Chapter 26

A whole week had flown by without Catherine even noticing it. As per Doctor Manning's instructions, Catherine was still to take care of her ankle, so she used a cane, but she was grateful as well as overjoyed that her days of bedrest were finally behind her.

In addition to that, the time had come for Dominic and Catherine to bid farewell to Aunt Penelope, whose gentle smile masked the sadness she felt at their impending departure. Gathered in the grand foyer of the manor house, they exchanged fond embraces and heartfelt words of gratitude, each cherishing the precious memories they shared during their time together.

"It has been such a delight having you both here," Aunt Penelope said, her voice tinged with a hint of wistfulness. "The house will feel so empty without your laughter and warmth."

"We shall miss you, too, Aunt Penelope," Catherine replied, her expression reflecting the genuine affection she felt for Dominic's aunt. "Thank you so much for your hospitality and kindness."

Dominic nodded in agreement, his eyes alight with gratitude as he clasped Aunt Penelope's hands in his own. "Indeed, Aunt Penelope. You have been such a gracious host, and we have already overstayed our welcome."

"Overstayed your welcome! Do not be silly, my dear," she chuckled. "Why, I would love nothing more than to have you stay here permanently. But I do understand that young couples need their privacy. In fact, I encourage it wholeheartedly and hope that you will come next time with some wonderful news!"

Dominic glanced at Catherine, who blushed at the insinuation, as Aunt Penelope leaned in and kissed them both on the cheek. "Goodbye, my dears. I do look forward to seeing you again."

With one final embrace, Dominic and Catherine bid farewell to Aunt Penelope, their hearts heavy with the weight of parting, but Catherine was strangely exalted to go back to Dominic's home. Her home.

As the carriage rattled along the winding country roads on their journey home, they were both lost in their own thoughts, staring outside the carriage window. She was absolutely certain that their time with his aunt had created a significant change in their relationship. She had no idea where it would lead, but she was curious to find out.

"… balls and social gatherings," she heard him say, but not having paid attention, she missed the first part.

"Sorry?" she apologized, turning to him. "I was lost in the beauty of the countryside."

He smiled reassuringly. "I was saying it looks like we've got the perfect excuse to skip all those stuffy balls and social gatherings," he teased, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he cast a playful glance at Catherine's ankle.

She chuckled, shaking her head in mock exasperation as she glanced down in the same direction. Her ankle actually looked perfectly fine, and there was no pain at all, but Doctor Manning suggested to be on the safe side and not risk it. However, she couldn't resist teasing Dominic.

"Oh, come on, now," she replied playfully. "You can't possibly be suggesting that we miss out on all the excitement of the season."

"Why not?" he countered with a grin, his tone equally light and teasing. "We could have our own little soiree right at home."

"But what about the gossip?" she wondered mischievously. "Who shall keep us entertained with the latest gossip?"

He patted himself on the chin, pretending to be lost in deep thought. "Hmmm, that is quite a predicament, I must admit. Indeed, who shall keep us entertained with the latest gossip?"

"See?" she said victoriously. "We must not, under any circumstances, skip a single ball or social gathering. It is a matter of life and death."

He chuckled at those words. "Yes, they would think that, wouldn't they?"

Strangely enough, Catherine found herself eagerly anticipating the prospect of spending quiet evenings together with Dominic, far from the bustling crowds of society. She had never been much for public events.

She much rather preferred to stay at home with a good book, nestled cozily by the fire, allowing the world to pass her by. She had also always hoped to find a husband who would share such proclivities. When she got married to Dominic, she didn't think they had anything in common. How could they? They couldn't have been more far apart.

And yet, it seemed that things were taking a turn for the better. Strangely, and completely unexpectedly, that was exactly what was happening. And Catherine was eager to see what else she would find out about her husband.

The return home was peaceful and uneventful, although Catherine did feel a slight flutter to be there once again. Only this time, she was seeing the place with different eyes, almost as if it wasn't the same place at all. He helped her up to her chamber. The maids helped her disrobe and have a bath. She joined her husband for a surprisingly pleasant dinner, after which they bid each other good night, much to her disappointment.

That night, as she rested in her bed, her heart skipped a beat upon hearing the familiar knock on her door.

"Yes?" she whispered, her entire body aflutter. That could be only him. No one else would be knocking on her door at that time of the night.

The door slowly cracked open. She smoothed down her nightgown, although it made no sense. She was in a seated position in her bed, with the nightgown underneath a blanket. Nothing she did seemed to make any sense. That was the effect his presence had on her.

At first, she could see only his head. He was smiling. "Are you sleeping?" he whispered.

