Page 83 of Her Bear of a Duke

He entered, thanking them profusely, and they returned to her drawing room. There were some cakes and sandwiches on the table, but Lady Emma glanced over Catherine and asked for more to be prepared.

"You look unwell, dear," she said softly, gesturing for her to sit next to her. "You must be feeling dreadful."

"I am, and you should not show me any kindness because of it. I am evil and wicked."

Morgan's heart ached to see his niece so furious with herself, and for the first time in his life he knew what true hatred felt like because he completely hated Lady Annabelle for what she had done.

"You are not evil," Lady Beatrice soothed. "You are only very little, and if you have done something wrong then we can fix it."

"It was Aunt Annabelle," she sighed, almost in tears again. "She told me that my uncle wished to send her away, and that it was all Aunt Dorothy's fault. She said that if I did as she told me, thenshe could stay, and that my uncle would never be cruel to Aunt Dorothy."

"Even she seemed to know that," Lady Cecilia nodded, casting a faint smile his way.

"I should apologize to you first, Your Grace," Catherine continued, looking up at Lady Emma. "I knew that my aunt was not telling the truth, and I should have said so, but I did not want her to leave. She was going to do the same thing to all three of you, so that it would be just me and her and Aunt Dorothy again, but it did not work and so she stopped."

"That is not your fault," Lady Emma smiled. "You could not have known what would happen, and I suppose you were very frightened of what would happen if you spoke, yes?"

Catherine nodded, and Morgan wondered just how his wife had made such loyal and understanding friends.

"Do you know where Aunt Dorothy is?" Catherine asked finally. "She is missing, and I really need to find her so that I can say how sorry I am. She probably hates me, now."

"She most certainly does not," Lady Cecilia replied firmly. "And yes, we do know where she is, although we are not supposed to tell you. I will, however, because I would like the three of you to be a family once more. Heaven knows she deserves that. She is in Scotland with her sister. I can give you the address, but promise me that you will go there this instant."

"Of course we will," Morgan replied, and Lady Cecilia gestured to Lady Emma, who disappeared and returned with a letter.

It was from Dorothy, explaining exactly where she would be and why she had left. Morgan did not dare read it, as he could not bear the thought of knowing just how much he had hurt her, but he did note the address.

"I will find her," he assured them, "and I will bring her home."

"That is good," Lady Beatrice nodded, "because we shall soon need her. Emma will soon have her child, and we cannot have that happen without her."

"That is true," Emma nodded, "but do not rush yourselves. I understand that you will need time after all that has happened."

"And that time can be spent once the baby is here," Cecilia replied. "Go, Your Grace, and return with your wife."

They made the journey to Scotland then and there, without any further preparation. Clothes had been prepared for Catherine, and the ladies had packed food for them for the first while. It was clear to Morgan that Catherine's conscience had begun to clear, as she was at least eating. Though he had been saddened by what had taken place, and was furious with himself for allowing it to happen, he was also concerned for his niece, not to mention his wife, who he could not reach quickly enough.

When, at last, they did reach the household that he had been given, he noticed that Catherine was trembling. She had never been outside of her own home before, and now she was in another country entirely. She was bound to be afraid, but that did not make seeing it any easier.

"It will be all right," he promised her.

"What if Aunt Dorothy never wants to see me again?"

"That will not happen. You will see that for yourself."

This time, when he knocked, he received a far warmer welcome. He was greeted by a lady that looked very much like Dorothy, and she was smiling brightly at him.

"I shall assume that you are my sister's husband?"

"Indeed," he replied, and she let him in.

If she still wanted him to be, that was.

He was led into the parlor room, and sitting before him was Dorothy. She seemed brighter than she had been when he last saw her, and she had a small child sitting beside her. In an instant, Catherine ran to her, which startled the child.

"Oh, Dorothy," she cried, throwing herself at her, "I am truly so sorry for what I did. I should have told the truth, but I did not,and now you must hate me. I will never forgive myself, and– and–"

"Hush now," Dorothy said gently, stroking her hair. "I do not hate you. I could never hate a child. Whatever has happened, we will mend it."

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