The Marquess and the Runaway Lady by Samantha Hastings

Author:Samantha Hastings
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2022-11-24T17:15:42+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

Despite wearing another beautiful new gown of celestial blue with a matching silk slip, Louisa felt rather flat. Wick had arrived late to the Kensington ball and he had not asked her to dance. It was some solace, but not much, that he had not asked any other young lady to dance either. He was making it clear to the world—and to Louisa—that he hated these things and everything to do with the marriage mart.

She needed to stop hoping for him to change. For him to love her. Besides, she was not worthy of his love. The gentlemen who had asked her to dance seemed to be fonder of her fortune than of her face. It was just as Aunt Rockingham had warned her. Without her title and her money, Louisa was nothing.

Her partner Mr Snow bowed to her and took her hand to lead her to the crowded side of the ballroom, where Mantheria stood next to two young gentlemen. Louisa assumed that they would be her next partners. The young and beautiful Duchess had made sure that Louisa had a partner for every set.

A step away from Mantheria, Louisa felt someone grab her free arm and step on the hem of her gown. Louisa thought it might be Wick, but when she turned her head she saw that it was Cousin Barnabas. ‘Louisa, what are you doing here?’ he said, in a loud voice that caused several pairs of eyes to turn in their direction. ‘Mother has been looking everywhere for you.’

‘Let go of me!’ she said, twisting out of his grip and tearing the flounce on her gown.

Barnabas reached for her arm again—but this time Wick stood between them. ‘If you lay a finger on her I will knock you to the floor. Then beat you senseless.’

Her cousin blinked and his bulbous eyes focused on Wick’s muscular arms. Louisa knew that it was no idle threat and felt her own confidence rising. She was no longer friendless and helpless. All the Stringhams had accepted her into their pack, and Wick’s sisters would have fought for her as viciously as he did.

‘Louisa!’ Aunt Rockingham practically yelled from the other side of the dance floor and rushed towards her. The crowd parted to make way for her and all eyes fell on Louisa.

Her aunt tried to brush past Wick, but still he stood between them. ‘No, Lady Rockingham. You are not to touch her.’

‘She is my niece. I am her guardian.’

The once loud ballroom was now as silent as a church on a Thursday afternoon.

Louisa found her backbone and her tongue. ‘I am of age, Aunt Rockingham. You have no further hold on me.’

Aunt Rockingham clutched at the diamonds around her neck. ‘Is this how I am to be treated after taking care of you for over ten years? For loving and protecting you? I would not have thought you so ungrateful as to run away with a stranger. I have been so worried.’

There were several gasps. Louisa glanced around the room and saw that the dancing had stopped.

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