Page 74 of Duke of Gold
“Do you know what makes life special, Peggy?” Anna asked suddenly, her tone light yet contemplative.
Peggy met Anna’s gaze, her brows lifting slightly in anticipation.
“Those little moments and gestures that nearly slip us by,” Anna said at last, her voice quiet but thoughtful. “The clement weather we often underappreciate, for instance. The way butterflies and bees flit between flowers without care, the beauty of sunrise and sunset…” She paused, her gaze distant, as though lost in the very memories she described. “But most importantly,” she continued, “having our family—those who depend on us, who trust us. These are the little things, Peggy. Little, but with more significance and meaning than we often care to consider. Much less appreciate.”
Margaret felt the words settle over her, as soft and insistent as the breeze that brushed past them. She turned her gaze forward, her steps slowing as Anna’s sentiment took root in her thoughts.She is right,Margaret realized. Her family had always been her foundation, and yet here she was, withholding the very truth that had brought her back to London. She was giving them less credit than they deserved.
Her chest tightened, but it was not the same ache she had carried since leaving Morgan’s estate. This was different—sharper, but lighter. As though Anna’s words had pried open a door she had been too afraid to approach.
Margaret took a steadying breath, her fingers curling and uncurling around the ribbon of her reticule. “Anna,” she beganhesitantly, her voice softer than usual, “there is something I must tell you.”
Her cousin cast her a sidelong glance, her expression giving nothing away, though her step slowed in silent encouragement.
Margaret swallowed hard, her gaze fixed on the path ahead as she forced the words out. “The reason I returned to London… it is not what I told the family.”
Anna said nothing, allowing the confession to unravel on its own terms.
Peggy hesitated only briefly before continuing. She shared everything—her arrangement with Morgan, the terms they had agreed upon before their vows, and the icy dismissal she had faced in the days following her fall. Her voice faltered as she recounted his plans for her isolated future, the ache in her chest growing with each word.
When she finished, silence stretched between them, broken only by the rhythmic crunch of their boots against the gravel. Margaret dared not look at her cousin, fearing judgment or pity, though Anna’s silence seemed neither.
When Anna finally spoke, her tone was measured, her words deliberate. “It seems to me that there is more to his actions than what you have seen, Peggy,” she said thoughtfully.
Margaret halted, her brows knitting in frustration and disbelief. “I think he simply wishes me out of his life,” she replied bitterly, her voice tinged with resignation.
“I disagree,” Anna countered, her tone calm but resolute.
Margaret turned to her cousin, surprise flickering in her gaze. “You disagree?” she repeated, incredulous. “If I did not know better, I would think you were excusing him—defending him.”
“On the contrary, I do not wish foryouto jump to conclusions and make decisions you might later regret, Peggy,” Anna replied, her tone firm but not unkind.
Margaret frowned, her brow knitting in confusion. “Why would I do that?” she asked, her voice edged with frustration. “I see no reason?—”
“Because you love him,” Anna interrupted, her words steady but carrying an unmistakable significance.
The statement struck Margaret like a thunderclap. She froze, her breath catching in her throat as her cousin’s words echoed in her mind.Love him?The very notion felt overwhelming, yet undeniable. A slow, painful realization dawned within her, and she found herself unable to refute it.
Her heart tightened painfully.Anna is right,she thought, the truth cutting through her defenses with startling clarity. She loved Morgan. She loved the man who had kissed her on acliff surrounded by hydrangeas, the man who had held her after her fall, even the man who had pushed her away with icy indifference. And God help her, she could not bear the thought of a life without him.
She swallowed hard, the lump in her throat making it difficult to breathe. Her gaze dropped to the ground, her hands trembling slightly as she clasped them together.
Anna’s hand slid over hers, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Peggy,” her cousin said softly, her tone infused with understanding. “You needn’t face this alone. Whatever you decide, know that you have my support.”
The words, so simple yet so heartfelt, brought a small measure of comfort. Margaret offered a faint, wavering smile in return. But before she could respond, a familiar figure appeared before them.
“Lady Margaret,” a matronly voice called out, halting their steps. Margaret’s heart sank as she turned to face the Viscountess Milton, a woman well-known for her sharp tongue and insatiable curiosity.
“Lady Milton,” Margaret replied, dipping her head politely.
The Viscountess regarded her with a smile that did not quite reach her eyes. “What a surprise to see youalready back in town,my dear,” she remarked, her tone filled with pointed curiosity.
Margaret felt her cheeks heat, her composure slipping under the intensity of the woman’s scrutiny. But before she could respond, Anna stepped in with effortless grace.
“Oh, I daresay the Duke and Duchess wished to enjoy the remainder of the season,” Anna said brightly. “Itistheir first season together as a married couple, after all. They might as well make the most of it. Do you not agree, Lady Milton?”
The Viscountess blinked, momentarily disarmed by Anna’s cheerful demeanor. “Indeed,” she murmured, though her expression betrayed lingering doubt. With a final, tight-lipped smile, she excused herself and continued on her way.
Margaret exhaled quietly, relieved that Anna had deftly deflected the encounter. “Thank you,” she said softly as they resumed their walk.
