Page 7 of Duke in Shining Armor
Although the circumstances were not of her making, she felt she was letting her family down. Mama had impressed upon her the need to complete finishing school so that she would be well placed to make a good match. Time was of the essence because she must be back in London to be launched next season. She did not know if the family could survive ruin if she did not find a suitable match within this time.
Catherine watched as the physician prepared the bandage and applied it to her ankle.
She must think of a way to continue with her journey. Catherine took a deep breath and calmed herself, while deep in thought. She ruminated until she came to a decision. She must remain at the duke’s home until her ankle is healed, and then she would depart for Switzerland. She could not imagine returning to Windemere before she had completed finishing school, and she could very well imagine the disappointment on her mama’s face.
She would send a letter to the school in Switzerland to inform them of the delay. She was confident she could complete her training within the prescribed time despite the short delay .., after all, she was educated.
Catherine was sure her parents would be pleased to know she came to no great harm. Nevertheless, if they were told of the unfortunate events, they would send additional chaperones, and she may have a large entourage for her stay in Switzerland. A thing she had deplored when it was first suggested, and somehow she had convinced her papa that Helen alone was suitable. Her parents might even have suggested she return home despite the physician’s order of no travelling. Should they know of the delay, it would cause her parents a great deal of worry, especially her mother who already seemed overburdened.
“There, Lady Catherine. It is all done, but you will need to keep your ankle elevated. I will tend to you both on the morrow. I shall also inform the duke of your progress.”
“Thank you. You are most kind.”
The physician bobbed his head and left the room. Catherine released a shaky breath. A plan must be formed, and quickly. She’d pondered all the options and none of them were appealing. Catherine would not have it. She was perfectly capable of putting things right, and she knew exactly how to do that.
She needed to speak with the duke forthwith.
Several minutes after the physician’s departure, a maid entered her chamber after a brief knock.
“Would you like to have a light meal, my lady?” the maid asked.
“Certainly. I welcome some sustenance after this grueling day. Thank you.”
The maid smiled, went into the hallway, and entered with her tray of soup, vegetables, roasted pork, and potatoes, along with a pudding and cheese. A generous goblet of wine accompanied her meal. It seemed they had anticipated her needs. She smiled her thanks, and it was as she smelled the tantalizing fare Catherine realized how famished she was. She ate her fill while her thoughts turned to her lady’s maid, who she hoped would soon recover. Helen had been her lady’s maid ever since she was a child, and she was fond of her. She could not bear the thought of losing her.
A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. “Yes?”
“May I enter?”
Her heart made a peculiar leap at the sound of that voice. The duke was already at her door. Catherine was pleased she did not have to wait much longer to determine if her plan would succeed.
“Come in,” she bid him.
“I trust you had a good supper are comfortable,” the duke said as he entered the room.
“Yes, thank you, Your Grace.”
The maid was not far behind the duke. She entered and remained in a far corner of the room while she mended a garment. Catherine frowned slightly, for the maid’s presence informed her that the duke would be concerned with all the proper civilities and decorum.
Would the duke go along with her plan? Catherine was sure he would suggest writing to her family because it was the proper thing to do. He did not know that Catherine was not the least bit concerned with propriety and convention. Nevertheless, she would be careful not to do anything that would bring her family’s name into disrepute. A scandal would ruin her family’s name, and there would be no prospect of a suitable alliance then. She must be cautious.
“I am pleased to see that you are no longer as pale as when I found you.”
His piercing gaze skipped over her body, and Catherine almost tugged the sheet to her chin. She did not understand why that assessing stare made her feel warm.Too warm.“You are a most gracious host, Your Grace, and we are greatly indebted to you. Thank goodness you happened upon us when you did, as I do not know how we would have fared otherwise. I shudder to think of it.”
He ventured further into the room, leaning against the wall by the fire, his posture indulgent, yet commanding. “I can surmise what transpired, Lady Catherine, but please tell me.”
“I fell asleep on the journey, and I awoke to find the carriage was halted. When I peered through the window, I saw four men blocking our path. They demanded we abandoned the carriage which was rather shocking.”
“Indeed,” the duke said.
“The coachman decided to make a run for it. I tried to reach my derringer, but I faced a bit of a conundrum for it had one bullet, and there were four highwaymen. At any rate, I was thrown about the carriage, and I could not retrieve my pistol.”
“Quite extraordinary,” the duke said. “Were you only travelling with your maid and a coachman?”
Catherine lifted her chin. “Yes, Your Grace. I know it is unusual; however…my family had to retrench and some of our staff was relieved. Given what transpired, I am grateful there were not more people who could have been harmed.”
He made no comment and she continued, “When the coachman was shot, the horses bolted, and the carriage left the road. We went around a bend and crashed into a tree. My next memory is awakening to a slap on my face.”
