Agatha sighed. “I suppose you’re right, but I still cannot fathom why Alonzo sent no word that he was leaving. It must have been something frightfully urgent that took him away. His grandfather no doubt had a duty for him to perform that could not wait. I still don’t know why he didn’t come to see me first, or at least send along a letter. He must know I would be fretting.”

“I don’t know why he did not leave word. As you say, it must have been an urgent errand for him to leave so abruptly. And now …”

“This will be such a sorrowful blow to poor Alonzo. He cared a great deal for his grandfather, in spite of the old earl being so difficult to get on with.” Agatha blinked. “He will feel such sorrow that he wasn’t there at the end, and he will not be at the burial services. Still, perhaps when Alonzo arrives back in England and we are reunited, our mutual sorrow will draw us closer together.”

“Are you certain he means to return?” Juliette put the question gently.

“Of course.” Agatha was undaunted. “He’s the new Earl of Rotherhide. He has responsibilities here now. And he has a responsibility to me. He will honor his promise to marry me, I will become his countess, and that will be the end of it.”

Agatha seemed so certain of Alonzo’s continued affection for her and his follow-through on the promise he had made to her. A promise that had not been publicly announced but enough people knew about to make it binding. Yet he had left England without so much as a word to Agatha about his departure or the length of his time away.

What if he’d left in order to get out of his promise? What if he never meant to return? How would Agatha cope? Would it damage her reputation? Juliette had heard of some girls, with their engagements broken, who could not find another suitor. Gentlemen wondered what was wrong with them that their first fiancés had broken things off. Agatha’s self-confidence had always been a fragile thing, but under Alonzo’s attention, she had blossomed. Would she suffer a setback if Alonzo proved faithless? Would Agatha have to sue for breach of promise to salvage her reputation? Juliette’s heart ached for her friend’s predicament, and she didn’t know how best to help her.

“I had my own bit of romantic entanglement.” Juliette felt she had to tell someone, and with her parents not due to return until the end of the month, she needed to confide in her best friend. Perhaps the subject would also distract Agatha for a time. “I had a visit from Duke Heinrich.”

Agatha stopped, her eyes widening. Since their arms were linked, Juliette had to stop too.

“You didn’t.”