Chapter 3

Catherine managed to avoid the duke for the rest of the evening, deciding that would be the safer option. Although extremely handsome, she felt that he was too confident, a little aggressively so, and she did not fancy it one bit. However, she realized that other ladies around did not seem to find a single fault with him and were pining for even a moment with him. Catherine could not, for the life of her, understand why.

He is good-looking and charming, a little voice inside of her replied. He doesn't need to be anything else to be considered a highly desirable bachelor.

While that was all true, Catherine was not impressed. Not during the ball, and not when she returned to the opulent townhome she shared with her brother. She summoned Anna, her lady's maid, who was well-versed in the delicate art of assisting her mistress. Anna approached the task of undressing Catherine with practiced grace. The atmosphere in the room was hushed, as the soft glow of the candles cast a warm light on the two ladies.

Despite thinking him mildly obnoxious, Catherine couldn't stop thinking about the duke, even as Anna began carefully unfastening the intricate clasps and buttons that adorned Catherine's gown.

Each delicate closure yielded easily to the maid's skilled fingers, revealing the layers of fabric that made up Catherine's gown that evening. Secretly, Catherine wondered what it would feel like to have him disrobe her tenderly, with delicate fingers grazing against her naked skin.

Catherine suddenly remembered something. Although Anna was highly skilled in her work, she was also highly skilled in something else, something Catherine did not appreciate nearly as much, as that was familiarity with the town gossip. Curiosity got the best of her, as she sought to unravel the enigma of the duke's character and see whether her initial impressions of him were correct.

"Anna?" Catherine started cautiously, as her maid turned her attention to the additional layers, that consisted of ribbons and laces, expertly unfastening them while maintaining an air of distress professionalism as always. Although this was quite an intimate task, to have someone disrobe her, Catherine always trusted Anna, as she had been her lady's maid since she was a young girl.

"Yes, my lady?" Anna replied, as her busy fingers stopped working for a moment.

"Do you know of the Duke of Fairhaven?" Catherine inquired, aiming to sound indifferent while she did so, but the truth was that she was anything but.

"Everyone knows of him, my lady," Anna replied with a shrug.

"Everyone?" Catherine echoed, somehow proud that she was not counted among everyone. "Does he have a reputation which precedes him then?" If he did, that usually wouldn't be a good thing. As it turned out, Catherine was right.

"Well," Anna started, obviously careful of the words she would use, "the whispers are quite pointed, I have to say. They paint him as a man of temper and unfriendliness."

"Unfriendliness, you say?" Catherine was surprised to hear that, especially seeing that he had approached her and her brother, with the obvious intention of being introduced.

"Yes," Anna confirmed, as her fingers slowly continued to work, but her focus was now on their conversation. "They say he has challenged a man to a duel simply for looking at him the wrong way!"

Catherine frowned, although she was still amused. "Well, that seems a bit of an exaggeration, Anna."

"That's what I heard, my lady," Anna said, but it was evident that she believed every word of it. "They also say that he lost a small fortune at the cards table at White's several nights ago, and that he is still recovering from the loss."

"That seems more believable," Catherine mused. He did seem like the type who would boast his knowledge of cards then lose embarrassingly.

"Also, he is close friends with Lord Davenport, who is known for his love of liquor and women, from what I've heard not always in that order," Anna added, although Catherine wasn't paying attention any longer. She had heard enough. More than enough.

"Thank you, Anna," Catherine nodded, getting up from her chair, enveloped in the soft elegance of her undergarments. "A tempestuous duke, indeed. But I'm afraid it's getting rather late. It's time for both of us to rest."

"Yes, my lady," Anna agreed, curtsying before Catherine immediately. "Good night."

With a gracious dismissal, Catherine sent her maid on her way, allowing the weight of the gossip to dissipate with the closing of the door. She knew that much of that gossip was not really true. After all, that was the essence of gossip: embellished stories which might or might not have actually taken place in real life.

Catherine readied herself for bed, still entwined in contemplation regarding the duke. His treacherous mind presented her with images that made her blush fervently. Yet, she enjoyed them more than she was willing to admit.

