Page 71 of A Duchess Mistaken
With obvious reluctance, he offered his arm to his sister who took it with the satisfaction that could only be afforded to that of an older sibling. Johnathan watched the pair leave with a pang of envy. He would have loved to be the one on Agnes’ arm, just so that he may bask in her presence a while longer.
“How odd.”
“Hm?” Johnathan didn’t look away from the door at Christopher’s comment. “What’s odd?”
“Miss Agnes hardly paid me any mind as she left. As if she only had eyes for you.”
“Well, I am the host.”
“And I am her betrothed.”
Johnathan opened his mouth to respond, then closed it just as quickly. He’d forgotten about that fact, in truth.
Thankfully, Christopher didn’t look very put out. In fact, he seemed more curious than anything else.
“Is there something you would like to tell me, brother?”
Johnathan swiveled in his chair to face him. He waved a hand over his shoulder, silently dismissing the footmen still hovering in the corner of the dining room. Once they were alone, Johnathan said, “I believe that is a question I should have directed at you a long time ago.”
“Me?” Christopher’s brows dipped. “Do you think I have something to hide?”
“I know you have something to hide. And I think that it is time you confess, before it is too late.”
Christopher just stared blankly at him, blinking a few times.
Johnathan sighed impatiently. “You and I both know you do not want to be married to Miss Agnes.”
“She is a nice enough lady. Quite attractive as well. I admit I had my doubts before meeting her, as you should be well aware, butafter spending some time in her presence, I do not think I will be unhappy in our marriage.”
“You do not? Even though your heart belongs to another?”
Christopher’s frown deepened. “What in God’s name are you going on about?”
“I speak of Miss Caroline, Christopher.”
To Johnathan’s surprise, Christopher’s face didn’t light with understanding. If anything, he seemed more confused. “You think my heart belongs to Miss Caroline? Whatever would have given you that idea?”
“You mean to tell me that you are not in love with Miss Caroline?”
“Love?” Christopher exclaimed. “Johnathan, I assure you that while I do find Miss Caroline to be a lovely lady, I have never had a single significant moment with her, let alone to be in love! Where did you get such an idea?”
Now it was Johnathan’s turn to be confused. He’d been so sure. Agnes had been so sure. All this time, they’d both been wrong about everything?
“Now that I think about it,” Christopher went on. “I did find it rather odd that you were always spending so much time with Miss Agnes. I was beginning to think that you were growing tofancy her but now I wonder if it was only to push me towards Miss Caroline.”
“It was,” Johnathan confessed. “Only because we thought that was what the two of you would have wanted.”
“Johnathan, you could not have been more wrong. I am not in love with Miss Caroline. I am not in love with anyone.”
Johnathan sighed, raking his hands through his hair. Surely they hadn’t been wrong about everything? If Christopher wasn’t the one Miss Caroline was in love with, then who was?
“Now tell me, brother,” Christopher went on, eyes gleaming with interest. “What is going on between you and Miss Agnes? And do not pretend as if it is nothing because I can tell that is not the case.”
For a moment, Johnathan considered lying to him. It felt like something that should be kept a secret. But why? He was desperately in love with Agnes. If he could crawl atop his manor and shout it from the rafters, he would. Telling his brother in confidence should not matter.
“I am in love with her,” Johnathan confessed. He watched Christopher’s face fall and suddenly felt the need to explain himself. “It wasn’t something I had anticipated, nor do I think she expected the same to happen. Though I suppose after spending so much time conspiring with each other, it was only bound to occur. There is much time a gentleman may spend in the company of a lady like Agnes without falling hopelessly inlove with her. But I assure you, it was not my intention to steal your betrothed away.”
“You needn’t assure me of anything, brother,” Christopher quickly said. “As I said before, I was not very keen on getting married in the first place, as lovely a lady Miss Agnes is. If this means that I will be free to enjoy my bachelor lifestyle a while longer, then you have my gratitude.”
