Page 75 of A Marquess to Save Her

Callum shrugged. "You have been dancing for quite some time. It is only natural that you be thirsty," he said.

"Thank you," Louise said, before sipping on the wine.

"Are you ready, the next set of dances is about to start," Callum asked.

"Absolutely!" Louise announced as Callum led her back to the dance floor.

When Callum took her in his arms and they began to dance, Louise felt a sense of peace. It was completely different from when she was dancing with Felington and with Callum, she did not have to feign her smiles and laughter.

And yet, as they danced, she could feel her body respond to his touch. The memory of their adventures at the house party came to her mind and she could not help but remember how Callum made her feel and the amount of pleasure that he gave her.

"I see you had fun dancing with Felington," Callum suddenly said.

"I could say the same about you and Catherine," Louise replied.

"Oh, my dance with Catherine was an absolute disaster," Callum said.

Then, Louise's eyes caught Catherine who was dancing just beside them and was glaring at them. "Do you think she heard you mention her name?" Louise asked Callum, who had now seen Catherine too.

"I doubt that since the music is so loud but yet, it is unnerving how she is glaring at us," Callum said.

"If it is any consolation, my dance with Felington is just as disastrous," Louise said.

"Is that so?" he asked, raising his eyebrow.

"Indeed. He claims that he was seduced by Emily," she said.

Callum chuckled. "You do not possibly believe that, do you?" He asked.

Louise shook her head. "I suppose he thinks I believed him, though," she responded, "and now, he wants to marry me if I would have him."

Callum did not respond and there was a moment of uncomfortable silence between them.

"You do not have anything to say?" Louise finally asked.

"I suppose you would be marrying Felington," he said, with a pained expression on his face, "there is nothing left to say."

For the second time that evening, Louise felt anger brew up inside of her. "Really? Is that all you have to say?" Louise asked.

"What do you wish for me to say?" Callum asked, "I know that the wise option is for you to marry him."

"You know what, I might just marry him," Louise said angrily, "I might just go ahead and marry Felington just to spite you." Several heads turned to stare at Louise and it was then that she realized that she had been speaking rather loudly.

"We seem to be calling too much attention to ourselves, don't you think?" Callum said.

Louise nodded as the anger fizzled out of her. "I suppose you are right. We cannot have a conversation freely here without someone hearing what we are saying," she said.

"I suppose we could find a place to speak privately then," Callum said.

"Is that so?" Louise asked.

"Once this dance is over, find a way to meet me in my study," he said, "then, we can talk as much as we want without anyone being any wiser."

"I will do that," she replied.

"Ensure that you do not follow me immediately after I leave," Callum said, "we do not want thetonspeculating about us...at least not yet."

The rest of the dance passed in a blur as Louise impatiently anticipated its end.