Page 3 of A Duke's Scandalous Obsession
Usually, these festivities were bothersome to him. He would much rather spend the evening at White’s with a few close friends, indulging in a friendly game of cards and a few drinks.
Those evenings were always fun. But being a duke and one of the wealthiest gentlemen in London came not only with its perks, but also with its obligations, which he could not escape, no matter how much he wanted to. Attending Lord and Lady Chatham’s annual ball was one of those obligations.
On a rare occasion, he would indulge in one of the vices known to every man, no matter what station he belonged to: watching. One of the advantages of being friends with both the host and the hostess was that he was able to ensconce on a private balcony, and enjoy a solitary drink there, merely observing the gathering lords and ladies. They came and went like ants, busy with nonexistent affairs they had created to make themselves feel and seem important.
That was when he noticed her first.
The woman took his breath away. Her gown shimmered like moonlight on water, perfectly accentuating her porcelain skin that glowed under the light of an endless row of candles. Her eyes, pools of warmth, sparkled with a hint of curiosity and intrigue as she observed the scene around her. She looked slightly out of place, just like himself. That only seemed to heighten the attention and admiration her presence commanded.
She entered with a man, and he immediately wondered who the man was. A husband? A brother? A close friend? Strangely enough, Dominic wanted to find out. And that curiosity was enough to send him down from the solitary comfort of his balcony into the very hell of the ton itself.
He approached a close friend, wrapping his arm around his shoulder in a conspiratorial manner. “Tom, I need you to turn around very slowly and look at the lady in a shimmering purple gown, the redheaded one. But… very slowly, understood?”
Thomas Willoughby, Dominic’s close friend, frowned in confusion first, then a flicker of understanding lit up inside of him. “Oh! Right, right. Let me just…” he said, pretending to yawn, then turned around to do as he was instructed. Then, he quickly turned around. “You mean Lady Catherine?”
“Do you know her?” Dominic asked almost breathlessly, realizing that he had just gotten one step closer to her. He knew her name. Soon enough, he would know more.
Tom shrugged, not understanding the urgency in his friend’s voice. “I’ve been introduced to her and her brother on one occasion, but I wouldn’t call us friends or anything.”
Her brother.Dominic could only hope that he was fortunate enough to have that man by her side be her brother, and as such, no competition for him. Desire gripped him even harder. Curiosity as well. Was she being courted by anyone? Not that he found that an obstacle.
“Can you make the introductions?” Dominic hated that he sounded so eager, but he could not control himself. He couldn’t remember the last time a lady had caught his attention in such a manner leaving him utterly stunned and almost speechless. She was shining like a pearl in the mud. It was impossible not to notice her.
“Of course,” Tom nodded, still slightly taken aback by the hasty nature of this friendly request. He gestured at the drink in his hand, the glass half full of yellowish liquid he was obviously enjoying up until that moment. “Let me just finish this—”
“Now, Tom,” Dominic grabbed his friend’s glass and downed it himself, slamming the glass on the table before them. “I owe you one for this.”
Tom raised an amused eyebrow, but he knew better than to question his friend’s sudden decisions. “Come on then.”
With a mutual acquaintance by his side, Dominic seized an opportune moment to approach the lady who had occupied his every conscious thought. As they were heading towards them, she didn’t seem to recognize Tom or him, which was understandable. The man standing next to her, who Dominic hoped with all his might was indeed her brother, turned around at the moment they approached them.
“Lord Stanhope,” Tom greeted him cordially, bowing as he did so, his voice confident and friendly. He was the sort of man who could find common ground with absolutely anyone. That was one of his best traits. “I saw you across the room and wished to greet you and your lovely sister.” He turned to the lady in question. “Lady Catherine, if I may observe, you look radiant this evening. You are even more beautiful than I remember.” She smiled angelically at him, blushing ever so slightly in response to his compliment. Dominic wondered what it would take to have her smile at him like that.
“Lord Willoughby?” Lord Stanhope greeted the man with a slight confusion and a confident smile that excused the first.He was apparently not completely assured of the identity of the man who approached him and was genuine enough to show it. Dominic instantly liked the man for his openness even in a slightly awkward situation.
“Yes,” Tom nodded again.
“A pleasure,” Lord Stanhope shook Tom’s hand, who turned to Dominic.
“May I introduce a good friend of mine, Dominic Worthington, the Duke of Fairhaven,” Tom proceeded, as Dominic’s anticipation grew. He could even feel his palms becoming clammy, denoting that he was actually nervous.
“Your Grace, it is an honor to make your acquaintance,” Lord Stanhope greeted the man cordially. “This here is my sister, Catherine.”
“Lady Catherine,” Dominic bowed deeply before her, while she curtsied politely. “It is always a pleasure to be in the company of a goddess.”
Catherine seemed slightly taken aback by such an obvious and unapologetic compliment, but she managed to put on a gracious smile. “The pleasure is mine, Your Grace.”
As the introductions unfolded with Tom and Lord Stanhope’s exchange of pleasantries, Dominic extended an invitation to Catherine with a confident and charming demeanor.
“I’m afraid that I cannot be robbed of your presence just yet, Lady Catherine,” Dominic used all of his charms, unable to take his eyes off of the woman before him. “Would you do me the honor of sharing the next dance with me?”
Catherine glanced at her brother, turning to Dominic again after a moment. “I would, but I, umm… I’m afraid I have promised a dance to someone already.”
“You have?”
“You have?”
The same question belonged to both Dominic and Lord Stanhope who both seemed equally surprised to hear her response. Her brother lifted an eyebrow. It became clear to Dominic instantly. She was politely refusing his offer of dance and needed her brother for corroboration. Fortunately for Dominic, her brother seemed to be on his side.
