Chapter 6

"Why is it bothering you so?" Lord Timothy Hallifax, the Earl of Charlbury, spoke with a distant tone of shock, as he was sitting in Dominic's study.

Timothy had been Dominic's longtime friend, a person who sometimes knew him better than himself. That came with both its upsides and downsides. This time, the downsides were more prominent. Timothy was shocked that Dominic would still be so caught up with a lady who showed very little interest in him.

"Because it is," Dominic frowned, swirling the amber liquid in a glass he was holding. Timothy's glass was already empty, as it rested on Dominic's mahogany writing table.

Timothy eyed him, then burst into a chuckle. "That is not the response of a duke, but rather a spoiled child."

Dominic frowned. "You're not helping."

"You want me to tell you that you're right," Timothy replied playfully. "And you know I won't do that."

Dominic remembered that Timothy was the only one whose honest opinion truly mattered to him. And worst of all, Timothy knew that. Their friendship had always been one of playful teasing, but when a situation demanded seriousness of them, both men would step up immediately.

"I don't see what makes her so special that you keep thinking about this even days after it happened," Timothy expressed his surprise. "You completely forgot how obsessed Lady Elizabeth O'Hara is with you, or Lady Julia Sturges, for that matter. I could list more ladies if you'd like me to."

"No need." Dominic shook his head as he got up from his chair. It squealed gently as it became free of the weight of his body. He proceeded to stroll through the room, walking up to the open window.

He knew very well that he could start courting any of those ladies as soon as that very evening. Even sooner, for that matter. But they lacked that something… something he could not quite put into words. And Lady Catherine seemed to have that… something. But how could he explain that to someone like Timothy, who needed a rational explanation for everything that happened to him and others around him?

"She mesmerized me from the moment I saw her, Tim," Dominic tried to explain something he found unexplainable himself. "I told her that. I told her how beautiful she is, how I want to court her, and she refused me, just like that."

Timothy shrugged. "A lady is entitled to her own opinion."

Dominic's eyes narrowed. "But that doesn't mean that I can't get that lady to change it."

Timothy still couldn't understand. "Do you want to go through all that hassle, to pursue a lady who… pardon my saying, but obviously isn't interested in you?"

"She is," Dominic corrected him. "She just doesn't know it yet."

He locked his hands behind his back, then continued pacing about the room, every step echoing a thought that popped into his mind.

"I just have to learn more about her, about her interests," he mused. "Stumble onto her during balls, speak with her, show her I am a good listener, invite her to dance, that sort of thing."

"She has a brother, doesn't she?" Timothy suddenly reminded him.

"Yes," Dominic nodded, realizing where his friend was headed with this. It was a direction he hadn't been considering until that moment. He preferred the direct approach, but if that was unfeasible, he had to try another strategy, one that included a brother.

"Yes! I can talk to Lord Stanhope, man to man. He has to see that I am the perfect man to court his sister, and he will help me in this endeavor."

"A good brother ought to," Timothy nodded. "But that is only if he sees you as the right man for his sister."

"Why wouldn't I be right for her?"

Timothy scratched the back of his neck, seemingly at a loss for words. "Well… for one, you do have a tendency to be on the, umm… overly confident side."

Dominic frowned. "What's wrong with that? I simply know where my strengths lie."

"Yes, that is technically not a bad thing," Timothy seemed to agree up to a certain point, but he hesitated to continue. "But remember, too much of a good thing isn't all that good."

"You speak in riddles too much," Dominic pointed out, mildly amused, just as his friend was. Their friendship had always been entertaining banter, with both of them making fun of the other.

"That's because it annoys you so much," Timothy laughed. "But in all seriousness, if you really like this lady, then find a way to show her your good qualities. Don't just tell her about them. You have to show her."

Dominic thought about it for a moment. Usually, people took his word as a rule. He never had to explain or prove himself. His reputation spoke for him. However, maybe Timothy was right. Maybe some proof was in order to win Lady Catherine over. After all, she was unlike any other lady he had ever met. That in itself entailed a different approach to the one he had been using all this time.

"First, I have to get her to actually talk to me," Dominic said. "I fear that after our conversation from last night, she might try to avoid me, to avoid the awkward situation."

"Makes sense, no?" Timothy commented.

"I suppose," Dominic nodded.

"My advice is to give her time until you stumble onto her by accident," Timothy suggested, getting up. "Don't write to her, don't invite her to any more dinner parties. Let nature take its course until fate puts you together in the same place, at the same time. Then, see what your options are and act upon them."

Dominic nodded, pondering those words. "You know, that isn't a bad idea at all."

Timothy grinned. "I am full of good ideas, old boy. I just wish I could actually use some of them myself."

The two men chuckled, then Dominic approached him and pressed his hand firmly on Timothy's shoulder. "Thank you for lending me your ear, Tim. I always appreciate your point of view."

"Always, Dom," Timothy nodded. "And speaking of good ideas, I just happened to remember something."

"What?" Dominic inquired.

"I know you are not a big fan of the hustle and bustle at the theatre, but you might want to attend the play this time," Timothy grinned.

"Why?" Dominic frowned.

"Because I happen to know that Lord Stanhope and his sister will be attending," Timothy revealed victoriously. "He told me so himself, while you and his sister were dancing, annoying each other. And that, old boy, gives you the perfect opportunity to put your plan in motion."

