Catherine fought the urge to smirk as the housekeeper came to curtsy in front of them.
“Well…Mrs. Beck will show you to your rooms…” Lady Harrington said softly, like the wind had been let out of her sails. The duke glared daggers in his son’s direction, even as Lady Harrington bid him closer. “Your Grace, if you would indulge me but a moment, there is something that I should very much like you to see.”
Richard turned his back on his father before the duke could get another word in edgewise. He smiled brightly at Ms. Beck and gestured for her to lead the way.
Catherine had had enough difficulty in memorizing the layout of the duke’s estate, and Lady Harrington’s did not seem to be any simpler. They found their room after an extensive tour and found that all of their belongings had already been brought up. Though the room was truly impressive. A large four-poster bed was the focal point of the room.
A small table and chairs with corresponding materials and a selection of small finger sandwiches and cookies sat in the center of the room. A tea service that Catherine was certain had piping hot water should they choose to enjoy it. Everything that a new couple could possibly want to hole up and spend time alone together. What Catherine could not guess was if it was pointed or kind.
“This week is going to be interesting,” Richard spoke finally, adjusting the fit of his coat and brushing a piece of lint from his cuff.
“To say the very least.”
“I suppose that we have some time to kill before dinner,” Richard said a touch too casually. She could feel his gaze on her, warming her core even from the slight attention. She looked slowly from Richard’s handsome face to the single bed in the room. Yes, interesting indeed.
“Do you suppose…”
“Blanching at the idea of sharing a bed with me, are you?” Richard teased as he moved closer to her. It had been too long since she had been touched properly by him. She was too aware of his nearness and the way he gently cupped her elbow and guided her closer.
“Perhaps.” Catherine smiled charmingly. “The notion of it was not so grand the last time.”
“Oh, she speaks with such barbed words.” Richard leaned in closer to her, whispering in her ear, “But, I think that you are a liar if you say that you did not enjoy it.”
A ripple of desire coursed through her. Her hands lifted to touch his chest, to close the distance between her and her husband—and she caught herself at the very last moment. She could not give in to this desire. They had a plan. Furthermore, it did not feel right to allow such closeness with him when she knew that she was harboring such a secret.
“What has gotten into you?” Catherine laughed awkwardly as she pulled away from him and fanned absently at her face. “One moment alone with me, and you forget yourself.”
“Is it such a crime to desire my wife?” Richard asked baldly.
A knock at the door saved them—even if Catherine was disappointed by the interruption. Perhaps she ought to have followed where that conversation went…she would have to figure out a way to bring the subject up again.
“Pardon the intrusion, my lord and lady. Lady Harrington has requested the presence of all guests in the dining room. If you would like, I would be happy to show you the way,” the servant said quickly without making eye contact.
Richard smiled tightly. At least he was bothered by the interruption as well. “Of course, we should not wish to disappoint such a gracious host…we will need but a moment.”
Catherine’s palms felt sweaty. She gave him a thin smile in return as the servant closed the door.
“Show time.” He added a hint of something in his voice that she could not quite place.
“So it would appear,” Catherine agreed, and linked her arm through her husband’s, and off they went—everything else would have to wait. She could only imagine the pre-dinner speech that Lady Harrington had in store for them.
When they arrived downstairs, the duke was positioned to Lady Harrington’s right like her personal escort. It occurred to Catherine that perhaps the duke ought to have considered marrying her himself if the pair of them got along so well. He had practically been her shadow since they had arrived.
Every word of Lady Harrington’s speech was underhanded—the thinly veiled insults masquerading as compliments that the rest of her guests seemed to laugh and preen over.
She managed to artfully insult not only Catherine herself for her fall from grace, but the entiretonfor allowing her back in their midst, all the while also somehow seeming like a veritable saving grace or some sort of saint for throwing a party in their honor that nobody asked her to throw.
By the end of it, Catherine’s teeth were clenched, and her grip on Richard’s arm was tighter than could possibly be comfortable.
As the crowd was ushered into the grand and opulent dining hall, the band from earlier started to play soft music to welcome them all in. The ambiance was perfect, there was no denying it at all. Every inch of the room was decorated perfectly. Not tohertastes, of course. But only a fool would think that this partyactuallyhad anything to do with Catherine and Richard at all.
Yet, all of the esteemed guests stopped to wish them well, and congratulations like nothing had ever happened before they passed Catherine and Richard on their way to their seats until only the duke, Lady Harrington, and themselves were the last to be seated at their respective ends of the table.
Catherine was just glad that she would not have to be seated next to either of them for a little while. She needed the break. Angling her knees toward her husband so that they brushed against the outside of his thigh shouldn’t have been as comforting as it was, but she felt better. Like he was an anchor tethering her in place, giving her strength.
Richard leaned in, his thigh pressing more warmth into her. “Are you all right?”
“Just a month ago, these people all shunned me…” Catherine sighed, feeling silly for admitting it out loud. “And now I am just to turn the other cheek? Try as I might, I just feel…well, I still feel so angry.”
