Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8

L ord Christopher was…something. Agnes could not fathom how he had so many things to say about one topic. He didn't stop talking about his horses all throughout the three courses and by the end of it, Agnes was desperate for a reprieve.

"Ladies, shall we all retire to the drawing room?" Mary asked, already getting to her feet.

Agnes sat up straighter. "A lovely idea, Mother. And perhaps the men may seek some reprieve in the parlor?"

"A sound idea, Agnes," Solomon agreed and Agnes could barely hold back her sigh of relief. She didn't know how much more of Lord Christopher's ramblings she could take.

She managed a hasty smile, remembering manners at the last minute as she attempted to make her escape from the duke's brother. Agnes didn't wait for his response. She led the way to the drawing room with the other ladies following behind. As soon as she entered, she went right to the pianoforte.

Caroline sat next to Mary, with Prudence on the other side of the viscountess.

Deciding that she could leave Caroline in the care of her parents, who always treated Caroline as if she were one of their own, she settled down in front of the pianoforte and brushed her fingers over the keys.

"The duke is quite dashing, isn't he?" Prudence's sharp voice sliced through the room. "Goodness, I think we might have struck gold in having Caroline marry him."

"Yes, he is quite charming," Mary agreed. "Though I do think it is a bit early to decide if you have struck gold. They have only just met, after all."

Agnes settled on a slow, somber song, letting herself fall into the music, trying not to listen to the conversation.

"Oh, heavens, there is no need to be discreet, Lady Sutton," Prudence huffed with a flash of her hand. "It is only us ladies here."

"I'm afraid I do not know what you mean, my lady."

"What does it matter if they know each other well? What matters is that he is a wealthy duke and Caroline is of marriageable age. I'm sure you consider the very same things regarding Agnes."

Agnes glanced up, not missing the look of discomfort on Caroline's face. She continued playing, fingers flying across the keys rapidly.

"I only want what is best for my daughter," Mary said simply.

"And what is best for her is that she marry. It is a pity it is not a duke, however."

Mary ignored Prudence's snide remark, turning her attention to Caroline. "What do you think of His Grace, Caroline?"

Agnes nearly hit the wrong key. She recovered easily enough, holding her breath.

"He is kind, my lady," Caroline said at last.

"And you find him handsome, I'm sure?"

This time, Agnes did hit the wrong key. She glanced up to see that Prudence had noticed and was giving her a rather dirty look. She resisted the urge to return it.

"Yes, my lady," Caroline said, her cheeks coloring. "But you are right. I do not know him well."

"You will in time, my dear," Mary said nicely, patting Caroline on the knee. "You should take your time and follow your heart."

"Yes, my lady."

"Such careless advice," Prudence grumbled.

Mary shifted slightly to face the countess. "Lady Reeds, did you hear of Lady Henderson's two month mourning period?"

Just like that, Prudence forgot about the conversation surrounding the duke, grabbing at the chance to gossip. "I did! Can you believe her?"

Agnes' lip twitched. Her mother was as admirable as ever at diverting one's attention from one thing to another. She released the breath she had been holding, letting herself fall into the music now that the conversation had strayed away from talk of dukes and marriage.

She was so focused on her playing that she didn't realize when the men arrived. It was only when she heard her father's hearty laughter did she look up from the pianoforte keys. Her heart skipped a beat when her eyes fell on the duke.

The duke was talking with Solomon. Whatever the conversation was must interest her father greatly because he carried the brunt of it, going on and on in an animated manner. He was so deep in the conversation that he seemingly did not notice the duke's eyes wandering to her every few seconds.

Boldly, going against everything she'd been telling herself, she raised her brows at him and then jutted her chin to the pianoforte she was playing, a silent invitation.

She expected him to respond in kind. Even if he didn't make his way over, which might give off the wrong impression, she thought he might pick up on their silent method of conversing.

But he only gave her an apologetic look before he turned his attention to her father.

It surprised Agnes so much that she hit the wrong key. The sharp note rang through the room and many heads turned towards her.

"Oh for goodness' sake," Lady Reeds complained. "Caroline, why don't you play for us? Perhaps your music will help to settle our stomachs." Then she twisted to look at the duke. "She is quite skilled, you see."

"Of that, I have no doubt," His Grace stated and then turned to face the pianoforte.

Agnes held back her scowl, getting to her feet. Caroline gave her an apologetic look as she walked by but Agnes only smiled at her. It was not her fault her aunt was so pressuring.

"Lovely playing, sister," Paul teased with a grin.

"Hush or I will tell Christopher that you do not know how to shoot a shotgun very well," Agnes shot back without hesitation. When her brother paled, she gave him a wan smile. "Or would you like your new role model to remain unaware of how little you know?"

