Page 44 of A Duchess Mistaken
CHAPTER 17
“What do you think? Quite impressive, is it not?”
Johnathan nodded as he admired Lord Sutton’s pocket watch and matching snuff box, which he kept empty. Apparently, Lady Sutton did not like tobacco and Lord Sutton respected his wife too much to do what she did not like.
“A splendid make, my lord,” Johnathan admitted, awed by the craftmanship. He held up the snuffbox to the chandelier of the parlor they were standing in. As customary as it had become, they had all retired to the parlor after a particularly lively dinner earlier. The only difference was that this time, Lady Sutton was the one playing the pianoforte, claiming it had been a while since she’d played for others and ‘wanted to see if she was still as perfect as she was once was’.
And there was no denying that she was. Her beautifully crafted music relaxed Johnathan as he studied the snuff box.
“A relic from India,” the viscount told him. “There are very few of them still in existence. I was lucky enough to have procured not only the box but the matching pocket watch as well. So don’t bother asking me to name a price, Your Grace,”
Johnathan chuckled alongside him, not bothering to inform the viscount that he was nothing but a penniless duke and could hardly afford to keep the roof over their heads. “And just like that, I have been thwarted.”
“Have you been to India, Your Grace? Or rather, do you have any plans of returning in the future?”
“I have, during my travels before I assumed the dukedom, my lord. As for plans to return, I have not considered any.”
“Good,” Lord Sutton responded with a nod. “I was half afraid that you would consider taking our dear Caroline to India for your honeymoon. I should tell you right now that she will much prefer a far more romantic destination. Like the British Isles or Scotland.”
Johnathan hadn’t even considered having an expensive honeymoon. He was a bit relieved that he didn’t have to think about that any longer now that he was determined to pair Miss Caroline with his brother.
“You seem to be quite close with Miss Caroline,” he commented.
“She is like a daughter to us. I hope for a good match for her as I do Agnes. This situation seems to be the best case to have found ourselves in.”
Johnathan considered testing the waters. After all, he hadn’t forgotten that he had been the one to arrange the match between Agnes and his brother. Which meant the onus was on him to convince the viscount that such a match was no longer in the best interest of the affected parties.
“Father, are you boring His Grace with your tales from India?”
Right on cue, his heart stopped in his chest. Johnathan had to hold himself incredibly still to keep from whirling upon Agnes’ approach. She’d been by Miss Caroline’s side ever since they returned from their pall mall game and even though they had been engaged in conversation during dinner, they hadn’t had much direct conversation since.
“You are the only one who finds them boring, Agnes,” her father quipped without a moment’s hesitation.
“That is because I cannot yet relate to them.” Catching Johnathan’s eye, she added, “I have always wanted to go to India, you see. Perhaps for my honeymoon.”
“Your honeymoon?” he echoed dumbly. “I would have thought you’d prefer a far more romantic destination.”
“Romantics have never been of much interest to me,” she said dismissively. “But if not for my honeymoon, perhaps I shall find some other opportunity to visit. If only to see the merchants Father likes to go on about.”
“Do not let her fool you, Your Grace,” the viscount said. “She loves my stories from my travels.”
Agnes grinned at that but said no word of protest. Johnathan filed that tidbit of information away with the other little things he’d learned about her since they’d met. Things that were only piling up, only making him want to know more.
“Well, I did not come to interrupt your conversation for long,” Agnes went on. “I only came to make a suggestion to His Grace.”
“A suggestion about what?” he asked.
“About what we should do tomorrow. Caroline and I would love to see the village. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could all make an outing out of it early tomorrow morning?”
“You would like to see the village?” Christopher jumped in. Johnathan hadn’t even noticed his approach.
Agnes nodded at him and Christopher grinned.
“A wonderful suggestion, Miss Agnes! It has been some time since I’ve gone out into the village myself. I would love to act as a guide.”
“Are there many things to do?” Agnes asked.
“Quite so. As a matter of fact, it may be best for us to leave directly after breakfast if we wish to take advantage of the time.”
