Chapter 24

Still in Dominic's strong arms, Catherine crossed the threshold into the parlor, her eyes fixed on her brother's form. As soon as they drew near, Reginald wasted no time in closing the distance between them. Dominic gently placed her down on the ground, and Reginald's familiar embrace enveloped Catherine into a cocoon of safety and love.

"Cate! My dear, dear Cate," Reginald murmured, his voice filled with emotion. His hands cupped her cheeks, and his lips covered her forehead and temples with a rain of soft kisses.

Tears welled up in Catherine's eyes as she returned her brother's embrace, overcome with gratitude and relief at the sight of him. For a moment, they simply stood there, locked in a heartfelt embrace, the bond of sibling love unbroken by time or distance.

Reginald finally pulled away from her, but still kept her in his arms. "How are you? The duke has written to me about your injury. Are you all right? Does it hurt?"

Catherine glanced at Dominic. So that was his surprise. She couldn't believe it. He had orchestrated this entire thing because she stated that she missed her brother and would like to see him. Her heart swelled up with joy, with love, and with many other inexplicable emotions she couldn't decipher at that very moment. She had to leave that for later. For the time being, she wanted to be with her brother and hear everything he had to share with her.

"I'm quite all right, don't worry," she smiled, allowing him to gently lead her towards the nearest armchair and slumping into it.

"Well, I'll give you two some privacy," she heard Dominic say as he moved a step back. "I shall send for some tea though, and scones. If you need me, I shall be in my study."

Reginald didn't say anything, which didn't surprise her. But she couldn't allow him to leave just like that.

"Dominic?" she shouted after him the moment he was about to open the door. He lingered there, turning to face her. "Thank you," she smiled.

He only nodded once, a faint flicker of a smile gracing his handsome face. Then, a moment later, the doors closed, leaving her alone with her brother. She quickly turned her attention to him, leaning closer so she could take his hands in hers.

"Cate, are you sure everything is fine?" Reginald spoke slowly, in a hushed tone of voice, almost as if he feared that someone might overhear them, and that was the last thing he wanted.

"I am," she tried to reassure her.

"What is this I hear of you falling off a horse?" Reginald frowned. "You are a spectacular rider. How did that happen?"

She shrugged. "It was a horse I've never ridden before, and it got spooked by a noise from the woods."

"But you know what to do in those circumstances," he reminded her. "What happened?"

She sighed heavily. "I suppose I was distracted."

By Dominic and the fact that I wanted to win the race, at all costs.

Yes, that was the truth, but she couldn't very well say that to her brother. He wouldn't understand how she could start liking a man who forced her into marriage. Where would she even begin to explain how that came to happen?

"Well, I'm glad that it all ended well," he smiled, but his brows were still furrowed with worry.

"It did," she nodded. "We shall be staying here for a while longer and then returning home."

"I would prefer to have you closer to me," he pointed out.

"Reggie," she said softly, her tone gentle yet resolute. "You needn't worry about me. Dominic treats me with kindness and consideration."

"Kindness and consideration from that man?" Reginald raised an eyebrow in shocked surprise. "Those are the last things I would expect from him."

"I know, I know," she was quick to agree. "You know better than anyone else what happened, but I am well taken care of, I assure you."

Despite her assurances, Reginald could not be appeased. "But are you truly happy, Cate?" he pressed, his voice tinged with deep brotherly concern. "You seem… unsettled."

Catherine hesitated for a moment, her gaze drifting to the open window and the chirping of the words that was heard from outside. A second later, her gaze returned to her brother's earnest expression.

"Happiness can mean different things to different people," she replied evasively, a faint shadow passing over her features.

She wanted to tell him everything that had taken place in the past couple of days, but she was afraid that he wouldn't understand. It frightened her that the only person who had ever been there for her would not be able to understand her.

She didn't want to drift away from him. She wanted him by her side, as always. But perhaps now wasn't the time to discuss something she herself wasn't certain of. Perhaps in time, her emotions would crystalize and she would recognize them for what they truly were. Was it mere infatuation, desire and passion, or was it something more?

"You didn't answer my question," he pointed out. "But it's all right if you don't want to discuss it now. Just know that I am here for you if you need me, for whatever, Cate. Always."

