Page 21 of A Duke's Scandalous Obsession
When Reginald finally relinquished her from his embrace, she could see two stray tears rolling down his cheek.
“It will be alright,” she said, wiping them away gently with trembling fingers. She loved her brother dearly, more than anyone in the entire world, and seeing him so vulnerable assured her that she would sacrifice herself for him as many times as it was necessary. “I know why I am doing this.”
“For me,” he said, his voice on the verge of breaking.
“I love you so much,” she whispered, kissing his cheek.
“I love you, too, Cate,” he whispered back, and that was all he could say, before he slumped down onto the ground, burying his face in his hands.
Catherine came down onto her knees, wrapping her arms once again around her brother. They didn’t speak. They didn’t move. His sobbing stopped shortly after, but not even then did they speak. Life as they knew was ending, and they were mourning the loss of everything they had known.
***
Dominic began the preparations as soon as the following day. A meticulous attention to every detail underscored his every command. The whole atmosphere in his estate hummed with the anticipation of an event that would reshape his destiny. All would be well. The conditions of the will would be met, and he would be stripped off of nothing.
He thought about the will for a moment. When his father died, Dominic was only ten. When he found out about that clause as an adult, it came as a surprise. However, there was also a clause that explained it. His father wanted to assure that Dominic would not make the same mistake he did.
Namely, his father was an old man when he had him, when he finally decided to settle down and marry a woman much younger than him. That meant that death came for him swiftly, leaving Dominic without a father at a tender age. So, in a way, that restrictive clause was done out of love. A strange expression of love, but love, nonetheless.
Still, it confined Dominic, determining his life and finally, the deadline had caught up to him. The truth was that he probably wouldn’t have married even now, unless the will had forced him to. Perhaps his father was right… in a way.
As for the heir, which was the second part of the will, he still had time for that. Namely, the first three years of his marriage had to be fruitful and result with at least a single heir. Fortunately, his father did not have a preference for any gender. Dominic grinned, thinking how fun it would be to work on that part of the will with Catherine. But all good things to those who wait…
He focused on the present moment. Although there was still enough time, he wanted Catherine’s chamber to be the first one ready for her arrival. He summoned the maids with a sense of purpose and a plan set in his mind. He lined them up all next to one another, starting with his monologue.
“I want this room to be spotless,” he instructed them, gesturing about. “Prepared with the utmost care. I want it to be asanctuary of beauty and comfort. Curtains, flowers, vanity table, carpets, everything a woman might desire.”
The maids were already attuned to his expectations, and they nodded, immediately setting about their tasks with diligence. He returned to the chamber several hours later, expecting the rich fabrics which now cascaded from the windows, casting the room in a soft, ethereal glow. Vases were placed on small tables, ready for bouquets of fresh flowers to be placed when the time came. He nodded in a satisfied manner.
“I want new gowns in the wardrobes,” he continued, pointing at the furniture. “Perfumes, anything she might wish for. I want her to feel cherished and attended to. Leave no detail overlooked.”
The maids nodded all at the same time. Within days, there would be gowns of exquisite fabrics and curated selection of rare perfumes. Each choice would reflect the elegance and sophistication befitting the bride of a duke. And if she herself wanted to bring anything of her own, she would be more than welcome to. After all, this was to become her new home. He wanted her to feel comfortable and welcome.
A part of him didn’t understand why he was going to such lengths, when there were certainly other ladies of the ton who would be more than happy to accept his proposal of marriage and who would not need to be blackmailed into it.
They also wouldn’t need any of these preparations. They would simply be ecstatic to be there, to be asked to be his wife. But none of them were Catherine. There was something about her that wouldn’t let him be. He couldn’t remember the last time a lady had mesmerized him so, if ever. And he knew that if he were to marry, then it had to be her and no one else.
Still, he wanted to make her transition into this new chapter of life as seamless as possible, seeing it already wasn’t going according to the generally accepted plan.No matter,he would tell himself. There would be plenty of time to win her over.
It might have been a wedding born out of necessity, but she would want for nothing. He wanted her to step into their union with a sense of grace and beauty, a feeling that although she might not be where she wanted to be, she would still be taken care of. That much he could provide for her. As for the rest, she would need to allow him to do that first.
Chapter 11
An entire month simply flew by, and Catherine found herself standing before the ornate looking glass in her chamber. Her eyes traversed every inch of her body, which was clad in a wedding gown that enveloped her slender frame like a waterfall of ivory silk. The gown, meticulously crafted with delicate lace and intricate beadwork, draped elegantly over her form, accentuating her curves as she moved.
The bodice was adorned with shimmering pearls and dainty embroidery, and cinched at the waist, before flowing out into a voluminous skirt that pooled at her feet in a sea of cascading, shimmering fabric. Layers of tulle and satin swirled around her, gently whispering as she moved, creating a vision of beauty that didn’t resemble her at all.
Catherine wondered who was that stranger gazing at her so lovingly from the reflection in the looking glass. She smiled weakly as she raised her hand to gently slide a strand of stray hair behind her ear. Her coiffure was meticulously styled with delicate sprigs of baby’s breath and tiny pearls, which only added a sense of celestial charm to her overall appearance. Each wisp of hair was carefully arranged, framing her delicate features with soft tendrils.
She sighed heavily as she gazed upon her reflection. Every detail was perfect, from the intricate lace on her gown to the subtle pink glow of her complexion. Yet, beneath that perfect exteriorlay a heart entwined in a brewing storm of emotions. If one dared to gaze into her eyes, one would see the inner conflict that raged within her soul. The weight of expectations, the pressure to fulfil her sisterly duty, and the uncertainty of what lay ahead all conspired against her.
You could run. Just open that door and run. It’s not locked.
The thought appeared to her so suddenly, so naturally, that she almost listened to its siren’s call. The temptation to flee tugged at the very edges of her consciousness. Her heart pounded with the urgency of a caged bird, its wings fluttering against the confines of duty and expectation that bound her to that man. The thought of abandoning her fate, of seeking refuge somewhere where no one would ever find her, whispered seductively in her ear, promising the freedoms she always cherished so much.
But she knew she could never do it. A solemn vow echoed in the recesses of her mind, a promise to take care of her brother as he had taken care of her all these years. She could not turn her back on him now that he needed her the most. As if beckoned by her confused thoughts, a knock on the door revealed his presence in her chamber.
“Cate?” he whispered softly, standing in the doorway. “May I come in?”