Paul grumbled something under his breath, but she paid him no mind. It was easy to see that he looked up to Christopher. During their conversation at dinner, the admiration in his eyes had been thinly veiled. Agnes didn't mind poking fun at her brother because of it.

Her mirth quickly died when she looked at the duke again. This time his attention was on Caroline. But the way he looked at her…it was stricken with unending remorse. But what for? Agnes had assumed that he'd given her that look as a way of denying her invitation to come over to her but why would he look at Caroline the same way?

As she studied him, she began to realize that he was not so much looking at her as he was looking through her. His mind seemed miles away. What was he thinking about?

Her curiosity nagged at her, so much so that she hardly realized when Caroline's song ended.

"Play another, Caroline," Lady Reeds urged just as Caroline came to a stand. The countess looked eagerly at the duke. "Did I mention how skilled she was? You should listen, Your Grace."

The duke thinned his lips and nodded slightly. Lady Reeds did not seem very pleased with that response. She looked at Caroline and gestured for her to continue.

"Is something on your mind, Agnes?"

Agnes shook her head, forcing a smile on her face as she looked at her mother. She hadn't noticed when she approached. "I am just a bit tired."

Mary raised a brow. "You do not look tired. You look as if you came across a confounding equation that you simply must get to the bottom of."

Her smile felt a little more genuine as she huffed a laugh. Agnes couldn't stop her eyes from straying to the duke. He was still focusing on whatever Solomon was saying. "That may be what is tiring me."

"Care to tell me about it? I may be able to help."

Agnes shook her head. She couldn't begin to explain the questions swirling in her head about the duke. "I will be fine after a long night's rest, I'm sure. I shall retire early." She reached out to squeeze her mother's hand. "Goodnight, Mother."

"Goodnight, my dear."

"Are you leaving already, Miss Agnes?" Christopher spoke up as she turned towards the door.

In the corner of her eye, she saw the duke turn to her. Gooseflesh raced across her skin. She clasped her hands behind her, hoping her expression did not give away her suddenly racing heart. "I am."

He pouted in disappointment. "I bid you goodnight then."

"Goodnight, my lord," she returned, but he'd already turned his attention back to Paul, likely to continue rambling about horses.

Agnes turned, keeping her eyes fixed on the door to keep from looking at the duke. But she could feel his eyes. She told herself it was just her imagination, that his recent actions were filling her mind with all manner of things. She held onto that notion as she bid everyone else goodnight—still not meeting the duke's eyes—and left the drawing room.

The silence was welcoming. Agnes made her way to her chambers and went about the task of donning her nightdress with the help of the maid who had assisted her when she'd first arrived.

The entire task was done in silence but Agnes' mind was louder than it had been in days. She couldn't stop thinking about the look on the duke's face. Why had he looked that way? And why in God's name did she feel this insane urge to take his hand and tell him that everything would be all right?

The question plagued her as she crawled into bed. Agnes didn't even bother trying to resume her reading like she usually did. She knew that there was no hope of focusing on anything with the questions assaulting her mind.

She did not know the duke for long. There was no reason for him to look at her like that. And even less reason for her to entertain this insane urge to console him. Console him for what? How could she even think about doing such a thing when she hadn't a clue what it was about?

Agnes didn't know how much time passed but she did hear when the door to Caroline's chambers opened and then closed. She could only assume that everyone else had retired as well. What of the duke? Was he lying awake thinking about their every interaction like she was?

She doubted it. This was quite insane of her to do. She couldn't fathom that he would be tossing and turning with similar thoughts in his mind. If she was…well, that would certainly make her feel a little better.

What felt like ages later, Agnes finally felt the call of sleep. She let her eyes drift close, her drowsy mind lingering on confusing thoughts of the duke and sheep. Sheep with jumping fences with a number appearing above them. Sheep with the duke's face. The duke jumping fences. The duke calling numbers. Sheep giving her apologetic looks like the duke had. Her sleep-addled thoughts only grew more confusing as she tried to fully claim the evasive unconsciousness.

The sound of a door opening jolted her out of her half-sleep.

"Caroline?" she called, her voice soft since it was the dead of night. She received no response.

Agnes stared up at the black ceiling as she listened to the door close. Perhaps Caroline could not sleep either and was heading to the kitchen for some warm milk. Agnes was tempted to join her but she didn't want to risk telling Caroline just how long she had spent thinking about her betrothed.

She rolled out of bed instead, padding over to the window. The moon was out with full force, showering the forest in the distance with silvery light. Agnes sighed, sitting on the chaise lounge. The sight calmed her a bit. She hadn't even noticed how agitated she'd become.

