Callum could not pull his eyes away from the exchange between Louise and Felington and he had to watch as Louise laughed at Felington's joke. He eventually signed her card and made her laugh yet again before he left, and the other bachelors contained to vie to sign her card.
Seeing as there was no opening for him to sign Louise's card, Callum went in search of a glass of wine. He had just downed the contents of the cup when he spotted Louise also getting a glass of wine and she was alone.
Seeing this as an opportunity, Callum quickly approached her. "I see your entourage is not here," Callum said.
Louise smiled. "I was able to shake them off for a moment by telling them I needed to get something at the other end of the hall," she said, looking exhausted.
"Well, I hope your card is not full then because I wish to dance with you tonight," he said.
“It would be full if I had let every bachelor who indicated interest sign my card. I only allowed the serious ones who I know would make a suitable suitor and who are ready to get married," she said.
Callum's face fell. Of course, he did not fall into any of those categories. "I suppose I did not make the cut then," he said.
"Why would you say that?" Louise asked, "Even if I had one space left in my card, I would have rather have you sign it than anyone else."
This made Callum happy.
"Well, why don't you get to signing my card?" She said, looking at a spot behind him, "It seems my 'entourage' may have found me yet again."
Callum chuckled as he signed her card right before the throng of bachelors surrounded Louise yet again. While he had a million things to tell Louise, he knew he could not find a moment alone with her until they were dancing. Callum got his glass refilled and he walked around, a spring in his step. Having signed Louise's card, he felt so much better and definitely happier. His happiness was, however, short-lived when he ran into Felington.
"Callum," Felington said, clapping him on the back in a friendly manner.
"I see you made it here," Callum said, "I am glad you attended the ball."
"You know I would not miss the Duke's engagement for anything," Felington replied, "even if the whole of London hates me at the moment."
Callum laughed. "I am certain most people have forgotten all about that scandalous event," Callum lied. If the looks that Felington was getting were anything to go by, Callum knew that they had, in fact, not forgotten. However, it was his duty to make his friend feel at home and comfortable.
"Moreover, I am certain the Duke would hold a grudge against me forever if I were to miss his engagement with his fiancée," Felington said.
"You are certainly right about that," Callum said, "my grandfather is absolutely smitten by his fiancée, and he would absolutely see it as a personal affront if anyone did not celebrate with him, myself inclusive."
"I can tell that you and your grandfather have had a couple of brawls over this," Felington said.
Callum chuckled, nodding. "Certainly. I tried to convince him that a small and quiet engagement and wedding would be perfect but he would not have any of that. In fact, he considered the statement an affront to his affection."
"Ha," Felington said, "how exciting it must be to be old and fall in love with the woman of one's dreams."
Callum nodded. "I suppose it must be exciting for him." He frowned and then groaned inwardly when he noticed Catherine approaching them.
"Lord Felington," Catherine said, "Lord Langton."
Felington replied to her greeting enthusiastically while Callum wondered what she wanted from him yet again.
"It is a beautiful evening, isn't it?" She said as she made a show of fanning herself with her dance card.
"Indeed, it is," Callum replied.
"The dance will soon commence and I still have a couple of slots in my card," she said to no one in particular, as she held her card gingerly so that it faced Callum.
Callum, however, knew that Catherine's lamentations were directed at him.
"Is that so?" He said, impassively, hoping that Catherine would take his lack of interest and leave him be.
"Callum, how many dance cards have you signed tonight?" Felington asked.
"I suppose one, or two," he said.
