Page 15 of Falling for a Forsaken Marquess
“But I am never alone when I speak to him,” Lavinia argued. “Mama or a servant is always with me, and I cannot ignore him if he wishes to speak to me. In fact, I will never ignore him.”
The conversation was going from bad to worse when all Agnes wished to do was guard her sister’s heart. She wanted Lavinia to be happy, but she needed her sister’s secret relationship with Paul to be put on hold until Agnes was married and no one could reject the young woman due to her humble dowry.
Paul might truly love her, but his parents were likely to abandon their union favouring a woman with a better settlement. The man could deny his parents’ wishes and get married, but men seldom defied their parents in such matters. Paul wasn’t wealthy enough to ignore the Humphries’ financial situation, which was why Agnes hoped and prayed she was fortunate to find a man who didn’t mind what she brought into the marriage.
“Miss Humphries,” a servant called from the open doorway.
“Yes, Tessa?” said Agnes, glad for the interruption.
“You have a visitor,” the maid told her. “Your mother says to make your way down to the parlour without delay.”
Agnes’ heart picked up pace as the blood drummed in her ears. “Is it Mrs Mellors who has come to see me?”
“Yes, miss. She has just arrived.”
Agnes was glad she was sitting in bed as she might faint dead away. She wasn’t the sort to give in to the vapours, but this matter was big enough that even she could succumb to a little fainting.
“Please tell my mother I shall be down soon,” said Agnes.
“Yes, miss,” Tessa replied and left.
“Do you think she has found your match?” Lavinia asked, their argument forgotten about.
“I do not know what to think!” Agnes exclaimed, her fingers reaching her mouth. She put her hand back down, not wanting to ruin the little nail growth she had accumulated over the last three days.
“We must be positive, Aggie,” Lavinia insisted, returning to the bed. “Any man would be blessed to have you as his wife, and I dare anyone to say otherwise.”
Agnes giggled, although she wasn’t sure what she was laughing about. “We shall have to see about that. I had best freshen up and make my way down before Mama sends Tessa up again.”
Washing her face and running a brush through her wheat-coloured hair, Agnes offered up another prayer to the heavens. She needed to take Lavinia’s advice and remain optimistic about the matter, but it was so much more difficult when whatever Mrs Mellors had to say would also impact her sister’s future.
“I’ll come down with you, Aggie,” Lavinia offered, linking her arm with hers. “I’m certain Mama will not mind including one more person.”
Agnes nodded, patting the woman’s arm. “Yes, I would appreciate that.”
They walked downstairs together and greeted the matchmaker as they took a seat on a settee.
“You have been blessed with beautiful daughters, Lady Trafalgar,” Mrs Mellors commented.
“Thank you, Martha,” the baroness replied. “They have lovely dispositions as well and have brought Lord Trafalgar and I much joy. It will be sad to see them one day leave our sides to enter their matrimonial homes, but such is life.”
“Well, I am happy to say that Miss Humphries’ time to wed is probably closer than we all realise,” the woman announced. “I believe I have found the perfect man for her.”
Agnes collapsed a little against her sister, grasping her hand. This was the news she had hoped to hear, and now her prayers had been answered.
“Indeed?” the baroness exclaimed. “Oh, how wonderful! Who is he? Do we know anything about his family?”
“The gentleman is William Sculthorpe, the Marquess of Hampton,” Mrs Mellors replied. “His parents are the Duke and Duchess of Ramsgate.”
“My goodness!” the baroness cried. “Never did I imagine my daughter could marry a man destined to be a duke! Are they wealthy?”
Mrs Mellors smiled. “Was that not one of your criteria? I am not worth my salt if I cannot fulfil every requirement on your list.”
“Did you hear that, dear?” the baroness asked, turning to Agnes. “Your husband is a wealthy man.”
“Yes, Mama,” Agnes replied weakly.
This was more than Agnes could have asked for and attributed the outcome to her fervent prayers. Marrying a marquess with a fortune would indeed give her family a better standing in society, and if her husband were generous, he would add to Lavinia’s dowry and give her better prospects.
