Page 33 of A Duchess Mistaken
Caroline’s frown deepened. “Flustered? You?”
“Yes, is that so hard to believe?”
“Yes,” she answered without hesitation.
Agnes couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, I had spent half the day atop a horse trying to pretend I wasn’t terrified so I think I should be given this instance.”
“Well…I suppose that’s true.” Her frown gave way to a bright smile. “Wasn’t this afternoon fun, though?”
“Fun, yes,” Agnes agreed with a sigh. “Tiring, as well.”
“There’s no doubt about that. Do you think we have time for a nap before dinner?”
“We shall have to make time,” Agnes stated. She made her way over to the bed, Caroline on her heels. Together, they collapsed on top, curling into the pillows. Now that she was lying down, Agnes could already feel exhaustion pulling at the back of her eyes.
“Agnes?” Caroline called, pulling Agnes from the call of sleep.
“Hm?” she murmured, her eyes closed.
Caroline paused long enough for Agnes to open one eye and look at her. Her friend was staring up at the ceiling. At last, she said, “Do you think we stand a chance of being happy in our marriages?”
The melancholy in her voice tore at Agnes’ heart. Without thinking, she reached out to take her hand. “I shall make sure of it.”
Caroline said nothing. And Agnes fell asleep thinking about all the ways she could ensure that Caroline never had to ask her that question again.
Johnathan lost himself in his work. It was the only thing he could do to keep his mind off everything that happened during the afternoon. The intention had been clear of course. Do whatever he could to push Miss Caroline and Christopher closer together. But halfway through, those intentions grew muddledwith other wants he didn’t want to give himself time to think about.
Luckily there was a lot of work to be done in the little time he had before dinner. By the time Johnathan looked at his grandfather clock, he realized he’d been going at it for far too long. He had to freshen up before making his way to the dining room.
The moment he stepped away from his desk, the worries and pressures that came along with managing his ledgers disappeared and Miss Agnes was all that filled his mind. Even as he donned cleaner clothes and restyled his hair, it was Miss Agnes he thought about.
Her screech in his ear. Her scent when she was close. The way she narrowed her eyes at him in immediate distrust. Her laughter.
Goodness, he was not at all focused, was he?
Johnathan made his way to the drawing room, surprised to see that his mother was the only one present. She hardly glanced up at his entrance.
“Mother,” he greeted.
She said nothing. She sipped on tea, though why she was doing such a thing at this hour was odd enough. Johnathan scratched the back of his head, uncomfortable.
He hated seeing her like this. All he could see was a shell of the lady she’d once been, someone who wore the title of Duchess of Claymore with pride. But after his father died…
The duchess disappeared. Irene disappeared. His mother disappeared.
Johnathan claimed the seat across from her, studying her. She paid him no mind.
“It has been some time since we’ve been alone, has it not?” he asked amiably. “I do not think we’ve talked in some time.”
“Hm.”
“How was your day? Mrs. Adams informed me that you had tea with our guests. Did you enjoy it?”
“Quite so.”
Johnathan thinned his lips. She wouldn’t even look at him! His frustration was mounting by the second. “Mother, if you are not feeling up to dinner, perhaps it would be best if you retired to your chambers.”
At last, Irene’s eyes flickered to him. “Am I not to eat like everyone else?”
