Marcus leaned in and kissed her while her father banged the door harder and threatened to break it down. “Messy.”
“Oh dear.”
“And gorgeous.” He kissed her once more. “Shall we?”
Louise glanced at the door. “I suppose we must.”
“Don’t worry,” Marcus assured her as she crossed the floor. “You’re not alone, Louise. We’re in this together.”
Bolstered by his confidence, Louise stiffened her spine and pulled the latch so the door could be opened. Her father’s thunderous expression caught her attention first, before she noticed Hannah. The maid cowered behind her employer with weepy eyes and trembling lips.
“What the hell do you think you’re—”
“Papa,” Louise said, deliberately cutting her father off. “Do come in.”
Pleased by the strength of her even tone, she stepped aside and waited. She’d always respected the earl’s authority, had shirked confrontation with him her entire life because she’d known her place. So it surprised her how calm she was right now. When she’d run away to Dorset, she’d feared the consequence she’d have to face when he found her. And rather than try and defy him, she’d dutifully gone back to being the complacent daughter he’d raised her to be.
Not anymore. Now, she was prepared to stand up for what she wanted, what she believed should be hers by right, and if her father opposed, she’d find a way to thwart him. Even if that meant severing ties with him forever. Because this was about her life. Her future was at stake. And she was not about to let anyone stand in the way of her marrying the man she loved.
Her father strode past her with a glare directed at Marcus. Hannah followed in his wake.
“I’m sorry, my lady,” Hannah whispered as she came alongside Louise. “I didn’t want to reveal your location, but he told me I’d never work again unless I did. He even threatened to have the rest of my family sacked from their places of employment and I… I just couldn’t allow that to happen.”
Louise clenched her jaw as anger ignited in every cell of her body. It rose up her back and into her skull where it turned into outright fury. This explained Hannah’s delay. Her father had obviously found her and held her for questioning until she crumbled. “It’s all right,” she managed while visions of punching her father squarely in the face - of challenging him to a bloody duel - expanded in her brain. She shut the door and rounded on him. “How dare you?”
Bafflement filled his eyes before he managed to collect himself and harden his gaze. “How dare I? You’re the one who ran off without a word or any hint of your whereabouts. For the second time, if I may remind you. Other parents would have their children horsewhipped for less. Never mind the fact that you’ve clearly been thoroughly ruined by that scoundrel.”
“Don’t,” Louise warned him.
“Thank God Scarsdale is too old to care about the condition you’re in when you marry,” he went on. “This little adventure of yours is the last one you’ll ever have while in my care. Is that clear?”
“Perfectly,” Louise seethed. “Because I am through with being under your control. If you loved me - if you cared for me even a little - you wouldn’t insist on forcing me into an unhappy marriage. Rather, you would support my desire to marry the man of my choosing and damn anyone who might disapprove of him.”
“He is a good for nothing cad who carries the blood of a murderer in his veins. Louise, I would be mad to permit you to—”
“I would likely be dead if it weren’t for him,” she shouted while pointing at Marcus with all the frustration of someone who’d never been heard. “And claiming he is good for nothing is bloody dishonest of you, Papa, when he is the most hard-working, dedicated, and brilliant eye surgeon in the world.”
Her father leaned back. Caution softened his features ever so slightly though his posture remained rigid. “What do you mean, you’d be dead if it weren’t for him?”
Louise huffed a breath. Fighting was verily exhausting. She felt rather drained, but refused to show any weakness, so she raised her chin and stared her father down. “My carriage was attacked by highwaymen on my way here. People were hurt, the coachman killed.” Hannah gasped. Deep lines appeared on either side of Grasmere’s mouth. “The highwaymen thought I’d be worth something so I was kidnapped and held hostage, until Marcus came to my rescue.”
Papa did not react as Louise expected. He glared at Marcus with increased contempt. “This is your fault. If you’d just minded your own damn business, then none of this would have happened.” Jaw clenched, he swung his gaze back to Louise. “And you would not have had that nasty experience if you’d stayed home like you were meant to.”
“You’re right, but dealing with a pair of murderous cutthroats was preferable to having to deal with you,” she countered with every intention of hurting him with her words.
It didn’t seem to have much effect. He simply snorted. “Just goes to show what a fool you are. Now pack your things so we can be off. I promised your mother I’d bring you back.”
“No.” Louise stood firm. Marcus’s arm came around her, holding her steady while offering her his support. “I’m going to Berlin with Marcus. We’ll marry there.”
Papa’s face turned a sharp shade of red as his features twisted with unhindered rage. “You are but twenty years of age, Louise, and under my authority. If I tell you we’re going home, then that is what we shall do.”
She shook her head. “No.”
“So help me God,” he blustered, “I’ll drag you from this inn myself, gagged and bound if need be, and toss you into the carriage.”
“You’ll have to get past me first,” Marcus said, stepping in front of Louise.
She almost hugged him for being so chivalrous. Never before had she had a champion. Having him be the man she loved was incredible.
