"Of course," he replied simply. He wasn't sure why Agatha was so determined to meet Alicia, but he wasn't going to complain. With a smile, he ushered everyone over to where Alicia sat.
She looked up. "Oh, Lord Arvill. Can I help you?"
"I'd like to introduce you to some friends of mine," he replied gently. "This is Lady Agatha Bennington and Lady Rose Bennington."
Her eyes widened as she snapped the book closed. Then Alicia was on her feet, an apologetic smile on her features. "My lady," she inclined her head, first to Rose, then to Agatha, "I didn't know we were expecting visitors. If I had, I would have stayed out of your way. Apologies."
Agatha smiled - but it wasn't a nice one. Her lips curled inward, and her eyes went cold. "No need to worry," she said shrilly, "I'm sure James lets you wander wherever you want." Her eyes narrowed a little, and her shoulders straightened. "He never mentioned a new governess, though. How odd."
James winced. It was true that he hadn't spoken about Alicia, but he had never mentioned Agatha to Alicia, either. Was that why Agatha was acting so odd? "Alicia has only been here for a while," he replied simply, "I didn't want to overload her."
"Alicia, is it?"
James blinked, realizing his mistake a little too late. NotMiss Sempill,but Alicia. He had always thought of her by her first name, but until now, he hadn't said it out loud. Cheeks flushing a gentle pink, James cleared his throat and corrected,"Miss Sempillis new to the manor, and I wanted her transition to be easy. Comfortable."
"Ah." Agatha's features relaxed, and she wrapped her slender arm around James' with a sly smile. Their arms fit perfectly together, but her grip was vice-like, nails digging into the flesh of James' forearm. "Isn't James just soconsiderate?We really don't deserve to know such a wonderful man. I see he's treating you well, then?"
"Oh, exceptionally."
"Exceptionally, hmm?" Agatha's eyes narrowed again - and now even her mother, usually so casual towards Agatha's antics, looked uncomfortable. "Well," she continued coolly, "don't get too comfortable. You're only a governess, after all."
That was it. James had hadenoughof this nonsense. He tugged his arm from Agatha's with enough force to send them both stumbling, then whirled to her with a scowl. "Agatha, I have to insist that you treat Miss Sempill with more respect than that. She's a welcome addition to our household, and I won't have you treating her like this."
Agatha huffed, arms folded across her face. "James, you don't understand-"
"No, I understand perfectly. Please, I think it's time you left." This coldness. Thisjealousy.James wanted none of this in his house, not even if it came from his dearest friend. Friendship was no excuse to forget boundaries or act cruelly towards others. Arms folded, he gestured down the long road. "Your carriage will still be waiting, I presume."
Agatha flushed. "I'm sorry, but-"
"Agatha dear, we've outstayed our welcome." IfRosewas agreeing with him, then Agatha was really out of line. She tugged on Agatha's sleeve and began towing her down the driveway, where their speck of a carriage still waited in the distance. "We'll visit another day," she added with a strained smile.
"I amsosorry," James let out in a rush, turning an apologetic smile to Alicia. "If I knew she would react like that, I wouldn't have introduced you."
Alicia only offered a nervous little shrug, her eyes downcast. She dropped heavily back into her seat, taking the book into her hands to clutch it between slender fingers. "I'm sure she had her reasons," she replied.
Reasons being jealousy, perhaps. It had been a silly idea to introduce them. Agatha was perfectly nice until she thought other women were getting too close to James, then she turned into a whole different person. She wasn't cruel, not really; she just... didn't have a good grasp of her own emotions. She was a bit like Edwin, in that respect.
When James sat, carefully at the opposite side of the bench to Alicia, he turned to face her again. "I really can't apologize enough; I've always tried to emphasize the fact that my staff are treated fairly by visitors. I feel I failed on that account today."
She offered a smile, and it came a little more genuinely than James expected. "She's in love with you," she replied, "Love makes people do strange things."
James couldn't even deny it because he knew it was true. Since they were children, he had always known how Agatha felt. She wore her emotions so obviously, and it was both sweet and infuriating all at once. Still, it was no excuse for what Agatha had said.Just a governess,but Alicia was so much more than that.
She shifted then, resting the book on her knee, and finally prying it out of her stiff fingers. "How did you two become friends, my lord?" she asked quietly, "I've never heard you mention her before."
Given that Agatha was his only real friend, he supposed that he should have mentioned her before now. "Our mothers were good friends, many years ago. Our families have been a part of the same social circle for a very long time, and Lady Rose hosts a ball at the start of every Season that my whole family attends. Well, with father gone and Edwin always away, it's only me now." He shrugged, forcing a smile onto his lips. "Regardless, we've known each other since we were little, and Agatha was the only one who stuck by me when... well, I'm sure you've heard."
"Heard what?" Alicia questioned, turning those big green eyes to him. Was she feigning naivety, or did she truly not know what he meant? The latter, he realized a second later, when she grimaced.
He answered anyway. "People seem to think that I murdered my own father to take his position as marquess. As the older brother, the title automatically went to me when he passed." The words stuck in his throat, but James forced himself to continue. "He had an accident on the stairs; fell down the entire flight before anyone got to him. But it was anaccident,as I said. I would never try to hurt my family."
James hadn't realized he was fighting back tears until Alicia brushed a hand across his cheek. She drew back almost immediately, head bowed in apology - but James felt himself smile.
"If it counts for anything," she said quietly, "Agatha isn't the only one who believes your side."
James blinked, brows furrowed. He must have heard wrong because it almost sounded like she said...
"I believe you too, my lord. I haven't known you for long, but I know that a man as kind and generous as yourself could never killanyone,least of all a member of your own family." She took a breath, turning her wide gaze to him, and offered a smile. "Even if I'm only one of two people in the whole world to believe you, I stick by that; I know you didn't hurt your father."