Timothy was right. Yet another good idea.

"Alright," Dominic agreed. "I'll endure an evening of theatre, but I will not enjoy a single moment of it."

"I know," Timothy chuckled, heading outside, grabbing the knob and opening the door. "But some things are worth sacrificing for. Maybe this is one of them."

"It is," Dominic said without a single doubt in his mind.

Tim smiled. "I'll let you know when I come back from my business trip tomorrow, and you can tell me all about it."

"Alright," Dominic shook his hand, then Timothy saw himself out, closing the door behind him.

He really was in no mood for crowds and loud noises. But perhaps there was a possibility of stumbling on to Lady Catherine by accident. That would give him a good opportunity to set Timothy's plan into motion and start proving to her what he had already told her. And if he managed to catch her brother there, he would try speaking to him as well. The man had to see sense and realize that Dominic was good husband material.

Yes, he mused as he headed back to his chair. Everything is going exactly according to plan.

***

The evening of the play had arrived fast. Too fast, in Dominic's opinion. But he got ready quickly, choosing his finest attire, as he wanted to leave the best of impressions. Once he was satisfied with his reflection in the looking glass, he headed towards the theatre.

As soon as he got there, he regretted it. The lobby buzzed with anticipation as elegantly dressed lords and ladies mingled beneath the soft glow of chandeliers. The air was filled with the mingling of different perfumes, and Dominic could barely breathe. It was all too much. For a moment, he considered going back home, but at that moment, he spotted Lord Stanhope.

There he was, entering the opulent auditorium, looking for his assigned seat. Dominic rushed after him in search of his own. Lord Stanhope sat down on a plush velvet chair adorned with golden accents. Dominic's would be the same, only with a different number. Only, he still didn't find it. He was too focused on Lord Stanhope in an effort to see if his sister would be joining him.

People kept passing him by, as Dominic finally decided to take his seat, fortunate enough to have a clear view of Lord Stanhope. The theatre was a spectacle in itself, with richly adorned walls, intricate moldings and the warmth of polished wood. Around him, the murmurs of the audience heightened, creating a symphony of excitement.

Only, his excitement had little to do with the people around him. Slowly but surely, he was starting to realize that the only person he was interested in was not in attendance. Silently, Dominic decided to wait for the end of the performance, catching up to Lord Stanhope and speaking to him about his sister, explaining the situation. He was certain that they would see eye to eye.

The curtain rose, and a hush fell over the audience. The scene unfolded in a quaint drawing room, and the characters spilled out onto the stage, bringing their characters to life with a depth of emotion and skillful delivery. The dialogue resonated with wit, charm, and the poignant nuances of human relationships.

If Dominic had not been fully invested in his plan of courting Lady Catherine, he might have actually enjoyed it, just like the rest of the theatregoers did. As the plot thickened, the reactions of the audience around him became palpable. There were collective gasps, hearty laughter and even the occasional sigh echoing throughout the theatre.

As the final act reached its crescendo and the curtain fell, Dominic couldn't wait to speak to Lady Catherine's brother. He believed that, like everyone else, he would leave through the lobby and head outside, perhaps on his way to White's or some other establishment of the sort.

Dominic would, seemingly by accident, stumble onto him and suggest sharing a drink together. It being considered impolite to refuse, Lord Stanhope would spend at least an hour in Dominic's company, which would be more than enough time for him to present his case and win over an ally. It all sounded perfect.

However, much to his surprise, Lord Stanhope did not head towards the lobby, but rather in the exact opposite direction. Dominic watched curiously as his target discreetly slipped into the dimly lit corridor leading backstage. Without a second thought, Dominic followed.

The backstage area, usually bustling with activity during the play, was now devoid of any presence, illuminated by the soft glow of overhead lights. Dominic made sure not to lose Lord Stanhope from sight as he maneuvered through the labyrinth of hallways. With every twist and turn, Lord Stanhope seemed to elude him, completely oblivious that someone was following him.

Dominic wondered where on earth the man was going. His confusion only deepened as Lord Stanhope slipped into the shadows, obviously in a rush to get to his destination. Fueled by concern as well as curiosity, Dominic knew that he would not stop now. He couldn't. He had a relentless desire to unearth the mystery of Lord Stanhope's final destination.

The journey through the backstage was seemingly endless, as he kept going through narrow passageways and concealed doorways, until finally Lord Stanhope stopped in front of a door.

Dominic could not see the name plate on it clearly, as he was too far away, but he continued to follow the man's steps. Lord Stanhope looked around, then neared the door and knocked three times, then once again a moment later. Without waiting to be invited in, he opened the door and closed it behind him.

In shock, Dominic stood in the darkness for a while, choosing then to come closer, risking being seen. He read the name plate on the door. Annabel Thompson.

Dominic didn't recognize the name. However, logic still served him well. If her name was on the door of a theatre, that could mean only one thing. She was an actress. And seeing how casually Lord Stanhope let himself in, it was safe to assume that he was familiar with the lady in question. Very familiar.

Dominic pondered going back to where he came from, but curiosity won over. Why was Lord Stanhope there? Who was Annabel Thompson? Dominic had to know.