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 exterior lay 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?"

"Of course," she smiled, turning immediately. She actually managed to make it a genuine smile, hiding her true feelings. "Come in."

Reginald closed the door behind him, walking slowly over to her. He seemed incredulous, as if he couldn't recognize her at all, doubting that's he was his sister. "You look… beyond beautiful."

"Thank you." She neared him, kissing him on the cheek. "You don't look bad yourself."

It was true. He had taken extra effort to look rather striking in his well-tailored coat of rich navy blue, its lapels adorned with ornate gold buttons that gleamed in the soft light. Beneath the coat, he wore a crisp white shirt with a high collar.

Completing this ensemble was a matching waistcoat. Upon his chest, he pinned a single white rose, a symbol of purity and devotion, which he had chosen with care to honor his sister on the day she would sacrifice herself for him.

"You don't have to do this, Cate," he said one last time, gazing at her somehow sorrowfully, as if after the ceremony she would cease to be his sister, and would become someone else. In a way, that was true. The life they knew would be over.

She would be part of someone else's family, her husband's. In the eyes of the ton, her brother would no longer be the most important man in her life, and that knowledge echoed painfully within the recesses of her broken heart.

She walked over to him and cupped his cheek with her hand. "I won't have this conversation again, Reggie."

His eyes were clouded with remorse as he stared at her. Silently, he took her hand and placed a soft, reverent kiss on it. She knew that kiss spoke more than any words ever could.

"Whenever you are ready, we are all waiting for you in the grand hall," he informed her.

"I will be there shortly," she assured him.

He nodded, once again silently, without any other words spoken between them. She watched him leave, then close the door behind him. She was left alone. And that was how she would find herself in this new home. Alone and lonely.

But she tried not to dwell on it. It was her wedding day, after all. And wedding days were supposed to be occasions of merriment. She smiled at herself one last time in the looking glass, inhaled deeply, then headed in the direction of her new life.

***

Dominic stifled a gasp.

She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. And now, that woman was to become his wife. For a moment, Dominic felt a pang of guilt. She wasn't there because she wanted to be. But that didn't diminish the desire he had for her. If anything, the month he had spent in anticipation of this moment only seemed to heighten his wish for her to become his wife.

No other lady had even begun to entertain his fancy in such a manner, and he knew that no lady ever could. He had eyes only for Catherine, and that was the worst thing of all. He had fallen under the spell of a woman whom he had to force to marry him. That was exactly the opposite of a happily ever after tale he was hoping to write for them both.

As he stood at the end of a long path that was to bring his wife to him, his gaze fixed on the entrance, anticipation coursing through him like a current of bloodcurdling warmth. His heart quickened as he saw Catherine in her wedding finery, her brother by her side.

Time seemed to stand still as his eyes met hers, even from a distance. In that moment, the world faded away, leaving only the two of them suspended in a universe of his own making. Mesmerized by her beauty, he found himself unable to look away, captivated by the radiant glow that emanated all around her.

She walked slowly, making a small stop after every step. Her tail trailed behind her, and her gown, a vision of elegance and grace, accentuated her delicate features and poised form, each movement as fluid and enchanting as a dance. The pearls in her hair framed her face like a halo, adding to her angelic allure.

He swallowed heavily, feeling his palms become clammy. When she finally reached him, her brother gave him a look Dominic understood immediately. The two would never be friends. That was yet another aspect of this arrangement he might be able to rectify, but he had to do one thing at a time. He accepted Catherine's hand from her brother, then they both turned toward the clergyman who presided over the ceremony itself.

"You look breathtaking," he whispered, leaning closer to her as he did so.

"Thank you," she said in a barely audible voice. He knew she was upset with him, and yet, politeness won over. He considered that a small victory. She was still talking to him. Little by little, he would win her over. He was sure of it.

The clergyman proceeded to lead the couple through a series of vows and blessings, after which rings were exchanged as a symbol of their commitment to each other. He placed a ring on her finger, during which she refused to look at him in the eyes.

Then, she did the same for him, with the same lack of eye contact. Once their vows were exchanged, they were pronounced husband and wife, a statement that erupted into a burst of applause on part of all those present.

A reception was held in Dominic's home, where the celebrations continued with food and drink. Although he was a well-known duke, the ceremony was a modest one. Catherine refused to make a list, so it was up to him. He invited only closest friends and family, refusing to make it into an unnecessarily big event. Something assured him that he had made the right choice.

Catherine was seated between himself and her brother, mostly leaning towards Reginald. She would occasionally speak to someone else, but only when she was asked something. Dominic could see that she clammed up. More and more, he was falling into the grip of his guilty conscience, but the will loomed over his head. He had a good reason or doing all of this. She would eventually understand and come to see things from his perspective.

Once the wedding breakfast had come to an end, Dominic stood by Catherine's side, as they bid everyone goodbye. Carriages started to leave his property one by one, and he knew that the moment when he would be left alone with her was becoming nearer and nearer.

Her brother approached them among the last guests. He embraced his sister, who wrapped her arms around her. It seemed that she refused to let go of him, almost afraid to do so. Eventually, she pulled away, albeit reluctantly.

Then, Reginald turned to Dominic. "You'd better take good care of her," he growled under his breath, but loud enough for Dominic to hear it.

Dominic knew that he deserved this hostility. "I promise," he heard himself say politely.

"I can take care of myself," Catherine suddenly interfered, addressing them both. "No need to speak on my behalf."

Reginald glanced at her one last time, then nodded. She watched him retire to his carriage, then a few moments later, he disappeared from sight. Several other guests approached to bid their farewells, and soon enough, Dominic and Catherine were left alone.

Unexpectedly, he felt like a little boy, not sure what exactly he needed to do. He wanted to show her the entire mansion, but customs dictated that he presented her to the staff first.

So, he decided on that, although nothing they did was done according to any rules. However, rules provided some semblance of routine, control over the situation, and a sense of safety. That was why he decided to start with the staff, as any other married couple would have done. He didn't want to be different from them.

"Come," he urged her softly. He considered taking her by the hand, but perhaps she would consider it too bold. So, he kept his hands to himself. "I will gather the staff in the hallway."

She didn't say anything to that. She merely followed him like a shadow, and for a moment, Dominic wondered if, in his selfishness, he had done the right thing or exactly the opposite of what he needed to do.