Page 75 of A Duchess Disciplined

Catherine followed the direction of Hannah’s hand. Four cardinals flitted about in the hedges, swooping down to the ground and plucking seeds from beneath the sweeping fronds of grass and flowers that surrounded the lake. A light breeze drifted through the area, casting ripples over the lake’s mirror-like surface.

“I have always found that interesting,” Hannah mused, “how the male birds are the ones that are so colorful.”

“It is because the female birds remain in the nest with the babies,” Hester said matter-of-factly. “They must be dully colored to remain hidden from predators.”

Catherine considered making some manner of jest about how the dandies were like male birds, but although the joke seemed like it might be promising, she could not find the proper words for it.

“Let us see if we can have a closer look,” Hester said, “without frightening them.”

“I doubt that we can get much closer,” Hannah replied.

Still, the two of them slowly edged along the hedges, approaching the birds. Catherine also doubted that the girls would be able to venture much closer, but perhaps they might, if the young ladies moved very slowly. The birds would be well-accustomed to the gardeners, after all. It was not as if they had never seen a human before.

“Shall we take a turn?” William asked.

“And leave your sisters unattended?” Catherine asked.

William let out a low breath of air. “I believe they will be fine. If we just walk along the lake, we will still be able to see them.”

Catherine nodded in approval, and they walked slowly together. A stone path ran around the course of the lake; it was a smooth path, and her slippers never caught or wavered on the stones. It was nice; she reflected. Although Catherine was a wild woman who delighted in running about with reckless abandon in gardens and fields, she was forced to concede that she had developed a kind of fondness for these quiet walks through the garden with him.

William had a firm and sturdy strength about him, and she found herself deriving comfort from him. She had never before thought much about how a husband might provide such feelings of security. She had never particularly thought that she might need or want a husband. Her only interest in marrying had been that she needed to wed to satisfy the ton. William had changed her perspective on everything, though.

“Do you believe my gowns to be unworthy?” she asked instead.

“Not at all,” William said. “I simply thought that you deserved a gift for being such a wonderful duchess.”

“How kind of you,” Catherine said. “Do you have a usual modiste who comes and makes gowns for the girls?”

“I do,” he replied, “but if you have a favored modiste, you are—of course—welcome to invite her to the estate. I will spare no expense to ensure that you look your best at this ball.”

Catherine nodded, considering the possibility of having new gowns. Although she had never had any particularly strong interest in gowns, she liked to look her best. “The girls should have some new gowns, too.”

“Indeed.”

They continued along the path, as Catherine contemplated dyes and colors. “I have heard that there is a new shade of green,” she said, “from Germany.”

“You would look lovely in green.”

They halted on the far side of the lake. Through the flowers, bushes, and past the tall and strong oak tree, Catherine could still see Hester and Hannah. The pair had halted several feet away and watched with rapt attention as the cardinals flitted over the ground and on top of the hedges.

“They adore you,” William said, seeming to know where Catherine’s thoughts had gone. “I had not anticipated that, but it pleases me. And you care for them.”

“They are very loving girls,” Catherine replied loyally. “I cannot imagine how any man or woman would not love them.”

William tilted his head and placed a quick and gentle kiss upon her cheek. “I feel similarly about you.”

A fluttering sensation spread through Catherine’s chest, and they continued along the path.

CHAPTER25

The garden smelled of flowers, of roses, primroses, and foxgloves. Those sweet scents filled his senses, along with the bell-like chirps of birds and his sisters’ hushed whispers, as they tried not to frighten the cardinals. And Catherine still held her gentle hand at the crook of his elbow. His mind drifted to all the work that there was to do. Being a duke was no small feat, for the work never ended. There was always some small crisis demanding to be fixed.

But, despite all the nagging doubts and concerns that he ought to return to his work, he found difficulty in forcing himself to care about what heoughtto be doing. How could any man possibly return to his dark and silent study when faced with such a bucolic garden and a beautiful wife?

“I am glad that you find me to be a satisfactory duchess,” Catherine said. “I will admit that I feared you would find me lacking in some manner.”

William sighed. They reached the end of the path, and he lowered himself onto the stone bench. Catherine seated herself beside him and turned her body towards his, so their knees touched. “I cannot fault you for that,” he said. “Ididfear that you might be lacking in some manner.”

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