001 ; Catherine & Reide
The reigning power within the courts had groomed him well while he was still receptive to her rewards; all hot-blooded, salivating, flesh still smooth and tender–little more than an eager dog. He had learned her routine; to come when called, and to come when instructed. All the while he thought himself clever, that he was the one in control of situation– and what boy wouldn’t want to convince himself that he could successfully seduce two women within the confines of the same courts–that he could keep both his dull betrothal as well as a mistress?
But he was not as careful while he was under the assumption that he was not being watched– certainly as he wasn’t now, with all his consorts still in their seats at the dining table. He had already rehearsed the excuse for his early leave should anyone ask: nothing extravagant, simply that the contents of his cup had been knocked onto his shirtfront– no thanks to an errant arm in all the earlier commotion– and he had returned to his apartments for a change of frock. What he was not expecting, however, was his bride-to-be placed within his chambers.
With cheeks still florid and skin fragrant with what could be described as musk, his lazy swagger approaching what he had assumed his empty room was hastily corrected at the sight of her. That piqued face reddened further, this time with the embarrassment of getting caught. “Catherine?” he steeled himself despite his unkempt flush, keeping his voice even, unassuming.
Catherine kept her eyes steady on the book as she heard footsteps approaching, biting hard at the inside of her cheek to keep her expression neutral. She wasn’t quite sure what she was feeling - anger, frustration, betrayal, embarrassment, hurt - so she decided to bottle it all up. She’d find a way to expel it later. For the moment, she wasn’t quite sure if this was the night to trap him. It very well might be, but she was biding her time. She looked up with a smile as he spoke, book still spread across her lap. Eyes quickly scanned him, noting the redness to his face, and she found a fire boiling in her belly that she was having difficulty taming. Not yet, not now. She had to try to stay calm for at least a little longer, even if each moment was agonizing, “There you are,” she spoke, tone pleasant with more force than she’d like to admit. “I was looking for you...you disappeared on me.” She slowly closed the book, hands folded over the worn leather. “Admittedly, I did get...distracted with my father.” Which was not her job, but the ask seemed to be falling on her more than her mother lately. “But, here you are now at least.”