"Thank you, Reggie," she smiled, gushing over his words. "And how is Annabel? Rosie?"

"They are both fine, thank you," he smiled upon their mention. "Annabel sends her regards."

"Oh, I can't wait to see them both," Catherine gushed. "And to hug little Rosie. I miss her so much. I feel like she is growing up so fast and I'm missing so much of it."

"I know what you mean," Reginald sighed heavily, burying his face into his hands for a moment, then locking eyes with her again. "Every day that I spend away from them it feels like a piece of my heart is being ripped away from me."

She knew what he was referring to. "Still no news of the man?"

"No," he shook his head. He exhaled loudly, as if he were carrying the burden of the world on his back and he was slowly cracking under the pressure. "I feel like we've exhausted all leads. I don't know where else to turn."

She felt heartbroken for her brother, because she knew how much this would mean to him. He would finally be able to obtain everything he had ever wanted. But that elusive man, Annabel's husband, was standing in the way like an insurmountable obstacle.

The worst part was that he disappeared, and he was nowhere to be found. Catherine was certain that, if the man were to be found and offered some sort of deal, financial or otherwise, he would surely accept to divorce Annabel quietly and make everything all right. But life was rarely simple. She knew that herself. Her own situation was no less complicated, and she knew the pain of such insurmountable obstacles.

"I'm sure something will come up," she tried to cheer him up.

He smiled. "I hope it will. But let's not dwell on sad things. When you come back, we could all meet for a walk in the park. You, me, Annabel and Rosie."

"I would love that, Reggie," Catherine nodded, her heart filled to the brim. She yearned to feel Rosie's chubby little hands caress her cheeks. She was such a sweet little girl, who was oblivious to the cruelty and complexity of the world around her. Catherine hoped that she would remain as oblivious as that for a very long time.

The siblings continued to talk long after their tea arrived. Catherine almost felt as if nothing had changed, as if they were still living together, sharing their lives, certain that they would be always there for each other. She listened to him talk about his political aspirations, but they were in the shadows for the time being, as he was preoccupied with assuring that Annabel got her divorce, so he could marry her and claim both her and his child as his family.

She couldn't even imagine how difficult that must be for him, not to live with them, not to be able to publicly show his affection. After a while, Reginald announced that he had to return.

"Oh, must you?" Catherine asked, although she knew the answer to that.

"I have to admit, when your husband sent me the letter informing me of your mishap, I was ready to beat his face to a bloody pulp," Reginald admitted. "That was partly why I came here. But then, I thought about it for a moment. If he did anything to you on purpose, he wouldn't be inviting me over, allowing me to find out."

He paused, raking his fingers through his hair. "I'm not sure why I'm saying any of this. I suppose I wanted to say that I came here to see you were well. I've assured myself of that. As for your happiness, Cate… please think about it. You need happiness in your life. This man cannot be it. It… it's impossible."

He didn't wait for her to respond to that. Instead, he took her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing it reverently.

"I will be waiting for your return," he smiled. "Take care of yourself, my dear Cate. And write to me if you need me for anything."

"I will, Reggie, thank you," she whispered back, happy that she saw him, but sad to see him go.

"Don't get up," he instructed. "I shall go find the duke and bid him goodbye. Not that he deserves even that."

"Reggie, don't be like that," Catherine caught herself defending him. "He helped me when I fell off my horse. And he sent for a physician immediately. He… he's been tending to me."

He frowned. "If he didn't force you into marrying him, you wouldn't be here in the first place and none of this would even happen… but that is my fault, more than anyone else's." He swallowed heavily, his Adam's apple bobbing up, and then back down, like a heavy stone he was unable to swallow. "Goodbye, Cate."

"Goodbye, Reggie," she replied, watching him leave the parlor and close the door behind him.

She managed to suppress the onslaught of tears, which threatened to take hold of her. Her brother was right. None of this would have happened if she hadn't married Dominic.

If you hadn't been forced to marry him, a little voice inside corrected her. It was right. She was forced. But she felt that it was a choice that had to be made. She was where she needed to be. She was absolutely certain of that. As for her final destination, that was yet to be determined.