Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

J ohnathan decided right after breakfast that he had to make amends with Miss Agnes. It should not matter that she was absolutely infuriating. What mattered was that they fostered a happy relationship with each other so that he did not jeopardize the impending marriage.

Lord Sutton had been very clear about this arrangement after all. This ‘vacation', as they'd put it, was purely for Agnes to determine if she really wanted to be married to the brother of the duke.

He quelled the rise of guilt that never felt too far away whenever those thoughts assaulted him and entered the drawing room. There he found his mother engaging in a rather lifeless lesson on the history of the estate with the viscount and viscountess, who were being quite polite in their riveted expressions. Johnathan would not have blamed them if they'd worn looks of boredom instead.

Christopher was in his chambers, having dismissed himself earlier to sleep off the effects of his ‘unknown' ailment—and of course, Miss Agnes was rather sympathetic to his plight—so that left Mr. Parsons and Miss Agnes.

Miss Agnes was by a window, just a few paces away from her brother. She did not slouch the way her brother did, did not take up space with her legs like him. It was easy to dismiss that as simply proper ladylike tendencies but Johnathan had a feeling that something else was at play. Miss Agnes had the countenance of a man who had seen the world and was not pleased with it.

How she managed to pull off such an impression while maintaining such ethereal beauty and poise was astounding. So much so that Johnathan could not help stalling in his steps towards her, admiring the slope of her neck when she tilted her head to the side to study something on the other side of the window.

"Is there something you would like to say, Your Grace?" she asked without turning around.

Johnathan's heart skipped a beat and he cursed himself for being so jumpy. As if she sensed his agitation—which he hoped she could not—she turned slowly to look at him.

"Or perhaps it is not I you wish to speak with," she added as an afterthought.

"You are quite astute, Miss Agnes," he observed, coming up next to her. He instantly regretted it. She smelled glorious, a lovely mixture of floral and citrusy tones that urged him to step closer. "I have come to apologize to you."

"Apology accepted."

He blinked. "You have not given me a chance to say what for."

"I did not have to. It is clear that you wish to apologize for your rudeness since our meeting."

"Since our meeting?" he echoed, bemused. "I do not recall having done anything yesterday to apologize for."

"What a shame, Your Grace," she hummed and the disappointment in her voice irked him. "Then pray tell, why have you come to apologize?"

"For my behavior during breakfast of course." He paused and then added after a moment, "And if you believe I should have reason to apologize for anything else, then I do for that as well."

"I wonder if I should continue accepting such an apology," she hummed in thought. "But very well. I accept. Now, shall I ask you a question?"

She said it so pointedly that Johnathan was instantly on edge. "Is it about my brother?"

"Now who is the astute one?" she asked. "Is he ill often?"

Johnathan tried not to sigh. He jammed his hands into his pockets, trying to keep the wry smile off his face. He knew he had to choose his words carefully. Miss Agnes seemed like the type of lady to see right through any lie.

"He is far more sprightly than he presented himself this morning," Johnathan said at last. "He only makes…bad decisions."

"I do not understand."

"Perhaps you could ask him for further detail when he awakes from his nap. Though I doubt you will be very impressed with the answer."

Miss Agnes frowned. She didn't seem very pleased with that response. "You are rather callous when it comes to your brother's health."

Johnathan tried not to let those words irritate him. What did it matter that she challenged him on his opinion of his brother's physical state? She did not know the reason he felt little sympathy for Christopher, nor did he have any intention of letting her know. If she deemed him an insensitive lout, then so be it. Just as long as she was still determined to marry his brother. Johnathan would hate to miss out on the substantial dowry he would receive if she decided against it.

"You need not worry, Miss Agnes. My brother is a healthy man, though he oftentimes overestimates his body's endurance. After a good night's rest, he will be right as rain, I assure you."

She stared at him for a moment longer. It was disconcerting to see how deep her brown eyes were, like a never-ending well. It felt as if she could see right through his skin, like she knew that his heart was beating an odd staccato at her stare and that his palms were sweating under his gloves.

Finally, she looked away and Johnathan found himself free from her hold. They settled into silence since she did not bother to respond to his last words. Johnathan didn't know what she thought of his answer.

"Was your long trip to Claymore Castle tiring, Miss?"

"Not very," she answered. "I rather enjoy traveling long distances. It gives me the chance to focus fully on reading, though I oftentimes find myself ill after a few hours with my head down."

"Ah, you enjoy books then. Is that the only interest you enjoy?"

"My interests expand far past that of a library, Your Grace. I enjoy the simpler pastimes such as the pianoforte and embroidery. I do try my hand at watercolors as well but I do not think I am very good. Certainly not as good as my brother is."

"Mr. Parsons enjoys painting?" Johnathan asked with a note of surprise. He glanced over at the younger Parsons sibling only to see that he had given up pretending he was listening to the dowager duchess and was now playing with the hem of his waistcoat.

Miss Agnes followed Johnathan's line of sight and sighed. "Yes, he is rather skillful in that regard. I only hope that he will one day learn to apply himself aptly."

"And what do you like to apply yourself to, Miss Agnes?"

Miss Agnes looked up at him with her delicately arched brows raised in surprise. Johnathan realized a beat later that he was being inordinately interested in her. He tried to appear casually pleasant as he waited for her response.

"Why do you ask, Your Grace? Do you wish to offer me a list of interesting things to do while we vacation with you and your family?"

"It is being considered," he admitted after a beat. "I wish for you all to be happy, after all, and to enjoy your time here."

"What of parties then? Do you throw them often?"

"Often enough for a man of my stature, I suppose," Johnathan answered vaguely. He didn't need Miss Agnes to know that he was in such dire financial state that the thought of hosting another party made his stomach churn.

"I enjoy parties," she said. "Especially themed ones."

"A lady who enjoys both reading and dancing. An interesting mixture."

"I never said I enjoy dancing."

"Do you not?"

"I do."

Johnathan frowned at her. "Then I was correct."

"You were." She glanced up at him and he could have sworn that the side of her lips twitched upwards. "But you should never assume anything about a lady, Your Grace."

"I…" He trailed off, not knowing what to say in response.

She raised her brows expectantly and when she realized that he was not going to answer right away, she opened her mouth to respond. She didn't get the chance to when the sound of a carriage pulling in came from outdoors.

Miss Agnes changed before his eyes. He didn't realize how stiff her posture had been until she relaxed. The smile that stretched across her face knocked the wind from his chest and she whirled to face him with her brown eyes lit with happiness.

"Caroline is here!" she exclaimed.

Johnathan couldn't force a smile on his face no matter how much he tried. Miss Caroline had finally arrived. The warmth that had come over him at Miss Agnes' smile transformed into a deep-seated chill that stole every happy emotion from his body.

The seriousness of his face had Miss Agnes frowning in confusion. Johnathan didn't give her the chance to question him on his sudden change of demeanor. He turned away.

She stared at him a moment longer before she faced the room instead. "Caroline is here, everyone. Let us go out to greet her."

She raced out of the room without waiting for a response. One by one, they all rose and followed her out, the Parsons family thrumming with excitement at the newcomer. Johnathan followed them out behind his mother, feeling like a rock was lodged in his throat.

He knew this was going to happen. He had been the one to invite Miss Caroline here, after all. But now that she had arrived, Johnathan wished he could just send her back home.