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Catherine noticed that the girl had managed to procure some meats, along with some fresh bread and cheese. Anna also poured her a warm glass of milk, and the action reminded her of how she would give warm milk to her younger siblings when they could not sleep.

“If that would be all?—”

“Stay. Stay with me. Please,” Catherine pleaded, dreading the thought of being by herself again.

She had thought that all the hugs and warmth she had received from her family days before her departure from Scotland would have lingered for longer. But with every passing moment in this foreign land, in this strangely empty house, she felt as though she was greatly out of her depth.

Anna seemed to understand as much, somehow hearing the words left unsaid. She returned to the table, smiling politely in gratitude as the Duchess-to-be gestured to the empty seat opposite her, urging the girl to take it.

Once the maid was seated, Catherine asked, “Have you worked at Rosehall Estate for a long time?”

Anna shook her head slightly. “Just a little over a year, Miss Lennox.”

“What is it really like here? Is it always so… barren? I could not help but notice that there aren’t a lot of servants around.”

The maid paused for a moment, then her eyes lit up with understanding.

“Yes, Miss Lennox. It does sometimes feel emptier than it looks, but the staff present are more than capable of keeping the estate in top-notch condition. In any case, the Duke prefers it this way—a minimal number of servants, but without compromising the upkeep of the estate,” she explained.

At the mention of her husband-to-be, Catherine’s heart flipped uncomfortably. She had tried her best to keep him out of her mind, but his smirk and confident tone seemed determined to etch themselves into her mind.

She did not know what to make of this man with his strange preference for company. She was even less sure what to expect from the days ahead of them.

“What is he like? The Duke?” Catherine heard herself ask.

Anna paused thoughtfully for a moment. “He is quite overwhelming. He is known all over London for his charming looks and rather… debauched interactions with women. There isn’t a woman he cannot seduce with nothing but a smile. Many refer to him as a ‘devil’for his strange ability to attract just about anyone, and they fear his silver tongue. But to some people, he is a successful businessman with suspicious trade secrets.”

Debauched interactions with women?

Catherine thought back to her arrival late that afternoon, how perfectly normal it seemed for him to be barely dressed and nestled in the clutches of not one but two women. It made her stomach churn uncomfortably, and she felt overwhelmed by her curiosity to know precisely who she was getting married to.

“I would like to ask you a question,” she began, clearing her throat.

“Yes, Miss Lennox?” Anna prompted, with a curious expression.

Catherine swallowed, doing her best to phrase her sentence tactfully.

“Does he… Does he often entertain guests like the ones who were present today?” she enquired carefully.

“Yes, Miss Lennox. More often than not. Usually, they are awake until dawn, doing Lord knows what. I believe that is one of the reasons why the Duke prefers to have a limited number of servants,” Anna said with a grimace.

Mary Lennox had once told Catherine that she could never truly understand where her daughter had gotten her short temper from. Both her parents were incredibly kind, gentle, and thoughtful. And in the right circumstances, Catherine was much the same. But it had become apparent that she was rather quick to anger and would cling to petty grudges. She had somehow outgrown that habit, but it always seemed to rear its head when she least expected it.

One of those moments was now, becausehow dare he?

How could he agree to marry her but still cling to his wayward habits?

It infuriated her to no end, and there and then, she made up her mind to discuss it with him once they were married. Because she would not, under any circumstances, allow any woman into their home after their wedding.

“I hope I have not discouraged you from getting married to him, Miss Lennox,” Anna remarked suddenly, looking nervous. “I would hate to be the reason the Duke lost his bride. Despite his reputation, he has always been kind to us and has always cared for us. As far as I know.”

Catherine could understand the girl’s fears and was quick to assuage them. “No, do not worry. You have done no such thing. If I was going to be swayed so easily, I never would have made it out of Scotland. Such an issue will not dissuade me from fulfilling my duty.”

Anna sighed deeply in relief, her youthful features telling Catherine that perhaps they might be the same age or close enough to be friends.

“I am glad. Despite the Duke’s reputation, I do not wish to ruin his plans or make things difficult for you either,” Anna confessed.

“You will not,” Catherine stated firmly. “And I am grateful for your candor. I have heard a few things about him, but I did not expect them to bear the weight that they do. When you’re far from the source, the news that comes is dubious at best. Nonetheless, the things I have heard from you do not stray farfrom the impression that I had gotten over there. Is he… really believed to be a devil?”