“Mayhap, you would want to listen to what Agnes has to say before you commence your plans for the grand wedding I am certain you have already begun to plan.” She stopped floating and shifted, so she could face her husband. He continued,“Bear in mind that Agnes is twenty and four summers, and this would be her seventh season. Our daughter has turned down every single suitor, even till this moment, and there have been quite a number; men of status and wealth. What if she has resigned herself to a life of spinsterhood and decides to have no interest in the Duke?”
“Nonsense! No daughter of mine shall live a life of spinsterhood, not even over my old grave.” How could he consider something so utterly ridiculous?
“Agnes has only been behaving so badly because you have refused to clip her wings, Williams. However, after last season, I let her understand that this is to be her last, and she must choose a husband or we would do so for her. We are only in luck that an offer came so early. It is time to put our foot down for that child for she is not getting younger! She should be grateful that there is still a young man interested in her, at this age. Many have had to settle for so much lesser than she is getting. I have met Nicholas a few times, and he is a fine young man. Agnes will marry him, or I shall wash my hands of her!” she ended on a note of finality, huffing in exasperation. A life of spinsterhood? Her own daughter? Never!
There was a long pause as neither of them said anything. Victoria knew he was considering her words, and she hoped he would see reason with her. With his support, they could get Agnes to do the needful.
“I suppose you are right, Victoria. Mayhap, it is time to let Agnes know that her options and time have run out.”
She heaved a sigh of relief at the words that broke the silence. Lifting her skirts, she walked over to place a quick kiss on his lips.
“I knew you would see reason! Well, if that is all, I shall dismiss my guests and have that talk with Agnes. Lord knows they have overstayed their welcome, and apart from the season, I now have a wedding to plan for. Oh! It is surely going to be the grandest wedding ever witnessed, Williams. You just leave it to me!”
Without waiting for a reply, she floated out of the study, her skirts flowing behind her.
Chapter 3
Agnes stopped her humming and looked up from the silk scarf on which she was embroidering flowers. She stayed still, straining her ears to listen so as to ascertain if there was indeed someone by her door, or her imagination was simply performing a trick on her senses. The former was confirmed when a knock sounded again. It had to be one of her sisters or the maid, she reasoned. Without bothering to ask who it was, she called, “You may enter.” She returned to her chore and resumed her humming as she began to work the needle. She kept her gaze fixated on her work, not bothering to look up when her chamber doors came open.
“What is it?” she asked, still not looking up. It wasn’t until the footfalls drew closer that she realised they had made no sounds until now, and even at that, they sounded so softly, hard not to miss except one was listening carefully. There was only one person she knew who walked that gracefully in this household. She finally looked up to confirm her suspicions.
“Mother,” she greeted, putting the scarf aside so that she could pay attention to whatever her mother wanted to say. They were rarely ever on agreeing terms, but this was her mother, and she tried to give her due respect when it was necessary.
“Agnes. I see you are still working on that scarf. How’s it coming along?”
“Very well. I should be done with it within a few days.” She could not help wondering what her mother wanted this time for she only sought her out herself when it was a matter of importance. They were still a few weeks shy from the season, and although preparations had already begun, surely, the sermons about proper behaviour and snatching a right husband could not be starting so soon. Despite her wonder, she said nothing. Her mother would state her reason for this call in due time. She only had to wait.
“Hmm. I see. Have you decided who you would give it to?”
The lie came easily, and she hoped her mother would not catch it. If anyone looked clearly, they would see that the scarf was in fact, a cravat. It was no secret only men wore cravats, and this was not for her father, or any man in this household for that matter.
“Eleanor, mayhap? Gifts usually go to the baby sister, they say.” Her mother was studying the scarf, so she held her breath, watching her carefully to see if she would figure out anything. She released that breath when Victoria turned to look at her with a genuine smile.
“Of course. That is quite sweet of you, dear. Eleanor will love it, I am certain.”
Great. Now, she had to make sure she embroidered an identical scarf for her little sister.
“I would love that, Mother. I am glad you think so. Thank you.”
Victoria gave a hearty laugh that took Agnes back. It was obvious that something hung in the air, and since her mother was being so charming, she feared that it was something heavy. She shifted in her seat, suddenly scared and uncomfortable.
“For how outspoken you can be, you are also terribly modest, Agnes. Indeed. I confess it is one of the things I enjoy about you, dear child. It is no secret that your embroidery skills are excellent. If you were not born into such privileges, I am sure you would have made an honest living from the sales of your handiworks.”
