote his name on Louise's dance card twice. “I am certain your dance card would be filled up in no time,” Callum said.
“Oh, that is not true,” Louise replied.
Callum looked around. “Look over there,” he said, nodding toward a group of gentlemen watching Louise intently, “these gentlemen seem to be waiting to dance with you.”
Louise smiled. “Well, thank you. None of this would have happened if not for you.”
“Now, let me scurry away before I scare away the other gentlemen,” Callum said.
Callum had left Louise before another gentleman approached her, and Louise immediately recognized him as the Earl of Pembroke.
“Lady Louise,” he said, “I hope your card is not full yet because I would like to have a dance with you.”
Louise smiled. “Not at all, My Lord”
With that, he signed his name on her dance card.
One after the other, the gentlemen at the ball approached Louise, wanting to sign her dance card. Of course, Louise vetted the gentlemen thoroughly, and anyone she found to be beneath in station, she simply lied to them that her dance card was full.
“I apologize, Lord Redbrooke. My dance card is full,” she said to a red-faced Baron who walked off, looking rather disappointed.
Louise felt sorry for the man, but she knew it was important that she did this. Even though the house party was gradually ending, she knew she could still snag an eligible bachelor if she played her cards right. This is why she had to be picky about who she danced with. Soon enough, her dance card became full.
“Why, you seem to be popular with the gentlemen tonight,” her mother noted.
Louise simply smiled.That could be because I orchestrated a whole plan with Callum to make me look more desirable to the gentlemen.
“Lady Theodora,” the Duke said to Aunt Theodora, “may I sign your dance card?”
