Page 40 of Falling for a Forsaken Marquess
William gave a short, bitter laugh. “You have a skill for finding damsels in distress. It was unfortunate that you could not help Miss Humphries in her time of need. Especially as you were closest to her.”
The man’s jaw twitched as his face reddened. “I thought I explained myself. I didn’t have a carriage, and I was with people I could not just leave. It would have been rude of me.”
Tilting his head to the side, William smiled. “You always have excuses, little brother. I think you simply did not want to soil your clothing by carrying the child, so you stayed put. You could have hired a carriage or asked one of your many friends to help you, but you didn’t. You could have done so many things, but you wouldn’t.”
Jacob shrugged. “Think whatever you wish. You were there to help her like the hero you pretend to be, so I did well by not getting involved. My poor perfect brother cannot help acting like the hero.”
William detected bitterness in his brother’s tone, annoying him. The man had no right to be angry with him, not when William had done everything for him. Jacob had repaid all the love and time given to him by taking what William cherished most in the world.
“If I am the hero of this story, then I suppose you are the villain,” said William. “What do you plan to do next, Jacob?”
The younger man’s eyes flashed for just a moment before complete calm settled over his handsome features.
“What is this you’re saying, dear brother?” Jacob asked, taken aback. “Why do you hate me so much? I understand that I made a terrible mistake all those years ago, but I am a changed man. I hope that you will one day see that.”
“I suppose only time will tell,” said William, shaking his head.
“I have been here for some time, yet you still refuse to believe me,” the man complained. “Well, I refuse to stand here and have my character torn apart by you. I am going to see Phoebe.”
Jacob stomped out of the room, making a noise with his boots down the hallway. William released a breath he didn’t know he had been holding, realising it was his relief that Jacob was interested in another woman and not Agnes.
He had been confident that Jacob would pursue her, but it seemed he had moved on to another woman. William had been mistaken to think that Phoebe was more his type, but now he knew better. Phoebe actually reminded him of Charlotte, his ideal type of woman, but that kind was fickle and unloyal.
It was time for William to broaden his tastes and look beyond the typical woman, namely at intriguing, odd, and family-oriented women like Agnes. Of course, this did not mean he was ready for marriage.
William arrived at the park sometime later and looked around, disappointed that Agnes had not arrived yet. He was earlier than the expected time, but Agnes had struck him as someone who would come early.
Leaning against a tree, he kept his eyes on the only road leading to the exact spot he had given in the note. A brief glance at his pocket watch told him there were less than five minutes to go, adding a bit of anxiety to his excitement. Agnes might not come, and he wouldn’t blame her.
William had not treated her kindly when they first met, but that had not driven her away because she was still in Cheltenham. Maybe she was stuck in traffic, but the route he had chosen was usually empty of carriages and horses patrolling its streets.
“My Lord,” he heard Agnes say, but not from the direction he was expecting.
He moved around the tree, immediately smiling when he saw her standing with a younger woman who resembled her.
“Miss Humphries,” he said. “I am glad you could come.”
Agnes looked down, gnawing her bottom lip lightly before turning to the woman beside her.
“My Lord, this is my sister, Miss Lavinia. Livvy, this is Lord Hampton.”
The younger woman smiled and curtseyed. “A pleasure to meet you, My Lord. I have heard many good things about you. Aggie truly respects and admires you.”
“Livvy,” Agnes whispered, her cheeks glowing bright pink.
“I respect and admire your sister as well, Miss Lavinia. Shall we begin our walk?”
“Oh, do you mind if I walk a little slower?” Lavinia asked. “I wish to take advantage of my brief stay in Cheltenham by committing every beautiful thing to memory. It takes some time, and I will only slow you down.”
“But—” Agnes protested, looking worried.
“I do not mind,” William said firmly, smiling to soften his interruption.
“Splendid!” the younger woman exclaimed. “You go ahead, and I shall be right behind you.”
William could see that Agnes wanted to protest, so he held his arm out to her. “Shall we, Miss Humphries? We should let your sister memorise everything in peace.”
Only a little uncertainty remained in her eyes as she lightly placed her hand on his forearm and fell in step with him. Some awkwardness clearly lay between them, so William tried to find the right words to put them both at ease.
