Page 86 of A Duchess Mistaken
“Civil?” Lord Reeds bellowed. “You ask me to remain civil when you have made my niece a veritable spinster?”
“She has more than enough chances to be married,” Agnes spoke up again. She couldn’t help herself. Not when Caroline was the topic at hand. “As a matter of fact, there is someone who will be willing to marry her tomorrow if given the chance.”
“Ha!” Lady Reeds laughed coldly. “And who could that be? Another duke?”
Caroline squeezed Agnes’ hand, shaking her head slightly. “Agnes…”
Agnes wanted to say. God knew the urge to reveal the full truth was mounting inside her. But it was not her truth to tell.
Lord Reeds gave her the cut direct, turning his attention back to Johnathan. Agnes tensed when he advanced on Johnathan yet again, even though Christopher was there to put a hand to his chest and ward him off. Lord Reeds batted his hand away but he didn’t try to come any closer. He only said, “You know what will happen if you do this, Your Grace.”
“I know what you will attempt to make happen, Lord Reeds,” Johnathan said. “I have no intention of allowing it.”
“Oh? And how do you intend to stop me when I march out there and tell everyone the truth of what really happened to the late duke?”
Someone gasped. The dowager duchess swayed on her feet. Thankfully, Paul was standing closely enough to catch her before she fell to the floor.
Everyone’s attention swiveled between the earl and the dowager duchess but Johnathan did not look away from him once. And Agnes did not look away from Johnathan.
This time, Johnathan decided to advance on him. “If you dare to threaten my family one more time, Lord Reeds, I shall ensure that you live to regret it for the rest of your miserable life on this earth. I shan’t dare you to make such a foolish misstep because you and I both know that you are idiotic enough to attempt it so let me make this clear to you. You are not in control here.”
Lord Reeds swallowed. Agnes felt a pang of satisfaction at the way he cowered for a moment before visibly gathering whateverstrength he had. His lips thinned, his nostrils flared, his hands clenched and opened at his side. He seemed to be at war with himself and the silence that stretched on following Johnathan’s words only made it more intense.
Instead of saying anything else, he simply turned and began marching towards the door. For a moment, no one stopped him and panic set into Agnes’ heart. Even though she knew that Johnathan meant what he’d said, the earl was still capable of spreading rumors. Rumors that would take time in debunking, that would live in the shadows for the rest of their lives. Agnes knew Johnathan. She knew he wanted to preserve his father’s memory as best as he could.
But she didn’t get the chance to stand or stop him because Caroline beat her to it.
“Uncle, wait,” she called. “You cannot do this.”
Lord Reeds stopped, but only to turn and look at Caroline as if she’d just said the most foolish thing possible. “And why can’t I?”
“Because it will not end the way you want it to,” Caroline managed to say. “I shan’t marry the duke nor the duke’s brother. Nor anyone else you match me with.”
“You insolent girl,” Lady Reeds hissed. “Do you even know what you’re saying?”
“I do,” Caroline stated, her voice a little stronger. “And I do not care. I cannot marry someone I do not love.”
“I have heard enough of this.” Lord Reeds turned and continued on his way to the door. Caroline took a small step towards him, squeaking in horror.
But as soon as he opened the door, he drew to a halt. Someone was already on the other end with his hand poised to knock. A man wearing brown tweed breeches and a simple cotton shirt with sensible shoes. A man Agnes recognized instantly despite having never met him before.
This was George, the stable boy.
CHAPTER 31
For some reason, Johnathan’s attention was on Agnes. In any other situation it might not have been so odd. Her presence was a beacon in the room. Even though he spoke to others and did not look her way, he was always aware of what she was doing. Of the way she held on to her friend as if she knew that Caroline could not handle the intense situation they were in. Of how quickly she’d jumped to her feet when Lord Reeds stalked over to him as if she’d been more than willing to jump into battle in his defense. Focusing on her throughout his impromptu reveal was one thing but when the mysterious stranger appeared at the door, he didn’t expect his attention to remain solely on her rather than him.
Her surprise was what drew him further in. The way she reacted, eyes widening like she’d seen a ghost before sliding to Caroline in apparent worry. Slowly, Johnathan shifted his attention to Caroline and realization hit him like a ton of bricks.
This was the man Caroline was in love with.
In all his scheming, Johnathan had forgotten to ask Agnes about it tonight. He looked back at the man at the door and realized with a start that this was not a well-bred man. No gentleman of society would dare attend a ball wearing such ratty and simple clothing. Nor was his hair properly styled, the brown tresses curling well past his ear in unruly waves. He looked a little out of his element, staring wide-eyed at everyone in the room before he swallowed visibly and straightened his shoulders.
Johnathan looked back at Caroline. She looked just about ready to pass out.
The man spoke at last. “Please pardon the intrusion, my lords and ladies.”
Yes, certainly not a gentleman of society. If his attire hadn’t made that obvious, the way he spoke certainly did.
