Benjamin saw the masculine script on top and took the missive. Staring at the letter, he mumbled something to the servant and then closed himself in his study. There, he sat down and looked at the letter as if it might spontaneously combust in his grasp. With a heavy sigh, he opened it and began to read.
Lord Fontaine,
As suspected, it did not take me long to track down a few of the Lyon’s Den matches. But if you were hoping to find something derogatory, I am afraid you are doomed for disappointment. Every couple seems to be blissfully happy. I have no doubt they would all agree to meet with you, but it might not be what you are hoping to hear if your intention is to discredit the Black Widow’s abilities. There is a reason she has become so successful in London. Not only does she have a particular hand for business, but she understands her clients—their needs, their desires. Her skills have made quite a splash in society and it would take an act of Zeus to suggest otherwise.
The list I have gathered is enclosed. Since this was such an easy task, consider this a gift from me to you. No payment is required. I only hope that you might find the solace that you are looking for in these brief lines.
Steele
Benjamin slowly lowered his hand. Something told him that Catherine would not be pleased, that she would insist on meeting a few of these matches to see for herself the sincerity of this supposed happiness.
However, once she did, he prayed that it might help to assist her own.
Chapter Eight
Catherine noticed thather husband was rather solemn during the evening meal. When she finally asked him about his sudden reticence to carry on their nightly conversation of which she had grown rather fond, he looked as though she’d told him the fish had gone bad.
“I received a reply from my inquiry agent today.”
She blinked. “Oh. I see.” For some reason, her heart started to pound, but she wasn’t quite sure why. “What did he have to say?”
“I’m afraid you won’t like the results.”
Another zing of apprehension shot through her. “Pray tell. Don’t keep me in suspense any longer.”
He took a deep breath. “Very well. He gave me a list of candidates with whom we might engage, but he found no evidence of any discordant unions from the names on this list. In truth, he seemed to write as though they were all rather pleased with their situations.”
Expecting her heart to plummet, Catherine was surprised when the only thing that seemed to flow through her was…relief. She had been so set on her vengeance against the woman she’d believed had ruined her life, not knowing that it would turn out to be the best thingshe would ever do. She should have been thanking Mrs. Dove-Lyon for her keen sense of observation, but that would be admitting defeat and she couldn’t do that just yet. And since she didn’t know Benjamin’s thoughts on the matter, she thought it best to at least visit a few of these people to see if they truly were experiencing “wedded bliss.”
Wiping her mouth with her serviette, as her appetite had abruptly vanished, Catherine set the cloth aside and said, “I suppose that shall remain to be seen once we engage with a few of them. How soon can we travel to London?”
His eyes were almost burning as they lit on her. Or perhaps it was merely the candlelight causing them to glitter so intently. “We should have our new coach by the end of next week. It was the first thing I made sure to purchase. Then we shall arrive in London in high style in a nicely sprung carriage.”
She inclined her head. “That sounds lovely.”
He set down his serviette and pushed back his chair. “If you’ll excuse me, I have some work I need to finish before I turn in for the night.”
Catherine watched Benjamin go with a heavy heart. She could tell that he wasn’t thrilled at the prospect of traveling to London. At the beginning, he’d seemed just as focused on his retaliation against the Black Widow, but something had definitely changed along the way. But then, she’d found the same held true for her of late. While she’d been focused on renovating her new home, she’d found a certain satisfaction in doing so. She’d even made sure to visit the nursery and looked through various catalogs to find a lovely carved cradle that would arrive in plenty of time for the baby.
She was finding that the more time she spent running the manor as its mistress, the more she was coming to appreciate the history that resided here, as well as the servants who took great pride and care in their positions. The housekeeper, Mrs. Limewood, had been a veritable Godsend, offering a bit of advice to someone who was juststarting to gain her footing when it came to running such a large estate. Catherine would forever be grateful to her input and her kind patience as she scribbled down her wishes for each room.
As the days passed under a hum of activity with repairs and the constant din of noise throughout the manor, Catherine was able to find a few moments of solitude throughout the day, wrapped in her husband’s arms. The nights were full of the same bliss, causing her annoyance toward their forced union to slowly start to fade. She was growing excited about the life they were building together and as the interior of the manor slowly began to take shape, she was starting to feel as if she could finally call this placehomeat long last.
On one mid-morning, Catherine was sitting in the sunroom and sipping some tea while trying to read. It was someplace where she’d been able to find a bit of peace and solitude. It was quickly becoming her own personal haven.
“I had a feeling I would find you here.”
Catherine looked up and smiled when she spied Benjamin. She couldn’t seem to stop the happiness from blossoming on her face when she saw him. Never had she thought her heart could be so full of love.
And that is when it became crystal clear. She didn’t just admire her husband.
Shelovedhim.
She put a hand to her stomach to quell the sudden unease. He must have taken note of the action, because he was immediately at her side. “Catherine? Is something wrong?”
Quick to reassure him, she shook her head and forced her pleasant smile to return. “It’s nothing. Just another flutter. I’m not sure I will ever get used to them.”
The trepidation immediately washed from his face. “I am given to understand it is quite remarkable to carry a child.”
