Page 25 of A Marquess to Save Her

Louise scoffed. “And why is that?”

Callum muttered something under his breath, and before Louise could figure out what was happening, he placed a hand on her hips and drew her to himself.

Louise gasped as his touch awakened something in her body. She was still trying to make sense of what had just happened when he leaned down toward her. She saw it coming and had ample chance to turn away from him. She, however, closed her eyes and welcomed…his mouth. She sighed in satisfaction when their lips touched. The soft kiss soon grew into a more feverous rhythm, with Louise standing on her tiptoes to match his rhythm. As they stood there, in the middle of the room, kissing as if their lives depended on it, nothing else mattered to Louise. Not the threat of the new heir, not her failed engagement, not the humiliation she had faced of theton, and most definitely not what could happen if anyone found her and Callum in this compromising situation.

Bang! Bang!!

Callum and Louise sprang apart at the loud knocking sound.

“Who could it be?” Louise asked, looking at Callum for some answer. He also looked as surprised as she was.

“I have no idea,” he whispered back.

“Does anyone know you are here?” She asked.

“No,” he replied.

“Are you sure about that?” Louise said, “This seems to be the usual place you bring women, so did you schedule a rendezvous with any of your women here tonight?”

“What are you trying to say?” Callum asked, his tone slightly raised above a whisper.

Louise folded her arms, turning away from Callum. She did not know why but the thought of Callum bringing other women to this place where they had had a fun time bothered her.

“Let us hope that the person goes away,” Louise said.

“Louise!” A voice that Louise immediately recognized as her aunt said at the door.

“Aunt Theodora!” Louise quietly gasped.How did she know that I am here?“It is my aunt,” Louise said to Callum.

He had a wicked smile on his face. “So much for you accusing me of inviting another woman here tonight,” Callum said.

Louise rolled her eyes. “You have to hide, my aunt cannot see very well,” she whispered to Callum.

“Perhaps she is not in there,” Aunt Theodora said at the open door, and Louise soon heard the footsteps of her aunt walking away.

Louise felt guilty about her aunt roaming around in search of her so she quickly went to the door, opening it once again.

“Aunt Theodora!” She called behind her aunt, who was walking away.

“Louise, what are you doing there?” She asked as she walked back toward Louise.

“I…I just wanted to get away from everyone. I wanted to be alone,” Louise said, hoping that Callum had hidden as she told him to.

“I understand, child,” Aunt Theodora said, placing a hand on her shoulder, “what you have gone through is not an easy ordeal.”

Seeing that her aunt was buying the lie, Louise played the part. She sighed. “I just cannot help but feel like everyone is judging me over what happened,” she said.

“Child, you only have to say the word, and we will leave,” Aunt Theodora said.

“I am stronger than you know, Aunt. It would take more than a few gossips to upset me,” Louise said.

Her aunt smiled. “You are just like your father; resilient and determined,” she said.

Louise smiled genuinely. “Thank you, Aunt.”

“But you need to go to bed, Louise,” Aunt Theodora said.

“I will,” she replied.