Page 89 of A Duchess Mistaken
The resounding sound of her hand across his face sent gasps through the room. Lord Reeds’ head snapped to the side, eyes wide with shock. Lady Reeds came running up behind him.
“How dare you!” she screeched.
“How dareyou,” Irene hissed. “You and your husband are nothing but blights on society. I would tell you to leave my home had I not been afraid of the fact that you would abscond from the law after what you’ve done.”
Lord Reeds slowly turned his head to look at Irene. His cheek was rapidly growing redder by the second. “You little?—!”
This time, Johnathan didn’t let himself think twice about what he did. He simply acted. His arm cocked backwards and he was upon Lord Reeds before he could get the rest of his inevitably insulting sentence out. It felt incredibly satisfying to feel his knuckles connect against Lord Reeds’ flabby jaw. Lady Reeds screamed, flying to her husband’s side as he crumpled to the floor.
“Well, it’s about time,” Johnathan heard Agnes murmur behind him. He didn’t turn, but did smile a little.
“I think we speak for everyone, my lord,” Johnathan said, not taking his eyes off Lord Reeds and his bruising jaw, “when I say that your crimes and misdeeds will not go unpunished tonight. You should be glad we decided to do this privately or else you would have found yourself carted out of here in front of theton.”
Lord Reeds seemed incapable of speaking. Perhaps the weight of what was about to happen had sunken in. Perhaps it was simply in too much pain. He could only stare up at Johnathan in stunned silence. Meanwhile, Lady Reeds was sobbing as if she’d just been sentenced to the gallows.
“Caroline.”
Johnathan turned to see George taking Caroline’s hands once more.
“This is now how I wanted you to find out,” he said, sounding genuinely apologetic.
Caroline was already shaking her head. She sniffled prettily. “It is not your fault. None of this. Had it not been for you, I never would have known, in fact.” She threw her arms around him, stunning Johnathan. “I love you, George. And I’m so sorry I’ve been so afraid to show it. I love you and I cannot wait to be married to you.”
George picked her up, twirling her around as he laughed happily. It was a rather sweet ending to the horrible ordeal just now.
Johnathan’s eyes fell on Agnes once more. He watched as she smiled happily at the couple, then slipped away from them, her eyes lifting to him. Without a word, she made her way to his side.
Her lips parted to speak but the next voice Johnathan heard was not hers.
“It seems we have a lot to discuss, Your Grace,” said Lord Sutton.
Lady Sutton slipped up to his side, sliding her arm around his waist. “But we could wait until after the ball. I did not do all that planning for nothing.”
“I shall be a part of that meeting,” Paul stated, approaching them. He crossed his arms, looking far more mature than Johnathan had ever witnessed.
“Why would you want to do that?” Agnes asked, sounding surprised.
“You are my sister,” Paul said as if that was reason enough.
Agnes smiled. Johnathan couldn’t help but grin. “I shall have it no other way,” Johnathan said.
“You all should go ahead,” Christopher said. He went to stand next to Lord and Lady Reeds, who had gotten up and made their way over to the closest couch. Lady Reeds was trying to help her husband but Lord Reeds kept hissing at her so that she couldn’t touch him. Christopher gave them a disdainful look.
“You’ve all been through quite a lot,” Christopher went on. “Someone should stay here and ensure that these two do not leave before the constable gets here.”
“If you all do not mind,” Caroline spoke up. She’d wiped her face free of tears and was smiling for the first time that night. “I won’t be returning to the ballroom. For obvious reasons.” She gazed lovingly at George, who gazed lovingly back at her.
“I shall have a maid sent to chaperone then,” Johnathan told her. “A walk through the gardens should be lovely during this time of night.”
Caroline’s smile widened gratefully. “Thank you, Your Grace.”
Finally, he turned to Agnes, taking her hand and tucking it into the crook of his arm. “I think it is about time you allow me that dance you promised me.”
“I would promise you a dozen dances if I thought we could get away with it,” Agnes murmured, a smile on her lips.
“It is my home, Agnes,” Johnathan said to her. They were alone right now for all that it mattered to him. He only had eyes for her. “I can do whatever I want.”
Agnes’ eyes sparkled. “Let us put that to the test then, shall we?”
