He glanced back once, only to see Alicia hurriedly drop her gaze and scramble for her book. Laughter bubbled in his throat at the sight. She really was too good for this place. Too good forhim.
Chapter Sixteen
Agatha,James wrote,I think we need to talk about what happened on Thursday. Please come to see me when you can, so we can discuss it properly.
It had been a terribly formal thing to write, without the usual niceties one would send to a good friend. Mostly, James just wanted to get it over with. He knew that Agatha had been uncalled for, and he battled between not wanting to make it into a bigger deal than necessary, and desperately wanting to defend Alicia. So, this was his compromise; a quick face-to-face meeting with Agatha, where he would say what needed to be said. Hopefully, they could put this all behind them soon after.
Now, as he drifted through the halls while waiting for Agatha to appear, James saw the small figure of Alicia hovering by one of the living rooms. He wandered over, brows raised. "Is everything all right, Miss Sempill?"
She turned to stare up at him with enormous green eyes, a nervous smile on her face. "Fine, my lord," she answered simply, "the children have finished for the day. Is there anything I can do?"
James frowned, his own eyes narrowed as concern jolted his chest. Usually, she was good at taking her own initiative and doing whatever she thought was appropriate; what had changed today? "Nothing that I can think of," he replied kindly, "just enjoy the rest of your day."
She hummed idly, lips pursed. "Lady Agatha is coming over soon, isn't she?"
Ah. Was this the cause of her withdrawn nature? James had hoped to avoid mentioning it so that Alicia wouldn't have to deal with it. "She is," he answered carefully, "but we'll be in the drawing-room for most of that time. I plan to tell her exactly how I feel, but I don't want it to get in the way of our friendship."
"Then you shouldn't say anything to her at all, my lord," she said stiffly. Her bright eyes had lost their spark. "I don't want to come between two old friends."
Agatha had done a good job of that herself. Letting out a sigh, James ran a hand through his thick hair. "This isn't your fault, Miss Sempill. Now, I'm afraid I have to be off - she should be arriving any minute."
Alicia only nodded, a small smile gracing her features. "Of course."
He didn'twantto leave her side, in all honesty, but he managed to tear himself away from Alicia just as the grand doors slid open to reveal Agatha standing on the front steps. She was wearing the most beautiful green dress, one that was cut low across the bust and hugged her slender waist just so. Her pale blonde hair hung across her face in thick curls, the rest pinned up behind her head.
Considering that James was wearing only a white shirt and black dress trousers, she was considerably overdressed.
She swept in with a smile, cheeks flushed from the breeze outside. "James!" she announced with a smile, "I thought for a moment that you had forgotten about me."
Agatha was not easily forgotten, and she knew it. James rolled his eyes and offered a friendly smile as Agatha swept into his arms. "You've seen me more this month than you usually do in three," he replied, "that hardly constitutes being forgotten."
They wandered into the drawing-room together while Rose trailed behind. At least for once, she seemed subdued, perhaps because she knew her daughter was out of line. They all settled down by the blazing fire - Rose and Agatha on the settee and James on the armchair across.
"You said we needed to talk," Agatha said immediately, and her lips formed a frown, "I know what I said to that girl was rude, but I saw how she was looking at you."
James hadn't even poured tea yet - usually a maid's job, but he had insisted on privacy for this meeting. He watched her over the rim of the teapot, brows raised. "And how exactly did Miss Sempill look at me?"
Agatha raised a hand, waving it idly as if it were somehow a decent replacement for words. "I don't know, but it wasn't the look that a professional should be giving her employer."
This was ridiculous. James might have said so if that wasn't bound to end in a fight. Over the years, he and Agatha had their spats - as all friends did - but this was the first time he was trulyannoyedwith her. "I think," he said slowly, choosing his words with careful thought, "that you're jealous."
"Jealous of thegoverness?"
It did sound ridiculous when put like that, James knew. He let out a sigh and instead turned to the tea tray, pouring a cup first for Rose and then Agatha. He was pouring the third cup for himself before anyone decided to speak.
"I agree with Agatha," Rose cut through the silence with her words, "there's something between the two of you. Or the potential for something. I certainly hope you don't havefeelingsfor the staff."
Agatha scoffed, dark green eyes narrowed. "Don't be silly, Mother," she snapped. Reaching for the tea, her hands trembled when they took the saucer. "James would never stoop so low, would you?"
Admittedly, that wasn't something so easily answered. Flushed pink, James managed only a wavering smile. Howdidhe feel about Alicia? Mostly he tried not to think about it too deeply.
"Anyway," Agatha grumbled, "I was only trying to put her in her place. I didn't mean to cause a stir."
"You were a littledramatic,dear," Rose replied softly, "but I think a whole meeting to discuss this is a bit much, James."
Maybe she was right. Even so, James had made a decision, and he was going to see it through. "I just wanted to... I don't know, find out why you felt the need to belittle Miss Sempill like that."
"I didn'tbelittle," Agatha snapped, "but she clearly has eyes for you, and I'm beginning to think you have eyes for her, too."
