Page 89 of Her Bear of a Duke

"Is what happened not for small ears?" he asked, and she nodded. "Very well. Catherine, might you go and see Mrs.Herrington for a while? She has most certainly missed you this last while."

Catherine continued to look at Dorothy warily, as if something was very wrong with her.

"I am fine," Dorothy promised. "Your uncle and I simply need to discuss a few things. I will come and read with you in a while, if you like?"

The little girl nodded, and went to find Mrs. Herrington. As soon as she left, Dorothy sighed and put her head in her hands.

"Dorothy, what have you done exactly?"

"I will tell you, but know that I am not proud of it."

He looked at her uncertainly, but he trusted her. He was also aware that she was a very sensitive lady, one that would more than likely be concerned for Lady Annabelle, in spite of everything that had happened.

She explained everything to him, and as she did so he was more and more surprised. He never would have expected her to say such things, and when she finished she looked at him as though she expected him to chastise her, to be ashamed of her for the way she had acted.

"Dorothy," he said gently. "Dorothy, I think you are the most marvelous woman."

She froze, her eyes wide as she looked at him.

"But I was so unkind to her!"

"Yes, and I will not pretend that she was undeserving of it. After everything that she has done to you, you should have shown her true cruelty. Instead, you carried yourself perfectly. If you are expecting me to be upset about what you have done, then you are very much mistaken."

She exhaled heavily, leaning forward with her eyes closed. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly. She had done everything to protect their family, and he was prepared to do anything to protect her in return.

"How is Catherine?" she asked after a while. "It must have been awful to hear something so vile said about you."

"She is fine, though it has certainly given me a lot to think about. I do not want to hide her away anymore."

Dorothy pulled away, sitting up straight and looking at him with determination.

"Very well," she agreed. "I have an idea, but you shall have to trust me."

"I do, more than anyone."

"Good, because it involves a visit to my parents."

He grimaced, not wanting to do that but knowing that his wife would have her reasons.

They took a day to be a family, and it was precisely what they needed. They enjoyed a picnic in the garden, and laid in the sun for a while. In spite of what Catherine had been called, she was coping well and had quickly returned to the little girl she had been before. Morgan marveled at her resilience, and wondered just how she was so grown up. She had changed so much since he married Dorothy, and he had not noticed until that moment.

"Catherine," Dorothy began gently, "I was wondering if you might like to visit my mother and father tomorrow?"

"I would love to!" she beamed. "Do they… do they know about me?"

"They do not yet, but they shall love you. I have not seen them in a while, and I was hoping that you might like to join us on our visit, as our daughter."

"Your daughter?" she asked, eyes wide. "But they will not believe that."

"I believe that they will, actually. We will see them tomorrow, and then you will see it for yourself."

Morgan trusted his wife, but he was uncertain of what was to come. He had not liked Dorothy's father, and he could not fathom why her mother had never said anything in her defense either. He would have to keep a civil tongue in front of Catherine, but he did not know how he would do that.

Dorothy kept a brave face, but she was deeply concerned about seeing her family again.

A lot had changed since her wedding day, but more than anything she had changed. She was no longer the meek little thing that she once was, but a fierce and loving wife. She feared that, when she saw them, she would go back to the person she was before.

They arrived at her childhood home, and she shivered at the sight of it. She had not suffered as a child, not truly, but it was strange to see it again. She set her shoulders back and approached the door, Morgan and Catherine close behind her. The butler welcomed them in, and led them to the drawing room.

---