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CHAPTER TWO

“ I t is far too quiet.”

Somehow, even Catherine’s attempt to exhale her complaints over the silence that surrounded her came out quieter than she had intended, almost as though her voice felt scared of disturbing the peace.

It frustrated and worried her how she could not remember the last time she had experienced such deathly silence. The estate felt worlds apart from her usually cheerful and bright childhood home. She missed the incessant chatter, the buzz of life that tinged the air.

This place lacked all of that, standing as a stark contrast to the house she had known all her life and had practically sacrificed herself to save. No matter what expectations she hoped would be met, she would still carry out her duties as the Duke’s wife.

As she had settled on that thought, her stomach growled, and the ounce of civility she had found was gone with the wind. She recalled that her frustration with the Duke and the annoying conversation had robbed her of her appetite, and by dinner time, she could barely swallow a morsel.

“I suppose it wouldnae be so bad to rummage through the kitchens and see what I can find,” she mumbled to herself as she slipped out of bed.

The hallways of the house were as empty during the night as they were during the day.

It was rather odd, that a dukedom would have so few servants milling about, regardless of what hour of the day it was.

Catherine couldn’t understand how her family, despite their lower standing, seemed to have more servants and more life around their home.

When she finally made it to the kitchen, she tried to quietly find something quick for a meal. But she started when a girl appeared from behind the shelf of bread and dried meats.

The girl’s eyes widened, and she immediately curtsied. “Y-Your Grace! Good evening. Is there something you need?”

Feeling nervous, Catherine shook her head, waving her arms. “No, I am not the Duchess… not yet, at least. Did I frighten you? I apologize if I did.”

The girl seemed to calm down slightly and stood straight. “You did not, Your—er, Miss Lennox. But I am surprised to see you in these parts of the manor. Did you need something?” she asked kindly.

Catherine’s stomach chose that moment to growl, loud enough for the servant to hear it.

The girl smiled sympathetically and gestured to the table and chair in the corner.

“Perhaps you would like to wait here while I prepare you something to eat? I imagine you’ve had a rather long day and you are in need of food and rest,” she said gently.

It was unexpected, the sudden kindness that had found her, but Catherine was grateful for it, especially after the day she had.

“Thank you. You are too kind… What is your name?”

“Anna, Miss Lennox,” the maid said with a smile as she darted around the kitchen with a plate, seemingly gathering several options. Soon, she set it down before Catherine.

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, because how 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 far from the impression that I had gotten over there. Is he… really believed to be a devil?”

Anna nodded, her eyes wide as though she could hardly believe that someone was willing to let her speak so much.

“Yes! I mean—yes, Miss Lennox. People have such beliefs about him because it is said that he has ways of erasing his problems quite efficiently, even though he seems carefree and calm. And most of the time, those problems are people who have just… disappeared not long after crossing him.

“That is the sort of reputation he has among the ton. Dubious and fearsome. Other than that, and his regular trysts, he is quite focused on his business. I am not sure what it entails, but he does travel a lot. Sometimes multiple times within a month or two.”

Catherine was glad that she had gotten to speak with someone about the Duke before they were wed. While nothing could dissuade her now, and she was not in search of ways to go back on hers or her father’s word, she still needed to have an idea of what she was getting into.

“I see. Thank you, Anna. For the meal and the conversation,” Catherine said sincerely.

With a full belly and an informative engagement, she felt renewed in spirit.

The echoes of the home she left behind felt distant once more, lingering within reach but no longer trying to smother her.

She was not sure that she could confidently march down the aisle and claim that she was prepared to get married.

But she would not turn away from the duty for which she had been chosen.

Catherine was determined to ensure that her marriage would not yield any losses for herself or her family.

“It was my pleasure, Miss Lennox,” Anna told her earnestly.

“I imagine it was quite difficult to travel so far on your own to start a new life. I hope things will progress with ease for you, Miss Lennox. If there is anything you need at any point, please do not hesitate to call for me. Whatever it may be.”

Anna’s words gave her comfort and reminded her of her home. Her family was quite close to their servants, and finding someone she could relate to like that was an immense relief.

“Thank you, Anna,” Catherine said sincerely as she rose to her feet. “Have a good night.”

“And you as well, Miss Lennox,” Anna intoned softly, curtsying.

Catherine returned to her chambers, praying silently that she would be ready to be married when the sun rose.

Everything she had learned about her husband felt equally confusing and preparatory, and she was thankful that at least such things wouldn’t come up when they were already married and wouldn’t take her by surprise.

She turned down the hallway that led to her chambers, only for her feet to come to a stop when she found Sampson standing right in front of her door.

Gone was his teasing demeanor and playful expression, replaced by lines of seriousness. His tired eyes and the dark circles beneath them told her that he had not slept. But before she could question any of it, he turned and fixed his eyes on her.

“Where were you? Wandering off in search of an adventure so late, my little fox?” he queried with a teasing grin, regaining some of his earlier lightness.

Catherine was caught off guard by his presence, especially by this side of him that appeared innocent, as opposed to all that had transpired that night and all she had learned.

“I did not realize it was now considered a crime to eat, Your Grace,” she huffed, irritated.

“Ah, was that all? I would’ve expected to find you in a few dark corners, acting suspiciously. I am glad I was wrong, then.” He grinned.

Almost immediately, she noticed some tension leaving Sampson’s shoulders. She was unable to respond as he stepped closer to her, his formerly soft voice now stern as he said, “You should prepare yourself. Being my wife will be a demanding task.”

Catherine stood her ground, raising her face to look him in the eye. “I am certain I can handle it. Whatever it may be.”

The corners of Sampson’s lips twitched, and he nodded, moving even closer to her. Catherine was rooted to the spot as he reached for her, barely containing the shiver that wracked her body.

“I am sure you can. In fact, I thought you were so eager to become my wife that you came looking for me. It seems as though that was not the case.” He mumbled the words, loud enough that she could hear him, but she was completely distracted as he traced her jawline, his touch blazing as it trailed down the length of her throat, then back up again.

Catherine gasped, then tried to pretend she didn’t by glaring at him.

“I assure you, that is not the case,” she stated, exasperated.

“Are you sure? I do not know if you’ve noticed, Miss Lennox.” He smirked. “But you are quite fond of staring at me. I do not think it would be remiss of me to assume that you perhaps like me.”

“And if I said I did not? Would you go off and find someone else to keep you company?” she asked, unable to keep the bite out of her tone as she blushed.

“Now, why would I do that, when you are already here to fulfill that very need?”

At this point, she could hardly hear him over the rapid beating of her heart, which echoed in her ears. Still, she managed a rebuttal.

“I would not entertain such high expectations.”

But her words carried no heat because, as annoyed as she was, his touch left her breathless.

“Hmm. Is that so?” he hummed, his gaze heavy on her as his fingertips trailed down from her neck, over her collarbones, to the swell of her breasts.

But before he could touch her breasts, he lowered his hand to his side and turned around, leaving her dizzy and conflicted.