I wanted love, but that will never happen.Catherine bit back the words.
“Once Oliver is safe and in his father’s care, we will go our separate ways again.”
“That is what you want?” His eyes were like the depths of a forest, ancient and knowing.
She felt like a book that he was idly thumbing through. “It is what will happen.”
“I still do not think the boy is mine.” Alaric ran a hand through his hair, and Catherine could not help but notice the way it framed his face.
“Then find out whose he is. He needs to be with his family, and I am not that.” Catherine forced her shoulders down. “A boy needs his father.”
A flicker of emotion flashed across Alaric’s face, but he turned away before she could see it. As their gazes parted, Catherine felt the vice around her chest loosen and exhaled slowly.
“You will stay until we know the truth,” he said. Catherine could not see Alaric’s face, just the firm line of his back as he stared out of the window.
“I will.” She clasped her skirts in her hands and then released them. “But while we are living together, I think it is best that we abide by some rules. It will keep things clearer between us.”
She thought she saw the muscles of Alaric’s back tense, and braced herself for his reprimand.
No one tells a duke what to do.
It never came, and Catherine took it as an invitation to continue, speeding through before she lost her nerve. “Firstly, you will never present yourself indecently around me. And to be clear, that means that you will remain clothed whenever you are in my company or any situation in which I might happen upon you.”
Alaric turned to face her, his face blank. “And what if I warn you? I find I rather enjoy my morning swims; the physician says they are good for my health.”
“Then wear a shirt or, at the very least, an undershirt while you swim.” Catherine gave him a frank look, forcing her eyes not to drift from his face, to his neck, to his chest.
Do not think of what he looked like as he pulled himself up from the water. The way his muscles tensed and... Stop it!
She dug her nails into the palms of her hands, using the pain to ground herself in the present and keep her cheeks from flushing too much.
Alaric gave no sign that he had noticed. “More clothes mean more weight, and that seems unnecessarily cumbersome.”
“Given what women are expected to wear, if we want to swim, I think you will manage.” Catherine thought of the heavy garments that had threatened to pull her underwater when she and Fiona had gone swimming at Fiona’s father’s estate.
“And just what are you expected to wear?” The corners of Alaric’s mouth quirked upward, his eyes dancing.
“Secondly,” Catherine continued as if Alaric had not spoken, trying to ignore the playful mischief in his eyes. “You will not enter my rooms.”
“And what if you invite me?” He folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the wall.
“That will never happen.” Catherine touched a hand to her chest absently. “Which brings me to my last rule: you will not touch me. Not ever.”
“If touching you is required to prevent harm, I will do it.” Alaric’s voice was firm. “Do not ask me to do otherwise.”
“Very well. But only in that instance.” Catherine thought of the ways he had caught her on their wedding day.
“Will you accept my terms?”
“Yes.” Alaric took a step toward her. “But I have a rule of my own.”
Catherine did not back away from him. “Which is?”
“I do not know when my memory will return, nor what exactly will return when it does. Some things may remain lost forever.” The muscles in Alaric’s throat worked, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down as he took another step toward Catherine. “You yourself have said that thetonis a nest of vipers; there is every chance that if they learn the truth of my condition, they will use that to their advantage. In short, while I am like this, I am vulnerable, which means you also are at risk, as is the boy.”
Catherine nodded, but said nothing.
“My servants I trust, but you and I both know there are things only an equal can say or do.” He gave her a meaningful look, his eyes drawing her in like magnets. “I need someone who is unafraid to tell me things I have no wish to hear. Someone who will challenge me and correct me when I am wrong. Someone Ican work in partnership with. Who else can I trust to teach me about all these social graces, to discuss my business ventures? ”
