Page 58 of Falling for a Forsaken Marquess
Chapter 16
“I need you to drop the sticks, Aggie!” Lavinia complained. “I’m on the edge of my seat every time it’s my turn.”
Agnes chuckled, concentrating on the stack before her. She wasn’t one to give up a game simply because someone asked. That was lousy sportsmanship and an insult to everyone playing the game.
“You will win if your hand is stable and your mind is sharp,” Agnes told her. “I will not lose to please you.”
“Games are the one thing you will not get your sister to lose, dear,” their mother said, watching the game with interest. “You can get her to do anything else, but not that.”
“Oh, I know,” said Lavinia, sighing. “If only she didn’t have the concentration of a snake waiting to catch its prey. Someone needs to come in and disturb you. I think you would lose if Lord Hampton were to call.”
Agnes’ cheeks immediately turned a bright shade of pink. “Teasing me will not help you win,” she scolded, wagging her finger at her sister.
“But it’s an amusing pastime,” Lavinia insisted. “You blush so prettily. I daresay the marquess has seen a few blushes and thinks the same.”
“Oh, Livvy!” Agnes cried, her cheeks now a blooming red. “Why must you continue? I will not be distracted by cheap tricks. Tell her to hold her tongue, Papa.”
Lord Trafalgar laughed. “You have heard your sister, Livvy. Do not attempt to win using cheap tricks, although I agree with you about how pretty your sister looks when she blushes. Are they solely for Lord Hampton?”
Agnes leaned on the table and covered her face, bringing forth an eruption of laughter from her family. They had not ceased to talk about William since they returned from the tea shop days ago, lovingly torturing her about his intentions.
Her family was convinced that he was taken in by her and expected a request to court her any day now. Agnes hoped that was true, but she didn’t want to get her hopes up too high. While the marquess had changed since the day she first met him, she had experienced several challenges with him that made her doubt his interest. Only time would tell what he would do.
“Wonderful! You’re all here,” Mrs Mellors exclaimed, walking into the parlour. “I have some good news for all of you.”
“I didn’t realise you had returned, Martha,” the baroness commented. “How was your day at the pump house?”
“Glorious, just glorious,” the matchmaker replied, taking a seat beside her. “I met the duchess while I was there, and she asked about the family. She was happy to hear you were all still here.”
Agnes’ family had decided to stay a little longer at Mrs Mellors’ insistence. She found it comforting to have a full house again and enjoyed hosting the Humphries.
“She is a fine lady,” the baron said. “She doesn’t put on airs like the others that we know so well. Look at how she has readily accepted our Agnes? That says a lot about a person’s heart.”
“I agree,” Lady Trafalgar added. “My Agnes is in good hands while in Cheltenham.”
“That is all true, but let me get to the good news,” the matchmaker insisted. “The duchess has invited everyone to her ball next week. Only the best of society attends such a ball, so it is really an honour to be personally invited by the duchess.”
“Oh!” Livvy cried. “A ball? How wonderful!”
“That is kind of her,” said Lady Trafalgar. “We haven’t been to a ball in some time now.”
The Humphries’ financial woes affected the invitations they received from the prominent people in their society. The Philips did not make it any easier as they had a habit of spreading false rumours around town, but Agnes and her family had grown used to that. It suited them better to stay at home and keep each other amused than surround themselves with shallow people.
“Is there any particular theme?” Lavinia asked.
“No, but it is to start the hunting season,” Mrs Mellors answered. “Perhaps you can think of something that shows a celebration of autumn and all that comes with it.”
“I would wear yellow, but it does not look good on me,” Lavinia said, slightly disappointed. “I brought my pink gown with me, and I am certain Agnes can attach a few embroidered leaves to remind everyone that I am Miss Autumn.”
“Miss Autumn?” their father asked. “I have never heard of that. How can you be the daughter of autumn? That is the only way that you can be a miss.”
Lavinia slapped her forehead lightly. “Oh, Papa. You say such silly things at times. You know very well what I meant.”
“On the contrary, my dear,” the baron argued.
Agnes shook her head and smiled. Her family was always getting into one argument or another, but that never changed how much they loved each other. Sitting back on her legs, Agnes thought about the ball. She would get to see William, but it would be difficult to hold a decent conversation if Phoebe came between them again.
The Philips were bound to be there since they were so happy to tell everyone who would listen that they were the acquaintances of the duchess and her family.
