Page 46 of A Duchess Disciplined

Catherine nodded. “Very well,” she said. “I hope I am not disappointed in you.”

“I hope so, also.”

He considered her retreating back as she slipped from his study. He didnotwant to disappoint her, he decided. That was a problem. William did notlikefeelings, much less ones that involved a desire to please another person. Feelings were irrational and did not suit men with responsibilities. He preferred to be rational and focus his attention on facts. Catherine was his wife. He did not owe her anything.

But maybe in this matter, she was right.

CHAPTER14

The carriage was prepared for their trip to the park. It was only a few miles away, and Catherine would have enjoyed the exercise of walking there. Hannah and Hester were much younger than she, however, and likely did not have her stamina. Thus, they were obliged to ride.

Catherine’s nerves hummed with energy, as if she had been struck by lightning. This was to be her first outing since marrying His Grace—William, she had been told to call him—and becoming the Duchess of Sarsen. She might encounter some of the ton at the park. Catherine could not decide how she felt about that.

“Autumn is the best season to visit the park,” Hester said, as they approached the carriage. “The weather is agreeable, and one is able to watch all the songbirds flitting in the air.”

“I do enjoy the cooler weather,” Hannah added.

Catherine walked behind them, listening them talk to one another; she suspected that the conversation was really forherbenefit, though. The girls were trying to include her in their lives. She bit the inside of her cheek, guilt gnawing at her stomach. It seemed remarkably unfair that the very moment she had won their respect, she had failed them by failing to persuade William to join them.

“Going somewhere?” His voice came from behind, startling her.

Catherine whirled around. William himself stood behind her, as if she had summoned him with her thoughts.

“You!” she exclaimed.

“Me,” he agreed, smirking. “Or were you expecting some other man?”

Her heart rose in her throat. Hester and Hannah had stopped their conversation, and although her back was to them, Catherine sensed the girls watching her. Watching and waiting to see if their brother would deign to join them.

“I was not expecting any man,” Catherine replied. “But you are here, and I must confess that I am notdispleased to see you. Am I to assume that you will be joining us at the park, then?”

“I believe I will. It is not as though the dukedom will fall into utter disarray if I am absent for only a day, after all.”

Catherine smiled slightly. He had remembered her precise words from the day before. Although he had said that he would consider joining them, she had not really thought that he would. William had seemed far too consumed with his duties for that. He was trying, though. That was good.

“Besides,” William continued. “It is long past time that I enjoy a pleasant day out with my beloved sisters. It has been a while since I went to the park with you.”

“It has,” Hester said, her face brightening.

It was as if the sun had been hidden behind clouds for a lifetime and had suddenly chosen that moment to emerge. Catherine felt a small jolt of satisfaction. While it was true that she was not Dorothy,shehad managed to offer these girls some small measure of happiness.

“And during the journey, you will be able to tell me of everything that you have been learning, while I have been hard at work ensuring that the dukedom is prospering,” William said.

“Indeed!” Hannah exclaimed. “There is much to say.”

They entered the carriage, and the footman closed the door behind them. As she settled against the seat, listening to Hannah and Hester regale their brother with tales of their embroidery and sketching, Catherine found that she almost felt like she was…home.

“How are you finding the estate, my lady?” William asked.

My lady.She supposed that being with the twins was public enough for William to want to behave a little formally.

“Adequate,” she said. “I would be more pleased with it if my husband would tear himself away from his desk and ask after my welfare now and again.”

She was thinking mostly of Hannah and Hester, but upon further reflection, Catherine realized that the words were true enough regarding her, too. Catherine could not quite saywhy. Maybe it was because she was so accustomed to her siblings always being about, or maybe it was that her pride was—admittedly, shamefully—a little wounded by his marrying her, giving her a night of incomparable pleasure, and behaving as though he had no further use for her.

“I will consider it,” William said, his eyes smoldering.

Everything inside Catherine grew hot and tight as she considered how William mightask after her welfare. She imagined being bent over the loveseat again, as he kissed her neck and asked her to tell him about everything she had done that day.

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