entire summer before she’d seemed so young, and she still was, he reminded himself as she smiled at him. She was only fourteen, far too young to think of in any way except as a younger sister. It had been Emma who had told him the painful truth. She didn’t do it to be cruel. She told him because he asked and she wasn’t one to lie.
She’d told him Louise had gone to stay with some relation they had in London and the relation confirmed the duke had been paying Louise attention. To Emma it must have looked like Marcus’ heart was breaking because she’d naively tried to console him. He’d shrugged off her efforts and left. His heart was the furthest thing from breaking, it was hardening as fury pumped through him. They may not be married yet, but Louise had no business entertaining other gentlemen.
The following day Louise returned home and came to visit him at Ridge Water. She’d done her best to smooth over the rumors he’d heard and promised him it had only been coincidence she’d been seen with the duke and claimed she was looking forward to their wedding. Not many other choices open to him, he accepted her words and tried his best to keep her content. He soon learned keeping her content while being present was more difficult than it had been when he’d sent her letters and gifts through the post.
His last week at home before returning for his final term of school, Louise approached him, eager with the idea of eloping. He’d been apprehensive at the idea. He couldn’t return to school if he eloped with her. After explaining to her he couldn’t marry her until he was done with school in July, Louise employed tactics that could rival an experienced courtesan. Several times her bodice “accidentally” slipped down, causing her breast to conveniently fall out, and he’d kindly turn to look the other way while she righted her gown.
When she realized he wasn’t going to give into her ploys, her actions became more bold. She’d intentionally position herself so parts of her body touched his in ways she’d somehow known would make his body react. By midweek he was giving serious consideration to hauling her off to Gretna Green, but then he’d remember how close he was to finishing school and convince himself they could both wait. For goodness’ sake, they were both young enough to wait a few months―life wasn’t going anywhere without them.
On the final day before he was to return to school, Louise came to him while he was fishing by the stream that ran through the back of Ridge Water. She once again pleaded with him to whisk her off to Gretna Green, and after he explained his reasons for not, instead of trying to use seduction like he thought she might, she’d become angry and they quarreled.
By the time they finished arguing, she informed him she was off to London to see Hampton, claiming the duke was a better man than Marcus because he’d have already carried her off if she’d have asked him. Marcus’ first instinct was to let her go. She’d break their contract, not him. They’d both have a scandal on their hands, of course, but at least it wouldn’t be of his creating and his family wouldn’t take the brunt. But a few minutes later pride won and Marcus made the worst decision of his life. Yes, even worse than asking her to marry him in the first place.
Cursing himself for ever being ensnared by her in the first place, he threw down his fishing rod, and heedless to his current state of undress, which included his lack of shirt due to the tendency of the cuffs to get in the way, he ran to the stable to grab the first horse he could find. One of the scruffy grooms offered him a shirt. He refused. It would take him too long to put it on, and this would only take a minute. He just needed to catch up with her before she reached the main road. In his rush, Marcus saddled the horse himself. After a light nudge with his heels, the horse took off like a shot and Marcus found himself riding at a
She’d told him Louise had gone to stay with some relation they had in London and the relation confirmed the duke had been paying Louise attention. To Emma it must have looked like Marcus’ heart was breaking because she’d naively tried to console him. He’d shrugged off her efforts and left. His heart was the furthest thing from breaking, it was hardening as fury pumped through him. They may not be married yet, but Louise had no business entertaining other gentlemen.
The following day Louise returned home and came to visit him at Ridge Water. She’d done her best to smooth over the rumors he’d heard and promised him it had only been coincidence she’d been seen with the duke and claimed she was looking forward to their wedding. Not many other choices open to him, he accepted her words and tried his best to keep her content. He soon learned keeping her content while being present was more difficult than it had been when he’d sent her letters and gifts through the post.
His last week at home before returning for his final term of school, Louise approached him, eager with the idea of eloping. He’d been apprehensive at the idea. He couldn’t return to school if he eloped with her. After explaining to her he couldn’t marry her until he was done with school in July, Louise employed tactics that could rival an experienced courtesan. Several times her bodice “accidentally” slipped down, causing her breast to conveniently fall out, and he’d kindly turn to look the other way while she righted her gown.
When she realized he wasn’t going to give into her ploys, her actions became more bold. She’d intentionally position herself so parts of her body touched his in ways she’d somehow known would make his body react. By midweek he was giving serious consideration to hauling her off to Gretna Green, but then he’d remember how close he was to finishing school and convince himself they could both wait. For goodness’ sake, they were both young enough to wait a few months―life wasn’t going anywhere without them.
On the final day before he was to return to school, Louise came to him while he was fishing by the stream that ran through the back of Ridge Water. She once again pleaded with him to whisk her off to Gretna Green, and after he explained his reasons for not, instead of trying to use seduction like he thought she might, she’d become angry and they quarreled.
By the time they finished arguing, she informed him she was off to London to see Hampton, claiming the duke was a better man than Marcus because he’d have already carried her off if she’d have asked him. Marcus’ first instinct was to let her go. She’d break their contract, not him. They’d both have a scandal on their hands, of course, but at least it wouldn’t be of his creating and his family wouldn’t take the brunt. But a few minutes later pride won and Marcus made the worst decision of his life. Yes, even worse than asking her to marry him in the first place.
Cursing himself for ever being ensnared by her in the first place, he threw down his fishing rod, and heedless to his current state of undress, which included his lack of shirt due to the tendency of the cuffs to get in the way, he ran to the stable to grab the first horse he could find. One of the scruffy grooms offered him a shirt. He refused. It would take him too long to put it on, and this would only take a minute. He just needed to catch up with her before she reached the main road. In his rush, Marcus saddled the horse himself. After a light nudge with his heels, the horse took off like a shot and Marcus found himself riding at a
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