Page 6 of A Duke's Scandalous Obsession
Then, reason came to the surface, reminding her that it was just one occasion on which they met, and it would probably not happen again.Good,her conscious mind mused. Because she had no desire to see him again. Why would she? He was obviously a rake, used to charming women just for the fun of it, and she had no desire to be in the company of such men.
Those were the thoughts she fell asleep with, forgetting a very simple fact, and that was that fate rarely took the opinions and wishes of humans into consideration when weaving the complex and colorful tapestry of their lives.
***
The pleasant clinking of fine china and the gentle murmur of conversation between her and her brother settled upon the elegantly decorated breakfast table the following morning. Reginald was reading his favorite headlines from the morningnewspaper, and Catherine would occasionally offer some retort. Mostly, she was focused on her scones and morning tea.
“Ah, see here, Cate,” Reginald announced importantly, spreading the newspaper even wider as he read. “Scandalous affair unveiled at prestigious soiree; Lady Helena Winterbury’s secret liaison causes a stir in high society.”
Catherine didn’t really care much for Lady Winterbury’s secret liaison. If anything, she was certain that almost every attendee at that prestigious soiree had a secret of their own. They were just fortunate enough not to have it unveiled… yet.
“Let’s find out the sordid details, shall we?” Reginald grinned from behind the newspapers. She always teased him that sometimes, he was worse than an old dowager, having nothing better to do than know everything about everyone. He always took it in good jest. Just as he was about to start reading, a knock on the door interrupted him.
“Yes?” he called out, as a liveried servant entered, bearing a sealed letter.
“I apologize for the interruption, my lord, but this letter has just arrived. I was told it was of the utmost urgency that I deliver it to you instantly.” The man approached Reginald, handing him the letter.
“Thank you, Higgins,” Reginald replied, eagerly accepting the letter. “That would be all.”
The man disappeared as quickly as he had appeared, and Reginald did not wait a single moment. He eyed the letter in his hand with curiosity that Catherine shared.
“I do not recognize the seal,” he told Catherine, turning it in his hand. “I wonder who it could be from.”
With a swift flick of his wrist, he broke the seal and unfolded he contents. His eyes traced the elegant script as he read aloud what it said.
“Dear Lord Stanhope, I trust this letter finds you in the finest of health and spirits. It is with the utmost pleasure that I extend to you and your lovely sister, Lady Catherine Stanhope, an invitation to a dinner party I am holding on the morrow’s eve, at Fairhaven Manor. Should there be any particular preferences or considerations for your comfort, I beseech you to make them known before tomorrow evening. Understanding the constraints upon one’s schedule, your attendance would be a cherished honor.
I humbly request your prompt response, confirming your presence or extending your regrets. Eagerly anticipating the pleasure of your and your sister’s company I remain yours with the deepest regards, Duke of Fairhaven.”
Surprise washed over both their faces, and a moment of silent contemplation hung in the air as Reginald looked up. Catherine’s brow furrowed with curiosity as she glanced at the letter.
“Well, well,” Reginald commented with a teasing gleam in his eyes. “It would seem that you have caught the duke’s attention, Cate. A wealthy and influential man, quite the catch, wouldn’t you say?”
Catherine, her expression a blend of amusement and a slight blush, playfully rolled her eyes at her brother’s comment. “Reggie, you are incorrigible. And that man is… something even worse.”
“Is he now?” Reginald chuckled playfully, feigning innocence.
“Yes, he is so full of himself, I wouldn’t even know where to begin,” she clarified, still wondering where that sudden invitation had come from, when she and the duke didn’t exchange any further words after their dance. And even that was strained and not at all as she would have imagined a pleasant dance to look like.
“Full of himself or not, it seems that he has taken an interest in you,” Reginald reminded her.
“The letter is addressed to you,” she pointed out with a smirk, easily finding a fault with his reasoning. “Inviting me was mere politeness, nothing else.”
A part of her didn’t want to believe that, but she wisely kept that to herself. There was something titillating about being the lady who caught a man’s interest for longer than a mere minute. However, it was dangerous playing with such men, as such games ended in broken hearts or even worse. She had no intention of having her heart broken, so that was that.
“I somehow doubt that,” Reginald refused to let it go. He was having too much fun. “I noticed how you two enjoyed yourselves dancing together. And I wasn’t the only one who noticed. Why, I do believe that you were the talk of the morning, dancing with the most eligible bachelor at the ball.” He chuckled, much to his sister’s chagrin, but she knew that he loved to rattle her bones. He always loved that, ever since they were little children.
He was all she had, and the same could have been said of him. That gaping hole inside her heart yearned to be filled with the memories of their departed parents, but the truth was, she didn’t remember anything of her mother, and only a little bit of her father. All she had were her brother’s stories, that shared well of affection and his memories that she had adopted as her own. It was far from enough, but she learned to make do with what she had.
“I do wish that things turned out differently,” she said, as her gaze softened with nostalgia. The duke was not on her mind any longer. He was substituted by someone far more important.
“What do you mean?” he asked, completely forgetting about the invitation and that he needed to send a response. None of that mattered now.
“Sometimes, I wonder what it would be like to have them both here… now,” she admitted. She didn’t need to clarify whotheywere. He knew well.
“Me, too, Cate,” Reginald nodded tenderly. “Them being gone from our lives at such an early age… it is a void that can never be truly filled.”
She smiled through the sorrow. “In the midst of our shared loss, I feel like we can still continue with the legacy of their good name and make them proud.”
