Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12

J ohnathan felt as light as a feather. He credited it to the feeling of the horse he rode upon and the wide, open meadow stretched out before him. The wind racing through his hair, bringing tears to his cheeks, sent a rush of exhilaration through his body.

Yet all throughout the ride, Johnathan's focus was on one thing.

Miss Agnes clung to him as if her life depended on it. He could feel her cheek pressed against his back, her fingers folded into his waistcoat with an impressive grip. He began to wonder if she truly did not fear horses the way she'd expressed because the scream she'd let out when they'd taken off said otherwise.

"Are you all right?" Johnathan shouted over the roaring in his ears, turning his head to the side for her to hear.

"I hate you!" Miss Agnes shouted back.

Johnathan barked a laugh. He caught a glimpse of her face and laughed harder when he saw her eyes squeezed shut.

"We're almost there," he shouted back to her. The only response he received was her arms tightening further.

The others had gone ahead of them, almost dots in the distance. Johnathan knew that they would be arriving within a matter of minutes so he began to slow. It wasn't proper, he knew, for them to be alone. The maid had stayed with the others and was almost to the lake as well, meaning that Johnathan should be doing what he could to ensure they were in the company of others.

He brought the horse to a trot instead. Miss Agnes' arms grew slack.

"Have we arrived?" she asked breathlessly at his ear and he was barely able to contain the spark that went through his body.

"Not yet. We are almost there, however."

"Why did you slow down then?"

"You are quite frightened. I thought to calm your nerves a bit."

Johnathan didn't look back at her but he could almost hear the indignant scowl in her voice when she said, "I do not need your pity, Your Grace. We should try to catch up with the others. It would not do for us to fall behind."

"Why?"

"Why?" she echoed. This time, he glanced back at her and she was frowning at him as if he'd said something outrageous.

"Why do you need to catch up with them? Was it not the plan for us to give Miss Caroline and my brother some time alone with each other? If we are there, Christopher will feel obligated to pay you mind and I shall feel the same with Miss Caroline."

Miss Agnes was quiet for a moment. A moment he spent closing his eyes and breathing in the flowery scent of her hair perfume.

"I hadn't thought of it that way," she admitted at last. "I suppose it was a good thing that I thought to recruit you into my plans."

"A good thing indeed. Otherwise, you would be sitting behind Christopher right now and heavens knows your fear of horses will not override his love for them."

"I do not fear horses!" she defended hotly.

Johnathan grinned. "Forgive me. Your wariness, then."

"I get the sense that you are teasing me, Your Grace. Which is rather odd."

"Why is that odd?"

"I did not expect you to be the type to tease."

"What did you expect then?"

She was quiet for a moment, contemplating. "You do not seem like you enjoy many things in your life."

Johnathan didn't know what to make of that. "Is that your way of telling me that you find me dreadfully dull?"

A breathy laugh sounded behind him, warming him from the inside. "Well, perhaps not dreadfully…"

The lake came into view, followed by a sharp stab of dread and disappointment that their banter would soon come to an end. Johnathan tried to ignore it, tried to ignore the others who were already dismounting by the bank.

"I have a new goal then, Miss Agnes," Johnathan told her. "I do not wish for you to find me dull so I shall do whatever I can to change your mind."

"Alongside your already overwhelming quest to bring your brother happiness?" she asked, her voice light with humor. "You are rather ambitious, Your Grace."

"It is necessary in the role that I am in, you see."

"Ah, I see, of course."

Johnathan chuckled, pleased to hear her join in with her laughter. But the joy was quickly coming to an end. They were close enough to the others to be overheard so they both fell quiet. But he longed for the conversation once more, suddenly craving the sound of her laughter. And the feel of her hands on his waist, the simple touch that set him ablaze, filled his mind with things he could not understand.

The thought overwhelmed him. So much so that the moment he arrived at the lake, he dismounted, moving with such fervency that Miss Agnes gasped in surprise.

He turned back to face her, holding out a hand. She stared down at him in bemusement and confusion. He could all but hear the questions racing through her mind.

Johnathan hoped she wouldn't voice them. He couldn't understand them himself so he knew he stood little chance at explaining why he was acting so oddly all of a sudden.

To his relief, she said nothing. She only took his hand and allowed him to help her off the horse. Johnathan didn't let go of her hand right away. Her eyes lifted to his, questions shining behind her enchanting dark brown eyes.

"What are you two waiting on?" Mr. Parsons called impatiently.

