Page 13 of A Duchess Bound (Dukes of Dominance #2)

C atherine arrived for tea, dressed in a splendid green gown. She seemed to glow in the sunlight that flittered into the windows of the parlor. Marriage suited her. Dorothy felt as though she might burst with pride from the joy her sister had so clearly found.

The more that Dorothy looked at her sister, the more that she found her thoughts turning elsewhere—specifically, to the Duke of Greenway. The man was like some persistent specter, haunting the edges of her thoughts.

Even in her dreams, she found it impossible to escape him. Dorothy had awakened more than once to find that her thighs were damp with the evidence of her lust. She had two days to make her choice.

“Dorothy.”

Catherine placed her hand over Dorothy, who jumped a little. With a tender smile, Catherine brushed her thumb over the back of her sister’s hand.

Beside Catherine, Bridget’s face was soft with concern. “What is it that has caught your attention so thoroughly?” Catherine asked.

“Nothing,” Dorothy replied. “I apologize. What were you saying?”

Catherine frowned. “You seem terribly distracted today. I wonder if you have heard anything that I have said.”

Dorothy winced. “I am so very sorry.”

“Are you tired?” Bridget asked. “I have noticed that you have slept very little since the Season began.”

Dorothy froze. “I—I haven’t?”

Her sister could not possibly know about all of Dorothy’s nights spent awake and writhing with desire. Nor could she possibly know that Dorothy had slipped away for an amorous encounter with the Duke of Greenway. She had been so careful!

It was possible that someone had seen her, though. Dorothy knew that some of the staff were gossips, and there were certain lords and ladies in the ton who delighted in making mischief.

“She has spent long hours making lists of potential suitors,” Bridget said. “I have seen her awake for hours after even the staff have all gone to bed.”

Dorothy let out a sigh of relief. Bridget knew nothing.

“It is imperative that you secure an advantageous match,” Dorothy said simply. “That will take considerable effort given how many rakes there are among the ton, all of them determined to catch a young miss unaware.”

Bridget rolled her eyes. “You make me sound like Little Red Riding Hood , about to be preyed upon by some wolf.”

“I believe that was precisely what Perrault intended,” Catherine said. “Dorothy is right. One can never be too careful on the marriage-mart.”

“That is true,” Dorothy said. “See? Catherine agrees with me.”

“ However ,” Catherine said. “Dorothy, dearest, you must be terribly exhausted if you are so distracted.”

Dorothy bit the inside of her cheek. She would sooner die than admit the true reason that her thoughts were wandering so terribly. “It is nothing. Just a little fatigue.”

Catherine frowned. “You need to take care of yourself.”

“I do.”

“No,” Catherine said, giving Bridget a sideways glance. “No, you have always spent all your time and energy caring for us . I cannot recall you ever doing anything just for yourself.”

“I am certain that I have,” Dorothy said. “ Care is not a limited resource, like gold or silver.”

“But it is,” Catherine argued. “You must take some time to care for yourself. You have run yourself ragged on Bridget’s behalf, and none of us wants that.”

“She must secure?—”

“I know,” Catherine interrupted. “I know. Bridget must marry, and you are terrified that you will repeat the same mistakes with her that you did with me. But you will not! Bridget is a proper young miss and the most beautiful of us all.”

Bridget beamed over her teacup. “That is kind of you.”

“It is unquestionably true,” Catherine said.

The conversation lapsed into silence, and Dorothy sipped her tea. She must try to be less distracted. If her siblings were noticing her change in behavior, the rest of the ton would as well. Worse, he might notice.

If she refused his request, would the distractions cease? If she had no chance of being with him, would she cease to think about him entirely? Dorothy imagined that one could not obsess over a man forever. There must be some logical end to her plight.

“I think you need to do something for yourself,” Catherine said.

It took the full force of Dorothy’s will to listen to her sister’s words. “Yes?”

“Yes. After Bridget is married, you must find something that you enjoy. Something to pursue.”

“Like what?” Dorothy asked, laughing a little.

“Like writing a book!” Bridget declared. “Oh, you could write some sweeping romance!”

“I have never been a particularly good writer,” Dorothy said.

“Ask Elias for funds to build a seminary for young ladies,” Catherine suggested. “Begin a society to educate the poor. You are so kind that there must be some social cause for you to champion.”

“But not champion too fiercely,” Bridget said. “You want to do something that brings you fulfillment.”

“That is true,” Catherine mused. “I can imagine you becoming all too devoted to a cause and helping others at the expense of yourself.”

“You both worry too much about me.”

But there was something beautiful about the idea of doing something just for herself, just because it pleased her to do it.

Dorothy’s thoughts did not turn to some social cause, however, for she was not nearly as noble as her sisters assumed.

Instead, she thought of the encounter with His Grace and what he had promised if she would only submit to him.

It sounded like a dreadful idea. A dangerous one.

But the thought of submitting to him made her heart race and her blood roar in her ears. It was something that sounded quite unlike her, or perhaps, it was her—just some unacknowledged part of herself. A part she had always been afraid to face.

“I am intrigued by the idea,” Dorothy conceded. “I suppose that you are both right, although I am remiss to admit it. I have seldom pursued any interest for myself.”

Catherine smiled. “Indeed. It is well past time for you to, dear sister.”

