Page 67 of Falling for a Forsaken Marquess
“Well, if you will not stay, then perhaps you can come to dinner this week,” Mrs Mellors insisted. “I have wanted to return the favour for some time.”
That seemed to please William because he grinned. “That sounds lovely, Mrs Mellors. I would be honoured to have dinner with you and Miss Humphries. Please, send me a note with the day and time you plan to have it, and I shall be here. In fact, I shall clear my entire week in anticipation.”
Mrs Mellors clapped once. “That is settled. Would you walk Lord Hampton to the door, Agnes? I need to speak with the servants about lighting a fire in the drawing room.”
Agnes could have done that, but she understood the matchmaker wanted to give them a little time to themselves.
“Yes, of course,” Agnes agreed. “Let me show you out, My Lord.”
Mrs Mellors hurried away as though there was something important to do, nearly making Agnes laugh. The woman didn’t know how to be subtle about her objectives.
“You will send word about our walk, Miss Humphries?” William pressed.
“Yes, My Lord. As soon as I possibly can.”
They grew silent as they approached the front door, and Agnes considered asking William about what he wanted for his future, but her courage failed her. She would simply have to work up enough for their promenade through the park.
“Thank you for seeing me, Miss Humphries,” William said, turning at the door. “I hoped to come and see you sooner, but I had other matters to take care of.”
So, he would have come sooner! That seemed promising, but Agnes wasn’t going to get her hopes until she had more information about where all these meetings were headed.
“You are a busy man, and I cannot expect you to drop everything just to see me, My Lord. Please give my regards to your mother.”
“I will do so. Farewell,” he said, still lingering at the door.
“Farewell, My Lord.”
Agnes got the feeling William wanted to say something else, but he seemed to think better of it as he stepped outside and put his hat back on. He bowed his head once more and walked to the horse he had tied at the gate.
William didn’t need a step but pulled himself up and settled on the creature in one fluid motion. He waved at her and set off, looking back once at her. Agnes coloured to have the marquess catch her watching him at the door, so she quickly went inside and shut it, leaning on it briefly.
“What a strange man,” she muttered.
Mrs Mellors had mentioned the drawing room, so Agnes searched for her and found the woman warming her toes beside a newly lit fire.
“It seems the marquess is quite taken with you, dear,” she commented when Agnes sat beside her. “My intuition was right about matching you together.”
That still remained to be seen as the matchmaker had no notion of Phoebe’s intention to marry William. It would likely shock her.
“He has yet to give word about his interest,” Agnes told her. “A man cannot beat about the bush with such things.”
“It is more difficult for others to express their emotions, dear. You need to give him time.”
Agnes had already given him weeks, if not months, to let her know how he felt. “I must return home at some point, Mrs Mellors. I cannot stay here indefinitely. Hopefully, Lord Hampton will have an answer sooner rather than later.”
The older woman patted her leg. “Rest assured, dear. That man will court you.”
Agnes removed her shoes and lifted her stockinged feet to the fire, only to groan when the knocker sounded again.
“Goodness me!” she exclaimed. “That is the third time this morning. Surely people are aware of the correct visiting times?”
“Perhaps the marquess has had a change of heart and has come to confess his feelings to you,” Mrs Mellors suggested.
“I highly doubt that.”
Fanny came into the room and announced that Lady Frampton and Miss Philips had arrived to request an audience. Agnes groaned for the second time, though not as loudly as before. Mrs Mellors knew nothing of the troubles she had with Phoebe.
“Send them in, Fanny,” the matchmaker ordered, putting her shoes back on. “They must have something important to talk about,” she said to Agnes when the maid had left.
