"I do."
"And let me guess, you're a duke, so your opinion has to count for something?"
"Look how well we are communicating, love." Benedict pulled her into a tight embrace, not caring that everyone around them was most likely staring. "So if I kiss you right now, it will not matter."
"B-because you're a duke."
"Precisely."
Katherine leaned in, her eyes half-closed.
"But," Benedict said when their foreheads touched, "I would hate to subject you to the whisperings and gossip, so another time, then." He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed each knuckle before slipping her arm within his.
She tripped, nearly losing her footing.
"My, my, and to think I didn't even kiss your lips. I wonder if you would be able to walk in a straight line."
"Obviously I did before."
"But my kiss is different now," Benedict argued.
Katherine let out a loud sigh. "You're baiting me again. You want me to say, 'but how, Benedict? How is it different?' Then you'll lean in and wax poetic about how you'd love to show me Then I'd be breathless, you'd still be the Devil, and I'd kick you in the shin. Sound about right?"
He shuddered. "Sometimes you frighten me."
"Perfect, so let us just skip ahead to the part after where you tell me all about why you felt the need to make Paisley jealous."
"Straight to the point. I like it." Benedict smirked. "At this rate, that of a snail or that of a disabled tortoise, Paisley will be happily engaged in holding her hand by the end of the year."
"I take it by your tone they need to be doing more than holding hands."
"Considering they will be married, yes that is the idea, nay the point, don't you think? One cannot beget an heir by endosmosis."
"Endosmosis?"
"The practice of—"
"I know what it means, I'm just curious as to why you used that particular analogy."
"We are on ice you know." Benedict quirked. "The examples are perfect. Besides, I have a plan."
"Of course you do."
Benedict grinned devilishly. His plan was more self-serving than he let Katherine believe. Could he help that he wanted her all to himself? So tonight, after dinner, he would make an absolute spectacle of himself, gaining her attention for the remainder of the evening. Hopefully after several bottles of port, his cousin would loosen up enough to attempt to converse with his fiancée. One could only hope that he wouldn't have to get the man foxed in order to do so.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The Christmas Carriage
Katherine left Benedict and went to her room to take a nap before dinner. However, the minute she closed her eyes, all she could see was his face. Foolish of her really, but it was impossible to concentrate on anything else.
Besides, he hadn't exactly told her his brilliant plan for the evening meal. She actually doubted he knew what he was going to do. His plan, it seemed, was to somehow separate the couples so Paisley was stuck with Lady Anastasia with no means to escape.
Sounded a lot like desperation, but if that was the only way to get them to pay attention to one another, then so be it. She still wasn't sure why she was helping, other than Benedict had asked it of her, and she soon found out that when the man smiled, when he leaned in and touched her arm just so, well she would most likely give him anything.
Which did not bode well for any future dark corners or hallways.
She did have some morals, though she felt them crumble every time she tasted his lips.
She shuddered and closed her eyes. Sleep, she just needed sleep.
Dinner started pleasantly. Benedict and Paisley sat across from one another at the head of the table, near Lord Marks, and Katherine and Lady Anastasia were across from each man respectively.
After the first two courses, Katherine began to wonder if Benedict had lost his nerve.
And then, he leaned in toward Lady Anastasia and mumbled something that made her blush so brightly Katherine was ready to throw wine in the woman's face. Benedict pulled back, looking more pleased than he ought, then nodded to Katherine.
Clearing her throat, she leaned over and whispered nonsense about the weather into Paisley's ear, but at the last moment when his eyes turned to gaze into hers, she very gently placed a note in his hand.
He looked down, then up. She shook her head and reached for her wine.
The bait was set, now it was up to her to see if both parties would take it.
Once dinner was finished, Katherine kept a close eye on Paisley. He retired with the rest of the gentlemen, but as planned, within minutes he was walking down the hallway toward the far end of the study.
Perfect.
Katherine went in search of Benedict who was at that very moment walking down the same corridor with Lady Anastasia.
"You see, I cannot find the button, and it means the world to me!" Benedict pleaded with her. Though Katherine thought he was laying it on a little thick.