Chapter 29

CHAPTER 29

P aul was, unsurprisingly, next to Christopher. And, equally unsurprisingly, they were engaged in a deep conversation about horses.

"Paul, there you are!" Mary exclaimed as they approached. "I had wondered if you were off somewhere causing trouble."

Agnes held back her smile at her brother's pout. "Mother, you needn't coddle me."

"I do not think she is coddling you, Paul," Agnes drawled. "I think she is keeping you on a leash. Much like an unruly dog."

"Then what would make you?" Paul shot back. "A loyal one to be following her around?"

Agnes raised her brows in surprise. She wasn't offended really. She knew her brother didn't mean it any more than she meant her words. But she was surprised at the ease and swiftness of his retort.

"I concede," she told him and nearly burst out laughing at the stunned look on his face.

"You do?" he asked in disbelief. A broad smile steadily stretched across his face as he looked excitedly at Christopher, who seemed to be quite amused by the exchange. "Did you hear that? I have bested her at her own game!"

"Yes, quite an admirable feat indeed," Christopher agreed with a laugh.

"Now, now, none of that," Mary scolded, but her eyes sparkled with mirth. "I need you to be on your best behavior for this evening, Paul."

Paul's good humor fled the moment those words left her mouth. "Why?" he asked warily.

"Because, Miss Rosemarie and her family are in attendance and it is about time that we greeted them."

Paul's shoulder slumped and Agnes could hear the whine in his voice before he even opened his mouth. "Mother, please!"

"Oh come now, you two are friends, are you not? And I am friends with Miss Rosemarie's mother. It would not do for us to wait so long to greet them. I promise that you may return to your riveting conversation about horses when we are finished."

"Which I reckon will be ages!"

"Perhaps so. Perhaps not. It all depends on how swimmingly the conversation is going, don't you think?" Mary expertly attached Paul to her side, giving him little chance to escape. "Do you see her? She is in a lovely primrose gown."

Agnes couldn't help her amused smile as she watched her brother skim the area before him before he said, "Yes, I see her."

"Doesn't she look lovely?"

"She always looks lovely," Paul responded easily. His words were met with a beat of silence and he noticed a little too late what he had said. "Not that I mean anything by it! I am only speaking objectively!"

"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 he let 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 with it 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."

"Of course," Agnes agreed with a smile.

"Would you like to accompany me to the refreshment table for some lemonade, Miss Caroline?" Christopher asked. He was already offering her his arm.

"I do not want to impose," Caroline said tentatively.

"It would not be an imposition if I am the one suggesting it," Christopher assured. "Besides, is that not what we should do as two people in love?"

Now it seemed as Caroline's eyes were about to take over her face. She seemed too stunned for words, looking at Agnes for help. But Agnes didn't know whether or not to laugh at what Christopher had said. So she stepped back and watched as Caroline gingerly took Christopher's arm, saying nothing as he led her back into the ballroom. He bent slightly to say something to Caroline and Agnes caught the end of Caroline's answering smile.

Agnes smiled at the sight. Maybe it had been a good idea to bring him along, after all.

The first set was about to commence and Johnathan couldn't find Agnes anywhere. Of course, he'd noticed when she'd slipped away from the ballroom, likely to go in search of Miss Caroline. But then he'd been approached by several gentlemen he hadn't spoken to in years—at least not since his father's death—and didn't notice when she came back in. After slipping away from the men, who seemed hellbent on talking his ear off for the foreseeable future, he headed out to the terrace and saw neither hide nor hair of Agnes.

"My lord, a word."

Johnathan stilled. He'd just reentered the ballroom and was preparing to make his rounds through the ballroom to find his dance partner. But Lord Reeds seemed to have other plans.

He schooled his expression as best as he could before turning to face the earl. Clearly, judging by the slight sneer on the earl's face, he didn't care to do the same.

"What is it, Lord Reeds?" Johnathan responded in the most monotonous tone he could muster. It wasn't difficult. The man he was not was not a far cry from the aloof gentleman he'd presented as before Agnes came into his life.

Lord Reeds glanced around him for a few seconds, then jerked his head towards the terrace doors Johnathan had just come through. "Perhaps it would be best for us to speak in private."

Johnathan tried not to sigh. In truth, he'd expected this. On such a momentous occasion, Lord Reeds was certain to make every attempt to reestablish his control over the situation. Control he no longer had, control Johnathan had every intention of ensuring he did not regain.

But, for the sake of peace for as long as it could last, Johnathan nodded and turned towards the doors. In silence, they both delved onto the moonlit terrace and out into the gardens stretched out before them. They didn't go very far before Lord Reeds stopped to face him.

"I assume you have decided to come to your senses," Lord Reeds began.

The derision in his tone deepened Johnathan's already rising annoyance. It took all the strength he had not to show it. Instead, he calmly nodded and said, "I have, my lord. Though I do not think we agree on what constitutes me coming to my senses."

Lord Reeds' expression darkened. "You know very well what I mean. Surely you have not put on this engagement party to announce that you will not be marrying my niece?"

"Oh, an engagement will be announced, for certain."

"I care not for your brother and that smart-mouth woman?—"

"I do hope for your sake, my lord," Johnathan stated in a cold tone, "that your next words will be complimentary ones."

