Chapter 17

The garden party was not what Catherine had expected at all. Her vision was a dull afternoon of posh ladies talking about people Catherine didn't know and other sort of gossip. However, what she came to find was a scene straight out of a fairy tale, a vibrant tapestry of colors, scents, and sounds that danced in the summer breeze.

It was a lovely little gathering of like-minded people, who indulged in conversations about their own lives, then literature, philosophy, botany and the like. Catherine was seated next to her husband, and was mostly silent throughout the first hour, choosing to listen to others.

The air was alive with the cheerful chatter of guests mingling amidst the lush greenery, their laughter and conversation filling the air with a joyful melody. Tables were adorned with crisp linens and delicate floral arrangements which dotted the landscape, offering a tempting array of refreshments and delicacies for the pleasure of the guests.

Aunt Penelope, resplendent in her finest attire, made sure to speak with each guest, making them feel welcome and addressing them with warmth and grace. She was the epitome of gracious hospitality, her every gesture a testament to the care and attention she had so generously lavished upon her guests.

"You've truly outdone yourself with this garden party, Aunt Penelope," Dominic remarked, leaning towards his aunt, but Catherine could still hear them. His tone was filled with tenderness and genuine admiration.

Aunt Penelope beamed with pride as she turned to him. "Oh, nonsense, Dominic! It's all the work of our wonderful staff. I wouldn't be able to do any of this without them," she replied, her voice full of affection. "But I'm glad you are enjoying yourself, my dear."

Catherine then watched as Dominic leaned in to whisper something to his aunt, a playful smile dancing on his lips. Aunt Penelope's laughter rang out like music, her hand reaching out to affectionately pat her nephew's arm.

"You always know how to make an old woman feel special, Dominic," she said, her eyes sparkling, almost as if Dominic's words made her twenty years younger. "I'm just so happy to have you and Catherine here with us."

As Dominic and his aunt shared a tender moment, Catherine couldn't help but wonder if there was more to that man than met the eye. His aunt seemed to be a good judge of character, and she was utterly mesmerized by him. That much was evident. The two shared a bond that transcended mere family ties and spoke of a deep and abiding love.

Shortly after, someone suggested a game of croquet. Everyone seemed to love the idea, even the hostess herself.

"Only if I can be in Catherine's team, and we shall play against Dominic and his team," Aunt Penelope revealed, and everyone seemed to agree.

"Oh, is that how we are going to play?" Dominic stood up theatrically, shaking his fist playfully at his aunt. "You ladies are going to lose!"

"We shall see about that!" Aunt Penelope chuckled, getting up as well, then turning to Catherine. "How about it, my dear? Shall we show them how this game is played?"

"Most certainly," Catherine giggled, enjoying the competitive nature that the game had taken on.

The rest of the guests divided themselves between their two teams and the lush lawn was soon transformed into a makeshift croquet court, with colorful hoops and mallets scattered about, ready for eager participants to test their skill.

Aunt Penelope's team lounged against a bench as they watched Dominic and his team take their positions on the croquet court. The air was alive with anticipation and amusement, as the gentle murmur of conversation could be heard, mixed with the occasional thud of mallets against the ball.

Aunt Penelope leaned closer to Catherine, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "I have a feeling our team is going to give them quite the run for their money, my dear," she whispered conspiratorially.

Catherine couldn't help but chuckle at Aunt Penelope's confident assertion. "Oh, I have no doubt about that," she replied, her tone laced with amusement. "Although knowing Dominic, he might have a few tricks up his sleeve."

As if on cue, Dominic approached them with a sly grin, his eyes dancing with a playful challenge. "I hope you ladies aren't too confident in your abilities," he teased, his tone filled with mock concern. "I wouldn't want you to be too disappointed when my team emerges victorious."

Aunt Penelope chuckled at his comment. "Oh, Dominic, my dear, dear boy. You still haven't learned not to underestimate a clever woman. And here you have two," she replied with a wink, much to everyone"s amusement.

With a playful roll of his eyes, Dominic took his place on the croquet court, ready to lead his team to victory. Catherine watched with a smile as the game unfolded, the friendly banter and light-hearted competition only adding to the overall excitement that seemed to reign in the air.

As the game progressed and the tension mounted, she couldn't help but feel a sense of exhilaration coursing through her veins. With each swing of the mallet and each strategic maneuver, she found herself drawn to this man who seemed to awaken all sorts of emotions inside of her, none of which she could explain.