“Agreed,” Bridget said. “And if you require any assistance, we shall help you find some project to pursue!”

Dorothy chuckled. “Thank you both. But that will have to wait until you are married, Bridget.”

She would not wait to answer His Grace. When she next saw him, Dorothy would deliver her answer to him. She would say yes and tell him that they could not pursue an affair until Bridget was married. But would he still want her if she asked him to wait?

Dorothy bit the inside of her cheek. Her siblings were worried about her.

If she accepted Gerard’s proposal, she might be less distracted.

Rather than the aching need that coiled in her body, she would be satisfied.

And instead of agonizing over how she might answer him, she would have given her answer already.

This might be a beneficial solution for all involved.

“Bridget will be married quite soon,” Catherine said. “Even my husband was impressed by the interest in her. It is unparalleled.”

Bridget’s face reddened. “It is more than I anticipated. Sometimes, I would even say that it is a little overwhelming.”

Catherine nodded sympathetically. “Have you managed to find any especially suitable men out of the bunch?”

“A few,” Bridget said. “I have not felt that love at first sight like I wanted to, but…”

“I do not know if love at first sight really exists,” Catherine said. “To know is to love. That is what I believe.”

“Yes,” Dorothy said. “If you are fond of any particular young man, you must tell me. We can ensure that you are given ample opportunity to speak with him, and I will search the scandal sheets again?—”

“I know !” Bridget exclaimed.

The young woman placed her saucer and teacup on the table with such force that the porcelain rang loudly.

Dorothy blinked, startled. “Have I upset you?”

Bridget sighed and shook her head. “No,” she said. “It is only that I—I am feeling suffocated by both of you! Elias, too.”

“Suffocated?” Catherine asked.

“Yes! All any of us have talked about is my marriage, and I am beginning to feel a little as though you both think I am incapable of finding a suitable husband on my own. I am not a child anymore.”

A lump rose in Dorothy’s throat. She had not considered that Bridget might find all the attention to be a little overwhelming.

That had been unkind of her. But Dorothy also felt a little twinge of hurt curl in her chest. She was trying to be a good sibling and ensure Bridget had a safe and comfortable life.

Dorothy had devoted so much time and effort to the cause, and she felt a little…

A little upset. Maybe it was selfish of her to feel that way, but she did, regardless.

“Even you, Cat,” Bridget said. “We seldom see you, and since your arrival, you have talked about nothing except my marriage. How is your estate? How is the ball that you are planning? What about Hannah and Hesta?”

Catherine finished the rest of her tea in a rather unseemly gulp.

“The estate is fine. Not much changes there. William has been pursuing some new irrigation techniques, which he believes will help the local farmers. I will admit that it is all quite uninteresting to me, but he is passionate about it.”

Bridget wrinkled her nose. Perhaps, she was likewise uninterested in irrigation techniques.

“I am sorry that I have upset you,” Dorothy said, tracing a finger around the rim of my teacup. “That was never my intention.”

Bridget’s words still hurt, but Dorothy would never say so. She would not wish to wound her sister in the same manner that she had been.

Bridget sighed. “I know it was not your intention. In some ways, that makes everything worse.”

“But you have told us,” Catherine said, smiling tightly. “We shall try to be less overbearing. You are right on one account. You are a young woman, and you are old enough to look after yourself. We can help you, but we do not need to do everything for you.”

“Thank you.”

“And perhaps, you can speak to Elias,” Catherine said, turning to Dorothy. “I have no doubt that he is being equally overbearing.”

“He is,” Bridget said dryly. “Worse, I think he is dissuading certain gentlemen from approaching me.”

“Well, if they are friends of his, they probably would not make suitable grooms,” Catherine pointed out. “I adore our brother, but the company he keeps does leave something to be desired.”

“Indeed,” Dorothy agreed. “I have seldom seen such insatiable rakes.”

Seldom seen . The Duke of Greenway was the exception. Dorothy wondered if he ached with desire as fervent as her own or if he had found other ladies to occupy his time, while he awaited her answer. Her chest tightened.

The thought that he might be occupying himself with other lovers sent a sharp sensation coursing through her. She could not expect a man like that to be faithful, especially to a woman who had not yet agreed to be his, but she found herself still hoping that he might be.

“Anyway,” Catherine said. “Enough talk of marriage. How is Elias? I have seen him far less than I have the two of you.”

“He is well,” Dorothy said. “Busy, as always.”

“I do not know how he finds the time to breathe,” Bridget added.

“He sounds like someone else we know,” Catherine said, sending Dorothy a sly glance. “I have heard that he is working on something for parliament.”

“He is,” Dorothy confirmed. “He wants to pass legislation requiring certain training for apothecaries.”

“Interesting.”

“He believes that it will make medicine safer,” Dorothy added. “It will ensure that remedies are prepared by individuals with the appropriate knowledge of herbs and medicine.”

“I hope he succeeds,” Catherine said.

Dorothy took a sip of tea. “Yes.”

Already, her thoughts were turning to His Grace. Maybe she should be a little less involved in Bridget’s search for a husband. Just a little less. Dorothy would not withdraw her aid entirely, of course.

Just enough to have some time to herself, so she could pursue something which might make her very happy, indeed. It was only unfortunate that she would be unable to share the happiness she had found with her siblings. They would simply have to assume that she was doing something for herself.