Page 91 of A Duchess Mistaken
Irene laughed. “You can call me Irene, my dear. I do think it is about time after everything we have been through.”
Caroline’s smile was bright enough to warm all of England. Agnes was delighted to see it. After learning of what her uncle had done, Caroline had been rightfully upset, even after she’d spent what she’d described as the most romantic stroll through the gardens. It was a lot to handle, Agnes knew. The very same people who had taken her in, people who Caroline had felt a mixture of gratitude and resentment towards, had proven to be the reason she’d become an orphan in the first place. Honestly, Agnes couldn’t believe it herself and yet she was not surprised. She could only imagine how it weighed on Caroline.
Which was why everyone did all they could to make her feel better, in subtle ways. Mary, Irene, and Agnes never left her side. Johnathan was always offering her distractions, whether that may be hearing her play the pianoforte to playing chess.Paul talked incessantly about useless things and, being the polite person Caroline was, she didn’t dare tune him out.
As the weeks went by, Agnes watched Caroline shed the weight of her pain. It helped to know that Lord and Lady Reeds had been sentenced for conspiracy to murder. Mary had swooped in to take Caroline as her ward, since Caroline had no more relatives willing to take her.
George remained by Caroline’s side, of course. A constant presence who had followed them to London and received a position from Mary at their London townhouse so that they could remain close. They couldn’t be married. Not yet. Not until they worked out how they would be able to do it without too much scrutiny.
But the support they received was unmatched. Even now, Caroline’s eyes swam with happy tears.
“Oh, don’t cry,” Agnes admonished lightly, smiling. “I do not want to see any tears on my wedding day.”
“Oh dear.” Caroline hastily tried wiping them away, making them all laugh.
“I doubt there will be a dry eye present when the vows are exchanged,” Mary said. “Your father may shed a few himself.”
“Father?” Agnes repeated incredulously. “I doubt that.”
“Would you like to place a bet on it?”
“Mother, that is quite improper of a lady to do.”
“Who cares? It is just us, is it not?”
Agnes sighed, stifling her laughter as she stood. Now that the maid was done with her hair, she was finally ready for her wedding.
“Let us not tarry any longer,” she said. “I’m sure everyone is getting impatient waiting for us downstairs.”
“They shall have to wait for as long as they need to for you to be perfect. Let me see you.” Mary stood and made her way over to Agnes. She held her by the shoulders, sweeping her gaze from Agnes’ hair to her feet. “You look absolutely beautiful, my dear.”
“Thank you, Mother. Shall we?”
“Aren’t you nervous?” Caroline asked as they all filed out of the room.
Agnes shook her head. “I thought that I would be, but I am not to my surprise.”
“That’s great,” Caroline said as they linked arms. Behind them, Mary and Irene did the same. “I do not think I will be nervous when George and I are married either.”
“Judging by the way you two look at each other, I am surprised you are patient enough to wait until talk surrounding your aunt and uncle dies down.”
“Oh, I am not,” Caroline assured her with a laugh. “I am hardly keeping it together. But I know that everything will end well so I am holding my tongue about it.” Caroline paused, then added, “I do not think I have properly thanked you for everything you’ve done for me, Agnes.”
“It’s nothing,” Agnes began but Caroline firmly shook her head.
“You did everything you could to help me, before I even realized what you were doing. When you thought I was in love with Christopher, you did everything in your power to ensure we spent time together. When you learned of George, you did not judge me or try to convince me to find someone others might find more suitable. You simply supported me in any way you could. Had it not been for you, I do not think I would have mustered up the strength to stand up to my uncle and announce my love for George.”
“As I said, Caroline, I did nothing,” Agnes gently told her. “I always knew you had it in you. It was only a matter of time before you realized it yourself. But I shall accept your gratitude all the same.”
“Good, because you deserve it. And you deserve to be happy with the duke. I have no doubt that you will be.”
Agnes didn’t doubt it either. She wasn’t nervous or apprehensive as she drew closer to the gardens, a section of which had been decorated for the small wedding, her heart began tripping over itself in its excitement. They lapsed into silence the closer they came, music already filling the air. The scent of roses was at its strongest this time of the year and served as one of the reasons Mary thought it best that they have the wedding during the fall. Now that the day had come, Agnes was grateful for her mother’s foresight.
At last, the small clearing came into view. Agnes supposed she should have paid keener attention to the decorations, knowing her mother had poured sharp detail into it, but the moment Johnathan appeared, she was all he could see. He straightened when their eyes met, his conversation with the priest ending quickly. Agnes watched his jaw grow slack, watched his gaze run down the length of her. He swallowed, ran his hand down his face, and straightened his shoulders. She might not be nervous but he certainly was.
Solomon appeared at her side as Caroline slipped away to the side. “Are you ready?” he asked her.
Agnes looked up at her father, blinking in surprise. His eyes were rimmed red as if he had been crying.
