Chapter Fifteen
Later that night
Cate allowed herself a soft smile as she watched the antics of Barr, her father, and many of the servants while they played a game of charades.
Everyone had assembled in the drawing room following dinner where Mrs. Travers had outdone herself with the offerings.
The dinner was so lovely, Cate could hardly wait to see what would happen tomorrow night on Christmas proper.
Despite the shortages and scarcities in securing supplies for the meal, the staff had done a miraculous job of it, and because of those things, the staff ate with the duke and his guests.
No one took issue with that, and it was rather a wonderful concept not being separated due to class differences.
Like a family.
As the men good-naturedly competed against each other, Cate returned her gaze to the duke.
It should be criminal for a man to look so handsome, and the fact that Barr did that without trying only made him that much better.
Of course, Travers had something to do with it too, for he’d no doubt chosen the clothing.
Tonight, Barr wore dark gray breeches with highly polished boots.
He’d paired it with a charcoal superfine jacket and a waistcoat of gold brocade.
The snowy folds of his cravat drew her attention to his rugged jawline.
Good heavens, how much did she want to press her lips to the skin beneath that jaw, that chin, to feel the difference between smooth and rough?
Put him out of your mind, Catherine. Hasn’t your existence already been confusing enough?
With that at the forefront, she glanced away and then drifted to a knot of the women comprised of the housekeeper, Mrs. Travers the cook, and several of the maids. “We should, at least, get up some juicy gossip while the men are distracted,” she said as she joined the cook on a low sofa.
Mrs. Travers chuckled. She smiled as her husband managed to stump Barr’s team and win the current round.
“I’m afraid I haven’t been aware of anything untoward, since I’ve either been here or in our own residence.
” One of her eyebrows went up, though, and she lowered her voice as shouts from the men echoed through the room.
“However, the only potential scandal I can think of is your interesting relationship with His Grace.”
Oh, dear.
Cate glanced at the duke. He happened to meet her gaze, and he shot her a grin before it was his turn to enact whatever the clue was for his team. “I’m just here to translate his Egyptian book of prose.”
“I wonder if that is true.” Mrs. Travers scooted a bit closer to her on the sofa.
“My husband has told me quite a different story,” she said in a whisper with a grin.
“When you took dinner with His Grace the other night, both you and he looked very much disheveled as if you’d both taken in some rather vigorous exercise. ”
“Oh, I…” Heat filled her cheeks, but there was no judgment or shock in the other woman’s face, only polite inquiry. “I don’t know where to even begin. Suffice it to say, there might be some scandal between us, but nothing that will damage him or his reputation.”
“What about yours?” Mrs. Travers said with a raised eyebrow. “Being with a man in such a delicious way is one thing, but having said relationship with such a high-ranking man carries with it the opportunity for gossip unless you are very careful.”
Cate waved away the concern. “I am not a fortune hunter, if that is what you are getting at.”
“No, no, of course not.” The cook shook her head with a frown. “I didn’t mean that at all.” She briefly touched Cate’s arm. “What I meant was, I am glad the two of you found each other and that there is something between you that warrants such a passionate connection, but…”
“But what?” she asked with a frown. Perhaps in talking with Mrs. Travers, she could sort through her own confusing thoughts.
“But what will you do once your translation duties are finished? Will you continue to see His Grace after that?”
“I don’t know, and frankly, it is causing a bit of worry on my part.
” Again, she looked toward where the duke was hamming it up with his valet and the footmen.
A few flutters went through her belly, for he was adorable, and in watching him, no one would ever know that he was a duke, for he treated everyone with the same respect.
“He hasn’t indicated a need to extend whatever it is we currently share, and I certainly won’t ask, for that will make me seem desperate. ”
“Perhaps, but you have a right to know if he intends to throw you over.”
Cate snorted. “There is nothing to throw over; it’s not as if he has another woman waiting on the sidelines.
” Then she frowned, for Barr had made an impression on her in the hectic, whirlwind week they’d spent together.
“However, he hasn’t mentioned anything after the translation or even beyond Christmas.
” She shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. He is a duke, and he has other priorities.
I’m certain he doesn’t wish to extend a relationship that is purely physical.
