Page 70 of Empowered By the Earl (Second Sons of London 3)

Chapter Twenty-One

Owen returned tohis room after his confrontation with Louisa.

It did not go as planned.

He had merely wanted to find time to have a decent conversation with her, one where he would admit how utterly foolish he had been. Instead, she had rebuffed him firmly and trounced off to go pick flowers with Hurley. He had considered chasing her down and decided her temper would flare and they might cause a scene.

Instead, he licked his wounds in solitude.

He thought back to their brief time in the corridor together. Louisa had been curt. Not wanting to be touched. She had escaped before he could even get out of her a time they could convene. Then it hit him.

She was brusque and fled because she was hurting. He had been the one to cause that hurt. If she truly was as indifferent to him as she claimed to be, she would have stood her ground and heard him out. Spurned his offer. Then continued on her merry way to her appointment with Lord Hurley.

He smiled. Louisa was far from uninterested and detached. It was because she still cared for him that she reacted in such a gruff manner. Owen decided that life with Louisa would never be dull.

He collapsed in a chair, contemplating his next move. Instead, he kept thinking about Louisa. What it would be like to make love to her. How it would feel to enter a ballroom, with her by his side as his countess. What she would look like as her belly swelled with his child inside her.

Suddenly, he longed for those children. He had never been around any child before Analise, and she was still a babe. Yet he knew instinctively that Louisa would be an excellent mother. He wanted to be a good father. Not a distant, disapproving one as his own father had been. Louisa had said she wanted a man who would spend time with their children.

Owen wanted to be that kind of man for her. In fact, he wanted to be the best husband he could be to her. He had thought he could not be faithful to one woman. That he would become bored and restless. Now, he understood more of what Ev and Spence had. Women who were equals to them. Wives who were fascinating and loyal. More than anything, Owen wanted to please Louisa. And that meant being faithful to her and the vows they would take. He understood now that no woman would ever hold the appeal for him that Louisa Goulding did. Who needed a mistress when he had a woman like Louisa in his bed for all the years to come?

Rising, he decided to head to the gardens. Knowing the little minx, she would most likely kiss Hurley. Owen was absolutely certain she had already kissed Boxling. He was going to put an end to her flirtations. The only man that would ever kiss her again would be him. He wanted to brand her as his. Let the world know how things stood between them.

As soon as he cleared up the tiny misunderstanding that now lay silently in the middle, forcing them apart. Oh, he knew it was of his own making. He would have to eat a huge slice of humble pie. But in the end, it would be worth it. He would have Louisa. Satisfaction filled him at the thought and he grinned like a fool.

His hand came to rest on the doorknob, a frightening thought occurring to him.

Was he in love with Louisa?

Owen shuddered. Then he took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Would it actually be so bad to love her? He’d witnessed how utterly happy Ev and Spence were in their marriages. While he had teased both men unmercifully, calling them whipped dogs, he saw that they were filled with joy. Both men enjoyed spending time in their wives’ company more than anything on earth. Did he feel the same way about Louisa?

Even if he didn’t, he liked her a great deal. He couldn’t wait to have her in his bed so that he could totally make her his. If love came, then so be it. He would be prepared to be bewitched.

Leaving his room, he moved along the corridor and down the staircase, going out the front doors and heading toward the gardens. At first, he thought of what he might say. What excuse he could give for being there at the same time they were. Then Owen decided he didn’t need to give any excuses. He was a guest at Cliffside and free to walk the grounds whenever he saw fit.

He only hoped he arrived before Louisa kissed Hurley. He didn’t know if he could stand to see that occur.

Owen entered the gardens, moving quickly through them. About halfway along the path, he heard voices and slowed. Remembering a bench sat there, he believed Louisa and Hurley had paused from their jaunt. Apprehension flooded him. Louisa was already as mad as a wet hen at him. What if he interrupted this interlude? Would it totally be a death knell?

Deciding he couldn’t chance it, he moved quietly and then left the path, moving far to the right and then circling around. Sure enough, he spied the pair on a bench.

And they were kissing, just as he suspected they would be.

Except all wasn’t perfect in paradise. Louisa shoved at Hurley, bringing a smug feeling to Owen. She shot to her feet and though he couldn’t make out what they said to one another, her tone was evident.

Louisa Goulding was not pleased—and she was letting Viscount Hurley know.

Suddenly, Hurley was kissing her again, forcefully, and Louisa was squirming like a fish on a hook trying to get away. Owen would have to take action. He would enjoy taking Hurley apart, piece by piece.

Then his darling hauled off and kneed the man so hard that even Owen sucked in a quick breath. Hurley made a strangled noise and collapsed onto the bench.

Louisa glared down at him like an avenging goddess. Owen didn’t know what she said. He only knew how very proud he was of her.

It sounded like the viscount cursed at her as she took off, basket in hand, flowers inside. A few spilled from it as she hurried away.

He wanted to kiss the life out of her for being so brave and strong, standing up to this bully. It was definitely something he would do later.

Now, he would confront Hurley.

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