Page 42 of Falling for a Forsaken Marquess
“I would like that, My Lord,” she replied shyly.
Elated, William escorted both sisters to their carriage and watched it rumble away with only one thing on his mind: Jacob and Phoebe were not going to interrupt them again.
Chapter 12
“Are we allowed to pick these flowers?” Lavinia asked, admiring a few along the pathway.
“I do not know, and I would not chance it,” Agnes warned. “Someone could be watching and report us to whatever association protects the flora and fauna of the area.”
Lavinia rolled her eyes. “It is only one flower, Aggie.”
“Yes, but one flower for every person who walks this path would mean no flowers by the end of the day.”
The younger woman’s brow wrinkled slightly.
“I suppose that makes sense. I did not think of it in that way. That is why I need my sister with me, but you are all the way here in Cheltenham. I know it is to get you married, but I miss having you at home. Lord Hampton should simply agree to court you and let you go home.”
“Do not say such things out loud, Livvy,” Agnes pleaded. “Lord Hampton could be anywhere around here and might overhear you.”
Rolling her eyes, Lavinia took Agnes’ hand and started swinging their arms back and forth. The marquess had chosen another beautiful location for their walk, but this one seemed less known because few people were about it. It suited her well because it meant that Phoebe would have less opportunity to bother them again.
“Paul has been speaking a lot about marriage lately,” Lavinia said.
“He has?”
The woman nodded. “He wishes to marry me, but he keeps insisting that I should turn eighteen first. What is the difference between seventeen and eighteen?”
Lavinia might not understand it, but it could be an entire year of maturity. Many women seemed to pass from childish fantasies to adult maturity at the age of eighteen, but that did not mean the same thing would happen to the young woman. Lavinia might need longer to reach the level of maturity needed for marriage.
“Why not do as he says?” Agnes asked. “Perhaps he is worried you will change your mind about him in a year.”
Lavinia snorted. “That is simply ridiculous. I love Paul and know that he is the only man for me. I do not need to be older to know this. I suppose you think I am still too immature to know my own heart?”
Agnes did not want this discussion to become another argument, so she changed the subject.
“Do you like the ribbons I bought for you?” she asked.
“I speak about love, and you talk about ribbons,” Lavinia said, shaking her head. “You are avoiding the conversation, Aggie, but I am determined to speak of it. I need you to understand that I am truly in love with this man, and nothing will change that. Not age, maturity, money, or people.”
“Is it so wrong for Paul to wait?” Agnes asked. “Should you not consider his feelings as well? You cannot expect everything to go your way. Best you understand right now that a marriage cannot be successful if one takes all the time, and the other gives.”
Lavinia stopped walking and moved in front of Agnes. “You make me sound like a child,” she accused.
Agnes had heard all this before and did not want to bring it up again. “I will not argue with you, Livvy. Do you wish me to walk with Lord Hampton in bad spirits? He will wonder why I am so bothered and upset.”
“You are right,” Lavinia replied, sighing. “I am just so tired of hearing everyone tell me that I am too young for love. Very well, I shall wait for eighteen, but if my love has not changed by then, I expect to be married within the month. I would say a week, but I understand that both families need time to prepare.”
The determination in both Lavinia’s eyes and voice left Agnes with little room for error. She had to get married to ensure her sister’s happiness, even if that meant she would have to fight for Lord Hampton. Phoebe had discarded her match because she believed the marquess was better, but Agnes had been matched with him. There had to be a reason for that.
“We will cross that marriage bridge when we come to it,” said Agnes. “Hopefully, by then, I will have advice given from a wife’s viewpoint.”
“I look forward to it,” Lavinia replied, taking her hand. “I wonder where Lord Hampton is. Did we perhaps get the address wrong?”
“I do not see how when he wrote it down for us. Something has probably kept him, but I am confident he will be here.”
It would be mortifying if the marquess did not come. Agnes needed to show him that she could be the perfect lady and convince him that she could be his ideal wife. Her sister’s future depended on assuring Lord Hampton that she was everything he could ever want in a woman, but Agnes did not know what kind of woman he preferred.
Mrs Mellors seemed to think she was his perfect match, but that didn’t mean the marquess believed the same thing. He might not think much of her at all as Agnes had been too nervous during their first walk to make a good impression. Phoebe’s sudden appearance had not helped her situation either.
