Page 22 of A Scandalous Love for the Enticing Duke
“Come here!” Eleanor did just that and soon, they were giggling and laughing, intense moment gone.
“I love you, little pumpkin.”
“Well, I am not so little, anymore,” Eleanor protested as they broke apart, and Agnes chuckled again.
“Of course you are not, it’s why mother is already hatching a plan to get you married off. Before you know it, you too will be moving out of the house to your husband’s home!”
“Not if I have something to do with it. They let you remain unmarried for this long. I shall plead my case as well. The notion of marriage to a complete stranger does not excite me, in any way.”
Agnes sighed as she leaned into her seat. If only Eleanor knew how well she understood. She could only pray that her sister would never have to suffer the same fate as her.
“I totally agree, Eleanor. But, it isn’t so bad. One is only a stranger for a day, and you know what Mother and Father always say, love grows. Further, you can trust them to make a good decision on your behalf. You know they want what is best for you.”
“Father, perhaps. Mother just wants to throw a huge wedding. Sad, if you ask me,” came Eleanor’s grumble causing Agnes to dissolve into a feat of giggles.
“Oh, Eleanor, as true as that is, you must also know that she would never see you married to anyone lesser in class or status.”
“You also should know better, Agnes. A man’s goodness does not lie in his title or his wealth, only in the quality of his heart. There aren’t so many good men in the ton these days. A lot of gentry seem better off. Sadly, Mother would never hear of that. I only pray to find a man who will love me as Father loves Mother.”
This put Agnes in deep thoughts as she mused for a bit, about how sensible her sister was. Indeed, nobility did not lie in title, for Alan was proof of that. Given, he was wealthy in his rights, but he had no title. Yet, he was inarguably the noblest man she had ever met, beyond her father. More than that, he loved her as her father loved her mother. Somehow, she knew that while Nicholas would respect her, do right by her, he would never love her that way. And what would happen when he realised she had given her heart and body to another man?
“Do you find Nicholas agreeable?”
Eleanor’s words pulled her out of her thoughts, and she answered without hesitation.
“Yes. He strikes me as a nice man, and he is easy on the eyes. However, I am not too certain about marriage to him. You see, the prospect of marrying a stranger does not excite me either. Regretfully, I have no choice. I suppose I can only be grateful that he isn’t a terrible choice at all. Just think if Mother had chosen someone like Akwright? The bald head, stout stature, irritatingly arrogant behaviour, and that stinking breath. Ugh! So terrible! The Virgin knows I would have rejected right away!”
It was Eleanor’s turn to have her fit of giggles and the sound gladdened Agnes’s heart. She was now certain that her sister would be fine. The rest of the ride sailed smoothly with light conversation, and by the time they arrived at the McCaulay home, Agnes was in a much more positive mood.
Chapter 15
“Huh. I would not have believed if I wasn’t seeing it myself. I still cannot wrap my head around the fact that you are actually getting married. Look at you, completely besotted and pining over her. Did you know that their great grandmother was rumoured to be a witch? Well, you are welcome. Now you know why they are so enchanting. It’s the witch blood.”
Finally out of his patience, Nicholas turned to look at Benjamin who was standing by his side, interrupting his thoughts with his meaningless chatter. “Do you mind? Bloody hell! You bicker like a woman.”
Anyone else might have picked offence but certainly not Benjamin. Instead, he grinned as though he had hit the jackpot. Nicholas had a feeling that his purpose had only been to annoy him and now that he had succeeded, he counted himself victorious.
“You do know that you can walk up to her, don’t you? She is to be your wife, after all. Your wife.” Benjamin gave into a gale of laughter, further annoying Nicholas who suddenly wished they weren’t in such a formal setting. Otherwise, he would have gifted his dear friend with a blue eye by now. He voiced out his thoughts, and Benjamin laughed harder.
“I do not quite see what is funny. Care to enlighten me?”
“Of course, with pleasure. It’ssimply that I never thought out of the two of us, you would ever be the first to get hitched. I had always imagined that even with my rakish ways, my daughter would be entering society before you got your nose out of those books for long enough to consider taking a wife. I really find it hard to believe you beat me to it.”
Nicholas sighed, unable to believe Benjamin, himself. “Well, since it is hurting you so bad, I am sure it would be an easy feat choosing a wife of your own. You simply have to pick from the numerous ladies you have at your fingertips. And, Mother and Father beat you to it, not I.”
“An excellent suggestion, dear friend! I shall consider when I am thirty. Now, do I hear you complaining about your lovely wife to be?”
“Shush it, Benjamin! I do not know why I keep you around. Come, let us go say our pleasantries. You cannot deny that you have glanced at the redheaded sister one too many times tonight, to pass off as not suspicious. I reckon she still makes your blood boil, your balls itch?”
When Benjamin gave him the stinky eye, Nicholas grinned and mentally congratulated himself for his wonderfully executed revenge. Despite Benjamin’s protests, he managed to drag him across to the other side of the room where the beautiful Birmingham sisters stood in their exquisite clothing. Benjamin’s teasing had been a bit off target for he had not been staring at the eldest Birmingham. No, it was the youngest who had held him enthralled since he set his eyes upon her that evening. He had not been able to get his mind off her all through the week and now, he could not take his eyes off her. Sadly, it appeared he was the only one suffering from that particular infirmity for Eleanor had looked everywhere but his direction, all night. He knew she was still avoiding his gaze, and it made a knot tighten in his chest.
All week, the only thing that had stopped him from calling on Agnes was the fact that he had been afraid he would give himself away. Alas, here he was, doing just that. But how could he help it when she affected him in such a powerful, mysterious way. They soon reached them, but Eleanor was already gone. As she saw them approach, he watched her lean into her eldest sister and mutter something – no doubt an excuse to take her leave. Great. Not only was she avoiding his gaze, she was avoiding him in totality. He looked in the direction he had seen her go and wondered if he should go after her. Deciding against it, he shook his head and gave attention to his wife to be, by all rights. He could go after his heart later.
“Lovely evening, My Lady, yet I am afraid, it is not nearly as lovely as you.” As he rose from his bow, he released the gloved hands he had taken for a kiss. Agnes smiled at him, fondly, sincerely, but there was no hint of a blush on her cheeks. It made him miss his goddess who reddened so unabashedly for him. He forever wanted to see that hue on her cheeks, provided he was the one putting it there. What kind of person had such thoughts about the sister of their betrothed? A bad person, that was.
“It is rather too early to begin with flattery, do you not think, Nicholas?”
A cheeky grin and a wink as he said,“It isn’t flattery if it is the truth, Agnes. You must have heard that a thousand times.”