Something caught her attention. It was a ball of orange light bobbing away from the castle and disappearing into the edge of the forest. Surely that wasn't a person she'd just seen? Who would be heading into the forest at such an ungodly hour?

She waited by the window to see if the person would reemerge. Agnes sat there for so long that her tiredness crept over her again and she decided to just return to bed. Just as she got up, the ball of orange light returned.

Agnes squinted at the moving figure but her spot on the second floor made it difficult to discern who it might be. A maid, perhaps? But what purpose did a maid have in the forest in the dead of night?

She stared at the moving figure until the light disappeared. Confounded, Agnes returned to her bed and crawled under the covers.

After a few minutes, she heard Caroline's door open and close again. Her heart began to race. She couldn't believe it. The person going to the forest so late was Caroline ?

Agnes could not take her eyes off her friend. No matter how much she studied her, Caroline appeared perfectly rested. They were seated at the dining table with the duke, Christopher, and Paul since the married couples had opted to have breakfast in their chambers. It was nice not having parental pressure on them this morning but Agnes hardly had any time to enjoy it.

Caroline didn't look like she'd spent her night sneaking into nearby forests but Agnes was almost certain it had been her. The only thing she couldn't understand was why.

Caroline was not an impulsive person. She did not make bold decisions and almost always did what was expected of her. She was the last person Agnes expected to sneak out of her chambers to meet someone in the dead of night. And no matter how much she thought of it, that was the only conclusion Agnes could draw. Caroline had to have met someone. What other reason would she have to go to the forest so late, in a place that she was not acquainted with?

Her dear, secretive friend was oblivious to Agnes' constant glances. She was tempted to ask her what she'd been doing sneaking around last night but Agnes didn't want to put her on the spot. And she didn't know how she would feel if Caroline lied to her.

So she'd concluded that she had to be meeting someone. And if it had to be done in the dead of night in a dark and eerie forest, then it had to be someone she did not want to be seen with.

Was it the duke?

Agnes' heart sank for some reason and she didn't dare to look at the duke, who was talking with Paul about going hunting soon. If it were the duke then it would be such a bad thing, would it? They were meant to be married, after all. Even if their reason for meeting was…improper, it would not court scandal if they were caught.

Agnes tried to catch her breath at the thought, forcing herself to think straight. No, if it was the duke then why would they have reason to meet all the way in the forest? It was his castle, after all. If they did not want to be seen, surely could think of more convenient locations to meet. He must know of many discreet areas tucked within the castle. Would it have been necessary to drag Caroline to the forest?

She eagerly dismissed the thought. Caroline glanced up at her, noticing her stare, and offered a smile. Agnes quickly pasted a smile onto her face so that she wouldn't notice anything was amiss. When Caroline returned her attention to her tea, Agnes glanced at the duke, wondering why she felt such a profound sense of relief.

As if he sensed her eyes, his gaze fell on her. It was for a brief moment but he stumbled over his words nonetheless and then began scratching his chin as if he needed something to do with his hands. Agnes' lips twitch. She was beginning to sense that the duke was the nervous sort.

Back to the matter at hand, she told herself, looking away from him and at her best friend. Who did Caroline meet last night?

Her father was completely out of the question. He didn't have a single bone in his body capable of affairs.

As did Paul. Agnes studied her brother and could not fathom any reason Caroline would want to meet with him. Caroline looked at Paul like Agnes did, like a little brother—though markedly less annoyed with him at all times. Agnes could not imagine that it was him.

And Lord Reeds? Well, Agnes doubted Caroline could even stomach being alone with him, being the horrible man that he was.

The only person left was…

Christopher yawned widely next to her, putting his hand to his mouth a beat later as if the urge had taken him over before he had the chance to mind his manners.

"Are you all right, Lord Christopher?" she asked, feigning idle curiosity.

He gave her a sheepish grin. "I'm afraid I did not get much sleep last night, Miss Agnes. Forgive me if I seem rather out of it this morning."

"Think nothing of it, sir," she managed to say, heart racing at her discovery.

It had to be Christopher. It had to be! He had not slept much because he had spent the night waiting in the forest for Caroline. It made so much sense.

Agnes looked back up at her friend, her heart tearing in two. She had no fond emotions towards Christopher. Yes, he was nice enough, but it was clear they had no chemistry. There would be no love lost if either one of them decided to entertain someone else.

But Caroline…oh her dear friend must be stricken with guilt knowing that she had feelings for her friend's betrothed. Agnes would not mind stepping out of the way to let their love flourish. She only wanted Caroline to be happy.

She could talk to her later, Agnes resolved. They would be able to figure out what to do together. It would be quite scandalous, perhaps, but it was a situation they would be able to navigate if they were careful.

This time, when Caroline met her eyes again and smiled, Agnes' answering smile came easier to her lips.