Ice coated his words. Even though Lord Reeds tried to maintain his irate expression, terror flashed in his eyes for a brief moment. He swallowed harshly, taking a step back.

"My wife thinks that you may be backing out of this engagement," he started again.

"You know my stance on that matter, my lord, and it has not changed since our last conversation."

"You cannot!" It was crossed between a hiss and a whine. Johnathan hadn't realized just how desperate the earl was becoming until that moment. Desperate wasn't good. A desperate man like the earl would only utilize whatever was at his disposal to get what he wanted.

But Johnathan wasn't going to let him cow him. "I can, my lord, and I shall. Nothing you say or do will change that."

"You will regret it. I assure you that you will regret this!"

"I assure you, Lord Reeds, that there is nothing I want more than to do the very thing you are against. I will not regret a thing."

There was nothing left to say. Lord Reeds would only continue his incessant threats that were quickly becoming empty. Johnathan would simply grow more and more frustrated with the conversation and he didn't want to end up saying or doing something he shouldn't. Walking away was the best bet. For now. Lord Reeds was sure to find him later. If not him, then the countess would make her presence known.

For now, the only thing he wanted to do was sweep Agnes into his arms and dance with her. Ever since he wrote his name on her dance card that was the only thing he could think of. And after he made his announcement, perhaps they could even dance more than once. Betrothed couples do not have to adhere to the strict guidelines of the ton , after all, though that was only to an extent.

"Was there a problem, Your Grace?" asked Lord Sutton as he approached Johnathan the moment he entered the ballroom. "I saw that you stepped away to speak with Lord Reeds and I must say, you do not seem very happy."

Johnathan sighed softly and tried to soften his features. He walked away from the terrace doors, not wanting the earl to walk by when he said his next words.

"You were right, my lord. Lord Reeds is rather distressed."

"Ah." Lord Sutton nodded in understanding. "I take it that the conversation did not go very well then."

"Why do you say that?"

"You look irritated, Your Grace." When Johnathan raised his brows at that, the viscount laughed and added, "You have never been very good at hiding what you're thinking, Your Grace. At least, not to me."

"I didn't know that I was such an open book."

"It would be too much to say that you are. You simply seem like someone trying their hardest not to show the world how they feel, which only allows the opposite to occur."

Johnathan thought that sounded vaguely familiar. "Agnes is quite like you. I believe she said the same thing to me once."

Lord Sutton chuckled, pride shining in his eyes. "Agnes takes after me in many ways. She is intelligent, witty, and strong-willed. And because of her confidence, she has never allowed herself to get close to anyone whom she does not see a future with. Which is why I do find it a bit odd that she has not already decided to call off this wedding."

"Odd, my lord?" Johnathan echoed, surprised by the viscount's candor.

"Yes, odd," Lord Sutton confirmed. He rocked back on his heels, tucking his hands into his pockets. Johnathan had to wonder if he'd already had a few drinks and that was what accounted for his loose tongue, but he seemed very much in his right mind. "Take no offense, Your Grace, but Agnes and Lord Christopher have no chemistry."

"One does not need chemistry to be married," Johnathan couldn't help but point out.

"That much is true. God knows half of England's marriages exist on that basis alone. But…I suppose I have always expected her to follow in my footsteps right until the very end. My marriage was a love match and I only assumed that hers would be as well. I understand the differences between the opposite genders and the limitations imposed on both, of course, so I do not suppose it is a bad thing for a lady of her age to marry a kind gentleman who will take care of her. Even if she does not love him."

"How do you know she does not love him, Your Grace?"

Lord Sutton huffed a soft laugh. His gaze was trained on something across the room. Johnathan followed it and realized he was looking at Agnes, who had found her mother's side once more.

As if she felt the weight of his eyes, Agnes' wandering gaze came to rest on Johnathan. He could almost see her shoulder relaxing, her eyes sparkling from the distance. She slowly tilted her head to the side and raised her brows in question, a smile touching her lips.

"She does not love him, Your Grace," Lord Sutton murmured.

Johnathan couldn't take his eyes off her. He couldn't even smile back. Her only smile began to dip as the question in her eyes deepened and suddenly, his legs were moving on their own.

"Pardon me, my lord," he muttered hastily over his shoulder before making his way over to her.

Whatever Lady Sutton was saying came to a drawling end as he approached but Johnathan didn't spare the viscountess a glance. Now, Agnes looked a little worried, no doubt at the intensity of his look.

There was so much he wanted to say. Despite the audience he had, with Lady Sutton staring between them and Lord Sutton walking up from behind, Johnathan wanted to tell her all the things smoldering in his heart.

Agnes laid a gloved hand atop his arm, stopping him just as he opened his mouth. "Perhaps we should have the conversation in private, Johnathan," she suggested.

"What conversation?" Lady Sutton asked, still looking between them.

Agnes didn't look at her. "With everyone," she said to Johnathan.

He understood her immediately. And even though that wasn't what he'd intended to speak about, he knew why she was suggesting it. Emotions were already too high for this to be made an announcement. Besides, Miss Caroline was already fragile enough as it was.

So he nodded and walked off, intending to gather all the others. It was about time they laid everything to rest.