Page 49 of A Virgin for the Forbidden Duke

Seated in a secluded corner, brooding in silence, Matthew awaited his drink. The air within the pub was thick with murmurs and the clinking of glasses. It was a place where tales were told, secrets exchanged, and burdens temporarily lifted.

It did not take long before Stephen strolled into the pub. As his eyes fell on Matthew almost immediately, he could almost taste the anger emanating from his friend. Approaching the brooding Duke, he inquired, “What’s going on, Matthew? I could sense your mood from miles away.”

Matthew sighed heavily, his frustration evident. “It’s nothing,” he replied, though the terseness of his words contradicted the reassurance he intended to convey.

The weight of his emotions bore down on him, and for a moment, he wished he was alone. But he needed someone to drink with and maybe eventually vent to.

The waitress returned with Matthew’s drink, placing it on the table with a tentative glance at his stormy countenance.

The amber liquid reflected the ambient light as Matthew took a contemplative sip. Stephen, undeterred by Matthew’s initial response, settled into the seat across from him, his eyes probing.

“Are you sure you are all right, dear friend? You look like you are struggling to not lay waste to everything around you.”

Matthew sighed and took another sip of his drink. “I have a specific place in mind if I want to lay waste to anything.”

Curious, Stephan leaned forward. “Tell me, what happened? You were supposed to go and visit Miss Agnes. Why are you here?”

“Do I need to hold onto my sister’s mouth just so she would stop revealing all my secrets to you?” Matthew muttered, and Stephan scoffed.

“Relax, your visiting Agnes was hardly a secret. The whole country probably knows and is excited.”

“Well, that’s good. I hope their excitement continues when they realize that Mary Pilton turned me out of her home, refusing to let me see Agnes,” Matthew growled, his anger resurfacing as he remembered Agnes’s devastated look.

Oh, he knew what he would lay waste to if given the chance.

CHAPTER17

Agnes, adorned in her favorite nighties, felt a flutter of excitement as she prepared to sneak out and meet Matthew. The soft fabric clung to her, echoing the anticipation dancing in her heart. She stole a glance at the mirror, her eyes reflecting the spark of rebellion beneath the veil of innocence.

As she approached the door, she overheard the hushed conversation between her parents. The muffled voices, filled with a blend of concern and tension, drew Agnes’s curiosity. Unable to resist, she lingered by the door, straining her ears to catch every word.

Mary’s voice, usually composed, carried an edge of anxiety. “Benedict, we cannot allow Agnes to entertain such notions. The Duke will bring scandal to our family. We must put a stop to this before it goes any further.”

Agnes’s heart sank. The weight of her parents’ disapproval pressed down on her, threatening to snuff out the flame of her budding romance.

Her father responded with a tone of reluctant agreement, “Mary, I understand your concerns, but Agnes is no longer a child. We need to tread carefully, for pushing her too hard might lead to her rebellion.”

Agnes, burdened by the weight of her parents’ disapproval, remained rooted to the spot, eavesdropping on their conversation. The reluctant agreement from her father resonated in the quiet of the hallway. It was a somber acknowledgment that her budding romance with Matthew faced formidable obstacles.

As Mary’s tears joined the backdrop of their whispered conversation, a pang of guilt gripped Agnes. The conflicting emotions within her churned like a tempest, torn between duty and the yearning of her heart. She pondered the consequences of her actions, contemplating the potential fallout that could tarnish not only her reputation but also Matthew’s standing in Society.

Duty, the stern voice of societal expectations, beckoned her. A marriage to Ewan, an esteemed and socially accepted suitor, would safeguard her family’s honor. The whispers and disapproving glances would fade, and she could offer protection to those she held dear.

The thought of Matthew, a duke not fully embraced by the ton, loomed in her mind. His status made their connection vulnerable to the judgment of others. If the scandal involving her sister were to come to light, it could cast a shadow on Matthew as well.

Agnes couldn’t bear the idea of bringing harm to him, her heartache mirroring the torment of the choices she faced.

The garden where she was meant to meet Matthew now seemed like a distant dream, overshadowed by the reality of familial expectations. Agnes’s inner struggle reached a crescendo, and with a heavy heart, she made a silent vow to prioritize duty over the desires of her heart.

Her heart echoed the question.

Why is the world so cruel to me?

Agnes turned away from the conversation she wasn’t meant to hear and retreated into the shadows. The moonlight, once a beacon of hope, now cast shadows that mirrored the complexities of her emotions.

The path to her designated meeting spot with Matthew felt like a journey through a labyrinth of conflicting emotions.

As she approached the familiar spot, shadows danced beneath the moonlight, reflecting the intricate web of her emotions. The silence of the garden seemed to amplify the troubles within her, a symphony of love and duty entwined in a melancholic dance.

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