Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

" I s something wrong?"

Agnes jumped at Caroline's question, even though she had been expecting it. She lingered at the doorway to Caroline's chambers and had been watching her friend read for a while before Caroline noticed her.

"Nothing," she said quickly, stepping inside and closing the door behind her. "How…are you?"

Caroline frowned, setting her book aside. "I am fine, Agnes. However, now I am beginning to think that something is actually wrong. What is it?"

"It is nothing," Agnes lied again, coming to sit next to her friend. She had no idea how to broach the topic at all. She'd been thinking about it all throughout breakfast and still had not settled on anything proper.

Finally, she asked, "How is the relationship between you and the duke progressing?"

"Oh. Well, the duke is nice."

"Just nice? I would hope you wouldn't marry someone just because they are nice."

"You should tell that to my uncle," Caroline sighed. "His Grace could be a tyrant and he would still be desperate to marry me off to him. I should be glad that he treats me kindly since I stand no chance of backing out of this marriage if I wished to."

"But what do you feel for him?" Agnes pressed.

Caroline sighed. "I must admit that my heart does not beat for him. Kind though he may be, it feels much like you and Lord Christopher. There is very little chemistry between us."

Agnes' heart broke in her chest. Before she could think to stop herself, she threw her arms around Caroline's neck. "Oh, Caroline, I understand you completely. And I assure you that no matter how difficult it may seem, just know that I will be here to support you in any way I can."

Caroline gently pried Agnes' arms away from her to look at her with confusion. "What are you going on about, Agnes?"

"I know about your late-night stroll," Agnes blurted out.

Caroline's eyes grew wide with horror. "How?" she whispered.

"I saw when you went into the forest last night." After a beat, she added, "I also know who you went out to meet."

Caroline pulled fully away, staring at Agnes as if she'd just grown a second head.

"You needn't worry," Agnes quickly assured her. "I do not mind in the slightest. As a matter of fact, I want to help you."

"Help me?" Caroline squeaked.

"Yes." Agnes grasped both of Caroline's hands. "I know you, Caroline. I know how terrified you must be to speak the truth of your heart but I am here to assist you in any manner I can."

"I cannot believe this." Caroline pulled away from her, coming to a stand. She appeared agitated, pacing back and forth and wringing her hands together. Agnes waited for her to come to terms with what she'd told her.

At last, Caroline whirled to face her again. "How do you know?" she asked.

"I saw you," Agnes admitted to her. "And I heard when you returned to your chambers."

"Oh, dear God," Caroline breathed, sinking into the sofa again. "I cannot believe this is happening."

"You needn't worry, Caroline," Agnes assured her gently. "I shan't tell a soul. Not until you are ready to speak yourself."

Caroline looked up at her with tears in her eyes. Agnes held her arms out and Caroline threw herself into them, sobbing against her chest.

"Oh, Agnes, I don't know what to do! I have been holding this in for so long."

"There, there," Agnes consoled gently.

"I am so in love with him, Agnes. I wish I could shout it to the world but I must keep it a secret. It would be such a scandal otherwise."

"We only need a plan," Agnes said. "If we devise a proper one, I'm sure we will be able to help you without damaging your reputation very much."

Caroline pulled away, tears streaming down her face without hesitation. "How?" she rasped.

Agnes didn't know how to respond to that. All she knew was her resolve, her determination never to allow Caroline cry over this matter anymore. If she loved Christopher as much as she claimed, then Agnes would do everything in her power to ensure that Caroline had her happy ending.

Something was off. Johnathan couldn't tell what just yet.

It was dinnertime and the entire table was alight with conversation. Lord and Lady Reeds were talking with Lord and Lady Sutton with far more animation than they had done the previous night, having come out of their shell a little bit. Christopher and Mr. Parsons were talking with each other as if they were the best of friends. But Miss Caroline and Miss Agnes were quiet.

Miss Caroline had been crying. It was hardly noticeable and Johnathan would have missed it had he not been studying her closely for the past few minutes trying to ascertain why she seemed so despondent. Certainly she hadn't figured out what he was doing?

With Miss Caroline, perhaps not. But when he looked at Miss Agnes, he couldn't be sure.

She seemed to be in intense thought. She hardly paid attention to her meal, staring with focus at a spot on the table with her fork limp in her hand. Miss Caroline might not have figured out Johnathan's motives but perhaps she had.

The guilt that had been nagging at him for the past few days overwhelmed him at once. This was not the way he wanted things to be. Preying on these young girls for nothing but their dowry made him feel sick on the inside. But it was the quickest way he could think of to help with his family's financial situation.

He could tell that even Christopher was growing uncomfortable with their situation. But Miss Agnes didn't seem to mind that Christopher was not paying her much attention. Her focus was on something else entirely, though what that was, Johnathan hadn't a clue.

The thought perplexed him all throughout dinner and well into their time of relaxation in the parlor. Lord Sutton had suggested that they play cards while the ladies entertained themselves on the other side of the room but he could not focus. He lost round after round with his mind worlds away and his gaze constantly straying to Miss Agnes.

No matter how many times he looked over at her, he found her already staring at him. That same look of deep concentration remained fixed on her face, now trained on him. He had to quell the urge to cross over the room and ask her what was on her mind.

"Had we been placing bets, Your Grace, I would have won your entire wealth by now."

The jesting comment came from Lord Sutton, who was making another clean win of their game of whist.

Johnathan set his cards down with a sigh. "I'm afraid my mind keeps wandering, my lord."

"A decent excuse, if any," Lord Sutton said with a chuckle. "Are you certain you would not like to place bets?"

Johnathan fixed a grin on his face. "And lose everything I have, as you have so aptly pointed out I would?"

"We cannot know unless you try," Lord Sutton challenged.

"If I didn't know better, my lord," Lord Reeds spoke up, "I would think you wanted His Grace to hand over his wealth to you. Is there not enough of your own to rely on?"

Johnathan didn't know whether that comment was meant in jest or not but he laughed all the same. "I know when I am bested. I should retire now before I suffer any more blows to my ego."

"So soon, brother?" Christopher taunted with a grin. "You do not usually give up so easily."

"I do when I see that the odds are stacked against me. Or in this case, luck."

Johnathan got to his feetand looked at Mr. Parsons, who had been observing the game silently. "I will need someone to take my place."

Mr. Parsons blinked bemusedly at him and then his eyes widened with understanding. He quickly got to his feet and said, "I shall beat every one of them."

Johnathan's laughter was a little more genuine this time. He patted Mr. Parsons on the shoulder saying, "I have the utmost faith in you. Good night, gentlemen." And then louder, "Goodnight, ladies."

Miss Agnes got to her feet as the other ladies bid him goodnight. She stared intensely at him, that frown that had been present since dinner dipping lower. Johnathan paused, wondering if there was something she wanted to say. If she would finally reveal what had been on her mind all evening.

But then she reclaimed her seat and looked away from him towards the conversation amongst the other ladies. She nodded her head but before long, her eyes shifted to him and her frown deepened again. Clearly, she wasn't listening. Clearly, there was something she wanted to say. And clearly, she had no intention of doing so tonight.

So he left the parlor with an uneasy feeling settling in his gut.