Page 39 of A Marquess to Save Her
“Protect you?” Callum repeated, confused.
“I will be joining the hunting party today,” she said.
“Is that so?” Callum asked, turning to his friend.
Felington shrugged. “Lady Catherine told me that she would love to join the hunting party, and I cannot possibly say no to her, especially as she is my fiancée's best friend.”
Callum grimaced as he pulled Felington to the side.
“Why is she joining us?” Callum asked.
“She said she would love to come,” Felington said simply.
“You know it is not customary for ladies to join hunting parties as they can be dangerous...even for a man,” Callum said.
“Well, like she said. You will be there to protect her,” Felington said, amused.
“I do not remember agreeing to protect anyone,” Callum replied.
“Lady Catherine told me she is here for the hunting, but Emily told me that she is really here to catch your eye, especially away from other ladies who may consume your time,” Felington said.
“What?” This rather amused Callum, “I do not remember ever showing interest in her.”
Felington shrugged. “You are an eligible bachelor, and the season is slowly ending. Of course, ladies would go to extra lengths to ensure that you take notice of them.”
“Well, I am not interested in taking notice of anyone, especially Lady Catherine,” Callum said.
Felington looked taken aback. “When did this rake decide that he has had enough of women's attention?”
“I just do not like the thought of a lady trying to trap me into being with her just because she is desperate for a match,” Callum said.
“Fair enough. But you could still enjoy her company even if you do not wish to take things further,” Felington said.
“Enjoy her company? I would rather not,” Callum said, grimacing.
“What has happened to you, Langton?” Felington asked, “The Marquess that I used to know would have jumped at this chance of spending time around a lady.”
“Nothing,” Callum shrugged, “I am still the man that you used to know.”
“Oh, could it be that you are so enamored with Lady Louise that you no longer wish to spend time around other women?”
Callum's heart skipped a beat when Felington said that. “What...what are you s–”
Felington patted Callum's back in a friendly manner. “You do not have to look so scandalized, Callum. I know that you are incapable of being enamored by anyone for long,” Felington said, “I am simply jesting.”
As Callum and his friend went back to their horses to finish their preparation for the trip, Callum could not get Felington's words out of his head.
What if Felington was right, and I am beginning to get enamored by Louise?Callum shook the thought away. Ever since he set his eyes on Louise in that dark room, he had found her attractive. However, he also knew that he could never pursue anything with her. Louise was too innocent, too pure for him to simply take her as one of the many women he had had relationships with. And yet, he was set in his ways never to get married, not after what had happened to him.
Despite all these, Callum could not deny that he was becoming increasingly attracted to Louise as the days went by. When they had danced at the ball the previous night, it had taken all the self-control he had for him not to claim her mouth right there and then. The feel of her lips from when they kissed still lingered with him, and he still found himself yearning for her body against him.
When Callum finally got astride his horse, Catherine waved at him from her carriage. Callum smiled in return. With that, the gentlemen rode into the woods while the few ladies that joined them rode in the carriages on the pathway. Soon enough, they were in the thick of the forest, and Callum was assigned his own foxhound.
“My Lord!” Callum heard behind him as he prepared to start hunting. He groaned in frustration because he could already recognize the voice. Callum turned around, and there was Catherine, smiling at him.
“I just wanted to wish you luck on today's hunt,” she said.
Callum nodded. “Thank you very much, Lady Catherine.”