Agnes did not know how to feel about those words, whether to take them as a compliment or not. So she simply said nothing, only offering a small smile in return. She only wanted to learn of the reason behind this visit to her room. Victoria must have read her mind, for at that moment, she began floating around the room, her hands clasped around her back as she checked for nothing in particular.
“You must be wondering why I have come here myself, are you not?” She angled her head to look at her, and Agnes bobbed hers.
“Well, there is news, you see. I was quite eager to break it to you by myself –still am, but I feel it would be best if your father and I are both present. You must come with me to his study. We have things to say to you.”
Her breath caught in her chest. The dread that was steadily creeping up on her told her that her intuition had been right. Whatever hung in the air was heavy. She suddenly did not want to hear it. After all, if she did not, no one would expect her to act on whatever this mystery was about. A fool’s hope for she knew when her father summoned, she must answer. Keeping her emotions at bay, she rose on her feet and proceeded to smoothen out rumpled edges on her skirt.
“In that case, I suppose we should be on our way. I wouldn’t want to keep Father waiting.”
Agnes stood still, head high, shoulders squared and spine straight as her mother’s eyes fluttered over her, making assessment of her appearance. She must have decided that what she wore was acceptable, for she simply said, “Indeed, let’s,” and proceeded out of the chamber. Agnes followed suit, closing the doors behind her as she too stepped out.
By the time they got to her father’s study, her palms were damp with sweat, and she was releasing breaths in steady streams, all in a bid to keep her calm. As they entered, she saw her father by his desk, immersed in a piece of document he was reading.
He put away the document and took off his glasses before turning to look at them. He gave them both small smiles and then rose to march to the sofa where he stood by, waiting for them, ever the gentleman.
Agnes returned his smile as she reached the leather button sofa and took her seat. Her mother did the same, crossing her legs at her ankles.
“Williams, if you would hand over the letter to her, please?”
She looked from her mother to her father, confused. What letter did they refer to, and what had she to do with this letter? Her questions were answered when her Father handed over an envelope to her.
The seal was broken, so she knew for certain whatever was in this envelope had been read. However, it was addressed to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, thus by every indication, they were in t
he right to have read the letter. Her chest suddenly felt too heavy as her heart began to gallop against her ribs. She willed her hands not to shake as she drew out the folded letter and placed the envelope aside, so that she could unfold the piece of paper.
She did so and began to read.
“Dear Williams and Victoria,
Good tidings. We hope this meets you in good health and peace. First of all, we shall apologise for not doing this in persons. However, you must understand that this is a matter of the utmost importance, and we could not wait one more day. Putting our request in writing was the next best thing we could think of.
Friends, as you know, we have a son, Nicholas, who is twenty and eight summers this year. An agreeable age for any young man to settle down and manage his own home, would you not agree? Sadly, as it is, Nicholas has his nose buried deep in his books – scholar that he is – and while we are proud of that, we fear this has gone on for too long. He has declared no public interest in any young maiden, to our knowledge, and we worry that if we force his hand to do the needful, he shall make the wrong choice. As we pondered on how to go about making the right choice for our son, the future Duke of Yorkshire, you and your lovely family came to mind.
It is to our best knowledge that you have three beautiful daughters, all of whom are unmarried and unpromised. We are aware of the respectable household you uphold, and we declare, Nicholas could not get a better choice for a wife.
You must have realised by now, what it is in fact, that we speak of. Yes. This is a proposal for your first daughter, the fair lady, Agnes Birmingham. We wish to ask for her hands in marriage for our dear son, Nicholas as we are convinced that they would make a perfect match.
It would gladden us so if both you and the maiden accept this proposal. We shall await your response with eagerness and hope for favourable news.
Yours,
Henry and Elizabeth
Duke and Duchess of Yorkshire”
Agnes swallowed the lump that had settled in her throat as she finished reading. She was in awe of how she had managed to read to the end of the letter without dropping it. She had realised what it was she was reading as soon as mention of Nicholas was made. It was quite easy to put things together to make a clearer picture when one was as smart as she was.
“So?” Her mother asked, leaning towards her. She was speechless, had no idea what to say, only that huge fists wrapped around her lungs and heart, cutting off her air and blood supply. She wondered which hurt more, her loss of air, or the ache in her chest. Oh no. This was bad. This was really bad. She had known this day would come, despite her foolish childish dreams, and hoped that it wouldn’t. Only she had thought she would have more time, that they would have more time.
