Page 28 of A Marquess to Save Her
“He is reading to her?” Louise said, smiling, “That is such a sweet gesture.”
“And he has been doing this every day since the party started,” Callum said.
“Is that so?” Louise asked, “I have not noticed.”
“He usually does it after breakfast when everyone else is taking a walk in the garden,” Callum said.
“Your grandfather is very kind,” Louise said.
“You can see where I got my charm from,” Callum said, and Louise laughed.
“Indeed. You are just not much of a gentleman as he is,” Louise said.
“You are right. But my grandfather is not the warmest or the kindest person either. In fact, this is the first time I would be seeing him do these things. The Duke is usually a very stiff man who is rather set in his ways,” Callum said.
“Is that so?” Louise was surprised to hear this, “I never would have known.”
“I suppose love has the power to change people,” Callum said.
“Love?” Louise asked.
“Can you not see?” Callum said to her, “Everyone can see that my grandfather and your aunt are falling deeply in love with each other.”
Louise smiled longingly as she looked at them. “You know, this is the life that I imagined I would live when I am much older,” Louise said.
“What sort of life?” Callum asked.
“Simply doing mundane things with my husband who I am in love with and who is in love with me in return,” Louise said, “this is the kind of life that I have always dreamed of.”
“That sounds beautiful,” Callum said.
“It is. Sadly, this is my second unsuccessful season and I would not be considered eligible for marriage much longer. Soon enough, I would become old,” Louise said, sighing sadly.
“Louise, do not give up hope,” Callum said, “you are still quite young. Moreover, I am certain that there are men who would go above and beyond just to marry you.”
“And after what Felington already did, do you think any of them would even spare me a glance now?” Louise asked.
“And this is why we made our plan, isn't it?” Callum asked, “Once everyone knows I am courting you, they would start swarming you like bees to honey.”
Louise sighed sadly. “Other ladies only have to exist and someone would come sweeping them off their feet. And yet, here I am, orchestrating plans just to get someone to marry me.”
“Louise, do not think like that,” Callum said, “without a doubt, you are the loveliest woman I have ever met, and the fact that Felington is too stupid to see that does not change that fact.”
Louise smiled. “You always know the right words to say,” she said, “I suppose that is why you are a rake.”
“Ouch!” Callum winced, placing a palm on his chest as though he had just been hurt.
It was at this moment that one of the servants came over to Callum. “My Lord, Lord Felington would like to have a word with you,” the servant said.
“I hate that I have to leave you now,” Callum said and Louise laughed.
“Go be with your friend,” she said.
“I will see you soon, Lady Louise,” Callum said loudly so people in the drawing room would hear.
“I cannot wait to speak with you again, My Lord,” Louise replied in a similar vein.
“You are spending an awful lot of time around Louise,” Felington said, as soon as Callum got to him in the foyer.
