One fort, three snowball fights — all of which she lost — and two meals later, and Katherine was utterly exhausted. It took everything within her not to take a nap before dinner.
Once dinner was finished, she could barely keep her eyes open. But she didn't want to miss a thing. Benedict had been called back to Town that evening on business, so he was ordering servants around in order to rush back in time. Though he needn't meet with his solicitor until morning, he apparently wanted to get a head start, which was a tad frustrating for Katherine, but she didn't mind. She'd follow a few hours later and would soon be in London, waiting to marry the man she had once despised.
Lord Marks cleared his throat. "I thought a few games of whist would revive some of you after this day's festivities. You will find several tables set up in the purple salon as well as sherry and port. Please, enjoy your final night here."
A loud thumping echoed throughout the room. Katherine glanced about, trying to locate the source. It couldn't have been Agatha's cane; ever since the ice-skating she had taken to her room feigning illness, or in Benedict's words, just biding her time until she snapped at one of them again.
The thumping continued, until finally Katherine turned around. Lord Marks was hitting his cane on the corner of his boot.
The rest of the dinner party had left, leaving them alone.
"May I ask a favor of you, Lady Katherine?"
"Of course."
He leaned forward. "I appreciate what his grace and you have done in respect to the Duke of Paisley and my daughter. I was wondering if you won't give me one more boon before everyone leaves?"
"Absolutely."
"My daughter…" He sighed deeply. "…she is very competitive. Why don't we arrange for you and Baldwyn to sit near one another, perhaps be partners in a few games. I think it might be the very thing to get her to admit her feelings. I believe, as a father, I'm resorting to jealousy to get my daughter to become vulnerable. I hope I do not live to regret it."
Katherine smiled. "You won't, and I'll do my best."
Which she did.
Three hours later, she and Paisley were laughing so hard she nearly fell out of her chair, and it was all because he could not play the game to save his life. He was awful. Terrible, more like it.
Lady Anastasia was never without wine in her hand, and after a while Katherine became a little more than nervous that Lady Anastasia was going to topple over. Instead, her face became redder by the minute until finally she had an outburst.
"The two of you are rather cozy. And where is the Duke of Banbury at present, Lady Katherine?" Lady Anastasia coolly eyed Paisley as well as Katherine, a bitter smile spreading across her lips.
Unfortunately everyone was privy to her little speech.
Causing the game to stop.
And Paisley to grow pale.
"You know well, Lady Anastasia, that my fiancé has retired early." Katherine kept her gaze level on Anastasia, hoping to convey the message for her to stop making a scene in front of everyone and embarrassing poor Paisley, for it was evident that he cared for her so. But the women continued to talk.
"How fortunate for Paisley."
Katherine gasped, then quickly offered her apologies and went in search of Benedict, for she hadn't meant to hurt Lady Anastasia's feelings, at least not in that way. She had only hoped to spur the girl on as Lord Marks had suggested. The wine had not proven helpful, that much was certain.
She ran up the stairs to Benedict's chambers, nearly out of breath when she knocked on his door.
CHAPTER TWENTY
A Man's Shame
Knock, Knock, Knock.
Benedict went to the door to open it, but the person on the other side was obviously in a losing battle with patience, it swung wide nearly hitting him in the face.
"Should have known," he grumbled.
"Sorry," Katherine said. "May we leave now?"
"In the evening?" Benedict scowled. "I meant to leave first thing in the morning. Do you think you can practice patience until then?"
She bit her lip and crossed her arms.
"What happened?"
"Hmm?" She gave him an innocent look, much like a cat hiding a mouse under its paw.
"What happened?" he repeated, grasping her crossed arms and pulling her closer into his embrace.
"Lady Anastasia drank too much, yelled at me, made me feel a fool, and now I just want to go home."
He turned slightly toward the light to get a better look at her face. Was she crying?
"See? That wasn't too hard." He lifted her quivering chin and kissed a fallen tear. "We'll leave immediately."
Within a half hour, they were in the carriage on their way back into London.
"Now." Benedict patted Katherine's hand. "Tell me what is really going on in that little head."
Katherine smiled. "Well, you see. I think Anastasia loves your cousin desperately, and she accused me of flirting with him, which is ridiculous. He was my partner in cards, nothing more."