Page 81 of A Duchess Mistaken
“St. James is truly a lovely place to have a wedding, my lady,” Johnathan said carefully. “Though I do not think I will be in need of it.”
“Oh? Do you have somewhere else in mind?”
“I do not. And it does not matter if I do. There will be no wedding.”
Lady Reeds looked stunned. “What do you mean by that?”
“Perhaps you should ask your husband, my lady.”
Confusion and horror warred on her face as she stared wide-eyed at Johnathan. Johnathan immediately regretted his words. There was no telling how Lady Reeds was going to react.
She opened her mouth and he braced himself. But then, she seemed to catch herself at the very last minute, clearly remembering that they were in a rather full ballroom. It was easy to make a scene.
“Pardon me then, Your Grace. I believe I should have a word with my husband.”
With a sniff and her chin jutted upwards, she swiveled on her heels and marched in the opposite direction. Johnathan watched her go with equal parts relief and dread. Something told him that he might have made matters worse before he got the chance to make them better. But Lady Reeds’ departure could not be viewed in any manner but favorable.
But the evening was still young. He knew very well that there could be much more in store for him.
CHAPTER 29
Paul was, unsurprisingly, next to Christopher. And, equally unsurprisingly, they were engaged in a deep conversation about horses.
“Paul, there you are!” Mary exclaimed as they approached. “I had wondered if you were off somewhere causing trouble.”
Agnes held back her smile at her brother’s pout. “Mother, you needn’t coddle me.”
“I do not think she is coddling you, Paul,” Agnes drawled. “I think she is keeping you on a leash. Much like an unruly dog.”
“Then what would make you?” Paul shot back. “A loyal one to be following her around?”
Agnes raised her brows in surprise. She wasn’t offended really. She knew her brother didn’t mean it any more than she meanther words. But she was surprised at the ease and swiftness of his retort.
“I concede,” she told him and nearly burst out laughing at the stunned look on his face.
“You do?” he asked in disbelief. A broad smile steadily stretched across his face as he looked excitedly at Christopher, who seemed to be quite amused by the exchange. “Did you hear that? I have bested her at her own game!”
“Yes, quite an admirable feat indeed,” Christopher agreed with a laugh.
“Now, now, none of that,” Mary scolded, but her eyes sparkled with mirth. “I need you to be on your best behavior for this evening, Paul.”
Paul’s good humor fled the moment those words left her mouth. “Why?” he asked warily.
“Because, Miss Rosemarie and her family are in attendance and it is about time that we greeted them.”
Paul’s shoulder slumped and Agnes could hear the whine in his voice before he even opened his mouth. “Mother, please!”
“Oh come now, you two are friends, are you not? And I am friends with Miss Rosemarie’s mother. It would not do for us towait so long to greet them. I promise that you may return to your riveting conversation about horses when we are finished.”
“Which I reckon will be ages!”
“Perhaps so. Perhaps not. It all depends on how swimmingly the conversation is going, don’t you think?” Mary expertly attached Paul to her side, giving him little chance to escape. “Do you see her? She is in a lovely primrose gown.”
Agnes couldn’t help her amused smile as she watched her brother skim the area before him before he said, “Yes, I see her.”
“Doesn’t she look lovely?”
“She always looks lovely,” Paul responded easily. His words were met with a beat of silence and he noticed a little too late what he had said. “Not that I mean anything by it! I am only speaking objectively!”
