Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

J ohnathan stared at the glass of whiskey sitting on the desk before him. He had poured the blasted thing five minutes ago and was yet to take a sip, his mind whirling with too many things at once.

He shouldn't drink it. Johnathan was not good at handling his alcohol. A few sips and his head would start to swim. Considering the fact that dinner was set to begin at any moment, Johnathan knew he would be playing with fire if he dared to indulge.

On the other hand, it would certainly calm his nerves. He had been on edge ever since this morning, ever since Miss Caroline arrived, and he'd loathed to let his agitation show during dinner. He didn't think the astute Miss Agnes would miss it. She didn't seem to miss anything.

Yet another reason he should down the drink and be done with it. He didn't want to argue with Miss Agnes like he had done this morning.

A knock came at the door. Johnathan didn't look up from the whiskey as he said, "Come."

Mrs. Adams slipped in. "Dinner is ready, Your Grace."

"I see." He didn't move, drumming his fingers against the desk. Should he? Thinking about Miss Agnes tempted him to drink the whiskey. He didn't like how often he thought of her. Perhaps before he could indulge in conversation, but now that Miss Caroline was here, it was clear where his attention should lie. Not with Miss Agnes and her all-seeing, warm brown eyes but with the lovely Miss Caroline who was set to be his wife.

"Your Gace?"

Johnathan shot to a stand, picked up the glass, and downed it in one go.

"Your Grace!" Mrs. Adams exclaimed.

He gritted his teeth against the burn currently assaulting his throat. It pained him all the way to his stomach, bringing tears to his eyes. After a few seconds, he blinked them away and looked at his horrified housekeeper.

"The guests are in the parlor, correct?"

She nodded wordlessly, closing her slack jaw.

Johnathan nodded and rounded the desk, making his way out of his study without a word.

As Mrs. Adams said, everyone was already waiting in the parlor. Johnathan's eyes instantly fell on Miss Agnes, who was standing next to Miss Caroline by the hearth. She glanced at him upon his entrance and he could have sworn her eyes narrowed slightly.

Dear God, help him.

Johnathan let his eyes trail over her, not lingering as long as he was tempted to. They came to rest on Lord and Lady Sutton talking with Lord and Lady Reeds. His mother had already stated that she was not intending to dine with them, which meant Johnathan would have to lie to others that she was ill.

"I cannot say the same, my lord," Lord Sutton was saying. He had his wife on his arm. Johnathan was beginning to realize they were rarely not touching each other in some manner. "I believe that Lady Umbridge's mourning period was well within societal standards."

"Bah!" Lord Reeds exclaimed. "Six months is hardly proper by society's standard! And to think that she thought to attend Lord Headley's ball and dance two dances with him as well. She should be ashamed of herself."

"Lady Umbridge is only two-and-twenty, my lord," Lady Sutton said gently. "One can hardly blame her for wanting to explore her options after her husband's death. He was quite old when they married so this comes as no surprise to anyone."

"A year at least," Lady Reeds said in agreement with her husband, though Johnathan had to wonder if the sneer on her face was necessary. "And then she is free to attend as many balls as she wishes. Searching for a husband, though? In such a bold-faced fashion? The nerve!"

Lord Sutton sighed and shook his head before turning his attention to the silent Johnathan. "Forgive us, Your Grace. It is rather unbecoming of us to gossip like this."

"Not at all, my lord," Johnathan managed graciously. The whiskey was already taking root in the base of his skull. He found words came easier to his tongue. "Though it certainly would help if I were to know who you spoke of."

"You do not know of Lady Umbridge?" Lady Reeds asked, aghast. "The Dowager Marchioness of Umbridge?"

Johnathan gave a regrettable shake of his head. "I'm afraid my duties take me far from any news of my fellow peers. I am woefully behind."

"That is nothing to be concerned about, Your Grace," Lady Sutton said with a gentle smile. "It is silly London gossip, after all. Nothing you needn't worry about. Especially not someone who bears as much responsibilities as yourself."

"Then perhaps you could get me up to speed during dinner. Shall we make our way to the dining room?"

"Of course. I am famished!"

It was easy to match Lady Sutton's grin and he couldn't help but wonder how much of that was due to the whiskey swimming in his head. He turned to the rest of the room, to everyone else who seemed occupied in their own tasks.

"Let us make our way to the dining room, everyone," he announced.

They all got into action. And despite his best attempts, Johnathan could not stop his eyes from falling on Miss Agnes.

As if she sensed the weight of his gaze, she met his stare. She frowned slightly and then glanced at Miss Caroline. Then she leaned close to her friend to whisper something in her ear.

Miss Caroline's eyes darted up to Johnathan's after a moment and she flushed. Johnathan didn't bother trying to understand what had just occurred.

Instead, he took the lead, fearing what he might do if he let himself fall to the back of the group. He made his way to the dining room with his guests at his heels and promptly marched over to his chair at the head of the table. He couldn't stop himself from watching as Miss Agnes entered, her eyes scanning the room. When Miss Caroline entered behind her, he remembered himself.

Johnathan stood and pulled out the chair next to him, indicating without a word that he wanted Miss Caroline to sit beside him. She fluttered her eyes shyly at him as she murmured her gratitude and claimed the seat.

Christopher did the same for Miss Agnes. Johnathan struggled to find pride in his brother, ignoring the odd feeling he got watching Miss Agnes smile up at him.

There was a comfortable silence in the air as the first course was served. Johnathan racked his brain for something to say to Miss Caroline. During their walk, he'd let her take the lead in conversation, stoking it with a few questions of his own. He knew it made him seem attentive but he knew deep down it was partly because he could not think of a single thing to say to her.

