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The duke's eyes narrowed, and he began to look pained, though it was also clear that he knew she was speaking sense. There was no way around it; that they both knew.
"What else would you do? Leave your daughter's future in the hands of some distant cousin once you have passed? And mine and my daughter's too?" Agnes continued when he still did not speak. "My Lord, as much as I hate to admit it, neither of us is getting any younger, and until both our daughters are married, both theirs and my future is left uncertain if anything should happen to you."
Though she truly felt nothing but anger, Agnes had long since grown used to the ways of manipulating men, so she began to wrinkle her nose, allowing just a few tears to prick the corners of her eyes. Though she felt foolish doing so, she was also well aware that it might just be the only way for her to manage to get her husband to listen to her. She had tried everything else; being a fragile and emotional woman might well be her very last option.
"Agnes, I …" he began, rising from his chair the moment he seemed to notice the tears in her eyes. "I had no idea that you felt so strongly, that you were so worried over this matter."
Agnes held her breath as her husband skirted around his desk and came to stand before her. His hands landed upon her upper arms, and he squeezed her reassuringly as he gazed into her eyes. There was true affection in his gaze, and Agnes almost felt sorry for manipulating him, yet she allowed several more tears to fall, certain that she might finally be getting through to him.
"Oh, George, I did not wish to worry you or try to push you to do anything, but my concerns grow by the day," she said, sniffling to appear as though she was fighting more tears. "I am afraid for myself and our girls, and the worry sickens me to my stomach. I am finding it harder and harder to eat, and my sleep is restless."
Even to her own ears her voice was more than a little whiny, and it grated on her nerves. She knew without a doubt that she had her husband right where she wanted him. She could see it in his eyes, in how his gaze darkened with concern and how his face grew pale, his lips pursing into a thin line.
"What would you have me do?" he asked, still holding onto her arms as though he feared to release her in case her concern grew too heavy for her and she collapsed right in front of him.Men always believe us so fragile,Agnes thought grimly.
She could almost see why Daisy was so reluctant to marry, yet she knew things that Daisy didn't, ways of manipulating men into getting exactly what she wanted.The girl will learn the skill once married if she is as intelligent as she claims to be.
"I would have you give me the permission to begin searching for a husband for both our girls," Agnes insisted, trying to keep herself from smiling. She couldn’t help feeling as though she was so close to getting exactly what she wanted. "Of course, Daisy shall be my top priority, but I see no reason we cannot look for husbands for them both at the same time."
George does not need to know that I already have a husband in mind for Bertha,Agnes told herself firmly, deciding it was better not to draw attention to her plans,let him believe I have only Daisy's best interests at heart.
"I cannot help feeling I ought to speak with Daisy first," George responded, his eyelids growing heavy as though he was deeply exhausted by their entire conversation. "She is a grown woman and deserves the right to make her own choices."
"Oh, yes, of course, she does, but when it comes down to it," Agnes said quickly, knowing she only had a moment to put him off the idea, "she is still your daughter, and whether she thanks you for it at first or not, deep down she knows you shall only ever do what is best for her. Perhaps our finding the perfect match before speaking to her would be best?"
The duchess momentarily feared she had lost her husband all over again when she saw how his eyebrow started to raise. His lips parted as if to protest, but Agnes quickly continued, "Think of it as carrying the burden so that she does not have to. If we pick out the correct gentleman, she will not be distracted by all the others, and maybe then, she will finally warm to the idea."
Agnes watched and waited in anticipating silence for her husband to think over what she had just said. Even before he answered, she could feel her excitement and relief bubbling up, threatening to overwhelm her. She could see his decision written plainly on his face before he announced, "Very well. You have my permission to do whatever is required."
At that moment, Lady Balfour was so happy with her husband, so relieved that they were finally on the same page, that she pushed herself up onto her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his cheek. "Thank you, my love. I promise you shall not regret it."
When she stepped back, his hands fell from her arms, and he looked quite gobsmacked. Determined to hurry from the room before he could possibly change his mind, Agnes smiled at him and curtseyed low, backing away before he acknowledged her with a nod.
"Do not let me keep you a moment longer," she insisted, continuing to back away with her gaze firmly on the ground. "I am well aware of how busy you are, my love. Do not worry. I shall take care of everything."
Before she had even left the room, her mind was whirling with ideas. Names and faces flitted through her thoughts, giving her all kinds of ideas on just what she had to do to make Daisy's life a living hell until she would finally agree to marry. There was nothing that Agnes wanted more than to see her stepdaughter well away from Balfour House.I merely want what is best for her,Agnes told herself firmly, yet deep down, she knew the truth.
Every time she looked at Lady Daisy Lockhart, she could see Lord Balfour's first wife, the wife he had loved more than life itself, the woman that Agnes could never live up to no matter how hard she tried. She would be pleased once Daisy was gone from beneath her roof; perhaps then, her husband might finally be hers and hers alone. Maybe then she and Bertha might finally be able to further the prospects for their future. It was now just a matter of time.
Chapter 10
It was the perfect time of year to visit Christ Church Meadow, or so Daisy believed, not too hot, yet the birds, bees, and butterflies were flitting and buzzing about, making the entire place sparkle with beauty. Wide-open lawns, ponds, and rose gardens all teemed with life, and there was nothing Daisy liked more, save for spending her time beneath the university windows.
That was until she had met Mr Radcliffe. Now her favourite times were spent in the library of her father’s townhouse, in the company of a man she had been predisposed to hate due to her father’s determination to use him to keep her away from the university.
“Daisy, are you well?” Jennifer, her closest friend asked, making her jump. The two of them had been sitting in the meadow upon their favourite bench overlooking one of the many fountains for quite some time, talking about the latest gossip and Jennifer’s upcoming wedding. Daisy had switched off, beginning to reply automatically. “Are you even listening to me, or are you so intent on whatever is going through your head?”
Daisy turned to her friend, feeling guilty, the sensation causing her cheeks to grow hot with embarrassment. “Forgive me; I have had a lot on my mind of late. Please, continue what you were saying.”
Or better yet, start right from the beginning so that I might hope to actually listen to what you are saying this time,Daisy thought guiltily. Though she loved her friend very much, there was only so much she could listen to when it came to flower arrangements, wedding dresses, and ensuring that every guest would be happy with where they were seated for the wedding reception.
“I was just saying that I believe everything is going well. The dresses are coming along splendidly, and I was at the florists just yesterday morning. All the invitations have been sent out finally, and I can’t wait for you to attend the wedding,” Jennifer explained, and Daisy could feel her watching her closely, almost as if she were about to drop some kind of bomb. “Perhaps then you will see what a good thing it is.”
“Jennifer …” Daisy sighed and shook her head. “Just because I have no wishes for marriage does not mean I cannot see the benefits it has for other young ladies.”
“Do those benefits not apply to you?” Jennifer asked, and she raised an eyebrow, barely appearing to blink as if she were frightened she might miss something. She didn’t even look away when someone called something across the lawn.
Though whoever was calling was not doing so to them but someone else in the distance, Daisy instinctively turned, hoping to avoid her friend’s gaze for a few moments. Of late, she did not entirely trust herself when it came to the subject of men and romance, not after the things she had been feeling in the library with Mr Radcliffe.
