Page 42 of A Duchess Mistaken
The duke was still trying to be the peacemaker. “There is no need to be upset,” he began.
“Yes, let us just begin,” Mary stepped in. She joined Agnes and took her own stick. “This heat is dizzying enough for us to be standing around shouting at each other.”
Lord and Lady Reeds were quickly overwhelmed when everyone else made haste for their sticks, including the duke. With that, their objections fell on deaf ears.
Caroline, however, still seemed uncertain. She approached her aunt and uncle like she would a lion. “I shall do my best,” she assured them.
Lady Reeds huffed in annoyance but said no more, dragging her husband away before he could say anything else.
“Now that that is over with,” Agnes said to the others, turning her back to the annoying couple. “Shall we?”
They all nodded. Caroline, Paul, Christopher and Mary were on one side while Agnes, the duke, Solomon and the dowager duchess occupied the other. Agnes still couldn’t believe that the dowager duchess had agreed to play. She was quiet but she heldon tightly to her stick and her eyes did not seem as lifeless as they usually were.
Caroline’s team began first. The game began with ease, the tension and discomfort that came from Lord and Lady Reeds’ protests dissipated as a cloud drifted in front of the sun and the game came into full swing. Mary and Solomon seemed more focused on besting each other than anything else, her mother taking to taunting her husband and Solomon getting quite flustered every time she did. Christopher and Paul were devising strategies on how best to play, opting to use the tactic of knocking the opposing team’s balls out of the way rather than go for the goal themselves. Caroline didn’t seem very happy with that plan but she was willing to go along with it for the sake of everyone else.
Agnes was happy watching it all. After a while, she forgot the truth purpose of this game and began enjoying herself instead.
“It does not surprise me that you are quite competitive, Your Grace,” she said to the duke as they began their trek to their balls. She’d been a little nervous approaching him after what happened in his study and her sudden realization but whatever tension that had persisted between them was now gone.
“It comes with being a Harken,” the duke replied. Though he didn’t smile, his eyes shone. “As you might be able to tell, we tend to get very invested in these games.”
“I can see that.” Agnes laughed as Christopher threatened to break his stick when he made a bad shot. The dowager duchesswas up next. She’d remained quiet this entire time but she too played as if she intended to win.
“And I see that I must bring my best game if I play with you,” the duke went on.
Agnes didn’t dare look at him this time, her heart skipping a beat. “We are on the same side, Your Grace. You needn’t worry.”
“Your tone implies that I would have to had it been the other way around.”
“Oh, of no doubt, of course,” she said easily and felt a ball of pleasure in her chest when he laughed.
“It seems our plan is working nonetheless,” he commented.
Agnes followed his gaze. It was Caroline’s turn and her ball was stuck in a particularly difficult position. Agnes’ brows rose when Christopher came to her side to help her take the shot.
“Far better than I thought it would,” she confessed with surprise. “Though we will have to tread lightly seeing that you are being watched rather closely by Lord and Lady Reeds.”
“I cannot understand why they are so upset. I have already agreed to marry Miss Caroline. It should not matter if I spend time with her or not.”
Agnes looked at him with a frown. “Was us spending time here not with the intention of you getting to know your betrothed and Lord Christopher his? If that is how you think about such things, then why bother?”
The duke must have realized he’d put his foot in his mouth a moment too late. “That wasn’t what I meant…”
“Then what did you mean?”
“Of course, I think it is best if we grow fond of each other before we make the final preparations. But I had already stated my intentions to Lord and Lady Reeds. They should have trust in my honor.”
“Need I remind you, Your Grace, that such honor means nothing now that you have no intention of marrying Caroline any longer.”
“Yes, but they do not know that.”
Agnes’ lips twitched. “It is quite cumbersome, don’t you think?”
“What is?”
“Referring to each other in such a formal manner. In the eyes of others, we will be family when we are both married. It would not be odd if I refer to you as Johnathan. Or perhaps John, for short.”
He didn’t respond right away. Agnes held her breath. Had she been too forward?