The silence was broken before anything came to mind.

"Has anyone been to the London races lately?" Christopher asked and Johnathan nearly sighed. When his brother started talking about horse racing, it was hard getting him to stop.

"I have not had the chance to attend in a while," Lord Sutton admitted amicably. "Have you been able to take part?"

"Oh, I most certainly have! Though it has been some time. I fear racing for competition severely cuts in the extra time I have to partake in my other interests. But I do enjoy watching the sport in my free time as well."

"I have never been able to attend," Mr. Parsons spoke up with a slightly sullen look. "It is my wish to do, but Father thinks it is not proper for me to do so."

"No, Father only thinks you should pay more attention to your studies than you currently do," Miss Agnes corrected without looking up from her soup.

Mr. Parsons scowled at her and she lifted her eyes to her brother as if she felt it, raising a single brow in challenge. Johnathan nearly smiled.

"Oh, but I do think horse racing is a rite of passage for any man," Christopher continued.

Mr. Parsons seemed rather interested in that, eyes growing wide. "In what manner?"

"It assists with one's discernment, of course. When you watch the horses lining up at the start line, you have to observe each and every one of them to determine which you believe will be the victor. And there are many factors that come into play."

"I thought you did not place bets, sir," Miss Agnes spoke up again, her tone idle.

Christopher just nodded. "I do not. Nor do I need to when the true enjoyment comes from the thrill of the race itself."

"What sort of factors do you speak of?" Mr. Parsons asked. "The build of the horse?"

"Yes, that is one. But even the build of the riders themselves. One must also pay keen attention to the heat of the day, the terrain, the history of the horses…"

Johnathan stopped listening. In fact, it seemed everyone had stopped as well. Lord and Lady Sutton were murmuring to each other with small smiles. Lord and Lady Reeds were quiet, eating their meals while looking surreptitiously between Johnathan and Miss Caroline. Johnathan would have felt pressured to make small quiet conversation with Miss Caroline amidst Christopher and Mr. Parsons' louder one, but he was paying keener attention to Miss Agnes.

She was looking between Christopher and her brother with a mixture of awe and horror. He watched as she sighed and shook her head. His lips twitched.

Her eyes fell on his, widening when she realized that he was already staring. Johnathan would have looked away by now, ashamed that he had been caught staring and then embarrassed that he looked away at all. But the whiskey made him bold. Bold enough for him to glance at his brother, back at her, and then roll his eyes.

Miss Agnes' lips twitched. She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ears and tapped her ear with a stern look.

Johnathan frowned at her in mock horror and put his hand to his throat, implying he would much rather die than take part in the conversation.

She ran a finger down her cheek like a fake tear.

He couldn't hold back his chuckle. Miss Agnes giggled behind her hand.

"Does something amuse you, Your Grace?" came Miss Caroline's innocent voice.

Johnathan wiped the grin off his face and straightened, feeling like he'd gotten caught doing something he shouldn't have been doing. "I was only thinking about something, Miss Caroline," he lied. "Are you enjoying your meal?"

"It is quite tasty, Your Grace. I must thank you again for your kind hospitality."

"It is my honor, miss. Please do not hesitate to indicate any manner in which I may be able to make your stay a better one."

She gave him a small smile and returned her attention to her meal. Johnathan tried to do the same thing but his eyes wandered back to Miss Agnes unbidden.

"That is it, Father," Mr. Parsons said suddenly. "I shall become a horse racer!"

"No, you will not," Lord Sutton and Miss Agnes said in unison.

Lady Sutton laughed. "Oh heavens, between the two of them, I cannot tell who the parent is."

"Father is," Mr. Parsons said pointedly, scowling at his sister. "You have no say in the matter."

Miss Agnes' only response to that was to look expectantly at her father. Right on cue, Lord Sutton said, "You shall inherit the title and the family business."

"What of his paintings, dear?" Lady Sutton asked. She always spoke with such humor, as if she found every situation funny. "He is quite skilled, you know."

"Then should he make a living painting portraits for the rest of his life?"

"It is not a bad way to live."

Johnathan had a sneaking suspicion Lady Sutton was taunting her husband.

"Mother, please," Mr. Parsons whined. "Haven't you been hearing what Lord Christopher has been saying?"

"Please," Christopher spoke up. "You all should call me Christopher."

Mr. Parsons grinned at that. "It is clear that this is my passion."

"Is it not interesting that you find a new passion every month?" Miss Agnes drawled.

"Yes, that's right," Miss Caroline exclaimed suddenly. "You did say you wanted to become a sculptor last month!"

"My," Johnathan heard himself drawl, mirth evident in his tone. "You must be the most remarkable man in all of London to have so many talents, Mr. Parsons."

A sudden giggle caught his attention. Miss Agnes was trying to hide her laughter behind her hand. An odd warmth spread through his chest.

"You are all poking fun at me," Mr. Parsons pouted, his face growing red.

"I do think this is improper conversation," Lady Reeds spoke up. She narrowed her eyes at Miss Caroline and the lovely lady shrank under her withering stare. "Let us talk of other things. Like what we may able to do during our stay here, Your Grace."

"Or," Christopher spoke up. "I could tell you all about the filly my horse recently gave birth to."

No one, not even the queen herself, would have been able to stop Christopher from going down that line of conversation. Johnathan was content to let it happen, letting his eyes drift to Miss Agnes again.

Somehow, dinner went by in a blur and all he could remember about it was the smile on her face and the sound of her laughter.