Page 47 of Her Bear of a Duke

"She went into a lake with me," Catherine continued. "That is why I am unwell, and why I am so small. It is quite all right, though, for I am very happy here."

"You are so well spoken. It is very impressive."

"I like to read. I have so many books, and so I have a big vocabulary from them."

"I love to read, too. Which books are your favorite?"

"All of them. I enjoy learning. It is all that I can do, really."

Dorothy looked in confusion at Morgan, who cleared his throat.

"You see," he explained, "I do not think it is wise for her to be out in society. I fear that, given the circumstances surrounding her birth, she will be rejected. Not that it is her fault, of course."

"No, it most certainly is not."

"It is all right," Catherine said meekly. "I know that it is for my protection. I understand."

But Dorothy's heart broke for the girl. She was such a wonderful little girl, intelligent and well-spoken and very pretty, and she would flourish socially if she was allowed to go outside.

"Perhaps one day that will change," Dorothy suggested, and Catherine's eyes sparkled while Morgan grimaced.

Suddenly, Mrs. Herrington entered. Her mouth fell open at the sight of the three of them.

"It is time, then?" she asked.

"Indeed," Morgan nodded. "It is time for all of us to know precisely what is happening here. That is why I am going to tell all of you that I will soon know the name of Catherine's mother, and then we will be able to visit her resting place."

Instantly, Catherine threw her arms around her uncle. Dorothy smiled at that, but then her face fell into one of confusion.

"Do we not know her mother?"

"We do not," Mrs. Herrington explained. "His Grace tried to find her, but it is likely that the name we were given was not her real name, and now we are quite lost."

"But if we find that letter," Morgan explained, "the one my brother left me, then we will know for certain who she was, and it shall be easier then."

After a while, they left Catherine to rest. It had been a meeting that the little girl had yearned for, as Dorothy came to know, but it had needed a lot of her energy, and she was very tired.

"Did you happen to find anything while redecorating?" Morgan asked her when they were alone.

"I did not. Then again, I did not touch your study, or the west wing. Could he have hidden the letter there?"

"I have searched my study, but there was nothing. I should look again, but I wish to investigate the west wing first."

"We can search for it together, if you wish. I would be more than happy to help you find it, especially for Catherine's sake."

"You… you took that news very well. You did not seem very surprised at all, nor angry with me when truly you had the right to be."

"I suppose it is because I understand. I have secrets of my own, after all."

He looked at her in surprise, and she took a deep breath.

"You wouldn't happen to know anything about my sister, would you?"

"I do not. Your father never mentioned her."

"Well, she was perfect. She was everything that I could never quite be. She was beautiful and intelligent and a favorite among theton.She could have had her pick of any gentleman, but she ran away with a man with no title."

His eyes widened.

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