Page 69 of A Marquess to Save Her
Callum was just about to say his pleasantries to a few friends when he was accosted on the way by the last person he wished to speak to.
"My Lord," Catherine said, smiling brightly at him.
"Lady Catherine," Callum replied, still walking toward his friends in hopes that she would leave him alone. Catherine, however, did not seem deterred as she continued to walk with him.
"I was hoping that you could point me to the wine," she said.
Seeing that Catherine was bent on talking to him, he gave in.
"The footmen should serve you the wine," Callum replied.
"Yet they have not," she replied, "do you suppose you could instruct a footman to serve me a glass of wine?"
Callum was taken aback. "Uh…I…"
"Since the ball party is yours and the footmen would be more likely to listen to you as you are their master," Catherine continued.
Callum sighed. He had no idea what game Catherine was trying to play, but he was determined to steer clear of her. He beckoned at a footman, instructed him to serve Catherine the glass of wine, and then waited to ensure that she was satisfied before he made to go.
"You can simply call on the footmen if there is anything that you need," Callum said to her.
"Why, thank you, My Lord," Catherine replied.
Callum suddenly began to hear a slight murmur and commotion at the entrance of the ballroom. Instinctively, he looked to see what the cause of the commotion was.
It was then that he saw Louise, looking even more radiant than he could remember, flanked by her mother and aunt as she entered the ballroom. Callum's heart thudded as he stared at her. She was dressed in a yellow dress and let her hair fall in layers on her back and shoulders. Her radiant smile lit up her entire face and gave her a magnetic aura that seemed to pull everyone in the room. Most of the people in the ballroom turned to gape at her and it was quite obvious that her beauty was simply captivating.
"You know, the house party is over, so you do not have to pretend to like her now, My Lord," Catherine said scathingly.
"What?" Callum glanced at an obviously angry Catherine.
Catherine glared at him with a deep frown on her face.
"What are you talking about, Lady Catherine?" Callum asked yet again.
Catherine huffed. "I suppose you could continue to pretend then," she said, before storming off.
Callum stared at Catherine's retreating figure as he wondered where the outburst came from. Granted, just like a lot of the other maidens, Callum knew that saw him as a potential suitor. Yet, her behavior at this party seemed different, more desperate maybe.
He, however, did not dwell on Catherine's weird behavior for long because at the moment bachelors were beginning to flock around Louise.
Callum tried to catch her eye, but she did not seem to notice his presence at all as she laughed at the jokes of the bachelors around her. He felt bile rise in his throat as he watched the woman he cared deeply for get serenaded with attention from numerous bachelors. What made it worse was that she seemed to enjoy it.
Callum clenched his fist tightly as he watched. Of course, he knew that it was selfish of him to not want Louise to be courted by another man. After all, she was a maiden who was supposed to enjoy the attention of suitors until one of them decided to propose an engagement to her.
He felt his heart thud yet again at the thought of another man proposing an engagement to Louise as he knew that there was no hope of them ever getting together if that were to happen. The bachelors were beginning to sign Louise's card and from the number of bachelors that surrounded her, Callum knew that her card would be long full before he could even get to her. Callum turned away from her, defeated.
He had been looking forward to dancing with her tonight and yet, it did not seem like he would ever have a chance to do that, what with the throng of bachelors that followed Callum wherever he went.
"Excuse me," a familiar voice, and Callum turned back.
It was Felington and he was wading through the throng of men to get through to Louise. Since Felington was a respected young man in theton, most of the bachelors made way for him.
"What does he want with her?" Callum muttered to himself as he watched.
Callum could remember quite well how Felington had treated Louise during his house party where he was supposed to announce his engagement to her and the disdain that she suffered afterward. And yet, here he was, approaching her with a confident smile on his face as though he was certain that she would grant him audience.
Louise's face was tied up in a knot when she saw Felington but she soon plastered a bright smile on. Having spent enough time around Louise, Callum could tell that that smile was fake. It was expected especially after all that Felington had put her through in the past few weeks.
