Chapter Thirteen
“I think I need to take a break or else my eyes will cross.” So saying, Cate planted her elbows on the desktop in the study and rubbed her eyes with her fingers.
Her back ached as well, for sitting at weird angles to make the best use of the candlelight had cramped her muscles.
Then she yawned, for she’d been working on the translation for the better part of four hours.
Of course, she was talking to herself because the duke had worked on renovations while she’d been busy and unaware of the world around her, but now she only had perhaps the last third of the book to translate.
Some of the words and phrases had eluded her, so she’d had to guess at what the author had meant, and some pages were damaged.
In those places, there was not enough text to piece together the narrative, but it didn’t matter.
The story as it was coming together was concerning and quite maudlin.
Needing movement and to work out the knots from her muscles, Cate stood up from the chair.
She wandered over to the window where the steady drum of rain beat against the glass.
The floorplan of the duke’s townhouse was lovely, for the building rested on a corner lot, which allowed many of the rooms on the south side to have access to windows.
In fact, unless the rooms were interior, there were windows on three sides of the townhouse.
Whenever the sun did return, that natural light would be most welcome.
Of course, she would have finished the translation by then and would have no cause to enjoy such a thing.
To say nothing to the fact that her association with Scarborough would undoubtedly end.
What exactly were they to each other? Lovers?
Convenient trysting partners? If he asked, would she agree to become his mistress knowing there was every possibility that we might marry someone else for love and that she would need to stand on the sidelines watching that story unfold?
No thank you. I have more respect for myself than all that.
The sad thing about this was he hadn’t spoken of his feelings for her—if he indeed had any over and above lust and desire—but to be fair, she hadn’t either.
How could she when she couldn’t puzzle it out for herself?
Of course, she had to remain realistic about her position.
It didn’t matter if she did have feelings for him.
He was a duke; she was the spinster daughter of a Cambridge professor, only here to provide translation services.
Outside of the carnal exercise they shared, there wasn’t much else between them.
Was there? And perhaps more to the point, did she want there to be? For all her insistence that she wouldn’t marry unless love was present, what if she did fall for the duke, but he had no intention of asking her for anything beyond what they had now, especially once the translation had concluded?
Gah! Why is doing anything with a man so complicated?
“Ah, Cate, it is good to see that you’ve managed to tear yourself away from the book.
” As the duke strode into the study, he offered her the particular grin she suspected he reserved only for her, but why?
Why would he do such a thing? Or was he not aware of it?
“How goes the translation? When I last checked in, you were fully engaged and didn’t even know I was there. ”
She turned away from the window, but that was a mistake, for her gaze landed fully on him, and dear heavens, he was quite handsome in the dim illumination and weak light from the overcast late afternoon.
The silver that glinted through his black hair made her want to throw caution to the wind and run her fingers through those tresses, but it was the hint of an evening shadow that clung to his jaw and chin that had her knees wobbling.
Such a feature on a man was one of her favorite things.
What would that bit of roughness feel like rasping against her thighs?
Making an effort to shove the naughty thoughts away, she offered him a smile that she feared was a miserable business.
“It has been quite intense, but I have another third of the book to go. It might, indeed, be finished by Christmas.” Another depressing thought, for she would probably not see him after that day.
A frown tugged at the corners of his sensual mouth. “You seem a bit out of sorts. Is all well?”
“Oh, yes, of course.” It was then that she realized he’d removed his jacket, cuffs, collar, cravat, and waistcoat at some point in the afternoon, and that the sleeves of his shirt had been rolled to his elbows.
No doubt it was easier to maneuver when papering walls when his arms weren’t restricted.
And he was mouthwatering. “I was just thinking about the bit I’ve translated today.
” It was easier than telling him that his presence confused her as much as it aroused.
“Would you like to hear the part of the story I uncovered?”
“Of course. I have been patiently waiting for the next installment.”
Drat him, but that grin would be the death of her if she wasn’t careful. She nodded as she drifted back toward the desk where she’d left her notes. “Well, there’s no doubt the story is becoming exciting now. The pharaoh’s son thinks there is an unloyal servant in the palace.”
“Oh? Who?”
She knew the intrigue of the tale would grip him. “I wasn’t able to discern a name, but apparently this man wanted the pharaoh’s son’s lover for himself. He wasn’t happy that she’d chosen the son over him.”
“Did they previously know each other?”
“That is another thing I wasn’t able to find any information about.
It could have been mentioned throughout the water damaged section, but the author wasn’t keen on mentioning names, as far as I can tell.
” Cate consulted her notes. “In any event, our hero witnessed this man speaking with one of the pharaoh’s advisors, but he was across a courtyard and too far away to overhear. There is no doubt he is worried.”
“I can just imagine. He probably wishes to make plans in order to remove his lover from the palace and bring her away, so she’ll be safe.”
“Yes, exactly.” Cate nodded. “The story has taken quite a maudlin turn, which has also made translation difficult.”
For long moments, silence reigned between them.
“Well, I hope they are successful in their plans to flee.”
“So do I, but from what I can tell, it’s not looking favorable.”
“Damn, I’d hoped they might have lived happily ever after.”
She couldn’t help but sigh. When they’d talked in the rain yesterday and he shared some of what his marriage had been like, she assumed if he wished to marry again, he would choose a woman from the ton who had much in common with him.
If she were honest with herself, it was always highly unlikely that a woman like her could ever hope for anything with him over and above what they shared physically.
After all, their relationship hadn’t been based on anything except mutual attraction and need.
There was nothing wrong with that, but part of her wished there might be room for more.
“There is no evidence as of yet that they didn’t. Perhaps we should wait for the end of the tale.” When she met his gaze, his was unreadable, the emotions hidden.
He glanced at her with a frown. “You and I both know they didn’t have a future together since they were from two different worlds. As the son of a pharaoh, he would have had responsibilities he couldn’t ignore.”
“Oh, I’m well aware of that.” Her thoughts went immediately to Scarborough.
Did he still labor under such for himself?
Did he want more of the same now, or would he choose freedom and adventure of responsibility?
“In my heart of hearts, I’d like to hope it didn’t matter to them.
As he wrote, love is love.” Oddly, her chin trembled before she could control her emotions.
“I’d like to think love was bigger than any obstacles they faced. ”
“So would I.” The duke moved across the room toward the door. When she assumed he’d leave her to the translations again, he paused. “It’s growing late in the evening. Dinner is soon. I’d thought you would have gone home to your father by now.”
“Oh, he plans to have dinner with some friends at one of his favorite pubs.” She stacked her notebook, the original book, and her notes into a neat pile. “I shall take a tray in my room later tonight since I don’t have much of an appetite just now.”
“No need.” He nodded and his expression was both cheeky and mysterious. “You can have dinner with me. I believe Mrs. Travers has set it without the hour.” Yet when he closed the door and turned the locking mechanism, it was her turn to frown.
What was he about? “I suppose I could do that. I do enjoy Mrs. Travers’ cooking, yet…” She really shouldn’t. It was merely an added temptation, and they had both courted enough scandal over the past week.
“Then it’s settled.” As he spoke, Barr closed the distance between them.
He paused in front of her with a certain hunger in his eyes that immediately fired her own.
“We can discuss topics of the day, and it will be a lovely change from what I’m used to—eating alone with either a newspaper or a book. ”
“Perhaps you should think about inviting over some of your neighbors to keep you company.”
“Most are away from London at this time of year.” When he cupped her cheek, Cate couldn’t help but nuzzle into his palm. “While I’ll admit, it’s slightly lonely, I’ll wager you feel the same, but you are too strong-willed to show it.”