Loving the Marquess Read Online Free Page A

surprise when he noticed the absence of servants, but he’d
quickly masked it. If he had any disdain for the simple manner in which they
lived, he didn’t show it.
    “Would you like some more, my lord?” she asked when she
noticed his plate was empty.
    She started to stand to tend to him, but Overlea’s hand on
her arm stopped her. He released her immediately, but she could still feel the
imprint of his fingers. She didn’t miss John’s frown or Catherine’s interested
expression.
    “I’ve already imposed on you too much.”
    Her thoughts flew back to the incident upstairs and she
wondered if he was remembering it as well.
    “Your horse,” she said far too loudly.
    He raised a brow at the abrupt change in subject and there
was a heavy moment of silence before Overlea replied. “He should know his way
home from here since it isn’t too far. Of course, that would mean I’d have to
impose further and ask if you know of another means of transportation.”
    “Oh, he’s still here,” Louisa said. “You needn’t worry; he’s
in the barn out back. John took care of him last night.”
    Overlea inclined his head and stood. “I’ll go see to him
now, then.”
     He took a step, stumbled, and reached for the back of the
chair to steady himself. His eyes closed briefly and a grimace of pain
flickered across his face. Louisa rushed to his side and braced her arm across
his back. She returned the scowl John gave her with one of her own before
turning her attention back to Overlea.
    “Would you like me to help you upstairs?”
    He stiffened and stepped away from her. “That’s quite all
right. It was just a brief twinge. You needn’t concern yourself.”
    With that he turned and was gone.
    Louisa turned immediately to John. “What is the matter with
you?”
    “You shouldn’t be tending him. The new marquess has a
reputation as a rake.”
    “How can you say that?” She was astounded by his
stubbornness. “He is clearly still suffering from whatever illness caused him
to collapse and you’re concerned about his reputation?”
    His hands were clenched into fists. “No, Louisa. My concern
is for your reputation.”
    Louisa returned to her chair, looking away so her brother
wouldn’t see that his remark had struck home. He was right. Both Catherine’s
reputation and her own were at risk, but what other choice did they have? She
couldn’t send Overlea away, not until he was well enough to travel. After
seeing him stumble, she didn’t think that would be today.
    Sighing, she reached across the table, took hold of John’s
hand, and squeezed it gently. “Your concerns are valid, I won’t deny it, but we
can’t turn him out of the house when he is unwell. Surely you see that.”
    John pulled his hand from hers. “I’m not completely
heartless, but I don’t like having him here.” He leaned forward, elbows on the
table, shoulders slumped. “Papa would know what to do.”
    “Papa would agree with me,” she said. She turned to include
Catherine in their conversation. “I don’t want either of you to worry. My
reputation will survive as long as both of you are here.”
    She wouldn’t think about the kiss she and Overlea had shared
upstairs. It had been a mistake and would never happen again.
    “I still don’t like it,” John mumbled.
    Louisa let the comment go. “You two have things to do.” She
stood and began to clear the table. A quick glance at the clock told her it was
already eight. “You’ll be late for your lessons, John.” They both knew how much
Reverend Harnick disliked tardiness.
    She watched as her brother finished the last of his eggs
and, without another word, left. He was eighteen and should already have left
for university. They couldn’t afford it, but Reverend Harnick assured them John
would be able to attend on a scholarship. After their father’s death, however,
John had been reluctant to leave Louisa and Catherine alone, and so, for now,
he continued his studies under the