"Oh, so he is the object of your affection. I would say he was lucky, but it's painfully obvious that luck is never on your side, nor would he be lucky to be chained to you the rest of his days. Imagine the scars he would receive, the bloody noses, the black eyes. Gads, it would look like he boxed at Jackson's every day!"
"That is quite enough!" Her ivory colored glove flashed in the candlelight as she pointed her finger at his and poked him in the chest with her hand. "He is sweet, and kind, and doesn't scowl. At least he knows how to smile!"
"I bloody well know how to smile." Banbury winced.
"Were you trying just now?" she asked sweetly.
His answer was to curse and run a gloved hand through his dark locks. "We cannot allow this to happen. You must cry off."
"Me?" Katherine tightened her hands into fists, but Banbury quickly pulled her aside, shielding her from whomever had just passed by. Quickly, he pushed her away, as if she were diseased.
"I cannot simply cry off," she whispered, her voice wavering with emotion. "I would be ruined! Who would want me?"
Banbury rolled his eyes. "It isn't as if you're the belle of the ball currently, is it? What does it matter if you simply cry off? Tell everyone I scared you, that I barked or growled, or simply glared and you fell to your knees in horrified hysterics."
"Yes, because you're simply terrifying when you're unconscious."
"Apparently it's the only way you can get me on my back, now isn't it?" His hot breath fanned her neck as he stepped closer. Instinctively she moved in, undeterred. "Oh believe me, Banbury. If I wanted you on your back I could get you on your back without any sort of violence."
What the devil was she saying? Was she carrying on a flirtation with the Devil Duke? And to say such things aloud! But he was so provoking!
His eyes took on a lazy look as they appeared to darken and almost close completely. And then, he smiled. All white teeth and dimples on either side of his face. Katherine felt her face heat even more as her eyes widened to take in the male beauty in front of her.
"Are you quite sure?"
"Positive." Clenching her teeth, she nearly touched his lips when she breathed out the word. Never would she back down from such a ridiculous man.
His amusement faded as he grabbed her arm and pulled her flush against his body. "Then I would have to say I agree." His lips curved into a devilish smile as they tentatively touched hers. It was a question of a kiss, almost as if he was shocked he was participating. And then as their breaths mingled, he groaned and his lips pushed against hers, molded across her mouth. Need shot through her.
This was how girls were ruined.
This was what her instructors had warned her about.
Dark corners, virile smelling men, and the wet heat of a scorching kiss.
Not knowing what else to do, she held on to the lapels of his coat, but that forced her to lean completely into him. Banbury's arms came around her, his hands slowly moved down her back. With a gasp she prepared to scold him, but the hot invasion of his tongue made her lose all thought. It was wicked and delicious. He groaned and she, in purely unladylike behavior, pushed him further into the alcove against the wall.
"I, ahem, do hope I'm not interrupting anything," a clearly masculine voice said from behind them. With a shriek, Katherine pulled away. Banbury was smiling from ear to ear, his breathing ragged as his dilated eyes looked up. Cursing, he pushed Katherine behind him.
"When did you arrive?"
Katherine lifted her eyes, her stomach dropped at the same time. In horror, she looked into the eyes of the same man she had minutes ago told Banbury she had set her cap for. With a sob, she ran off, away from Devil himself and from the man she hoped to marry.
"Classic." Baldwyn Sinclair, Duke of Paisley, shook his head at Benedict and burst out laughing. "Tell me, was your plan simply to assault her in order to win her favor or had you not fully thought through your attack?"
Benedict cursed. "I don't know what came over me, and she's just so blasted irritating. She struck me and then provoked me."
"Well then." Baldwyn folded his arms across his chest. "By all means make her cry. It seems you earned a bit of revenge."
Benedict groaned aloud. "What the devil are you doing here, Baldwyn? Don't tell me—"
"Agatha." They said in unison. Both as if her name was an expletive on their lips.
"She got to you, too, I imagine?" Benedict asked, though it was difficult to stay on topic after the feel of Katherine's lips on his own. He hadn't meant to hurt the girl's feelings, but she was so blasted… provoking. He'd said it aloud and continued to think it in his head.
Baldwyn snapped his fingers. "Woolgathering or planning to attack another virgin?"
"My apologies. You were saying?" Benedict shook his head and began walking in the direction of the whiskey with Paisley in tow.
Baldwyn had been raised alongside Benedict when they were children. Agatha was Baldwyn's grandmother and Benedict's aunt, making them cousins and, unfortunately, related to the same horrid woman that continued to meddle in the lives of the men in her family.