She closed her eyes, a smile playing on her lips, as she remembered being held by the duke during their dance, the way his eyes seemed to traverse every inch of her body slowly and tantalizingly. She wondered how scorchingly hot his hands would be on her naked skin, and at that very thought, her body erupted into a million little goosebumps. She had no idea why this egotistical man had such a profound effect on her. What on earth was happening?

Then, reason came to the surface, reminding her that it was just one occasion on which they met, and it would probably not happen again. Good, her conscious mind mused. Because she had no desire to see him again. Why would she? He was obviously a rake, used to charming women just for the fun of it, and she had no desire to be in the company of such men.

Those were the thoughts she fell asleep with, forgetting a very simple fact, and that was that fate rarely took the opinions and wishes of humans into consideration when weaving the complex and colorful tapestry of their lives.

***

The pleasant clinking of fine china and the gentle murmur of conversation between her and her brother settled upon the elegantly decorated breakfast table the following morning. Reginald was reading his favorite headlines from the morning newspaper, and Catherine would occasionally offer some retort. Mostly, she was focused on her scones and morning tea.

"Ah, see here, Cate," Reginald announced importantly, spreading the newspaper even wider as he read. "Scandalous affair unveiled at prestigious soiree; Lady Helena Winterbury's secret liaison causes a stir in high society."

Catherine didn't really care much for Lady Winterbury's secret liaison. If anything, she was certain that almost every attendee at that prestigious soiree had a secret of their own. They were just fortunate enough not to have it unveiled… yet.

"Let's find out the sordid details, shall we?" Reginald grinned from behind the newspapers. She always teased him that sometimes, he was worse than an old dowager, having nothing better to do than know everything about everyone. He always took it in good jest. Just as he was about to start reading, a knock on the door interrupted him.

"Yes?" he called out, as a liveried servant entered, bearing a sealed letter.

"I apologize for the interruption, my lord, but this letter has just arrived. I was told it was of the utmost urgency that I deliver it to you instantly." The man approached Reginald, handing him the letter.

"Thank you, Higgins," Reginald replied, eagerly accepting the letter. "That would be all."

The man disappeared as quickly as he had appeared, and Reginald did not wait a single moment. He eyed the letter in his hand with curiosity that Catherine shared.

"I do not recognize the seal," he told Catherine, turning it in his hand. "I wonder who it could be from."

With a swift flick of his wrist, he broke the seal and unfolded he contents. His eyes traced the elegant script as he read aloud what it said.

"Dear Lord Stanhope, I trust this letter finds you in the finest of health and spirits. It is with the utmost pleasure that I extend to you and your lovely sister, Lady Catherine Stanhope, an invitation to a dinner party I am holding on the morrow's eve, at Fairhaven Manor. Should there be any particular preferences or considerations for your comfort, I beseech you to make them known before tomorrow evening. Understanding the constraints upon one's schedule, your attendance would be a cherished honor.

I humbly request your prompt response, confirming your presence or extending your regrets. Eagerly anticipating the pleasure of your and your sister's company I remain yours with the deepest regards, Duke of Fairhaven."

Surprise washed over both their faces, and a moment of silent contemplation hung in the air as Reginald looked up. Catherine's brow furrowed with curiosity as she glanced at the letter.

"Well, well," Reginald commented with a teasing gleam in his eyes. "It would seem that you have caught the duke's attention, Cate. A wealthy and influential man, quite the catch, wouldn't you say?"

Catherine, her expression a blend of amusement and a slight blush, playfully rolled her eyes at her brother's comment. "Reggie, you are incorrigible. And that man is… something even worse."

"Is he now?" Reginald chuckled playfully, feigning innocence.

"Yes, he is so full of himself, I wouldn't even know where to begin," she clarified, still wondering where that sudden invitation had come from, when she and the duke didn't exchange any further words after their dance. And even that was strained and not at all as she would have imagined a pleasant dance to look like.

"Full of himself or not, it seems that he has taken an interest in you," Reginald reminded her.

"The letter is addressed to you," she pointed out with a smirk, easily finding a fault with his reasoning. "Inviting me was mere politeness, nothing else."

