Page 51 of A Duke's Scandalous Obsession
With a steadying breath, he fought to regain control of his wayward thoughts, reminding himself of the importance of propriety and restraint. But even as he struggled to suppress his desires, he couldn’t shake the overwhelming longing that consumed him, a longing to express his love for her in the most intimate of ways, to unite their souls in a passion that transcended all boundaries.
“Catherine?” he called out to her gently.
Her eyelashes fluttered in his direction. It took her a moment or two to return to the present moment. As soon as she acknowledged him, she smiled.
“Oh,” she beamed. “I’m sorry. I… I was lost in thought.”
“I see that,” he smiled, taking a seat on the chaise lounge opposite her. “Did you enjoy the afternoon with your brother?”
“Oh, yes! Most certainly,” she gushed, her voice filled with genuine appreciation. “Thank you, Dominic. It meant a greatdeal to me to have Reginald here, and I can’t thank you enough for your thoughtful gesture.”
Dominic returned her smile, his eyes shining with sincerity as he spoke. “Despite what you may think, I only want to see you happy, Catherine,” he said softly. “Your well-being is of the utmost importance to me, both mental and physical.” He paused for a moment, inserting a joke in hopes of making her smile. “Seeing I failed at the latter, I hoped to repair my mistake with the former.”
“You managed wonderfully,” she chuckled. “I really feel a lot better now.”
“I can see that,” he nodded. Then, he tilted his head a little, trying to see behind the veil she had lifted around her, in an effort to hide her true self. “But I see that something is bothering you still.”
She locked eyes with his, not speaking. He could see that he was right, but she hesitated to confide in him. A pang of guilt plagued him. He deserved this lack of trust. How could he not? And he also knew that it would take a long time for him to earn her trust. But he would do whatever it took.
“You don’t have to talk to me if you don’t want to, Catherine,” he assured her gently. “But if you do wish to speak to someone here, if that will make you feel better, my aunt will help you in any way she can. She has taken quite a liking to you.”
“Oh, and I to her,” Catherine assured him. Her smile was there again, but he knew it wasn’t meant for him. “She is an exceptional lady, in every manner of the word.”
He chuckled. “She would love to hear you say that.”
“I shall make sure to tell her that then,” she nodded, her eyes glistening.
He yearned to be a man of unwavering support to her, in the absence of her brother. He wanted to be a beacon of light in her life, guiding her through the darkest of times, but he had to earn that position, if he would ever be able to do that.
“Would you like to be taken back to your chamber?” he suggested.
“No,” she shook her head, looking at him. “I would actually like to go out into the garden and sit there for a little while. Would that be all right?”
“I don’t see why not,” he smiled.
As Dominic enveloped Catherine in his embrace and led her to the tranquil sanctuary of the garden, a sense of serenity descended upon them, like a cocoon of a comforting hold.Beneath the sprawling branches of an ancient oak tree, he carried her to a weathered bench and tenderly settled her upon its sturdy wooden frame.
“Is this all right?” he asked.
“This is perfect,” she nodded, gazing at him. He could immediately sense the weight of sadness that seemed to linger within her. Yet, she was not willing to reveal the cause of her distress.
Though he yearned to draw her close, to lose himself in the intoxicating warmth of her presence, he knew that now was not the time for passion or desire. Instead, he longed to ease the burdens weighing upon her heart, to offer her solace and comfort in her time of need.
With a gentle touch, he brushed a stray lock of hair from her forehead, his eyes filled with an unspoken tenderness. He wanted her to know that he would be there for her, but saying it wasn’t enough. It wasn’t nearly enough. He could feel the silent depths of her sorrow echoing within him.
“Does it hurt?” he asked, solely for the purpose of filling the silence between them with sound.
“My ankle?” she wondered. Then she shook her head. “No. Not really.” He thought their conversation would end there, but she surprised him with her response. “Something else hurts.”
“What?” he asked hastily.
“My brother and his family,” she said in a whisper.
Dominic felt like a wretch. He knew the entire story, and yet he chose to use it to his advantage. How different his perspective was now that Catherine was his wife. The conditions of his will were met, but it would seem that his heart was setting new ones, and he wasn’t certain whether Catherine would be willing to meet those.
“Did they find the man?” he asked cautiously. He didn’t want her to think that he was prying, but at the same time, he wished for her to know that she could count on his support. That was a line that was difficult to draw.
“Not yet,” she shook her head. “And that is the problem. My niece is growing up without a father by her side, and it is all that man’s fault. If only they could find him, sort out the divorce and my brother would live a happy life with his family, which is all he’s ever wanted in life.”