How could she possibly be attracted to someone who forced her to marry him? How could she laugh at his funny retorts? How could she think him so devilishly handsome? How could she wish to be in his arms in the darkest hours of the night? She scolded herself silently for those thoughts, yet she knew that she could not banish them no matter how hard she tried.

As the final shot rang out across the croquet court, Catherine's team erupted into cheers, their mallets held high in victory. Aunt Penelope and Catherine exchanged triumphant glances. Aunt Penelope couldn't resist a playful jab at Dominic as he approached, with an expression of disbelief and good-natured amusement on his face.

"Well, well, well," Aunt Penelope teased, "it seems that the ladies have emerged victorious once again.:

Catherine was unable to resist joining in. "It appears you did underestimate us, Your Grace," she quipped, her tone light and teasing, as she purposefully used his title and not his name.

Dominic chuckled in a way that made Catherine's knees weak. It was one of those carefree, genuine chuckles that she loved so much. The sound was melodious, and it made his features even more handsome, even more striking.

"I must admit, I stand corrected," he said much to her surprise. She was yet to hear him admit that he was wrong. And now, that was exactly what was happening. It had to be because of his aunt. With her, he was not pretending to be better or smarter. He was simply himself, and Catherine was curious to catch a deeper glimpse into who he was when no one was looking.

"Do you now?" his aunt teased again.

"Absolutely," he nodded, conceding defeat with a gracious smile. "You ladies certainly put up quite the fight."

As they gathered to celebrate their victory with a round of refreshments, Catherine couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for these joyful moments. She couldn't even imagine that she would have any by Dominic's side, but fate was proving her wrong.

***

"I do like having guests," Aunt Penelope said, raising her glass of wine during dinner that same evening. "But you two are my favorite."

"Thank you, Aunt Penelope," Catherine gushed, raising her own glass.

She welcomed the peaceful dinner after what was an exhausting, but a fun filled day. The three of them were gathered around the elegant dining table, over which Aunt Penelope presided with grace and charm.

"It was really a lovely party," Catherine added.

"I am very happy you enjoyed it, my dear," Aunt Penelope smiled. "But I do believe I am not as energetic as I used to be. They tire me out much more than before, these parties."

"After that game of croquet, we are all exhausted," Dominic remarked playfully. "And you mustn't stop throwing parties. They are the talk of the town every single time."

Aunt Penelope beamed at those words, taking a sip of her wine. "I remember one summer in particular," she began, her voice filled with the rich, bitter-sweet notes of nostalgia, "we hosted a grand ball at the estate, a magnificent affair that drew guests from far and wide."

Catherine and Dominic listened intently, not interrupting for even a single moment.

"It was a sight to behold," Aunt Penelope's words were weaving a tapestry of memories. "The gardens were adorned with twinkling lights, and the air was filed with the strains of music and laughter." Then, she seemed to remember something, and burst into a boisterous chuckle. "I remember that one of our dogs jumped into the fountain and it took three servants to get him out!"

All three of them chuckled at this memory. She continued sharing with them stories of her own youth, painting a vivid picture of a time long gone. When her stories came to an end, she suddenly seemed to remember something.

"Do you remember what we used to do every evening after dinner?" she asked Dominic.

Instantly, he smiled. "How could I forget?"

Catherine waited for either of them to clarify, but all they did was continue to smile mysteriously.

"Well, I'm done with my dinner," Dominic said instead of an explanation. "As far as I'm concerned, we can head to the library immediately."

"Yes, let's," Aunt Penelope got up as well, and Catherine followed suit. Obviously, something was going to take place at the library. She patiently followed the duo, who refused to explain anything even then.

When they reached the library, Catherine stared at it in awe. Its walls were lined with towering bookshelves that seemed to reach the very ceiling. The scent of aged leather and polished wood permeated the air, mingling with the faint aroma of old parchment and ink.

Aunt Penelope led the way, her steps confident as she moved through the rows of books with a sense of reverence. Her fingers trailed lightly along the spines, as if seeking out a familiar friend among the countless volumes that lined the shelves.

"We had this game that we played," Aunt Penelope started to explain. "We would each choose a book, then read a chapter from it. But it had to be something crucial from the book, not just a simple description or anything of the sort. Then, the other person would try to guess the title of the book."