A part of her didn't want to believe that, but she wisely kept that to herself. There was something titillating about being the lady who caught a man's interest for longer than a mere minute. However, it was dangerous playing with such men, as such games ended in broken hearts or even worse. She had no intention of having her heart broken, so that was that.

"I somehow doubt that," Reginald refused to let it go. He was having too much fun. "I noticed how you two enjoyed yourselves dancing together. And I wasn't the only one who noticed. Why, I do believe that you were the talk of the morning, dancing with the most eligible bachelor at the ball." He chuckled, much to his sister's chagrin, but she knew that he loved to rattle her bones. He always loved that, ever since they were little children.

He was all she had, and the same could have been said of him. That gaping hole inside her heart yearned to be filled with the memories of their departed parents, but the truth was, she didn't remember anything of her mother, and only a little bit of her father. All she had were her brother's stories, that shared well of affection and his memories that she had adopted as her own. It was far from enough, but she learned to make do with what she had.

"I do wish that things turned out differently," she said, as her gaze softened with nostalgia. The duke was not on her mind any longer. He was substituted by someone far more important.

"What do you mean?" he asked, completely forgetting about the invitation and that he needed to send a response. None of that mattered now.

"Sometimes, I wonder what it would be like to have them both here… now," she admitted. She didn't need to clarify who they were. He knew well.

"Me, too, Cate," Reginald nodded tenderly. "Them being gone from our lives at such an early age… it is a void that can never be truly filled."

She smiled through the sorrow. "In the midst of our shared loss, I feel like we can still continue with the legacy of their good name and make them proud."

"Of course we can," he nodded. "And speaking of legacies, you know that I've been exploring avenues to leave a mark of our own."

"How is that coming along?" she wondered, taking a sip of tea. Her brother's political interests were not news. In fact, he had always been interested in the topic, so it was no wonder that as an adult, he was slowly dipping his toe in the political waters of London.

"I've recently been meeting with various influential figures, discussing matters of political interest, such as parliamentary reform." he clarified. "There's much to be done in the area of representation and electoral practices, and I'm eager to contribute."

Catherine beamed with pride as she listened to her brother's words. The bond between them, forged in familial love and affection, didn't end there. It also extended to a mutual respect for each other's interests and aspirations, and she always believed that he was her biggest supporter in whatever she chose to do. In turn, she wanted to be the same for him.

"I have no doubt that you'll make a significant impact and change the world for the better," she gushed, pride brimming from her every word. "And I think our parents would be proud to see the man you've become and the path you are carving for yourself."

"They would also be proud of you, dear Cate," he told her.

"Of me?" she shook her head dismissively. "But I haven't really done anything worthy of praise."

"It's not what you've done, but who you are," he reminded her. "I look at the other ladies of the ton, none of them has such a strong head on her shoulders."

Catherine chuckled. "You have to say that. You're my brother."

"No, no, no," he shook his head with amusement. "I don't have to say it exactly because I'm your brother. I have to tell you the truth, and that's what I must do." He got up, then picked up the letter again. "And speaking of things I must do; I'll go and send a response to the Duke of Fairhaven that we shall be attending his dinner party tomorrow evening."

Reginald walked around the dinner table, then approached Catherine and placed his hand gently on her shoulder, while kissing her on the cheek.

"Unless you have a reason you don't wish us to attend?" he asked, giving her a chance to say no.

Her eyes lingered on his for a few moments. This was her moment to speak up, but she wondered… if she really wanted to. Then she shook her head and shrugged as she replied. "Why? It is just a dinner party."

He seemed as if he wanted to say something, but changed his mind at the last minute. He nodded with a smile, then left the dining hall. It was then that Catherine realized that a subtle but nervous energy fluttered within her. The following day's dinner party caused a grappling mix of excitement and trepidation inside of her, stirring emotions that danced just underneath the surface of her graceful and poised demeanor.

It is just mere curiosity; she tried to explain to her own self these strange stirrings. The duke's home must be grand and therefore worthy of being visited. She had always appreciated the architectural beauty of such places. It was the allure of a different world that had her so excited. It had nothing to do with that intolerable duke.

But if that were really true, why couldn't she dismiss the flutter in her chest?