Page 73 of Six Nights to Marry a Marquess

Instead of going back to bed as she had mentioned, Agnes found herself walking out into the gardens after donning a cloak. Amongst the moonlit flowers and cobbled walkways, she couldn’t restrain her tears any longer.

In the quiet of the night, surrounded by the beauty of nature that seemed oblivious to her sorrow, the realization hit her hard. She had fallen for a man who would never love her.

How could you have allowed yourself to fall in love, Agnes? You knew his conditions, and you accepted them.What a miserable life this was. She wept, mourning the life and love she would never have.

“I have an announcement.” Leslie walked before the fireplace in the drawing room, capturing the full attention of the gathered guests. The chatter and laughter in the room calmed as all their attention shifted onto the girl in front of them. “Harry and I have prepared a performance for you all,”

Agnes’ brows rose, and she smiled. Harry nodded and joined Leslie, his violin in hand. “Did you know about this?” Harriet asked Agnes, her eyebrows raised in surprise, too.

Agnes shook her head. “I am as in the dark as you all are,” she replied.

“Oh, Iknewthere was ample talent in this family!” Lady Leighton declared enthusiastically as Leslie and Harry prepared their violins. Agnes had invited the Countess over for tea, seeing it as the perfect opportunity to reciprocate the earlier dinner invitation and introduce her brothers to the delightful woman.

The room was filled with anticipation as the duo prepared to play what seemed like a promising duet. Leslie began, her bow gliding over the strings with a practiced ease that belied her modesty about her skills. Agnes found herself very much impressed by the young girl’s playing; Leslie was too humble, she noted, observing the grace with which she handled the violin.

Soon after, Harry joined in. The little boy fumbled a bit with his first notes, his fingers slightly hesitant. But as he found his rhythm, the music swelled, filling the room with a harmonious blend that drew smiles and nods of appreciation from everyone present.

Leslie smiled encouragingly at Harry, and this seemed to dissolve his initial nerves. He returned her smile with a grateful one of his own and picked up his performance. Soon,their melodies flowed perfectly into each other, creating a harmonious blend that filled the room with beautiful music.

“Oh,” Lady Leighton sighed deeply, her expression one of profound admiration. Agnes had never seen anyone so captivated by a performance.

There was something hauntingly familiar about the melody the children played, but Agnes found herself unable to place it precisely. Just then, they heard music from the pianoforte join the violins. It was the exact melody the children played, and the introduction was seamless, perfect even.

Agnes turned, expecting to see Harriet at the pianoforte, but the young lady in question was seated beside her. Instead, to her surprise, it was Theodore who was playing, his long fingers gliding gracefully across the keys. Her husband had been out on estate rounds, and they had all been so invested in the performance that no one seemed to have noticed his entrance.

The violin and pianoforte filled the air with the most enchanting tune. As Agnes watched her husband play, she suddenly realized the familiarity about Leslie’s choice of melody. It reminded her a lot of the one Theodore had played once before. The two pieces were as different as they were alike. There was that magical melancholy about both compositions that somehow managed to tug at the heart and soothe it at the same time.

“Oh, I never saw such perfect harmony,” Lady Leighton gushed as the music finally came to an end. “You lot are indeed the musical family!” She commended, her eyes shining with delight.

Leslie and Harry grinned at the praises the countess showered upon them, clearly pleased with the success of their surprise performance.

Theodore’s gaze met Agnes’s then, and he offered her a warm smile before turning his attention to his sister and Harry. “I found the old music sheets,” Leslie said to her brother, her voice filled with a mix of pride and excitement.

“Did you, now?” Theodore asked, a hint of surprise and curiosity coloring his tone. There was a sudden curious change about his demeanor now, but Agnes couldn’t quite decipher it as usual. “Well, you two played them beautifully,” Theodore complimented, his voice genuine and encouraging.

“You played beautifully too, Brother,” Leslie returned happily, her admiration for her brother evident in her eyes.

Agnes smiled at their exchange, feeling a brief moment of contentment at the family’s harmony. But her good humor dissolved immediately when her gaze traveled to a sight which left her equal parts shocked and worried. Harriet was in tears.

When Agnes’ gaze met hers, the girl quickly turned in a futile attempt to hide her emotions. No one else seemed to have noticed, however.

Before she could act, Harriet quickly gained her feet and slipped out of the room through the open French doors. Agnes’s concern deepened and she wondered what could have brought on such a sudden show of distress.

Agnes had half a heart to follow her, but thought to give her some time, as she clearly would not welcome the curiosity at this time.

“Would you like to go rock fishing with me, Lady Leighton?” George suddenly asked the Countess, his voice breaking the murmur of soft conversations around them.

“Rock fishing?” the Countess echoed, her brow arching in a mix of perplexity and amusement.

“Yes, at the pond,” George responded eagerly. He leaned forward, his hands animated as he explained, “We simply look for the fancy rocks in the water and collect them.”

Before the Countess could reply, Harry chimed in with a teasing tone, “Since when do you care about fancy rocks, Georgie?”

“I do not care about fancy rocks,” George replied, his cheeks turning a slight shade of red. “But I am collecting them with a lady. And Lady Leighton deserves fancy rocks,” he added, his declaration earning a round of laughter from those gathered in the room.

“Why, such gallantry at such a young age!” Lady Leighton’s laughter rang the loudest, her eyes twinkling with mirth as she looked down at George, who was trying his best to appear the gentleman despite his youthful blush.

Meanwhile, Theodore, sensing a need to divert some attention from young George’s embarrassment, stepped forward with a gracious smile. “Perhaps, George you would like to hear about one of my journeys across the Continent, and I dare say, the spectacle of the Alps is quite beyond description.”

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