Page 2 of A Duchess Mistaken
Christopher nodded and the movement threatened to throw him off- kilter. He grabbed the balustrade again to regain his balance and Mrs. Adams reached a hand out to steady him.
Johnathan watched as his brother was assisted up the stairs. The entire process took a few more seconds than it should have and it only seemed to upset him even more. He’d always known that Christopher was rather irresponsible. He supposed he could even blame himself for that to an extent. But he didn’t think that Christopher would have been so thoughtless to go far in his cups on such an important day as today.
Christopher hadn’t had to think about much in truth. Ever since Johnathan inherited the title of Duke of Claymore three years ago, both brothers had learned to cope with their father’s sudden death in their own way. Johnathan threw himself into the role, ensuring that he took care of everything that was within his purview. Truly, all that meant was managing his funds while simultaneously pouring nearly everything they had into paying off his father’s debts. Debts Johnathan hadn’t even known existed until after he found his father’s dead body in his study.
Christopher’s way of coping with the death was indulging in every manner of debauchery he could. From drinkingto rakish tendencies to even underground fights. The only thing Christopher didn’t do—much to Johnathan’s relief—was gambling. He knew better than to let himself fall into the same position their father apparently had.
The dowager duchess coped with the loss in a completely different manner. Irene Harken had always been a bit whimsical, with her head in the cloud and a smile quick to her lips. It was unnerving to see how quickly she’d fallen to earth and how cold she’d become because of it.
Johnathan began pacing the foyer again. This was not the ideal situation. He’d meant for him and his family to greet the viscount as a united and happy front, having come out even closer together after the sudden death of the late duke. Instead, his brother was drunk and his mother had retired early saying she was in no mood for company.
But it was better than the alternative, he supposed. If he’d forced either of them to be present, his brother would embarrass the family and his mother would not pay anyone any mind.
It was better this way, he thought at last. He could always apologize for their absence.
He glanced up at the clock again, wondering why the viscount was taking so long. Just as the thought crossed his mind, he heard the sound of another carriage pulling up.
His heart began to race. Johnathan schooled his expression as best as he could, quelling the apprehension clawing up histhroat. This was one of the most important meetings of his life. It could change everything. It could pull his family out of the rut they had been in ever since he’d finished paying off his father’s debt. Everything was riding on this meeting going well. It didn’t matter that he didn’t feel very good about it.
Steeling his resolve, Johnathan headed outdoors to greet his guests.
CHAPTER 2
Agnes was nervous. She didn’t like feeling nervous.
She ran her fingers along the spine of her book, wishing she could have a candle so she could immerse herself in it once more. The fact that she was traveling in a carriage would have made that rather difficult, and most certainly would have made her ill, but she thought it was far better than thinking about what she was heading towards.
The feeling bothered her. Just this morning, as she’d prepared for the long trip, Agnes had been excited. She’d talked about the visit all morning with her lady’s maid and had set out with butterflies in her stomach. But the moment the coachman announced that they were about to arrive, those butterflies went up in flames of dread.
“Have you met him, Father?” Agnes asked. She knew the answer to her question but needed some bit of conversation before her own thoughts drove her mad. “Truly met him, I mean. I know you two are acquaintances but do you know him well?”
Solomon Parsons, the Viscount Sutton, sighed softly. “I have not met him myself, Agnes. So I do not know him well.”
“Then how do you know he is the right one? He could very well be a lout of a man who treats me rather unfairly.”
“I have on good record that he is not that sort of person,” Solomon said softly.
“On whose account? Are they credible? And you know very well that a man may present himself differently behind closed doors.”
“Why are you suddenly asking these questions, Agnes?” Mary Parsons, the Viscountess Sutton, spoke up. Agnes looked at her in surprise. She was certain her mother had been dozing for the past hour but she seemed rather alert.
Though the same could not be said about her brother. Paul Parsons was gently snoring next to Agnes. She couldn’t believe he was still sleeping. After all, he was the reason they were late to arrive at Claymore Castle. Because he could not get himself out of bed, they’d left out two hours later than they should have. To think he still needed to sleep after all of that.
Granted, they had been traveling for six hours. They had taken a rest stop at an inn nearby but had continued onward to the duke’s castle, wanting to make it there despite how late it was becoming. She supposed she could understand how such a long trip could tire anyone.
“I am merely curious,” she answered her mother. “And I do believe I have every reason to be. It concerns my future, after all.”
“It is only that you did not seem so curious before,” her mother explained. “Nor did you seem too anxious.”
“I am not anxious,” Agnes protested, looking out the window to avoid her eyes even though she saw nothing but dark blurs. “As I said, this concerns my future. It would not do to take such an important thing like an arranged marriage lightly.”
“You will like him, I’m sure,” her father consoled.
“Yes, you may even grow to love him,” her mother added.
Paul twisted in his seat and snored louder.
Agnes sent her brother a scathing glare and he scratched his cheek as if he could feel it in his sleep. Then she turned her eyes to her parents. “I do appreciate your optimism, but you must understand that an arranged marriage growing into a love match is not very common. You two are the only ones I know of.”
