Page 62 of Six Nights to Marry a Marquess

The following afternoon saw Agnes and Theodore riding to Lady Leighton’s house for tea. The carriage journey was quiet, filled with the soft clatter of hooves and the gentle rocking of their transport. Agnes noticed her husband appeared deep in thought, his brow furrowed, perhaps dwelling on the myriad pressures of his current situation. She realized that despite their efforts, he had gained little relief from their arrangements, and she herself was still yet to fulfill her own end of the bargain.

“We cannot drop our guard with the Countess,” Agnes broke the silence at last, her voice low and deliberate, cutting through the quiet tension.

Theodore turned to her, his expression shifting to one of attentiveness.

“She is a member of society, and even though she doesn’t seem like the gossiping type, I think we should give her no room to doubt our marriage. Besides, I still need to fulfill my own end of the bargain,” she added, her tone serious yet laced with a determination to manage the situation proactively.

After a brief pause, he nodded his agreement. There was something in his gaze which unsettled her, a complexity she couldn’t quite decipher, its depth unnerving yet compelling.

He helped her down from the carriage upon their arrival and led her up the stairs to the entrance of Lady Leighton’s elegant home.

“Are you all right?” He asked her as they ascended, and there was an undeniable warmth in his tone, one that seemed to seek more than just a superficial affirmation.

Agnes met his gaze, a bit of surprise flickering across her features at the concern in his voice. She was further surprised to find an echo of that warmth in the depths of his green gaze, a softness she had not anticipated but which made her heart flutter slightly with renewed hope and affection.

She nodded, desperately wishing it wasn’t merely her imagination fueling the warmth she sensed from Theodore. How she wanted him to truly care.

The butler led them into the drawing room where Lady Leighton received them with open arms and a bright smile. “Oh, it is sucha delight to have you over,” she greeted them warmly, her voice echoing through the elegantly appointed room.

“You are back in the country quite early. The season is still ongoing,” Theodore observed casually over tea, raising an eyebrow slightly as he accepted a cup from the hostess.

“I hardly stay in Town to be honest,” Lady Leighton responded with a light wave of her hand, dismissing the notion as trivial. “Essex has been my home since marriage. And there really is no place which compares to it for me,” she added, her tone affectionate as she spoke of her home.

“We all get attached like that,” Agnes chimed in, relating to the sentiment of finding comfort in the familiar.

“A little too attached, some would say,” the Countess chuckled sheepishly, a twinkle in her eye. “I haven’t been to London in three years,” she confessed, causing Agnes to feel her eyes widen in surprise.

“Three years?” Agnes echoed, her surprise evident.

“Yes. Three good years of uninterrupted fresh country breeze,” Lady Leighton said, her voice rich with the contentment of a woman thoroughly in love with her lifestyle. “And those horrid gossip sheets, I am glad to be free of them. They are not allowed in this household, you see.”

Agnes smiled, relieved. It seemed the countess was blissfully unaware of the scandal that had precipitated her hasty marriage to Theodore.

“You are missing nothing back in Town, My Lady,” Theodore encouraged the countess, offering a reassuring smile. He plucked a sandwich from the platter and gently placed it on Agnes’s plate, then leaned in slightly. “Is there anything else you’d like?” he asked softly.

Agnes smiled back at him, her heart light. “I’m quite all right, thank you,” she replied, her eyes twinkling with appreciation for his attentiveness.

“Oh, it’s been a while since I saw a couple so in love,” the Countess clapped her hands together in delight, observing their interaction with an amused and fond expression. Agnes felt a warmth spread to her cheeks at the comment, her face flushing with a mix of embarrassment and happiness.

After tea, the Countess stood up, her movements graceful and fluid. “Shall I give you a little tour of our home?” she suggested with enthusiasm. Agnes and Theodore both nodded eagerly, curious to see more of the impressive estate.

Lady Leighton led them through her home, eventually guiding them to her portrait gallery. She proudly provided a history of her family, pointing out ancestors with stories that brought the painted figures to life. As they moved through the gallery, Agnes suddenly stopped in her tracks before a particular portrait, her surprise audible.

“Oh,” Agnes let out in shock as they came across the portrait of a familiar figure. “Lord Asmont?” she wondered out loud, her voice tinged with disbelief.

“You know my nephew?” Lady Leighton asked, turning to face Agnes with raised eyebrows, a hint of curiosity in her voice.

CHAPTER 29

“Well, he is very much active in society, so I suppose you would,” she answered her own question with a sheepish chuckle, brushing off the momentary surprise.

“Asmont is your nephew,” Theodore repeated, his tone reflecting a blend of surprise and intrigue as he still grappled with the connection.

“Oh yes. His father was my older brother,” Lady Leighton explained, her voice carrying a hint of nostalgia. She gestured gracefully towards another set of portraits, enriching their tour with more personal history.

What were the odds? Agnes thought to herself, marveling at the smallness of their world.

“Our parents had just the two of us, late Asmont and I. But we grew up surrounded by cousins who made the household quiteboisterous,” Lady Leighton laughed, her eyes twinkling as she led them to a part of the gallery which displayed portraits of these boisterous cousins.

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