Page 14 of A Duke's Scandalous Obsession
A few more inaudible murmurs were heard, then her voice sounded off again, crystal clear. “When can you visit the little one?”
“Tomorrow…” The reply came immediately. A few more words were exchanged, but Dominic could not hear them clearly, no matter how hard he was pressing his ear to the door. “… everything alright?”
The lady’s chirping filled the room on the other side of the door. “Quite well… lovely… missing you… see you…”
The emotional gravity of the situation was becoming more than evident. The actress and Catherine’s brother were bound by a shared secret, and the layers of their apparent relationship seemed to transcend merely friendly ties. Not only that, but Dominic soon realized that the situation took on different undertones, one of an illicit affair.
“Tomorrow…” Lord Stanhope seemed to repeat. “Tonight… a moment alone with you…”
“I’ve missed you so much…”
Dominic couldn’t see through the door, but he could easily tell that the couple had begun to flirt and exchange affectionate gestures, because there was no more talking heard from the other side. Their hushed whispers were inaudible and obviously more intimate, punctuated by the unmistakable sound of kisses. Dominic gasped silently, his mind racing with the implications of the scene unfolding before him.
He had had enough. He turned around and slipped away, leaving the duo behind him. He made his way outside, still elbowing a small group of people lingering in the foyer of the theatre. The revelation of Lord Stanhope’s secret echoed in his mind. He could see it as a ticking time bomb that threatened to explode into a full-blown scandal.
He had come to find out that he had political ambitions, and if such a scandal was to take place, it could cast a shadow not only on the man’s professional opportunities but also over the entire family’s standing in society. It was a dangerous game the lord was playing. Dominic wondered if the man even knew how dangerous it truly was.
With the echoes of the clandestine affair, Dominic returned to the sanctuary of his own home with a brooding determination that seemed to fuel every fiber of his being. He had always beena man who navigated the intricate webs of societal expectations, but now, he found himself confronted with a new challenge.
He held in his hands the potential key to the heart of Lady Catherine Stanhope. In light of everything that happened, she seemed even more alluring, and coupled with the unraveling secrets of her brother’s affair, a fiery determination was ignited within Dominic’s heart.
He paced his bed chamber hastily, a man with a purpose. A new plan was slowly crystalizing in his mind. Yes, Tim was right, but now Dominic had a different plan, one that had no chance of failing. He refused to acknowledge defeat when it came to Lady Catherine’s affections. She would be the one to save him from the repercussions of the will.
Although it was quite late, Dominic’s mind was still as sharp as a blade while formulating a strategy that would get him exactly what he wanted. The secrets he had unearthed would become a tool in his arsenal, elements to be delicately woven into this courtship.
Although it was not the usual way he would go about things, he refused to back down when it came to something he desired greatly. And with each passing moment, Lady Catherine was more and more worthy of any sort of strategy that would win her over.
Those were the thoughts that lulled him to sleep, assuring him of his victory.
***
The following morning, he immediately sent a note to Timothy, with the words to come as soon as possible. That afternoon, Timothy was seated in Dominic’s study, discussing their new plans.
“Thank you for coming so soon,” Dominic told him gravely, his plan the only thing on his mind.
“I got the impression it was something urgent,” Timothy wondered. “Did something happen at the theatre yesterday?”
“In a way,” Dominic nodded, leaning back in his chair. “I saw Lord Stanhope there, and I had the intention of speaking to him. But instead of leaving the theatre after the show, he snuck back and headed towards the actor’s quarters, where he had a secret rendezvous with one of the actresses.”
“Goodness,” Timothy whistled. “That is something!”
“But that’s not all,” Dominic shook his head. “If what I managed to overhear is correct, the two have a child together, out of wedlock.”
“Out of wedlock?” Timothy repeated, shaking his head. “That is quite a predicament.”
“If a man has such a secret, I reckon there could be a few more,” Dominic mused.
“Possible,” Timothy agreed. “But… what’s that got to do with you?”
Dominic got up from his chair and circled Timothy, continuing to pace about the room. He found it almost impossible to remain seated when he had something huge on his mind, as was the case now.
“He is Lady Catherine’s brother, of course,” Dominic reminded his friend of something they both knew well. But that was beside the point. “Seeing that I am quite adamant at courting her, it is imperative that I find out all the man’s indiscretions, apart from this one. And this is where I need you.”
Timothy turned around in his chair, as Dominic was now standing behind him. Dominic knew that Timothy’s reputation was impeccable. However, he also had deep connections insideLondon’s murky waters, just in case he ever needed to quickly find all the dirt on someone. It was not something Timothy spoke about often, but that did come in handy on more than one occasion.
For instance, when a friend of his was accused of cheating at cards and almost got beaten to a bloody pulp after that particular card game. If it hadn’t been for Timothy and his dark connections, the man would probably never walk again.
“What is it you need to know?” Timothy asked, business personified.