“Agnes?” Her father’s concerned voice speared through her thoughts, and as she looked at him, the fists loosened so she could finally breathe.
Her gasp came out forcefully as she dragged in a lungful of fresh air. Great! Now she was hyperventilating. She ignored her parents’ alarmed looks and remained as quiet as possible as she took in more gulps of air. She was grateful she had no corset on, those darned contraptions would have made it harder. Her intuition had been right, once more. This was heavy.
“Are you alright, dear?”
Before she could reply, her mother did, regal smile on her face.
“But of course, Williams! Why wouldn’t she be? She is simply overexcited by the news. She can’t quite believe her fortune; isn’t that right, dear?”
She turned to look at her mother, stupefied. One would assume that they had seen every shade of Victoria Birmingham, then she awed with another spectacular hue. She shook her head but was glad she was finally regaining her composure.
“I am alright, Father. Just shocked, is all. So, this Duke and Duchess, they are your acquaintances?”
“Business partners,” her mother cut in.
“Friends too. Henry and I went to Eton together. You have met them a few times,’ her father replied, cutting her mother off. She smiled at this, especially when her mother relaxed back into her seat.
“And you have met this Nicholas?”
“Indeed. A fine young man, I must confess. I am thrilled by the prospects of making such an alliance with that family. They are respectable, and Nicholas would make a good husband.”
Of course, anyone who declared interest in her would make a good husband, thought Agnes. It had been that way since she clocked twenty-one summers and kept refusing suitors. She was still unmarried at twenty-four, not because she lacked men who wanted to take her for their wife. They were countless, in fact. Only that many had tired over the years, after subsequent rejections. In fact, she now had several titles – The lady who wanted no man, Ice Queen, Cold heart, and the likes. Ridiculous, if you asked her, but not unfounded. She saw how they easily arrived at that conclusion, but it was far from the truth. If only – if only they knew how she burned under his touch, how she soaked her sheets at night with dreams of him, how she yearned for his sweet kisses, how she ached for the touch that burned and melted her at the same time.
“So you would recommend him?”
“Yes. I certainly would.” She nodded at her father’s words, then mustering courage, tried one last time.
“And if I refuse?”she said so coolly, almost flippantly that her parents had to ask again.
“What?”
“I asked, what if I refuse.”
“Absolutely not! I forbid it! We have entertained your petulant behaviour for far too long, Agnes. No more! This is it. If you turn Nicholas down, be ready to be married off to a widower or live a life of spinsterhood, but not under my roof. Never!” Her Mother was already on her feet, floating around the room. She was agitated, that much was obvious, but it wasn’t the first time Agnes had garnered such reaction from her mother. It bothered her less; she was only interested in what her father had to say.
Turning towards him, she hoped with all her heart that he would let her pass on this one. And if he did? a voice asked in her head. It was a sound question. If her father gave her a pass on this, would he continue to do so? If she would not reveal the fact that she had a secret lover, then at some point, she would be married off to a strange man whom she did not love. But how, how could she tell her father that she was in love with his business associate? Had been since she was a girl of fifteen, only beginning to understand the concept of that word. It was a failed mission even before it began. She and Alan could never have the life they dreamed of. It was impossible for them. Theirs was a love doomed from the start. The sooner she accepted that, the better for the both of them.
Still, she heard herself ask, “Father?”
Her father drew in a breath and sighed before replying. She already knew what the answer was. It hurt to hear him say it, nevertheless.
“I am sorry, child, but I would have to go with your mother on this one. I know you have been searching for the one, but you have to understand that there is no such thing as love at first sight. Love grows. You’ll see. With care, respect, and affection, it grows. Look at your mother and I.”
“You fell in love the moment you set your eyes upon her. You say so yourself.” She didn’t mean to snap at her father who was a kind man, but she could not help feeling betrayed.
He took no offence, smiling wryly at her outburst. It made her feel sullen, like a spoilt brat.
“I was attracted to her. She was fair, beautiful, and enchanting. I was charmed, but the love we share now, it did not happen in a day, a week, or even a month. It took years to build. However, we would not be sharing this now if we had not tried. You need to stop with your rejections. It has been six years since you entered society. We have given you enough time; would you not agree?”
A Scandalous Love for the Enticing Duke: A Historical Regency Romance Book Page 3