the older man’s face, making him appear much older than his years. “You’re correct. We need to get him up to his room. I shall help you take him up then come back down and give the excuses to our guests.”
The music ended and he moved away, but she remained standing in place. He furrowed his brow. “Is there something amiss?”
“I...uh, I do not think it’s proper for me to get him ready for bed. After all, I’m not married to him.”
Nick laughed. “Kitty, my sweet, he has a servant who does that for him. All you have to do is help me take him to the stairs and tell him goodnight.”
Her worried expression eased. “Indeed? That’s all?”
“Yes.” He laughed, took her hand, and hooked it around his elbow. “Come, let’s rescue the duke.”
* * * *
Catherine fidgeted at the foot of Grant’s bed as his servant tucked the blankets around his waist. Witnessing such a personal thing seemed improper, yet Grant had assured her since they were practically engaged it was suitable to come with him to his room.
Unsure, she glanced over her shoulder toward the door, waiting for Mrs. Berkley to come rescue her. Catherine did not feel she should be in the man’s bedchamber. This was not right, and her churning stomach wouldn’t calm for all the convincing Grant tried to do.
And why had Nick left to return to the party? Didn’t he know she shouldn’t be alone with Grant?
When she looked back at Grant, she frowned. Fatigue had carved a permanent shadow on his still handsome features, and her heart clenched. The servant turned and walked away. It was all Catherine could do not to reach out, grab his arm, and beg him to stay.
Grant’s gaze searched the room until it stopped on her, and a weary smile claimed his face. “My dear, sweet, Catherine. You’re so very caring to leave your guests and see to my welfare.”
“You are more important. I want you to regain your strength and be the healthy man I remember from my youth.”
“Come closer, my dear, so that I can see you clearly.”
On unsure legs, she did as asked, moving around the bed to his side. Her heart hammered against her ribs, reminding her once again that this was not right. She patted his hand, not really wanting to touch him so personal, but he clasped her fingers with his.
“Catherine? Are you happy here?”
She hesitated in answering. Was she? Yes, she was happy – until she remembered she’d soon be his wife. But right now, somber would best describe her feelings.
“Of course, Grant. Your family is very kind to me. Your friends have given me a warm welcome tonight. How could I not be happy?”
“How is Nick treating you?”
Her mouth turned dry, yet her hands became moist. Memories from their brief kiss flowed through her mind. “Nick is slowly realizing I’ll be part of the family. When he first came to my house to get me, he was a little reserved, but he’s now coming to terms with our arrangement. A little while ago when we danced, he was very charming.”
Grant nodded. “Nick can put on a good appearance in public, but not to worry, he will soon understand why I have chosen you.”
She smiled, but during the next pause of silence, his gaze moved off her face, down her neck…and further. Her heart thumped in a fierce rhythm. The heated expression on his face changed him so drastically, almost as if she stood next to an entirely different person. Chills of dread crawled up her spine, making her stomach lurch. Why does he look at me like that?
“You’re so very beautiful,” he whispered, his voice sounded almost foreign to her.
She sucked in her breath. Would he do something improper? Oh, where are you Mrs. Berkley? And Nicholas, come back!
His eyes fluttered closed. Relief poured through her and she sighed.
“Go now and enjoy the rest of the party,” he spoke with great effort. “I’m so thrilled that you are finally here. I have waited so long...so long to see you again...Sophia.” Deep breaths consumed
The music ended and he moved away, but she remained standing in place. He furrowed his brow. “Is there something amiss?”
“I...uh, I do not think it’s proper for me to get him ready for bed. After all, I’m not married to him.”
Nick laughed. “Kitty, my sweet, he has a servant who does that for him. All you have to do is help me take him to the stairs and tell him goodnight.”
Her worried expression eased. “Indeed? That’s all?”
“Yes.” He laughed, took her hand, and hooked it around his elbow. “Come, let’s rescue the duke.”
* * * *
Catherine fidgeted at the foot of Grant’s bed as his servant tucked the blankets around his waist. Witnessing such a personal thing seemed improper, yet Grant had assured her since they were practically engaged it was suitable to come with him to his room.
Unsure, she glanced over her shoulder toward the door, waiting for Mrs. Berkley to come rescue her. Catherine did not feel she should be in the man’s bedchamber. This was not right, and her churning stomach wouldn’t calm for all the convincing Grant tried to do.
And why had Nick left to return to the party? Didn’t he know she shouldn’t be alone with Grant?
When she looked back at Grant, she frowned. Fatigue had carved a permanent shadow on his still handsome features, and her heart clenched. The servant turned and walked away. It was all Catherine could do not to reach out, grab his arm, and beg him to stay.
Grant’s gaze searched the room until it stopped on her, and a weary smile claimed his face. “My dear, sweet, Catherine. You’re so very caring to leave your guests and see to my welfare.”
“You are more important. I want you to regain your strength and be the healthy man I remember from my youth.”
“Come closer, my dear, so that I can see you clearly.”
On unsure legs, she did as asked, moving around the bed to his side. Her heart hammered against her ribs, reminding her once again that this was not right. She patted his hand, not really wanting to touch him so personal, but he clasped her fingers with his.
“Catherine? Are you happy here?”
She hesitated in answering. Was she? Yes, she was happy – until she remembered she’d soon be his wife. But right now, somber would best describe her feelings.
“Of course, Grant. Your family is very kind to me. Your friends have given me a warm welcome tonight. How could I not be happy?”
“How is Nick treating you?”
Her mouth turned dry, yet her hands became moist. Memories from their brief kiss flowed through her mind. “Nick is slowly realizing I’ll be part of the family. When he first came to my house to get me, he was a little reserved, but he’s now coming to terms with our arrangement. A little while ago when we danced, he was very charming.”
Grant nodded. “Nick can put on a good appearance in public, but not to worry, he will soon understand why I have chosen you.”
She smiled, but during the next pause of silence, his gaze moved off her face, down her neck…and further. Her heart thumped in a fierce rhythm. The heated expression on his face changed him so drastically, almost as if she stood next to an entirely different person. Chills of dread crawled up her spine, making her stomach lurch. Why does he look at me like that?
“You’re so very beautiful,” he whispered, his voice sounded almost foreign to her.
She sucked in her breath. Would he do something improper? Oh, where are you Mrs. Berkley? And Nicholas, come back!
His eyes fluttered closed. Relief poured through her and she sighed.
“Go now and enjoy the rest of the party,” he spoke with great effort. “I’m so thrilled that you are finally here. I have waited so long...so long to see you again...Sophia.” Deep breaths consumed
Similar Books
