Page 16 of A Duke's Scandalous Obsession
“Marvelous,” he smiled, inhaling deeply. “It truly is the little things in life that make one truly happy. And speaking of happy, tell me what have you been reading lately? I’m always curious about your literary pursuits.”
Her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as she replied. “Oh, I stumbled onto a lovely little novel by Mrs. Eliza Haywood. The plot is quite enthralling, filled with twists and turns that keep the reader on the edge of their seat.”
“Ah, yes, I do believe I’ve heard of Mrs. Haywood’s works. They are known for their captivating narratives.”
“And you, Reggie?” Catherine inquired. “Yours are always more political sort of readings.”
“Quite,” he chuckled. “I’ve been engrossed in a philosophical treatise by Mr. David Hume. I must say, it challenges the mind.”
“Perhaps I ought to take a peek once you are done,” she teased.
“By all means,” he took her up on it.
At that moment, a knock on the door interrupted them.
“Yes?” Reginald called out, and the aging face of their loyal butler appeared in the doorway.
“I apologize, my lord, but you have a visitor,” he informed him.
“A visitor?” Reginald’s eyes widened in surprise. He turned to Catherine. “Are you expecting someone, Cate?”
“No,” Catherine shook her head, equally perplexed. She was actually hoping for at least a single day more of peace and quiet without any visitors. However, fate had arranged it differently. “Not that I know of.”
“Who is it, Jones?” Reginald inquired, standing up.
“It is His Grace Dominic Worthington, the Duke of Fairhaven,” Jones announced the guest’s name, sending both of the hosts into a state of utter shock.
“The duke?” Reginald gasped. “What is he doing here?”
“I don’t know,” Catherine replied, caught completely off guard by the sudden visitation of a man she had not heard from since she had refused his offer of courtship.
“Well, I suppose we’d best find out,” Reginald said in a calm demeanor, turning to his butler. “Do show him in, Jones.”
“Yes, my lord,” Jones bowed, disappearing behind closed doors. Then, several moments later, he reappeared, with their guest by his side.
“Thank you, Jones, that is all,” Reginald dismissed the butler, turning his attention fully to the duke. “Your Grace,” he bowed before him. “To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?”
“Lord Stanhope.” The duke returned the bow courteously. He turned to Catherine then. “Lady Catherine. I apologize for appearing here unannounced. I know that is highly irregular.”
“That is quite all right,” Reginald smiled cheerfully. “Please, take a seat. May we offer you some tea? Cate had just purchased it recently and I must say, it is rather delicious.”
The duke glanced around, then shook his head. “No tea, thank you, although this is a social visit. You see, there are matters of some importance that I wished to discuss privately…”
“Oh,” Reginald nodded, gesturing at Catherine, but before he could ask her to leave, the duke continued.
“… with Lady Catherine.”
“With me?” Catherine gasped. Yet another thing which was highly irregular. However, she knew that she could not refuse him.
“Yes,” the man nodded calmly, which made her even more shocked. The entire room sank into the very depths of shock, and Catherine eyed the duke, then her brother, then the duke again.
“You know that this is highly irregular, Your Grace,” Reginald stepped up, his brotherly duty burning bright inside of him. Catherine instinctively moved closer to him, although she did not fear the duke. This was her home. No man would come to her own home to intimidate her for whatever reason. However, her brother’s presence was a welcome shield she chose to hide behind.
“Yes, I do know,” the duke nodded, locking his hands behind his back as he spoke.
A cascade of anticipation and curiosity welled up within her at this unexpected private audience. Her gaze constantly lingered on the duke’s handsome countenance of the man who stood before her with an air of refined confidence, as if he had waltzed into his very own home. She didn’t know whether to be in awe of such confidence or to be infuriated by it.
“But it is a matter of courtship as well as marriage,” the duke clarified. “Of course, it won’t take long and the door is to remain ajar. However, I would like to have privacy while talking to her.”
