Page 24 of A Marquess to Save Her
Louise gasped, clasping a palm over her mouth. “I cannot believe that you have defaced a property. You are a Marquess!”
“I was way younger then,” Callum said, “Felington and I had sneaked out at night to go into town. Felington dared me to throw tomatoes at a statute and I did. Of course, I was caught. My grandfather gave me an earful about shaming our family’s name and I was not allowed to leave home for a month. But, of course, I still sneaked out.”
“You have had quite the adventure,” Louise said, “I envy you.”
“I am certain you have adventures of your own,” Callum said.
“Not quite,” she responded, “being the only child of my parents and also a lady, I was always disciplined and they never let me out of their sight.”
“I was the only child too and when my parents died in a sea accident, my grandfather had to take care of me,” Callum said.
“Oh, I am so sorry,” Louise said to him.
Callum smiled. “I am fine,” he said, “I suppose I was given more freedom since I was a man.”
“I suppose so.”
“It is my turn now,” Callum said, “I have never pretended to be sick so as to abandon my duty,” he said.
“Well, when I was younger, I would often pretend to be sick in order to get away with not helping my aunt with her embroidery,” she said, “of course, she saw right through me but she could never get Mama to see that I was lying.”
“I have never been betrayed by someone I loved,” Louise said.
“Ah!” Callum said, shaking his head before drinking the wine. He smacked his lips after taking the drink, but Louise could still see that something had changed in him. His demeanor was different, and his eyes had grown dark. It was almost as if Callum was struggling with something internally.
“I never thought you were the type of person who would love someone deeply, even less of getting betrayed by them,” Louise said.
Callum chuckled. “I suppose you don't really know me as much as you think you do.”
“I never thought I knew you,” Louise said. “I just cannot quite wrap my head around the fact that you were once in love. Do you want to tell me about it?” Louise asked. Callum reached for the wine glass, staring at its content for a while. “Take all the time that you need. I totally understand that it might be hard for you,” Louise said.
“It is fine,” he said, “I have stuffed it in the darkest part of my brain and it would take time for me to dig it out.”
“I am terribly sorry, Callum,” Louise said.
Callum laughed. “Oh, come on. I was simply jesting.”
However, Louise could tell that he was not jesting. The pain in his eyes could not be fabricated.
“I was much younger then and I foolishly believed myself in love. I believed in the fairy tale…” The next words caught in his throat, and he shook his head. This time, he did not bother hiding the hurt in his voice and face.
“I suppose you could decide not to,” she replied.
“You are right. I just do not like to be open with my emotions, especially with people that I do not particularly know,” Callum said.
Louise blinked in shock. She could not believe that Callum had just said that he did not particularly know her.
“People you do not particularly know?” Louise asked, “Yet, I have told you every little thing about myself.”
“Louise, I do not mean it that way,” Callum said, “I just meant that I am not comfortable talking about my experiences. Or heartbreaks.”
“And I suppose I am the foolish one for telling you all about myself,” Louise replied, her anger now getting the best of her.
“I did not mean it that way,” Callum said, “I just...” He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “You are just being impossible,” he said, “I would rather excuse myself since you have proved to be difficult,”' Callum said, rising to his feet and approaching the door.
Annoyed at Callum's stubbornness, Louise also jumped to her feet, planting herself directly before him. She opened her arms in a bid to stop him from leaving. “You cannot possibly invite me here and then try to leave me all alone,” she said stubbornly.
Callum sighed. “You should not stand in a man's way like this,” he said.
