Page 22 of A Duchess Mistaken
No matter how many times he looked over at her, he found her already staring at him. That same look of deep concentration remained fixed on her face, now trained on him. He had to quell the urge to cross over the room and ask her what was on her mind.
“Had we been placing bets, Your Grace, I would have won your entire wealth by now.”
The jesting comment came from Lord Sutton, who was making another clean win of their game of whist.
Johnathan set his cards down with a sigh. “I’m afraid my mind keeps wandering, my lord.”
“A decent excuse, if any,” Lord Sutton said with a chuckle. “Are you certain you would not like to place bets?”
Johnathan fixed a grin on his face. “And lose everything I have, as you have so aptly pointed out I would?”
“We cannot know unless you try,” Lord Sutton challenged.
“If I didn’t know better, my lord,” Lord Reeds spoke up, “I would think you wanted His Grace to hand over his wealth to you. Is there not enough of your own to rely on?”
Johnathan didn’t know whether that comment was meant in jest or not but he laughed all the same. “I know when I am bested. I should retire now before I suffer any more blows to my ego.”
“So soon, brother?” Christopher taunted with a grin. “You do not usually give up so easily.”
“I do when I see that the odds are stacked against me. Or in this case, luck.”
Johnathan got to his feetand looked at Mr. Parsons, who had been observing the game silently. “I will need someone to take my place.”
Mr. Parsons blinked bemusedly at him and then his eyes widened with understanding. He quickly got to his feet and said, “I shall beat every one of them.”
Johnathan’s laughter was a little more genuine this time. He patted Mr. Parsons on the shoulder saying, “I have the utmost faith in you. Good night, gentlemen.” And then louder, “Goodnight, ladies.”
Miss Agnes got to her feet as the other ladies bid him goodnight. She stared intensely at him, that frown that had been present since dinner dipping lower. Johnathan paused, wondering if there was something she wanted to say. If she would finally reveal what had been on her mind all evening.
But then she reclaimed her seat and looked away from him towards the conversation amongst the other ladies. She nodded her head but before long, her eyes shifted to him and her frown deepened again. Clearly, she wasn’t listening. Clearly, there was something she wanted to say. And clearly, she had no intention of doing so tonight.
So he left the parlor with an uneasy feeling settling in his gut.
CHAPTER 10
Sleep eluded Johnthan during the night so the moment the sun began poking its head above the horizon, he made his way to his study to get some work done before breakfast. He was tempted to simply eat breakfast at his desk like he was wont to do before his guests arrived, but he still had a task at hand. Even if Miss Caroline and Miss Agnes had learned of his motivations, it didn’t mean anything had changed. He should still play the proper host and the attentive betrothed.
He found some reprieve from this never-ending thoughts in his ledgers when there was a knock on the door. Johnathan frowned, glancing out the window. It was hardly past dawn. Mrs. Adams rarely bothered him at a time like this.
“Come,” he called.
The door opened and Miss Agnes slipped in.
Johnathan went utterly still, not allowing himself to breathe. He stared at her as if he was seeing a ghost and honestly, as tired as he was, he did not rule out the possibility that she was a figment of his imagination. God knew he’d been thinking about her far more than was deemed proper.
Miss Agnes lingered by the door with her hand still on the handle as if she was prepared to leave at any moment. She seemed to be struggling with an internal battle and Johnathan saw the second she came to her conclusion. She released the door handle and came further into the room, raising her chin.
“I know that it is early,” she began.
Johnathan nodded. “Yes,” he breathed.
“And that it would be deemed quite improper for us to be alone together like this if we were caught.”
“I reckon it is rather improper without being caught,” he pointed out, still trying to restart his heart.
“Yes, that is true,” she said. Even though she met his eyes unflinchingly, the way she played with her fingers told him that she was just as nervous as he was. “I understand all of that but I decided to take the risk because what I am about to say to you is quite important.”
Johnathan leaned back in his chair and gestured to the armchair on the other side of his desk. She took the offer and claimed the chair, taking a deep breath.
