Page 82 of A Duchess Mistaken
“Yes, I’m sure that you are,” Mary mused, her smile in her voice. “Come now, let us make haste before they are approached by someone else.”
Agnes finally released her laughter as she watched her mother cart her brother off to Miss Rosemarie and her family. She knew what her mother was trying to do. Mary made every attempt to push Paul and Miss Rosemarie together once they were in the same vicinity. It would not have been so obvious had it not being for the clear fact that Paul fancied Miss Rosemarie more than helet on. Or perhaps he was not aware of it himself. Agnes could only imagine what was going through the mind of a ten-and-seven year old boy.
“May I ask about this lovely Miss Rosemarie your mother speaks of?” spoke Christopher, sounding just as amused at what he’d witnessed as Agnes felt.
“She is a friend of Paul’s,” Agnes explained. “Not yet out in society. Mother seems to think that she will make a wonderful future wife for Paul when she comes of age and, despite his efforts to prove otherwise, it is clear that Paul fancies her.”
“Ah, I see.” They watched as Mary and Paul approached Miss Rosemarie and her family for a moment. “I think it is quite an honor to be viewed so favorably by the viscountess.”
“Yes, well, Mother is very welcoming in that regard,” Agnes agreed. “And she fancies herself a matchmaker as well. She did make her attempts during my debut.”
“I do not doubt that your beauty and splendid personality made her job rather easy,” Christopher said smoothly. “No doubt your drawing room was always filled with suitors.”
Agnes smiled up at him. “I’m sure you know now that flattery will get you nowhere, my lord.”
“Christopher,” he reminded her yet again. “We are to be family soon enough after all.”
Agnes didn’t respond to that, but she didn’t bother hiding her happy smile.
“Am I to believe that you also thought I was in love with Miss Caroline?” Christopher asked her.
Agnes met his eyes, flushing slightly. “Now that I think about it, I might have been rather foolish in my assumption.”
Christopher only chuckled. “I am curious about why that notion ever came to be. I did not think I treated Miss Caroline with any exceptional care to present the idea that I reserved affection for her.”
“It is…” Agnes thought of the length Caroline had gone to see her actual love. She didn’t want to break her trust by revealing it to the false one. “I suppose I was just eager to see Caroline happy and in love.”
Christopher nodded in understanding. “I feel the same way about Johnathan. And I am certain he will be able to find that happiness with you. After all he’s been through, he deserves it.”
“You have been through the very same thing,” she reminded him.
“Not to the extent Johnathan did. Our father was Johnathan’s idol. He admired everything about him and aspired to be the duke we had all thought he was. After his death, and after we learned of the truth surrounding it, Johnathan did not cope withit the way I did. He threw himself into his work to be far better than our father had ever done. Because of that, I do not think he gave himself the chance to grieve properly. I do not even think he entertained the idea of love and happiness for himself.”
Tears were already pricking her eyes. It was hard to imagine Johnathan going through such a thing without it happening.
“I did not mean to upset you,” Christopher said quickly, realizing that Agnes was on the verge of crying.
“No, you didn’t,” she said hastily. She blinked the tears away and was relieved when they didn’t overflow. “But I do understand you. I feel very similarly towards Caroline. She lost her parents and was forced to live with guardians who do not care about anything but using her for their own gain. I only want her to be happy.”
Christopher nodded again. “Where is Miss Caroline?”
“She went outdoors to get some fresh air. As it happens,” Agnes added on an afterthought. “I think it is time I go and find her.”
“I shall come with you.”
Agnes smiled gratefully and headed towards the terrace doors on the other end of the ballroom. She found Caroline tucked into the dark corner of the terrace, her hands folded tightly across her chest.
“Caroline,” Agnes began gently. “Are you feeling better?”
Caroline raised sad eyes to Agnes. But when Christopher came into view, she straightened, wiping the look away. “My lord,” she greeted hastily.
Agnes resisted the urge to sigh. Perhaps it hadn’t been a good idea to bring Christopher along. Caroline was not bound to admit her feelings if he was hovering over them.
“Miss Caroline, I have been looking all over for you,” Christopher said before Agnes got a chance to speak again.
Caroline blinked in surprise. “You have?”
“Yes, this ball is rather dreadful without your company, I’m afraid.” He slid a glance towards Agnes. “Present company excluded, of course.”
