"Benedict," she whispered out of earshot of the footman. No doubt they would expire on the spot if they heard her addressing him as such.
"Hmm?" He turned his large body toward hers. Eyebrows drawn in as if he was contemplating the meaning of life.
"I'm sorry."
"Sorry? Whatever for?"
With a quick tug, she had him on his back against the snowy powder of the ground.
"What the devil!" he shouted.
And then Katherine grabbed a touch of snow in her hand and drizzled it on his face as if it were sand.
He became very serious then.
Almost too serious.
Making her think she had finally gone too far.
And then with a roar, he jumped to his feet firmly packing a snowball in his hand as his eyes turned to steel. "Run."
So she did.
As fast as her legs could carry her, she ran around the outside of the estate laughing the whole way. Snowballs flew past her head. Giggling, she found it nearly impossible to keep running as she heard him yelling threats from behind.
And then his large arms came around her, and he whispered hoarsely in her ear, "Now, it's my turn to be sorry."
"For wh—?"
Benedict pushed her to the ground and pounced near her in the snow, he pinned her to the cold wet earth and leaned in. Panting, he lifted the snowball in his hand and laughed. "What will you give me for a truce, my lady?"
Giggling, she pushed the escaped hair away from her face and gazed into his eyes. It felt quite like she was falling, only she was nowhere near a cliff or in danger. Yet her heart screamed jump, jump, jump. "Will a kiss be acceptable?"
"No." He threw the snowball down to the ground.
Her heart thudded, slow and heavy, in her chest and finally came to a near stop.
Benedict's hands threaded through her hair pulling her head closer to his until their breaths were mingled. "Just one kiss is never acceptable."
At the first touch of his lips, her world spun. His kiss was playful, as his tongue wrestled with hers and then slid out of her mouth. He tilted his head at a different angle, his cold nose lighting her skin like a fire, and then warmth met her again, as he tugged her head tighter and pressed his lips harder until it was difficult to breathe.
"One kiss is never acceptable," he repeated, out of breath, and held out his hand. Unashamed, and still flushed from their little game, she took his arm and walked with him back to the front of the house.
"I fear we've caused a bigger scandal than when the ton saw my knees," she said, changing the subject — anything to rid herself of the odd tingling sensation Benedict's mouth had left on her person.
Benedict pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head. "I'm a duke. Believe me, the footmen will be silent, and as for everyone else, it appears we are the first to arrive."
"But what about Lord Marks? Surely he'll see the state of our dress?" She looked into his eyes and tried to calm her rapid gasps of excitement. Handsome to the point of stopping hearts, he merely shrugged. "That part, I already have figured out."
"What do you mean?" Katherine asked.
"You'll see."
Fifteen minutes later, standing in front of the fire in her room, she knew exactly what the devil had meant. For the second Lord Marks had greeted them, Benedict had gone into detail of how Katherine, in all her clumsiness, had tripped him, causing them both to fall into the snow. He added that she often fell and took others with her, so it would be wise to watch his footing throughout the week. And then he winked.
"I should have known," she said before they parted ways to their rooms.
"But of course, my dear. You know how I love telling falsehoods."
"Touché."
"Does this mean I win this round?" He brought her hand to his lips and kissed each knuckle. His eyes danced with merriment as he licked his lips.
"Yes."
"Then, I believe we're even. Now change out of those clothes before you catch a chill. After all, I cannot in good sport play a game with someone who's ill."
She withdrew her hand and curtsied but not before rolling her eyes at the handsome man. He paused, focusing on her lips and then her eyes.
"Minx."
"Rogue."
"I shall see you at dinner."
"You shall."
And again they paused, words left unsaid. But weren't actions louder than words, for their very actions must have led everyone to believe that a minute without one another was like a thousand deaths.
And so, Katherine was the first to turn on her heel and enter her chambers.
She smiled at the memory of the day then cursed herself for being so infatuated. All was lost, for he already had the better part of her heart.