Page 30 of Six Nights to Marry a Marquess

And the pleasant sound of his laughter filled the air around them, a rare moment of levity between the pair that seemed to momentarily lift the weight of their circumstances. However, the disapproving gazes of passersby quickly served as a reminder of the society’s scrutiny under which they found themselves. Theodore, noticing the looks as well, broached the subject with a hint of resolve.

“Given our situation, it seems prudent to consider a few adjustments,” he suggested, his voice carrying a seriousness that drew Agnes’s attention.

“Adjustments?” she echoed, curiosity piqued.

“Thetoncontinues to see us through the lens of scandal. We must endeavor to present a united front, to demonstrate the depth of our affections for one another. This means we shall need to spend more time in public, to convince even the staunchest skeptics of our... love,” he concluded, the last word hanging awkwardly in the air between them.

They concurred that the plan warranted an attempt, a mutual agreement to face society’s judgment head-on.

The repercussions of their decision became apparent with the publication of the following morning’s gossip sheet.

In a most audacious display of disregard for propriety, Miss Young, the recent subject of considerable scandal, dared to parade herself in Town! One would think the girl would shut herself in her bedchamber, but no!

Is it defiance or mere folly that propels Miss Young to flout the unspoken rules of our society? How does the Duke of Richmond justify such behavior from his ward?

Agnes was quietly studying the venomous lines in the gossip sheet when Emma rushed in, her face alight with concern. "Agnes, have you seen this morning's paper?" she exclaimed.

Agnes looked up, feigning calm. "Yes, I have it here," she said, waving the sheet dismissively. "It's all quite expected, really. Nothing to fuss over."

Frances, following closely behind Emma, wasn't convinced. She approached Agnes, her gaze soft yet piercing. "Aggie, dear, pretending it doesn’t hurt doesn’t fool us. You're about as subtle as a clashing cymbal at a chamber concert."

Emma snatched the paper from the table, her eyes scanning the harsh words. "This is outrageous! They speak as if Theodore hadno part in yesterday's walk. Why must you alone bear the pain of this?" Her indignation filled the room.

Frances sighed, sitting beside Agnes. "When has the judgment of society ever been wielded with fairness, Emma?" she asked, her voice low and thoughtful.

Agnes let out a small, weary laugh. "One becomes accustomed to it, in truth," she confessed, her voice softer now, revealing a trace of her true feelings. "But thank you, both of you, for your concern. It seems one must grow a thick skin or perish under the weight of all these whispers."

“There is no acclimating oneself to the societal barrage of criticism, Aggie,” Emma declared passionately. “Yet, you ought not to shoulder these trials alone. As the adage goes, a burden shared is indeed a burden halved,” she continued, her sentiment earnest.

“And pray tell, who precisely is credited with this saying?” Frances arched a skeptical eyebrow in Emma’s direction, her curiosity piqued.

“I’m not entirely certain... but it’s whattheyproclaim,” Emma reiterated, emphasizing the anonymous authority with a hint of defensiveness.

“You pose peculiar inquiries, Frannie,” Emma remarked, a touch of amusement coloring her tone.

“To match your yet more peculiar proclamations,” Frances retorted with an eye roll.

For the first time in days, Agnes heard herself laugh. How she had missed her friends’ banter. The recent events had changed her, and she feared she would soon be unrecognizable.

CHAPTER 15

“Knock on the door already, Leslie,” Theodore heard Harriet’s voice filter through the heavy wood of his study door, her tone a mixture of impatience and determination.

“Why must it always be me who performs the knocking?” Leslie grumbled in response, his reluctance palpable even through the barrier separating them.

“Silence, lest he overhear and conjures up yet another reason to evade us,” Harriet cautioned, her words laced with a hint of exasperation.

Theodore set aside the quill, his attention diverted from the ledgers that had consumed him for the better part of the day. Since the news of the scandal broke, he had submerged himself in work, a convenient excuse to avoid the inevitable interrogation from his sisters. He had little desire to navigate the barrage of questions and the subsequent need for explanations he was bound to face.

Yet, it seemed his attempts at evasion had merely postponed the inevitable. The reality that he could not forever dodge their inquisitive natures loomed large in his mind. He should have realized sooner that escape was a temporary solution at best.

He remained seated, observing the door with a resigned anticipation. The muffled sounds of their debate barely reached him, but the expected knock eventually came, breaking the silence that had settled in the room.

Choosing not to acknowledge the knock verbally, Theodore rose from his chair, a silent concession to the unavoidable. He crossed the room and pulled open the door, bracing himself for the flood of inquiries and concern that awaited him on the other side.

Leslie, pink-faced and somewhat sheepish under Theodore’s gaze, let out a small gasp of surprise. Beside him, Harriet’s expression was harder to decipher.

“Were you by chance anticipating our visit, Brother?” Leslie asked.

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