Page 9 of A Duchess Mistaken
Miss Agnes changed before his eyes. He didn’t realize how stiff her posture had been until she relaxed. The smile that stretched across her face knocked the wind from his chest and she whirled to face him with her brown eyes lit with happiness.
“Caroline is here!” she exclaimed.
Johnathan couldn’t force a smile on his face no matter how much he tried. Miss Caroline had finally arrived. The warmth that had come over him at Miss Agnes’ smile transformed into a deep-seated chill that stole every happy emotion from his body.
The seriousness of his face had Miss Agnes frowning in confusion. Johnathan didn’t give her the chance to question him on his sudden change of demeanor. He turned away.
She stared at him a moment longer before she faced the room instead. “Caroline is here, everyone. Let us go out to greet her.”
She raced out of the room without waiting for a response. One by one, they all rose and followed her out, the Parsons family thrumming with excitement at the newcomer. Johnathan followed them out behind his mother, feeling like a rock was lodged in his throat.
He knew this was going to happen. He had been the one to invite Miss Caroline here, after all. But now that she had arrived, Johnathan wished he could just send her back home.
CHAPTER 5
Propriety be damned, Agnes would have kicked off her heeled shoes if she could bother to stop. Instead, she grabbed ahold of her dress and raced out of the castle, flying down the steps into the driveway just as her beloved friend alighted from the carriage.
Caroline’s eyes lit with happiness the moment she spotted Agnes. Agnes didn’t stop, charging straight to her friend with her arms wide open this time. She expected Caroline to do as she’d always done when they greeted each other after a while of being away—throw her arms around her in a tight embrace.
Someone cleared their throat. Agnes watched as Caroline’s excitement was shuttered away and her smile fell. She came to a halt in front of Caroline, letting her arms drop to her side.
“It is good to see you, Agnes,” Caroline greeted in a soft voice.
Agnes frowned. This wasn’t like Caroline at all. Her naturally exuberant friend would have tackled her to the ground if she thought she could get away with it.
An aged gentleman came to stand next to Caroline and Agnes immediately understood her friend’s uncharacteristically reserved demeanor. The Earl of Reeds, Harold Charmain was a dreadful man with a dreadful appearance: his white and black hair receding to the crown of his head and his eyes narrowed to slits that viewed everyone with disdain. Agnes had always disliked him, though she made sure not to make that obvious out of respect for Caroline. Even so, she could not help the slight scowl that came across her brow before she wiped it away as his eyes fell on her.
The Countess of Reeds, Prudence Charmain, came to her husband’s side and didn’t bother lowering the most debilitating sneer on Agnes. Her face was not as lined as her husband’s, showing the remarkable difference in their ages, but the blonde hair beauty she had once been rumored to be was not so evident now. Not with that dreadful look permanently etched into her features.
“I had forgotten you would be here as well,” Lady Reeds said in that high, snide tone Agnes despised.
“It is lovely to see you as well, Lady Reeds,” Agnes pushed through gritted teeth, her tone making it clear that she was the last person Agnes wanted to see.
Sometimes she pitied Caroline for being under the care of her aunt and uncle. Even though they had decent wealth and prestige afforded to them by their title, Agnes could only believe how horrible they were as guardians.
Before anyone else could attempt to exchange tight words, the others caught up, the Duke of Claymore leading the charge in long and determined strides.
Agnes took a step to the side. She didn’t miss the way Lord Reeds straightened as he tried to level his gaze with the duke’s towering figure. Despite his best attempts, he looked like half a man next to someone as imposing as the duke.
“Good day, Your Grace,” Lord Reeds greeted with a bow. “It is a pleasure finally meeting your acquaintance. Allow me to introduce you to my wife, Lady Reeds and my niece, Miss Caroline.”
Lady Reeds and Caroline sank into identical curtsies. “A pleasure, Your Grace,” Lady Reeds said, her voice overshadowing Caroline’s “Pleased to meet you, Your Grace.”
“The pleasure is mine,” His Grace returned with a stiff bow. He was so different from the man who had been talking with Agnes in the drawing room. So cold and standoffish.
Even when he reached for Caroline’s hand and pressed a kiss on the back of it, it felt cold and impersonal, as if he was only going through the motions. A voice in the back of her head wished the duke would show her friend a little more affection.
They were meant to be married, after all.
It was one of the reasons she had agreed to her arrangement with the duke’s brother. Caroline was Agnes’ best friend.
“Oh, Caroline, it is such a pleasure to see you,” Mary spoke up, wearing a warm smile. “And it looks like you’ve grown more beautiful than the last time I saw you. You look more like your mother every day.”
Caroline blushed, right on cue. “You flatter me, Lady Sutton.”
“Oh, come now, Caroline, there is no need for modesty,” Solomon spoke up with a smile. “Your father would be proud to see the lady you have grown into. Your Grace, you are quite a lucky man.”
Agnes silently agreed, keeping her gaze steady on the duke’s impassive expression. Agnes thought of Caroline as the sister she’d never had, especially after her parents passed away in a tragic carriage accident. If Caroline could find happiness with the duke, while Agnes found happiness with the duke’s brother, then it would be the perfect arrangement, would it not?