Miss Agnes swiftly pulled her hand away, tucking it behind her. Johnathan could not recover as quickly as she could. He was left blinking at the spot she was standing in as she walked away.

"What did I say about patience, Paul?" she drawled back.

Johnathan watched her go for a beat, drawing in a breath. What was coming over him? It felt as if he was being pulled out of a trance that he hadn't noticed he'd fallen into. Every step she took away from Johnathan felt as if he could breathe a little better.

"Your Grace?"

Miss Caroline's voice broke him from his reverie. He'd been so lost in thought that he hadn't noticed when she'd approached.

"Are you all right?" she asked, concerned.

Johnathan nodded. "I am fine. It's just been some time since I've last visited the lake. My duties keep me away from the things I previously enjoyed, you see."

She stood by his side, facing the glistening, dark blue lake as well. Christopher and Paul were already engaged with their horses, getting to the meat of why they'd come out here in the first place. But Johnathan's gaze was immediately drawn to Miss Agnes, who was now helping the maid set up the picnic.

"It is beautiful," Miss Caroline sighed, once again pulling him from the thoughts he'd been quickly falling back into. "I always feel quite a peace near the water."

"Have you seen the sea?"

She shook her head, smiling ruefully. "It is my wish to visit Bath with Agnes and her family. Though I believe she will be spending more time on the shore than in the water with me."

"Is she afraid of the sea as well?"

Miss Caroline laughed at that. "She will never admit it but I do sense much apprehension when the topic is brought up."

Johnathan felt a smile of his own tug on his lips, his eyes drawn back to the lady in question. She had her back turned to them, pointing at several spots on the blanket as if ordering the maid on what to do.

"How…intriguing," he managed at last.

"Agnes? Quite so. I do not think there is a single person in England like her."

The pride of which she spoke told of the friendship they shared. When Johnathan looked at Miss Caroline, he noticed the prideful smile on her lips.

"Oh, she's looking at us. Smile and wave, Your Grace."

Miss Caroline grinned broadly and waved at her friend. Johnathan, feeling impish, did the same.

Miss Agnes' response was to scowl and narrow her eyes suspiciously. And then she picked up her skirt and began making her way over to them.

"I think we may have poked the beast a little too hard," Johnathan commented, inspiring laughter from the lady at his side.

Miss Caroline wasn't given a chance to respond, however, because Miss Agnes was upon them.

"May I inquire as to why you two are grinning at me like conspirators?" she asked, raising a brow.

"You'll find no conspiracies here, Agnes," Miss Caroline told her. "I was only telling His Grace how beautiful the lake is."

Miss Agnes tilted her head to the side as she regarded her friend. With the ladies' attentions on each other, Johnathan was left with a few seconds free to admire the manner in which Miss Agnes was capable of stripping someone bare with only one look.

Then that all-knowing gaze was on him. "Any longer with you, Your Grace, and my sweet friend will make a habit of lying to me."

"Don't pay her any mind, Your Grace," Miss Caroline responded with ease, waving her hand. "Agnes likes to pretend she knows it all."

"Because I do know it all," Miss Agnes said simply. "Caroline, are you not interested in the tricks Lord Christopher is teaching Paul?"

Miss Caroline looked in the direction of the two men as if she had forgotten that they were there.

"Not entirely," she admitted after a moment.

"Well, I am." Miss Agnes stepped between him and Miss Caroline tucking her arm through her friend's. "Join me while I watch, won't you? Perhaps we may even learn something."

Johnathan watched as Miss Agnes led Miss Caroline towards Christopher and Mr. Parsons. She glanced over her shoulder at him for a brief moment, too quick for him to take stock of the emotion in her eyes. The effect, however, was immediate.

He stayed where he was, watching ladies. Anyone looking his way may assume he was staring at his bride-to-be, but the sharp lady by her side was the only person he could see. He wondered for a moment what it would be like to have her on his arm like that.

Focus, Johnathan! Your attention should be on your brother and the lady he loves.

But what did it matter anymore? It was obvious now that he and Miss Caroline would be married, even if only he and Miss Agnes knew that truth. So what did it matter if his eyes strayed to someone else? Especially if that someone was as enchanting as Miss Agnes, a lady who could not be ignored. Both in beauty and brains, she was a visionary.

Johnathan shook his head, banishing the thought once more. He only had one goal today. Later, he could think of his own future after securing that of his brother's. And maybe by the end of it, he would not have to worry about paying his father's debts after all.