Page 19 of A Duchess Mistaken
Her smile felt a little more genuine as she huffed a laugh. Agnes couldn’t stop her eyes from straying to the duke. He was still focusing on whatever Solomon was saying. “That may be what is tiring me.”
“Care to tell me about it? I may be able to help.”
Agnes shook her head. She couldn’t begin to explain the questions swirling in her head about the duke. “I will be fine after a long night’s rest, I’m sure. I shall retire early.” She reached out to squeeze her mother’s hand. “Goodnight, Mother.”
“Goodnight, my dear.”
“Are you leaving already, Miss Agnes?” Christopher spoke up as she turned towards the door.
In the corner of her eye, she saw the duke turn to her. Gooseflesh raced across her skin. She clasped her hands behind her, hoping her expression did not give away her suddenly racing heart. “I am.”
He pouted in disappointment. “I bid you goodnight then.”
“Goodnight, my lord,” she returned, but he’d already turned his attention back to Paul, likely to continue rambling about horses.
Agnes turned, keeping her eyes fixed on the door to keep from looking at the duke. But she could feel his eyes. She told herself it was just her imagination, that his recent actions were filling her mind with all manner of things. She held onto that notion as she bid everyone else goodnight—still not meeting the duke’s eyes—and left the drawing room.
The silence was welcoming. Agnes made her way to her chambers and went about the task of donning her nightdress with the help of the maid who had assisted her when she’d first arrived.
The entire task was done in silence but Agnes’ mind was louder than it had been in days. She couldn’t stop thinking about the look on the duke’s face. Why had he looked that way? And why in God’s name did she feel this insane urge to take his hand and tell him that everything would be all right?
The question plagued her as she crawled into bed. Agnes didn’t even bother trying to resume her reading like she usually did.She knew that there was no hope of focusing on anything with the questions assaulting her mind.
She did not know the duke for long. There was no reason for him to look at her like that. And even less reason for her to entertain this insane urge to console him. Console him for what? How could she even think about doing such a thing when she hadn’t a clue what it was about?
Agnes didn’t know how much time passed but she did hear when the door to Caroline’s chambers opened and then closed. She could only assume that everyone else had retired as well. What of the duke? Was he lying awake thinking about their every interaction like she was?
She doubted it. This was quite insane of her to do. She couldn’t fathom that he would be tossing and turning with similar thoughts in his mind. If she was…well, that would certainly make her feel a little better.
What felt like ages later, Agnes finally felt the call of sleep. She let her eyes drift close, her drowsy mind lingering on confusing thoughts of the duke and sheep. Sheep with jumping fences with a number appearing above them. Sheep with the duke’s face. The duke jumping fences. The duke calling numbers. Sheep giving her apologetic looks like the duke had. Her sleep-addled thoughts only grew more confusing as she tried to fully claim the evasive unconsciousness.
The sound of a door opening jolted her out of her half-sleep.
“Caroline?” she called, her voice soft since it was the dead of night. She received no response.
Agnes stared up at the black ceiling as she listened to the door close. Perhaps Caroline could not sleep either and was heading to the kitchen for some warm milk. Agnes was tempted to join her but she didn’t want to risk telling Caroline just how long she had spent thinking about her betrothed.
She rolled out of bed instead, padding over to the window. The moon was out with full force, showering the forest in the distance with silvery light. Agnes sighed, sitting on the chaise lounge. The sight calmed her a bit. She hadn’t even noticed how agitated she’d become.
Something caught her attention. It was a ball of orange light bobbing away from the castle and disappearing into the edge of the forest. Surely that wasn’t a person she’d just seen? Who would be heading into the forest at such an ungodly hour?
She waited by the window to see if the person would reemerge. Agnes sat there for so long that her tiredness crept over her again and she decided to just return to bed. Just as she got up, the ball of orange light returned.
Agnes squinted at the moving figure but her spot on the second floor made it difficult to discern who it might be. A maid, perhaps? But what purpose did a maid have in the forest in the dead of night?
She stared at the moving figure until the light disappeared. Confounded, Agnes returned to her bed and crawled under the covers.
After a few minutes, she heard Caroline’s door open and close again. Her heart began to race. She couldn’t believe it. The person going to the forest so late wasCaroline?
Agnes could not take her eyes off her friend. No matter how much she studied her, Caroline appeared perfectly rested. They were seated at the dining table with the duke, Christopher, and Paul since the married couples had opted to have breakfast in their chambers. It was nice not having parental pressure on them this morning but Agnes hardly had any time to enjoy it.
Caroline didn’t look like she’d spent her night sneaking into nearby forests but Agnes was almost certain it had been her. The only thing she couldn’t understand was why.
Caroline was not an impulsive person. She did not make bold decisions and almost always did what was expected of her. She was the last person Agnes expected to sneak out of her chambers to meet someone in the dead of night. And no matter how much she thought of it, that was the only conclusion Agnes could draw. Caroline had to have met someone. What other reason would she have to go to the forest so late, in a place that she was not acquainted with?
Her dear, secretive friend was oblivious to Agnes’ constant glances. She was tempted to ask her what she’d been doing sneaking around last night but Agnes didn’t want to put her on the spot. And she didn’t know how she would feel if Caroline lied to her.
So she’d concluded that she had to be meeting someone. And if it had to be done in the dead of night in a dark and eerie forest, then it had to be someone she did not want to be seen with.