"No," she chuckled. She wanted to add obviously, but thought maybe that would be too much.

"May I come in?" he asked again.

"Come," she nodded eagerly, a little too eagerly. Her pulse quickened at the sight of him.

He stepped into the room, his presence filling the space with a tangible energy that seemed to ignite the very air around them. "I, umm… just wanted to check on you," she heard him say. His eyes lingered on her with a mixture of concern and something else she couldn't quite decipher.

Catherine felt her cheeks flush under his gaze, a sudden surge of warmth pooling at the bottom of her stomach, spreading throughout her entire body.

"It has been a long day," he clarified. "Is your ankle all right?"

"Yes," she assured him. "I have been sitting most of the day, you know."

She wanted to tease him. In fact, she wanted to do all sorts of things to him, things that made her both embarrassed and even more thrilled at the thought of them.

"True," he smiled in a way that made her knees weak. It was a good thing she was sitting in her bed. "Well…" he sounded a bit confused, as if perhaps he was changing his mind about being there. She wanted to assure him that he shouldn't.

"Please, take a seat," she urged, gesturing at a space on his bed by patting on it with her hand. She couldn't believe how boldly she was telling him to sit next to her. But it was as if someone else had taken over her body, someone who wanted this man in every way a woman wanted a man.

Ferociously. Wildly. Throughout the entire night.

He did as she bid him. She stared at him. "I was thinking of inviting Reggie over tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, so you could discuss things with him. About Annabel's husband, I mean."

"Of course," he nodded. He seemed less confused, less awkward when talking about practical matters. "Whenever you say."

"And thank you again for offering to help," she clarified.

"I told you, Catherine," he whispered soothingly. "I want to help. I want you to be happy."

His words were a soothing balm to her soul, his presence a comforting anchor in the sea of troubles that had been her life. With each exchanged word, the space between them seemed to shrink, until their faces were mere inches apart, their breath mingling in the air. Catherine could feel the warmth of Dominic's gaze on her skin, igniting a fire inside of her she couldn't ignore, even if she tried.

"Do you think we could be happy?" she asked, her voice barely audible in the heat of their breathing.

Her heart raced in her chest as she leaned in closer, her hand trembling slightly as it reached out to brush softly against his cheek. His eyes darkened with desire as he mirrored her movements, his hand coming to rest gently on her waist.

Their hips hovered tantalizingly closer, the promise of a king hanging in the air between them. But as their eyes locked in a silent exchange of longing, it seemed that they both hesitated, the weight of their unspoken desires holding them back.

In a moment of impulsive desire, Catherine closed the gap between them, pressing her lips to Dominic's in a fervent, wild kiss. It began as a gentle brush of lips, tentative and uncertain, but it quickly escalated into something far more intense.

Their kiss ignited a wildfire of longing and desire that consumed them both. Their lips melted together in a dance of fervor and need, their breaths mingling as their tongues danced to a music only the two of them could hear. She grabbed his face, pulling him closer to herself, while his hand rested on the back of her neck, adjusting the ferocity of their kiss.

She was completely in his control. She couldn't do a single thing, and she loved it. She never felt anything like it. Their kiss deepened, becoming madder and more ravenous with each passing moment. She felt his teeth nip at her lower lip, tugging at it gently. She moaned softly, only to have his lips crash against hers once again, suffocating her gasps.

His hand traveled down her neck, cupping her breast. Heat exploded somewhere between her thighs, a place only she had ever touched. She never knew that someone else could awaken something like that, so maddeningly powerful and all-consuming. The thin fabric of her nightgown gave way to his fingers as her pebbled nipple pierced through it, allowing his fingers to play with it.

"Oh…" she moaned against his lips, as he breathed in her need.

She wanted him more than she wanted anything else in her entire life. Heat unfurled inside of her and she knew that only he could extinguish that fire. She wanted to whisper to him to take her, to do whatever he wanted with her, but before she could dare even think such thoughts, he suddenly pulled away.

Her lips ached without the stinging of his tongue and teeth. She wanted more of it. But one look into his eyes assured her that there would be no more kissing.

"I… I'm sorry," he said, pulling his hand away from her needy breast as if touching her had scorched him.

She shook her head silently. She wanted to tell him that there was nothing to apologize for, that she wanted this as much as he did, but he didn't remain there long enough for her to say any of that. Instead, he got up, stumbling backwards, his hand at the back of his neck. He was avoiding looking at her.

"I'm sorry," he repeated, hastily, disappearing behind closed doors, leaving her yearning, and utterly confused as to what had just happened.