Page 140 of The Scandalous Love of a Duke
He had spent the day with her again. It was two weeks since her abduction, and he had been present most of the time ever since. He would only leave her if she bid him go, and he never left the house.
He had changed. The looks from his family suggested it too. His aunts and uncles all smiled when they saw John hovering at her elbow. He even carried out his business at home and mostly in the same room as her so as not to leave her.
She snuggled back against him.
What was happening was wonderful but… She was terrified of what would happen outside the house. He had always been attentive here, but at balls?
She had grown too used to this John. It might break her heart if she faced his ducal reserve again. A tear streaked down her cheek. Her shoulder still hurt but her heart ached more. Phillip, her father, everyone she thought had cared had hurt her… A sob escaped her throat.
John’s hand pressed against her stomach. ‘What is it?’
Katherine rolled onto her back. ‘I am afraid.’
‘Of what?’
‘Of everything and nothing, John. I am just in a blue mood.’
‘Why?’
He kissed her cheek. She felt his love but it only made her cry more.
‘Hush, Katherine, what is it?’
‘I am afraid of losing this. I… I just cannot… I cannot go back to how things were, John.’
‘I do not wish to lose you.’
‘You shall not.’
‘But you cannot always stay here, we cannot keep hiding here forever, and when I am well… You are all I have.’
‘And you are all I have, Katherine. You are going to have to trust me.’
He kissed the tip of her nose and then her lips.
‘Your Aunt Penny asked if I would like to attend her at home tomorrow afternoon. Your uncle will be there.’
‘And you wish me to accompany you.’
‘Yes.’
‘We will go then.’
He brushed another kiss on her lips.
They had not made love once since her abduction. But now his fingers slid to her hip and began sliding up her nightgown. ‘Do you wish to…’
She nodded. She did. It would ease her fear to have this physical connection again. She had always felt closer to him when they were united like that.
‘Do not be afraid, Katherine, I swear I will be different now.’
* * *
Two weeks later, John’s new demeanour was to be put to its first extreme test. It was their first ball.
Katherine had attended three separate afternoon entertainments in his company, during which he had sat silently beside her most of the time, smiling, but in a way which betrayed nothing of what was on his mind.
Yet he had not been cold.
