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 quite boisterous," Lady Leighton laughed, her eyes twinkling as she led them to a part of the gallery which displayed portraits of these boisterous cousins.

The Countess spoke of her family with such warmth and tenderness, her affection for them evident in every story she shared.

She then turned her attention to Agnes, inquiring about her own family. Agnes happily told her about Philip, Harry, and George, her tone filled with fondness as she recounted little anecdotes about each.

"Oh, I should love to meet this little George," the Countess laughed, clearly amused by the stories.

"I doubt you'd say that again when you actually meet him," Agnes chuckled, sharing a knowing glance with her husband, who joined in with a soft chuckle.

"You two make meeting the dear child sound quite ominous," Lady Leighton joined in the laughter.

"Suffice to say, George is a special child," Theodore responded with a slight smile, his voice carrying a mixture of affection and resignation that often accompanied tales of particularly spirited children. Before Lady Leighton could delve further into his personal life, his good humor briefly faltered.

And when he replied to her gentle probing about his own family, he merely mentioned, "I have two sisters," and left it at that. His tone was non-committal, his words sparse, closing off further inquiry in that direction. The Countess, perceptive as she was, must have noticed his reluctance because she tactfully did not push her curiosity further, for which Theodore was silently grateful.

Tea proceeded pleasantly, with the conversation flowing around less personal topics such as the ongoing local events, the upcoming seasons, and the various improvements Lady Leighton had made around her estate.

Later that evening, after returning home, Agnes decided it was time Theodore's sisters joined them for a visit. It struck her that family, especially now, could be a soothing balm for Theodore, who seemed increasingly caught between his duties and his personal burdens. With this thought, she sat at her escritoire and picked up the quill.

My dearest Harriet and Leslie,

I hope this letter finds you both in the best of health and high spirits. I am enchanted with Gillingham Manor, and as such, I wish to invite you to join us.

Theodore and I have been immersed in the many duties and pleasures of the village. We attended the summer festival yesterday, and I hadn't danced so vigorously in a very long time. However, no amount of delightful endeavor can diminish the fondness for family, and I am certain Theodore would love to have you here. He speaks of you often and with great affection.

I look forward to spending time with my new sisters and knowing you better.

With love,

Agnes

P.S. I have included a small sketch of the manor for you!

Agnes hurried down to the front hall as soon as she spied a carriage—from her bedchamber window—rolling down the road toward the manor. It was identical to the carriage they had here, which told Agnes that Harriet and Leslie were indeed arriving.

"Oh, I thought you would never summon us," Harriet exclaimed as she squeezed Agnes in a warm hug, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm.

"We got tired of waiting," Leslie chimed in, her tone playful. "Harriet even contemplated sending Theodore a letter to ask if it was all right to join you," she added, a mischievous glint in her eye.

"Leslie, I... Did... Not..." Harriet eyed her little sister admonishingly, then turned to smile sheepishly at Agnes. The playful banter between the sisters brought a lively energy into the room.

Theodore joined them from his study. His face lit up with genuine delight as he embraced both Harriet and Leslie warmly.

"It"s been an age, Theodore! It seems you"ve been so in love that you"ve quite forgotten about us," Harriet teased.

Theodore chuckled, a hint of sheepishness crossing his features. "Perhaps I am guilty as charged," he said, his glance sliding towards Agnes. They had to keep up pretenses in front of his sisters, too.

Agnes caught his look, and her cheeks warmed with a flush that she could not help, wishing his words were true. Feeling the weight of his gaze, she shyly looked away, her heart fluttering.

Leslie laughed, noticing the exchange. "Oh, look at you two! I"ve never seen Theodore so utterly besotted," she added, nudging her brother playfully.

Theodore, now slightly embarrassed but still smiling, replied, "Well, I have excellent reasons to be." This only deepened her blush, much to the amusement of everyone in the room.

Dinner that night turned into a delightful affair as Harriet and Leslie regaled everyone with updates on the happenings in Town since they had left.

"People are still talking about you," Harriet revealed, a hint of pride in her voice.

"The love story of the season is what some call it even," she added, causing Agnes to blush at the mention.

"Oh, and that sketch of the manor you attached to the letter—it was utterly charming," Harriet complimented, her eyes sparkling with sincerity. "You captured the essence beautifully, Agnes."

Leslie, ever curious, leaned forward. "How do you find the manor? Have you explored it well?" she asked eagerly.

Agnes hesitated, then admitted, "I haven't seen all of it yet."

"Oh, you must let me show you every corner," Leslie offered enthusiastically. "There are so many special places, even the trees we used to climb with Theodore."

Agnes's eyes widened in surprise. "Theodore climbed trees?"

"Oh, yes," Harriet laughed. "He taught us how to climb. Theodore was quite the adventurer when we were young."

She glanced at her husband. "There appears to be a lot I am yet to know."

He tilted his head, his face expressionless, as he sipped his wine. Agnes returned her attention to Harriet and Leslie. Listening to them, she felt a swell of affection and curiosity. It was clear she could learn a lot about her husband from his sisters.

The following morning, Theodore didn't join them for breakfast as he had estate matters to tend to. Agnes was glad for the girls' company, which brought a lively energy to the morning.

"The house looks better than we remember," Harriet observed as she buttered her toast, her eyes scanning the room appreciatively.

"There are more flowers around now," Leslie agreed, her fingers lightly touching the small arrangement at the center of their breakfast table.

"I am glad to see the manor gaining some life thanks to you, Agnes," Harriet said, smiling warmly across the table.

"Oh, it is Mrs. Davis who puts in quite the effort," Agnes confessed, eager to give credit where it was due.

"Mrs. Davis never bothered with flowers before though," Leslie commented thoughtfully. "She tended to them in the greenhouse, but seldom brought them into the house. She always preserved them for important and special occasions alone because that helped in managing the expenses," she explained, providing a glimpse into the household's previous state.

"Expenses?" This revelation from Leslie piqued Agnes's interest. She didn't realize that Theodore had shared details of his finances with his sisters, or that they were aware of the estate's struggles.

"Oh yes," Leslie nodded gravely. "Things haven't been easy for our brother. He's still trying to pay off the debts," she elaborated, her voice tinged with concern.

"What debts?" Agnes asked, her voice rising slightly in surprise. This was news to her.

"Our father amassed a lot of debt, you see," Harriet chimed in, her expression turning rueful. "He nearly ran the estate into the ground with his gambling and drinking and?—"

"That is enough!" a stern voice commanded.

They all looked up to see Theodore standing in the doorway, his expression dark. The room fell silent.

Theodore's eyes swept over the group, his gaze sharp and cold. Without another word, he turned on his heel and walked out.

Agnes hurriedly pushed back her chair, and gathering her skirts, she hurried after him.