Page 4 of A Duchess Disciplined

“Where is the lie?”

“Is it a lie?” Catherine asked. “I think the tonwould disagree.”

Elias smirked. “I did nothing in London that every young man does not do.”

“Be nice, Cat,” Dorothy said. “It is only a game.”

“I would be happy to play speculation instead,” Elias said.

“Another game at which you excel!” Catherine exclaimed.

“And I suppose you would prefer a game that you can easily best me in?” Elias asked. “How would that be different from what I am allegedly doing to you?”

“It is entirely different.”

Elias shook his head. “Truly, Aristotle himself would be envious of your nuanced understanding of ethics. Impressive.”

“Maybe he would be. Have you asked him?” Catherine retorted.

“I have not,” Elias said. “Should I find the ghost of Aristotle whilst wandering the moors, I shall be certain that I ask him that.”

“I think it would be rather exciting to meet a ghost,” Bridget said, her expression brightening. “It would be just like one of Miss Radcliffe’s novels.”

“I do feel that some of the allure is lost if the ghost is Aristotle,” Catherine said, folding her cards atop the table. “If I was to encounter a ghost, I would want it to be that of someone romantic. Chivalric, even.”

“Aristotle is very romantic,” Elias said. “He is the father of ethics, law, and rhetoric. I should think that any lady would find such a learned man to be the epitome of romance.”

Dorothy shrugged. “I have no desire to wed at all.”

“Is that how you woo ladies? You approach them and say, ‘excuse me, madam. I wish to converse with you about the beauty of ethics’?” Catherine asked in her best impression of her brother’s voice.

A flush spread across her brother’s cheeks, emerging so quickly that Catherine nearly laughed. “No,” he replied. “Most of my female acquaintances are actresses. They prefer that I quote Shakespeare.”

“Of course,” Catherine said dryly.

She had no strong feelings about her brother’s dalliances, which were known to most of the ton. While Elias was unquestionably a rake, he was—above all else—a loving brother and a competent duke. Catherine also silently admitted, with a small twinge of guilt, that few other brothers would allow their young, unwed sisters the considerable freedom he gave her.

“So,” Elias said. “Whist or speculation?”

“I believe that we should have an embroidery contest,” Catherine said. “We shall see how adept you are at stitches.”

Admittedly, Catherine would not prevail at an embroidery contest either. Dorothy was the most gifted with a needle, rivaled only occasionally by Bridget, who had the patience to craft the most remarkably detailed flowers.

“As entertaining as that might be—” Elias’s eyes drifted past Catherine’s shoulder. “What is it, Geoffrey?”

Catherine turned in her seat to see the aged butler standing in the doorway of the parlor. He bowed stiffly, the movement exposing the thinning patch of white hair atop his head. “Apologies for the interruption, Your Grace. You have just received correspondence from the Duke of Sarsen. I am told that it is urgent business.”

Catherine frowned, mentally trying to recall if she had ever met or spoken to the Duke of Sarsen. Although the name was familiar, she had no specific recollections of the man. She supposed that was promising. If the Duke of Sarsen was dreadful, she would have remembered him in an instant.

“Urgent?” Elias asked, his voice echoing Catherine’s confusion. “I cannot imagine what that might be, but we will have it.”

“Shall I read it to everyone?” Dorothy asked.

Elias nodded. Geoffrey crossed the room quickly and placed the letter in Dorothy’s hand. “Again, apologies for the interruption,” he said.

“No need,” Elias replied, waving dismissively. “If the Duke of Sarsen says the matter is urgent, I suppose we ought to handle the matter at once.”

Dorothy undid the wax seal and unfolded the letter. The paper was very fine, parchment rather than the thinner kind used for everyday correspondence. It seemed to Catherine as though the Duke of Sarsen had decided to emphasize the importance of the missive through the excessive use of materials.

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