Chapter 22

Catherine woke up the following morning, nestled in her bed as the warmth of the covers enveloped her. Though she felt fine overall, a dull ache in her ankle served as a reminder of the events of the previous day.

As she lay there, her thoughts drifted back to the moment when Dominic had come to her aid after her fall. She lost consciousness quickly after the fall, but she saw him dismount his horse and rush to her. There was not a single doubt in his mind as to what he needed to do.

She couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude towards him. Despite their differences and the complexities of their relationship, he had been there when she needed him the most, and she found herself strangely touched by his gesture.

With a faint smile tugging at her lips, Catherine kept reflecting on the events of the previous day, feeling strangely exuberant. Staying there in Aunt Penelope's home longer than anticipated also filled her with joy. She didn't want to be a part of the London hustle and bustle, where she would be forced to attend balls and smile at people she didn't know. She felt as if, despite her injury or perhaps, exactly because of it, she was exactly where she needed to be.

At that moment, she heard the soft rap of knuckles on her chamber door. She turned her attention towards the entrance.

"Yes?" she called out.

The doors swung open to reveal Dominic, a tray of breakfast delicacies balanced expertly in his hands.

"Good morning," he said cheerfully.

"It would seem that it is," she replied playfully. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this breakfast surprise?"

Her gaze rested on the tray, which was adorned with an array of delights, meticulously arranged to both tempt the palate and please the eye. A delicate china teapot, decorated with intricate floral patterns, steamed gently, releasing the fragrant aroma of freshly brewed tea. Beside it, a dainty cup and saucer waited, their delicate porcelain handles gleaming in the soft morning light.

Adjacent to the teapot, a small dish of honey and a pitcher of cream stood ready to accompany the tea, offering a touch of sweetness to the morning repast. Next to them, a selection of freshly baked pastries beckoned enticingly, their golden crusts glistening with a light dusting of powdered sugar.

Completing the ensemble, a small plate held a selection of ripe fruits, their vibrant colors adding a splash of natural beauty to the tableau. From plump strawberries and juicy apricots, each piece seemed to whisper promises of even more sweetness. Seeing all that, Catherine didn't know what to say. With a warm smile, Dominic set the tray down on a nearby table, his eyes meeting hers.

"Well, seeing you are unable to walk down the stairs and have breakfast in the dining hall, then breakfast needs to be brought to you," he explained gently.

"Oh," she smiled. "That is most kind of you."

"That, and…" he added, scratching the back of his neck in a mischievously boyish manner. "I suppose you could also say it is a gesture of contrition." His tone was light, yet tinged with genuine remorse.

"For what?" she wondered.

"It was my idea to go horseback riding yesterday," he clarified further. "I can't help but feel guilty about what happened."

Catherine couldn't believe what she was hearing. Was he really telling her this? Him? The same man who didn't flinch when he blackmailed her into marriage? He felt guilty about something that was completely out of his control? She truly didn't understand this man, no matter how hard she tried. And that was making her feel even more confused.

Still, her kind nature refused to allow anyone to feel guilty over something they could not have affected in any manner. She shook her head at him, her expression softening with understanding.

"There is no need for you to feel guilty," she replied sweetly. "You couldn't have predicted it. You aren't a clairvoyant…" She tilted her head playfully at him, as if she were really pondering the possibility of such a thing. "Are you?"

"No," he chuckled. "Not yet, at least."

"Too bad," she smirked. "I would have a question or two to ask."

"Sometimes, reason is the best guide to follow," he advised.

She wondered if he followed reason when he was discussing marriage with her. But she bit her tongue before she could say anything. The last thing she wanted to do right now was ruin this perfect moment that they shared.

She loved how he brought her breakfast in bed, how he made sure it had everything she could like. She tried to remind herself to remain cautious with him. He was showing her a different side of him now, but that was not the man she met initially. There were two sides of him, one good, the other… not so. But the real question was, who was the real Dominic Worthington?

"That is good advice indeed," she nodded. "But… it's not always possible. Sometimes, you don't have enough time to think about something reasonably. You have to make a decision right at that very moment, and usually, the heart takes over. Just like when your horse got frightened, and reacted instinctively, following its fluttering heart, which was petrified by the noise."

He nodded. "But still… maybe I shouldn't have suggested it in the first place."

She pretended to frown. "And assume that I'm a bad rider?"

"No, no, no," he shook his head, laughing. "You've proven that already."

