Page 66 of A Duchess Mistaken
Agnes closed the door and turned to face her friend’s look of question. “Yes, it is from the duke,” Agnes answered at last.
“Oh. I see.”
“You see? What do you see exactly?”
Caroline smiled cheekily. “I have noticed how close you have grown to His Grace. I’m sure everyone has noticed it, in fact.”
“It is not that we have grown close,” Agnes protested. She was having a hard time meeting Caroline’s eyes. “I simply asked forhis help in pairing you with Christopher, when I believed that you two were in love, and in order to do so, we were often in each other’s company, that’s all.”
“Why do I find it difficult to believe thatthat’sall?” Caroline asked with an arched brow.
“I’m sure the reason he wishes to see me has something to do with your dilemma.”
“I’m sure.”
“You do not sound as if you believe me.”
“That is because I do not,” Caroline confessed with a smile. “At least, not completely. You have not looked at me once since you received your note.”
Agnes made it a point to look Caroline directly in the eye. “It is nothing. Now, if you will excuse me, I shall see about informing the duke that you are not, in fact, in love with his brother and that we must change our course of action.”
“Perhaps you could confess your affection for him while you are there,” Caroline sang happily.
Thankfully, Agnes was already halfway out the door, saving her from having to respond.
CHAPTER 24
At the rate Johnathan was going, he was likely to pace a hole into the ground. He couldn’t help himself, however. The lingering effects of his agitation and fury were begging for a release and he hadn’t a clue how best to let it all out.
The earl’s words echoed over and over again in his mind. A part of Johnathan wanted to seek him out and make him regret ever blackmailing him. The mere attempt was a mark on Johnathan’s honor. On his manhood! He’d invited the earl into his home and this was the treatment he received?
Yes, he had promised to marry his niece. And yes, he supposed Lord Reeds had every right to be upset that Johnathan was going back on that promise. But insulting his brother and threatening their lives was not to be tolerated. Johnathan only wished that he had the ammunition to fight back.
“John?”
Agnes’ soft voice tore through the fury clouding his mind. He whirled to face her, noticing that she was lingering just a few feet away under an arched hedge.
The look on his face must have alarmed her because she quickly came to his side. “What happened?” she asked worriedly.
Johnathan couldn’t respond. He could do nothing but stare at her. He flexed his hands at his side in an attempt to fight the urge to pull her into his arms and bury his face into her hair.
“Did something happen?” she asked him. “You look as if you wish to send your fist flying into the nearest thing.” She paused, her eyes twinging with humor. “Perhaps I should not be standing so close to you.”
“I would never hurt you,” Johnathan rasped with far more intensity than was required. The humor fled from her eyes, replaced with something eerily familiar to what he felt at that moment.
For a moment, they simply stared at each other. Johnathan knew the risk they were taking by being alone during the day like this. He could only hope that she’d been careful in coming. A scandal was the very last thing he needed on his hands right now.
At the same time, he hadn’t realized how much he wanted her to be here until she’d arrived. Her presence alone had a manner of calming him, distracting him. He wasn’t thinking about theearl’s insolence so much as he was considering pulling her into his arms and finally letting their lips meet.
“There must have been a reason you called me out here,” Agnes said at last, breaking the tension that had steadily crawled over them. “And I can tell that something happened.”
Johnathan nodded. He took a step back to give his mind a chance to think clearly. It didn't work half as well as he’d hoped.
“I spoke with Lord Reeds and told him that I intend to end my courtship with Miss Caroline.”
“Already?” she gasped.
“I was given little choice. Granted, it was my intention to do so sooner rather than later, but Lord Reeds has been growing impatient so I thought it would be best to tell him the truth.”
