Page 64

Ahh… Agnes. What have you done to me? Why can’t I get you out of my head?

Matthew slowed the horse down a little bit as Agnes fully invaded his thoughts, despite all he had done to not think about her.

The Season had become a relentless pursuit of distractions, a futile attempt to escape the persistent echo of Agnes’s name in his thoughts. No soirée, no social gathering, and certainly no flirtation seemed enough to fill the void she had left. Matthew yearned for the end of the Season, where he could retreat to the sanctuary of Sempill Estate, away from the maddening swirl of Society.

He couldn’t help but question the truth behind Agnes’s words.

Had she truly run away from him, or was there more to the story?

He just couldn’t believe that Agnes never had any type of feelings for him. How she suddenly grew feelings for the Earl of Egerton was a mystery to him.

And that was exactly what was making everything look unreal.

The uncertainty gnawed at him, leaving him torn between the desire to forget and the nagging curiosity that lingered in the recesses of his mind.

As Thunder slowed to a gentle canter, Matthew steered him back toward the stables. The warmth of the morning sun, the rhythmic motion of the horse, and the fleeting escape from reality had momentarily eased the ache in his heart.

Entering the manor, Matthew was greeted by the familiar sights and sounds. The gentle clinking of teacups reached his ears as he crossed paths with his sister in the sitting room. She looked up from her tea with an impish grin.

“Matthew, darling brother, you look positively disheveled. A vigorous ride, I presume?” Letitia teased, her eyes dancing with mischief.

Matthew chuckled, a hint of embarrassment coloring his cheeks. “One must enjoy the morning air, Letitia. It’s invigorating.”

Her grin widened. “Invigorating, indeed. The housemaids can’t stop gossiping about the handsome Duke parading shirtless after his morning ride. I’m afraid your escapades are the talk of the town.”

Matthew rolled his eyes, playfully exasperated. “I can’t escape the relentless scrutiny, can I?”

Letitia laughed, setting down her teacup. “Why would you want to? The ton adores a scandal, especially one involving a handsome duke.”

He sighed, realizing the inevitability of the rumors that would undoubtedly circulate. “Let them talk. I’ve more pressing matters to attend to than the ramblings of idle tongues.”

Matthew started to make his way up to his room when an idea popped into his mind. He knew Letitia had been asking nonstop about Agnes and what caused the rift between them, but he hadn’t told her, and now that this doubt was so big in his mind, he needed to know her thoughts about it.

As he approached her, Letitia greeted him with an arch of her brow. This caused Matthew to sigh, acknowledging the inevitability of the gossip.

With determination, he sat across from Letitia, who shot him a sidelong glance, curious yet wary.

“What do you want now, Matthew?” Letitia asked, her tone a mix of amusement and suspicion.

“I need your unparalleled wisdom, dear sister,” Matthew began, adopting a mockingly formal tone.

Letitia raised an eyebrow. “Oh, this should be interesting. Pray tell, what conundrum plagues the illustrious Duke of Huntington today?”

Matthew leaned forward, a serious expression replacing the playful one. “Agnes.”

The shift in atmosphere didn’t escape Letitia’s notice. “Finally decided to open up about your mysterious estrangement with Agnes, have you?” she remarked, her eyes softening with concern.

Matthew nodded. “It’s time. I can’t keep avoiding it.”

Letitia listened attentively as Matthew unraveled the tangled web of emotions, recounting how Agnes had declared her indifference and the subsequent decision to end their relationship. As he spoke, he found relief in the act of confiding, shedding the weight he had carried alone for far too long.

Letitia’s eyes narrowed in contemplation. “You’ve been wrestling with this on your own for too long, Matthew. Agnes’s sudden change in behavior… it doesn’t add up. There’s more to the story, I’m sure of it.”

Matthew sighed, running a hand through his hair. “That’s precisely what’s been haunting me. I can’t shake the feeling that there’s more to Agnes’s words that night.”

Letitia leaned back, tapping her fingers against the armrest. “I’ve always known her to be pressured by her family, but this time, it seems more serious. Perhaps something happened that forced her hand.”

That’s exactly what I thought.