"I like that game," Catherine beamed. "May I join?"

"My dear, I wouldn't take no for an answer," Aunt Penelope smiled back at her. "Now, everyone find a book of their own, and no peeking."

The trio all scattered about the library, each selecting a book from the shelves, their choices as varied as their personalities. Then, they settled back into their armchairs, their eyes alight with anticipation as they delved into the first chapter of their chosen reads. Catherine found herself eager to start the game. She was honestly enjoying herself, something she wasn't expecting.

Aunt Penelope was reading from her book first. Her choice was a romance novel, its pages worn with age, but its story as timeless as ever. As she read aloud, her voice filled with emotion, Catherine and Dominic exchanged knowing glances, their minds whirring with guesses as to the title of the tale.

"The Canterbury Tales?" Dominic suggested with a doubtful frown.

"Really?" Catherine turned to him, unable to resist chuckling.

"Well, do you have a better suggestion?" he teased.

She thought about it for a moment, then she smiled. "Pride and Prejudice?"

"Yes!" Aunt Penelope closed the book, turning to Dominic. "It seems Catherine is winning."

"We shall see about that yet," he pretended to pout, much to the delight of both ladies.

"My turn," Catherine said in a way that made her feel as if she had already won.

Catherine herself had chosen an epic work that transcended time and language borders. As she read, Aunt Penelope and Dominic were transported to a different place, but the time could have been the same. They listened intently, their imaginations soaring as they ventured numerous guesses.

"Circles?" Dominic said aloud. "I know nothing that has circles."

"Think about it," Catherine helped with a smile. A part of her actually wanted him to win. How odd.

He shrugged, but obviously, the right answer was eluding him.

"Oh, I know!" Aunt Penelope clapped her hands joyfully. "It's Dante's Inferno!"

"Right!" Catherine smiled, then she addressed Dominic. "See? Circles."

"I see," he rolled his eyes playfully at her, which made her burst into a chuckle.

"You really don't like to lose, do you?" Catherine teased.

"That is because I so rarely do so," he replied playfully. "Now, it is my turn."

Finally, Dominic started reading. From the onset, it was obvious that his was a heroic story of bravery, loyalty and the struggle between good and evil, which kept the listeners on the edge of their seat as they devoured each word that was being read. Catherine and Aunt Penelope exchanged excited whispers, their minds racing to unravel the enigmatic clues hidden within the pages.

"So, we have a monster," Catherine mused.

"And a hero," Aunt Penelope added.

Eventually, the clues revealed the title and Catherine was correct. "It's Beowulf!"

"You are very good at this, my dear," Aunt Penelope pointed out, then she turned to Dominic. "It would seem we have quite the competition here."

"I should think so," Dominic chuckled, addressing Catherine. "Contrary to what you might think, I am able to admit when I have been bested."

"You are?" Catherine teased. "Does that happen more or less often than you losing?"

"Well, now you are just being mean," Dominic chuckled, and Catherine couldn't help but join in. This playful competition had awakened the best in them all, and for a brief moment, she could see something more in him, something she actually liked.

"Well, I think we should all retire for the evening," Aunt Penelope announced, rising from her armchair.

Dominic rushed over to take the book from her hands. "You go ahead, aunt. I'll put all the books back."

Aunt Penelope caressed his cheek, gazing at him. "You've always been such a sweet, kind boy, Dominic. I am so happy to see that you found a woman who has seen you for who you really are."

Aunt Penelope bid them both goodnight, then retired from the library. Catherine was left speechless. She watched Dominic put the books back, then he faced her.

"You can go to the guestroom if you wish," he urged her gently. "I will spend the night here."

"On the couch?" she asked, slightly surprised. "Won't it be uncomfortable?"

He shrugged. "Like I said, it won't be the first time. I'll be all right. Go and rest, Catherine. It's been a long day."

She smiled. "All right. Good night."

She walked out of the library and headed to her guestroom. Dominic was right. It was indeed a long day, a day that revealed so much more than Catherine ever thought would be possible. She nestled in the bed, covering herself with the blankets, wondering if she should just tell him to come back.

No. No.

It was safer for her to have him away. She couldn't be trusted in his presence. If he were to kiss her again, she wouldn't be able to control herself. That much was more than obvious. With those thoughts, she fell asleep, wondering what revelations the new day would bring.