Louisa's POV
The carriage bumped a little bit. So I held Will in my arms.
He curled up on my lap like a little kitten.
Lucian was silent for a brief moment and said, "I respect your choice, Colt, and I admire your honesty. I would like to let you know that our offer stays open. So when you want to find a job, you know where to get it."
"Thank you, Beta." Colt nodded and walked off.
Lucian stretched out his legs and leaned back against his seat, looking at Will playing with the toy horse.
I felt a bit awkward, so I cleared my voice and said, "You're very quiet, Lucian. Are you mad at Colt?"
"No. I understand him. He doesn't want to kill," Lucian said.
I could sense a bit of pity in his tone. But I wasn't sure if he was feeling pity for Colt or for something else.
"How does it feel?" I asked.
"What?" Lucian asked.
"How does it feel when you kill those people during the war?" I asked.
"You've killed people yourself. How does it feel?" Lucian asked.
"I didn't want to kill them," I lowered my head and said. "I just want them to stay away from me, so they don't hurt me... or anyone that I care about."
"So, you do understand how I feel," Lucian said.
"But it's different. Those people are innocent." I said.
"Nobody is innocent, Miss Louisa," Lucian looked outside and said. "There's no mercy in this line of business. The winner takes all, including other people's lives.
I argued, "But you aren't a ruthless killing machine. You're a reasonable man..."
"... who has orders to follow," Lucian cut me short and said. "Miss Louisa, I really appreciate that we don't have this conversation right now."
Lucian didn't look annoyed, but he was certainly not very happy as he was in the amusement park.
"Luke is going to take Lady Akela to the Grand Ball tonight," Lucian said without looking at me.
"What?" I couldn't believe what I heard, "But he told me that he wanted to bring me to the ball and he asked you to buy all these dresses for me..."
The thought of Lucas holding another woman in his arms and dancing with her made me instantly so depressed. I just couldn't control it.
"I'm sorry, Miss Louisa," Lucian looked at me and said.
The way he stared at me made my heart soften and, of course, so hopelessly heartbroken. Could he just be an asshole once in a while, so I could get angry and shout at him?
Will obviously didn't like the fact I was sad, so he held me in his arms and said, "I will go to the ball and dance with Louisa!"
Lucian said, "You can't go there, because that's an annual Grand Ball. All gentlemen need an invitation to go inside, and each gentleman is only allowed to bring one lady companion."
"Try stopping me!" Will narrowed his eyes. "I will change into a bat and nobody can catch me!"
"Will, don't be rude to Lucian," I said in a soft voice. "I don't want to go to the ball, anyway. I can stay at home with you and we'll take care of Darren."
"Miss Louisa, you'll still be at the ball. You'll be my plus one," Lucian said.
"No, Lucian, you don't have to do this to me. Everyone knows that you're married and I don't want people to talk..."
"Miss Louisa, it's not my decision. Luke wants you to be there," Lucian said.
"But why? He's already got someone on his arm..."
"He wants to dance with you," Lucian said.
"Well, I don't want to dance with him!" I said, feeling grumpy. "If he wants to torture and humiliate me by forcing me to watch him dancing with other girls, I don't want to give him a chance! What kind of asshole does things like that? Can't he just leave me alone?! He's got so many girlfriends! I don't even care who's going to dance with him or sleep with him..."
"Miss Louisa, he wants to dance with you tonight at the Grand Ball and he also wants you to be in his tent tonight," Lucian said.
"What?!" I exploded.
Did he just want to take another girl to the ball, force me to watch them dancing, and sleep with me at night?! In your dream, Lucas! In your dream!
I looked out and saw that we were almost in the forest. I shouted, "Stop, Alex! Stop the cart!"
Alex popped his head inside and looked at Lucian.
Lucian sighed and nodded.
The carriage stopped.
I grabbed Will in my arms and jumped out of the carriage.
Then, I walked towards the cottage without looking back.
Will looked at me in confusion and asked, "Louisa..."
"Don't say a word, Will! I know what you're going to say. I know Lucas is treating me like a freak! You don't have to tell me that! If you say one more word, I'll dump you in the forest and you'll never see me again!" I was in a very bad temper so I raised my voice.
Will looked shocked at me at first. Then, tears welled up in his eyes before he eventually started to cry out loud.
I immediately regretted my bad attitude and held Will tightly in my arms.
"Sorry, Will. It's all my fault. I was so angry at myself and I shouldn't have said all those mean things to you," I said with tears in my eyes.
Will just didn't want to listen to me and kept crying.
Colt chased me up and saw Will crying his heart out in my arms.
"Louisa, what happened?" he asked anxiously.
I didn't say a word. Will cried even louder.
Colt rubbed his hands on his trousers and said, "Why don't you let me hold him for a while? You know, I can play with him. Kids kind of like me."
Will turned away his head and made it very clear that he didn't want to go with Colt.
"Will, please don't cry. It's all my fault. I will never ever leave you." I kissed his head over and over again.
"So... Are you going to take me to the ball tonight?" Will asked sobbingly.
"Yes, we'll go there and we can dance together," I said and danced while holding Will in my arms. "But you have to promise that you won't step on my feet."
"I'm a very good dancer. My father used to hold balls all the time!" Will's eyes were filled with excitement. Then, he frowned and asked, "You won't dump me in the forest and never ever talk to me again?"
"No, Will, never," I kissed him on his forehead.
Will stopped weeping and rubbed his nose. Then, he suddenly pointed at the bush in front of us.
"What's that?" he asked.
At the same time, I saw something flash across the road in front of me.