Page 45 of Falling for a Forsaken Marquess
He nodded. “I do. We are doomed to take care of our younger siblings and shoulder the responsibility of the family.”
Agnes sensed some resentment in his voice. “I do not see it that way, My Lord. I take pleasure in looking after my family. I enjoy seeing them happy because it makes me happy.”
“I agree to a certain extent. However, at some point, you will have to find your own happiness away from your family.”
“Why can you not have both?” Agnes asked.
“That is only reserved for a lucky few,” he replied.
“There is no luck, only what you make of your situation. I have been through a difficult period in my life, probably the most hurtful,” she said, remembering how Magnus had hurt her. “But I decided that I would not succumb to pity or anger. It was no easy thing to do, but my family helped me through it.”
“I have had my fair share of sorrow as well,” Lord Hampton revealed. “However, I have found it challenging to move past it.”
Agnes could see the pain and hurt in the marquess’ eyes and wondered who had caused it.
“You need a goal to focus on, My Lord,” she advised. “That should chase your sorrows away.”
“A goal?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“Do you have one?” he asked.
Agnes considered whether she should tell him the truth about why she wished to get married. If the marquess could understand her reason, then perhaps there was a chance for them to be married.
“May I tell you a secret, My Lord?”
“You hardly know me, Miss Humphries. Are you not worried about it getting out?”
“There is always a worry attached to most of what I do,” she confessed. “But I am fairly good at weighing my options. My instincts tell me that you are a trustworthy man. Perhaps you might understand my situation.”
Lord Hampton smiled as though she had passed a test. “Rest assured your secret will go no further than my ears.”
“Thank you, My Lord. The truth is I do not want to be married,” she confided. “I want to remain with my parents. However, my sister has fallen in love, but I am worried that our finances will dash her hopes of marrying the man she loves. I decided that I would get married first, and hopefully to a man who would be kind enough to increase my sister’s dowry. Do you think that wrong of me?”
Lord Hampton said nothing for some time as he stared ahead. Agnes began to worry that she had been too honest and had insulted the marquess. He was the man that she hoped to marry, after all, so he might think she wanted his money. However, the money was not for her but Lavinia.
“I know that it seems odd,” she continued, “but I made a promise that I would be the perfect wife in exchange for my husband’s help.”
“You do not need to explain any more to me, Miss Humphries,” he told her. “I understand what you are saying, and I think it an honourable thing to do. Not many people would sacrifice their happiness for the sake of their loved ones. I would do the same thing were I in your shoes.”
Agnes smiled in relief. “I was right about you, My Lord. You are an understanding man under that stern exterior. It would do you good to smile more.”
The marquess frowned at her, but Agnes only laughed. She was too relieved to care about a little frown, not when things finally seemed to be going well for her. As they made their way around the park, Agnes realised just how much in common she had with Lord Hampton.
Their love for their family, how they enjoyed reading, the call of responsibility, and some opinions. They were still different in many ways, but they were alike enough to get along well and have much to talk about. Agnes was disappointed when they finally had to part ways and hoped the marquess would ask to walk with her again.
“You seem happy,” Lavinia remarked on their way home.
“Is it that obvious?” Agnes said with a laugh as butterflies fluttered in her belly.
The younger woman smiled. “You’re glowing, Aggie. You must like him a great deal.”
“I think I am starting to like him, but I will not get ahead of myself just yet.”
It was still too early to draw any conclusions, but if she could have more days like this with Lord Hampton, Agnes would have her wish before the end of the year.
Chapter 13
