Page 69 of A Duchess Mistaken
“Are you lost, my lady?” Agnes asked in a tightly polite tone. “I do not think your chamber is down this hallway.”
“Not that it is any of your business but I am here to see my niece.” Lady Reeds approached slowly, clasping her hands before her. Agnes thought herself immune to the judgmental once-over Lady Reeds was known for giving, but this particular one irritated her instantly.
“Then I do not know why you have approached me since I am, obviously, not your niece.”
Lady Reeds’ eyes narrowed. “You should mind that tongue of yours, girl. It has stood in your way in securing a husband for you many times before, so don’t think it won’t do the same thing this time.”
Agnes thought of the way James had kissed her in the hedge maze just a few minutes before and could not help the sly smile that stretched across her face. “I’m certain that whomever I marry will enjoy this smart mouth of mine.”
“I can never understand why Caroline enjoys your friendship. The first thing I intend to do when she is married to the duke is ensure that she severs all ties with you.”
“The first thing you will do?” Agnes echoed, raising her brows. “And why do you think you will have any say in what she does after marriage?”
The side of Lady Reeds’ upper lip curled disdainfully. “Because I am her guardian?—”
“Lord Reeds is her guardian.”
“—and she will be nothing without my guidance.”
“I assure you, Caroline will be far better off without your guidance.”
“Why, you?—!”
Agnes took a sharp step backwards, missing the hand that had been flying towards her face. Icy anger turned her blood cold as she leveled Lady Reeds with an even look.
“You are not as intelligent or as astute as you believe you are, my lady,” Agnes said as calmly as she could manage. The stunned, angered eyes of the countess was enough to spur her on. “You think us fools and naive as you and your husband plots to damage the happiness of your niece. You two are her closest living relatives and yet she must turn to those who are not blood to find any warmth. Do you not understand how easily this will turn against you in the future?”
Lady Reeds looked as if she was crossed between attempting to slap her again or dissect her words. “What are you going on about?”
Agnes smiled wanly. “You will know soon enough.”
“Insolent girl! You will learn to watch your tongue!”
“Make another attempt to slap me and I promise that you will regret it.”
The quiet threat was enough to frighten the countess, which was exactly what Agnes had been hoping for. She watched with acute satisfaction as Lady Reeds lowered her fist to her side, then turned with a sniff and stalked off. She watched her go with her own anger still chilling her to her bones.
Beside her, on the other side of the hallway, Agnes heard a door open. She turned to see Caroline standing there, tears in her eyes.
“Caroline,” Agnes said in surprise. “Did you hear any of that?”
She didn’t answer, but the tears gave the answer away easily enough. Agnes opened her mouth to apologize. She always tried to hold back much of her venom so as not to upset Caroline, the pacifist that she was, but before she could get the words out, Caroline rushed forward and wrapped her arms around her.
“You are the dearest person in the world to me,” Caroline pushed out between sobs, her arms wound so tightly around Agnes that Agnes had to catch her breath.
“As you are to me.” Agnes returned the embrace with almost as much strength. “Though any more time like this and I may begin to question you love for me, since you seem determined to stop my breath.”
“Oh, forgive me!” Caroline pulled away quickly. “And I did not mean to eavesdrop. I thought I heard your footsteps and I was planning on coming to ask you about your meeting with the duke when I heard my aunt’s voice and…well, I suppose it will come as no surprise that I did not want to leave my room.”
“Understandable.” Agnes patted Caroline’s hand. “But now that it’s over, you may go back inside. Dinner will be served soon, I’m sure, and I would hate for us to be late.”
“Wait!” Caroline seized Agnes’ hand before she could make her escape. “Won’t you tell me what happened?”
“What happened?” Agnes echoed. “What happened about what?”
“You’re being vague,” Caroline accused, pouting.
“I am. Because I could not possibly tell you.” At the way Caroline’s face fell, Agnes quickly added, “At least not without being behind closed doors.”
