Page 64 of A Marquess to Save Her
Louise went back to bed and saw the newspaper that her aunt had earlier brought into her room. She picked it up and began to leaf through it, idly going through its contents. Most of the articles in the newspaper were boring legislative news that Louise did not exactly find interesting.
She was about to drop the newspaper when she came across the gossip column. The first heading caught her attention: “Lord Byron Disappears with Thousands of Pounds.” Quickly skimming through the article, she quickly saw that Lord Byron had scammed some lords of money under the guise of investment and had now disappeared with the money. Louise shook her head in surprise. If the first headline had surprised Louise, the second headline held her spellbound:“Lady Emily Elopes with Captain.”
Louise quickly went to the full story to read it through.
It may seem as though the most eligible bachelor of the season, Lord Felington has now been served a taste of his own poison as his fiancée, Lady Emily Filmore, left him for a captain she had been corresponding with just a fortnight after he announced their engagement at his house party.
Some would say that the former most eligible bachelor of the season has now been reduced to a spectacle after getting jilted for a mere captain, but we would say that Lord Felington may not be who seems to be, hence why the poor Lady Emily broke their engagement.
If Lord Felington is half as wise, he would quickly marry another maiden to cover his shame. The problem now is; what family would be willing to give their daughter out to such a man who has been jilted like that?
Even after she finished reading the article, Louise was still shocked. From the little she had seen of Felington and Emily at the house party, she could have sworn that they were head over heels in love with each other. The couple always spent time with each other and they would often gaze at each other with what seemed like love on their faces.Were they simply pretending?
Remembering how Felington had treated her at the house party, Louise knew she should be happy at the fate that had befallen Felington and how he had suddenly become an object of ridicule. And yet, Louise could not help but feel terribly sorry for him. Thetoncould be quite vicious and if the newspaper article was an indication, Louise could already tell that his name was already getting dragged in the mud.
Louise heard the sound of a carriage arriving and she ran to the window to see what it was. Seeing that it was her mother arriving from her morning visits, Louise quickly made her way downstairs and met her mother just when she was stepping into the house.
"Mother!" She called, "Did you see the newspaper?"
"No, Louise," her mother replied, "I did not see the newspaper but if you are talking about Felington, then certainly, I have heard about the scandal. The whole of London is abuzz with it."
"Isn't the news just devastating, Mama?" Louise said.
Her mother shrugged. "I suppose it is but I cannot find it within me to feel sorry for Lord Felington. Especially after what he had done to you."
"I suppose you are right but I just cannot help but pity him. Thetoncan be vicious," Louise said.
"All around London, they are calling him a fool for being engaged to a woman who was in love with someone else," her mother said, "it certainly is not his fault that he got jilted but I cannot feel sorry for him. After all, he did not bother to think about how vicious thetonwould be when he decided to humiliate you."
It was at this moment that Louise’s maid walked in.
“My Lady, you have visitors,” she said.
Louise’s eyes narrowed. “It is one of those bachelors, isn’t it?” she asked.
The maid nodded. “They have been waiting for a while.”
“Did you not tell them that I am under the weather?” she asked.
“They insisted on seeing you regardless,” the maid responded.
“I will be right in the drawing room.”
Louise sighed as the maid left, “You do not seem so happy by the fact that you have so many admirers,” her mother noted.
“I am, Mama,” Louise said quickly, lying. Of course, she was not impressed. The only man that she truly wanted to see was not among the throngs of men that were paying visits to her house daily.
“Then, get up to see your guests.”
Half-heartedly, Louise followed her mother out of her room.
They had just descended the staircase when they bumped into the Earl. Louise groaned inwardly. She always ensured to have as little interaction with the pot-bellied man as possible and the fact that he always had snarky remarks further solidified her decision.
“Lady Louise, when will your admirers ask for your hand in marriage? I would be more than relieved to have you out of the house as soon as possible,” he said, sneering down at her.
“Lord Scranton,” Louise’s mother said sternly before she could respond, “we will be out of the house by the Season’s end, as discussed.”
“I suppose a reminder would be good too,” he responded, chuckling.