” Was it, though? Then, to her horror and embarrassment, her eyes filled with tears.
“I beg your pardon. I hadn’t expected to be so emotional this evening. ”
“You poor dear.” Mrs. Travers patted Cate’s arm. “Because you are, I’ll wager you that there is more between His Grace and you than heat.”
As much as she wanted to fall into her new friend’s arms and give into the tears of frustration, hope, and confusion, she removed a lace-edged handkerchief from her reticule and then dabbed the corners of her eyes.
“Even if I agreed with you, it doesn’t matter.
He is who he is, and I am who I am. We both have our places in the world, and that is that. ”
“What a silly thing to think, Miss Pickwick.”
She frowned. “How so?”
“From what I’ve gleaned about your father, he is a researcher on ancient cultures, yes?
” When Cate nodded, Mrs. Travers continued.
“And that love of learning has leeched into you. Additionally, you adore books and reading, and I’ll wager you’ve had the opportunity to study fairytales from around the world. ”
“I’m afraid I don’t understand what you’re trying to tell me.”
“Just this.” Mrs. Travers leaned forward and kept her voice lowered while the men hooted and called to each other, for the tide had turned in charades.
“Don’t give up hope. Everyone in those stories felt as you do at some point in their tales, but doesn’t love always win in the end?
Perhaps you haven’t reached that spot in your own story. ”
“Oh.” A bit of the worry she’d carried seemed to clear. “Thank you for that. It helps, slightly.”
“You’re welcome, and do remember, dear. Even the best of men are only men at their best. They are sometimes blind until someone points out the obvious to them.
” She chuckled and her eyes reflected that mirth.
“Travers is doing that for His Grace, but you must be patient. He’ll realize what it is that he feels eventually. ”
Considerably cheered, Cate grabbed the other woman’s hand.
“Thank you for that. It’s been the best gift.
” When she’d done shopping, she’d bought the book a pretty lace fan with tortoiseshell spines.
A frippery, of course, but something the frugal woman wouldn’t have gotten herself, and wasn’t that the point of Christmas remembrances?
Eventually, the game of charades concluded with the team her father was on winning over Barr’s. The duke was good-natured about it, and grins were exchanged as freely as champagne. He didn’t begrudge anyone from imbibing, which only endeared him to her more.
When he brought her a glass and sat on the sofa where Mrs. Travers had just vacated so she could bring in finger foods and small cakes to the sideboard, Barr gave Cate a flute of champagne.
“Did you have a good chat with my valet’s wife?”
“I did. She is a lovely woman.” As she took a sip of the bubbly wine, tingling went through her nose and prompted a sneeze.
“What I appreciate about not only her, but also all your staff is how loyal they are to you. It’s refreshing to know that someone so high on the instep treats the people who work for him well. ”
Though he shrugged, a hint of ruddy color crept up his neck and into his cheeks. “I am of the opinion that a rising tide raises all ships, so to speak, and life is difficult enough for everyone. Why should I go out of my way to make it miserable as well when we all need each other?”
“You are not like most dukes.” Of course, how would she know, since he was the only duke—or titled gentleman—that she had familiarity with.
“Is that a good or a bad thing?” he asked with that specific grin that turned her insides to mush.
“I think you already know; otherwise, you would conduct yourself differently.” When he landed his intense gaze on her without apparent regard for the people around them, a wave of heat smacked into her body.
So much so that she took refuge in a rather large gulp of champagne, which caused her to sneeze once more.
“Pardon me. Clearly, I’m not used to the bubbles. ”
He leaned close enough to put his lips to the shell of her ear, and whispered, “Would that we were alone, for I’d happily take some of this champagne and pour it all over your gorgeous breasts merely so I could lap it up with my tongue.”
Trembles shivered down her spine, and she gasped at his daring. “I think you are in your cups tonight, Scarborough.” Heat slapped at her cheeks, for she wouldn’t mind that scenario at all.
“I am quite sober.” With a wink, he lifted his flute in salute to her.
Good heavens, the man is so potent!
Before she could let her mind skitter to wicked places, her father wandered over to the sofa where she and Barr sat. “Are you enjoying yourself, Papa?”