"At least something good has come out of it," she smiled. "I didn't win… yet. But I will. Don't think that this sprained ankle will save you the embarrassment of losing a race to a lady."

"But not just any lady," he reminded her, and his comment made her blush.

Suddenly, she became painfully aware of his presence, of his closeness. They were alone, in a chamber, behind closed doors. They had kissed before. Would it be so terrible to have him kiss her again? And again? And again?

She tried to banish those thoughts. They served no purpose. They were only tormenting her, because he obviously changed his mind about kissing her, when he pulled away so harshly last time. Was she not a good kisser? Embarrassment washed over her like a tidal wave. While it was true that she had never been kissed before, but she was hoping that she knew the theory behind it. Was it possible that he didn't like it?

"This lady knows how to ride," she said, hoping to keep the conversation in the safe zone.

"I see that," he pointed out. "Who taught you to ride so well?"

"Reggie," she said, somewhat sadly. She wondered what he was doing. She felt as if she hadn't seen him or spoken to him in ages. Was he thinking of her or was he consumed in his relationship with Annabel? That was to be expected. After all, they loved each other dearly, and their love was crowned by a child. Still, being married to her husband meant that the two were in a dreadful transgression against propriety and society itself.

She knew how desperate Reggie was to find Annabel's husband so the man could divorce her. She couldn't imagine how hard that must be, to have someone else stand in the way of one's happiness, someone who wasn't even there, and it was exactly his lack of presence that was the cause of the trouble.

"Of course," he smiled, bringing her back to the present moment. "A good brother." He paused, then continued. "You two are lucky to have each other."

"We are," she nodded. "I feel like it's always been just the two of us. He is my… everything. He always has been."

"And your parents?" he inquired.

"They both died when we were very young," she admitted, knowing his own story before he knew hers.

"I uhm… actually know that," he admitted, sounding somehow apologetic that he didn't mention that before.

It was then that she remembered how he knew everything about Reggie's past, in order to blackmail her into this marriage. Of course, that he would easily find out what happened to her parents, that they became orphans at a very early age, and that it had been just the two of them almost heir entire lives. That was, after all, how Dominic knew that she would do anything for Reggie. Even sacrifice her own happiness.

"Do you miss him?" he asked in a way that made her feel as if he already knew the answer.

"Mhm," she nodded. "Very much."

"Well," he said, suddenly pulling away, almost as if he had remembered something. "Enjoy your breakfast. Aunt Penelope said she would come after you're done to play some cards."

"And you?" she asked hopefully.

"I… I need to write some letters and have them sent out immediately," he clarified. "Business letters."

"Oh, I see," she nodded. "I understand."

"But I might join you later," he added. He turned to the tray, taking it and placing it gently into her lap. "Is that all right?"

"Perfect," she beamed at him. "Thank you."

"Well… enjoy," he smiled, walking out of the door and closing it behind him.

She poured some tea and started sipping it slowly, savoring the delicate flavors of her breakfast. At the same time, she couldn't help but wonder if there was a shift in their relationship, ignited by this unfortunate event. The simple act of bringing her breakfast in bed spoke volumes about his character and his obvious concern for her well-being.

As she nibbled on a flaky pastry, her mind wandered back to their conversation just moments before. Him feeling guilty about what had happened touched her deeply, and she found herself admiring him more and more.

Just as she was getting lost in her thoughts, a knock on the door interrupted her. Her heart fluttered, thinking Dominic had returned.

"Yes?" she answered, but when the door opened, she saw the cheerful face of his aunt. "Aunt Penelope, good morning."

"Good morning, my dear," the lady gushed, then her eyes widened at the tray in her lap. "My, my, my. How lovely that looks!"

"Yes," Catherine smiled. "Dominic brought it up just now."

"Dominic?" the lady smiled with a nod. "I'm glad to see he has learned how to treat a lady."

"It would seem so," Catherine blushed, nodding. She noticed the cards in Aunt Penelope's hand. "Shall we play?"

Aunt Penelope seemed to remember only then why she had come in the first place. She glanced at her hands, as if she were seeing the cards for the first time. Then she looked back at Catherine. "Oh, yes, of course! Silly me! That's why I came to you, to see if you were in the mood for some card games and some local gossip."

"Why not?" Catherine chuckled, making herself more comfortable in the bed, so that Aunt Penelope could sit next to her. "What are we playing?"