Page 19 of A Virgin for the Forbidden Duke

Agnes greeted the young lady and her mother with a polite nod and a polite smile. “Good evening, ladies.”

The older woman nodded in acknowledgment, while the young lady managed a polite but unenthusiastic greeting, smiling. Agnes couldn’t help but wonder if they were in a similar predicament as she often found herself when in Ewan’s company. It was, after all, a challenge to stay engaged in a conversation with a man who had such a strong focus on his own accomplishments and interests.

As Ewan introduced the women, the older lady extended her hand toward Agnes and exchanged polite greetings. “Nancy Fitzroy, the Dowager Duchess of Huntington. A pleasure to make your acquaintance,” she said with a gracious smile.

Huntington? Matthew’s mother?! No wonder, the brown eyes looked familiar.

Agnes shook her hand with a genuine smile. “The pleasure is mine, Your Grace.”

Then, Ewan turned to the young lady. “And this is Lady Letitia Fitzroy.”

Lady Letitia managed a polite but unenthusiastic greeting, her smile reflecting the same sense of boredom that Agnes often felt during Ewan’s conversations.

Another Huntington? Matthew’s sister. I do see a resemblance.

Agnes couldn’t help but wonder if this shared experience created a bond of understanding between her and the Duke’s family. Her thoughts meandered, reflecting on how the reputation of an accomplished suitor could overshadow the genuine connection she sought.

As the conversation continued, Agnes observed the body language of the two ladies. They exchanged the occasional glance that conveyed their mutual sentiment of restlessness. Agnes had to stifle a smile as she realized that Matthew’s family was affected in much the same way by Ewan’s conversational tendencies.

A spark of mischief ignited within her, and Agnes leaned in closer to Ewan, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “My Lord, I must inform you that your mother is looking for you.”

The effect of her words was immediate, as Ewan’s eyes widened in realization, and he excused himself with haste. Agnes couldn’t help but find some satisfaction in providing the ladies with an escape from the conversation that seemed to bore them just as much as it bored her.

With Ewan’s hasty departure, Agnes couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction, knowing that she had granted the Dowager Duchess and Lady Letitia a reprieve from his long-winded conversations. As Ewan scurried away, Agnes leaned in closer to the two ladies and couldn’t resist making a playful comment.

“The Earl does have a particular fondness for speaking about himself, but I suspect the one thing he loves more is his dear mother,” she quipped with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

As their laughter subsided, Nancy, with a twinkle in her eyes, leaned in closer to Agnes. “My dear, your observation is quite accurate. We adore Ewan, but he can be quite the conversationalist, and his love for discussing his accomplishments knows no bounds.”

Lady Letitia chimed in with a mischievous smile, “It’s a wonder we ever managed to get a word in edgewise. But he means well.”

Agnes nodded, her eyes dancing with amusement. “Oh, I have no doubt of his good intentions. In fact, I often find his enthusiasm contagious, even if it does sometimes lead to moments of lightheadedness.”

The three women shared a hearty laugh, a sense of camaraderie forming among them. They continued their conversation, drifting from one topic to another seamlessly, all the while finding common ground and shared interests.

Agnes discovered that Nancy had a deep passion for horticulture and enjoyed tending to a garden filled with various exotic flowers. She regaled them with stories of her gardening adventures, recounting tales of rare blooms and the challenges of maintaining a garden in the unpredictable English weather.

Lady Letitia, on the other hand, had a fervent love for music. She revealed that she often played the piano, and her eyes lit up as she described the joy of losing herself in the melodies of classic compositions.

Agnes, in turn, shared her own interests, discussing her love for literature and how she often found solace in books. The conversation flowed effortlessly, each topic a doorway to another, and the bond between them grew stronger with each passing moment.

As the evening wore on, Agnes couldn’t help but marvel at the delightful turn of events. What had initially been a mundane ball filled with societal expectations had transformed into an evening of genuine connection and laughter. The weight of her mother’s ambitions had been momentarily lifted, replaced by a newfound sense of camaraderie and friendship.

Agnes realized that, sometimes, the most unexpected encounters could lead to the most beautiful moments. And it seemed the Huntington family had this pull over her. She had already fallen in love with Matthew’s mother and sister.

Agnes was in the midst of sharing a story about a particularly enchanting novel she had recently read when she suddenly detected the distinct scent of tobacco in the air. Her heart leaped in her chest, and she froze. This scent was intimately familiar. Matthew smelled exactly like that, that day.

She couldn’t fathom the idea that Matthew might be near, but the sudden shift in the atmosphere, the unique scent, and the inexplicable sense of anticipation had her on edge. Her heart raced as she realized the possibility of seeing him again.

And then, like a dream come true, he appeared before her.

Matthew’s voice, deep and resonant, filled her ears as he asked, “How are you doing, Mother?”

Agnes, still caught off guard by his sudden presence, tried to regain her composure. Their previous encounter, the stolen kiss in the moonlit garden, played vividly in her mind. The electricity that had sparked between them, the softness of his lips, the urgent desire she had felt—everything rushed back to her at that moment. Her cheeks flushed, and she found it hard to meet his gaze.

“I’m doing quite well,” Nancy replied, her voice soft and slightly tremulous. “Miss Agnes here is truly a delightful company.”

As their eyes locked, Agnes couldn’t help but wonder if he, too, felt the magnetic pull that she had toward him, but Matthew’s eyes did not stay on hers for more than a second as he turned back to his sister.

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