Page 7 of A Marquess to Save Her
“Leaving so soon?” the man asked.
“When did you get so close to me?” she said startled.
“I apologize, my lady. I did not mean to startle you so…” he said, in a surprisingly gentle voice that made Louise almost let down her guard.
Louise sighed. “Indeed.”
“And I apologize for my unruly words,” he said.
Louise was not quite sure that she could trust him but she let out a heavy sigh. “It is all right. Your words cannot possibly hurt me more than what already happened to me today,” she said.
“What is wrong?” the man asked, “I heard you crying when you had just entered the room.”
Louise sighed as she turned to face the man. This time, she could see his face clearly since he was so close to her. His face looked familiar somehow, but she could not quite place where she had seen him before. Louise was surprised to see that he had a rather pleasant face that she would have, in fact, found attractive if she was not so upset. “Besides the humiliation and embarrassment that I faced today? Nothing,” she said, smiling bitterly.
The man looked genuinely concerned. “Who dared treat such a beautiful lady like that? Anyone who did these things to you is a fool,” he said.
“Be careful what you say since we are in the house of the man that had just humiliated me,” she said.
The man gasped. “You mean Lord Felington was the one that humiliated you? But…how?”
“Well, he was supposed to announce his engagement to me today. He had told me to expect to hear from him soon about our engagement, but instead, he announced that he was getting engaged to another woman, humiliating me in the presence of everyone in theton.”
He gasped as he peered closely at her. “You are Lady Louise,” he said, “I knew I knew your face. You were meant to be betrothed to Felington.”
“Yes, that is what I just told you. Yes, I am the infamous Lady Louise. My humiliation clearly precedes me,” she sniffed.
“I wonder why Felington would do something as horrible as that,” he asked.
Louise shrugged. “He clearly preferred someone else or changed his mind at the last moment. I just do not understand why he decided to humiliate me instead of telling me the truth,” she said.
“Even though I am Felington's friend, I cannot support this imprudent action of his. He is a fool for making a pretty lady as you feel such shame. If only he knew what he had just lost.”
It was then that it hit Louise. The man that she was in a dark room with was no other than Lord Felington’s infamous friend; the notorious rake, the Marquess of Langton. Every one of thetonknew him by reputation and he was especially popular among the ladies.
“Lady Louise, do not be so upset,” he said taking a step closer to her. He leaned in toward her, easily towering over her.
It was then that Louise realized what the rake was trying to do. She took several steps back, determined to put as much space as possible between them. “Are you attempting to seduce me?” she asked, shocked.
Callum shrugged, “What do you think? You are a beautiful woman, and I certainly would be foolish if I didn’t find you attractive. I say we shut out the world and find pleasure in the arms of each other.”
Louise could not believe her ears. She had thought that the day could not get any worse but meeting and interacting with Callum had just made things worse.
“And you truly believe that I would soil myself by kissing you,” she said, “it is bad enough that I am in a room alone with you. Anyone that sees us together in this room would think the worst and my reputation would be ruined forever. Now, you want me to kiss you so that I would be ruined more than I already am.”
Callum shook his head. “Not quite. I was left without entertainment when you came in here. You are sad and you need your spirits lifted. I have been told by more than one lady that I have the magic touch that can lift anyone’s mood,” he said earnestly.
“Magic touch?” Louise asked.
“May I show you?” he asked.
Despite her better judgment, Louise nodded, “Ce…certainly.”
Callum moved closer to her, and Louise held her breath for a moment, a little terrified but also intrigued. Her eyes flitted to his lips and for a moment, she could not shake off the feeling that he was about to kiss her. Callum leaned closer and then did the most unexpected thing. He put his thumbs on either side of her face, just beside her lips, and pulled up so that her lips turned upward into a smile.
“What?” Louise was so amused by the gesture that she burst out laughing.
“It worked, didn’t it?” Callum said.
