Katherine narrowed her eyes at the man. Surely he was the devil himself! The injustice of it all. By all appearances it would look — well, it would look like she was besotted with the man, and then when it would be time for them to announce their betrothal, there would be no betrothal to announce. Her parents would be livid, she would still be utterly ruined, and Benedict would get away scot free, Devil Duke reputation intact, and if anything, even more famous throughout the ton!
But worse of all, her heart dropped as her mind played the truth over and over again in her head. The Duke of Paisley would be out of reach, for even if he wasn't already betrothed to Lady Anastasia, what would he possibly want with a ruined girl?
So, it was in that moment, when she looked at the choices laid out before her, that she became selfish and impulsive. If no one was to have her, if love would never be her destiny, perhaps she could make the duke's life a living, waking, hellish nightmare. For it was his fault that this was all coming to pass.
"Why are you smiling?" he asked, grinning and leaning forward to receive a kiss, no doubt.
"Oh, because." She gave him her most coy look and blinked her eyes, resting them finally on his lips as her eyelashes fluttered. She looked back up, into his piercing gaze.
Eyes dilated, his gaze was ravenous, dark, sensual. She gulped and leaned forward. His lips met hers in a frenzy. She reciprocated, allowing herself one moment of weakness before biting his bottom lip, hoping she would draw blood.
"Damn it! What the bloody hell was that for?"
"Ruining my happiness, that's what," she spat. "It seems we have two weeks to become acquainted. Get your beauty rest, for you'll need it."
He cursed again as the carriage came to a halt in front of her house. "Oh, and Banbury?" She stepped out of the carriage and turned. "Consider yourself warned. I never back down without a fight."
"Been nearly killed four times to prove that very true statement," he muttered begrudgingly.
"Exactly. Good day, your grace." She winked and walked into the house.
Not typically one to throw any sort of tantrum, Katherine stomped up the stairs and quietly closed her bedroom door, all the while forcing her mind to forget the feel of the devil's lips as they'd caressed her own.
Why was he nicknamed the Devil Duke anyway? Granted, he leaned toward rakish tendencies and did have a slight obsession with horse racing, but didn't all fashionable young gentleman?
The way things looked tonight, the men of London were drinking whiskey as if it was going out of style and slapping one another on the back as if being a man was such a brilliant privilege that they needed to keep congratulating one another on their sex.
Katherine knew she needed to get her rest, for tomorrow would be the most trying day of all. At dawn, she had to begin courting the devil himself, and every able-minded person in London would sit back and watch the entertainments, for she would be the first woman to ever gain a proposal from the duke.
Knock, knock, knock.
Benedict lifted his pounding head, rising slowly from the warmth of his bed. The knocks began anew.
He cursed.
"I know you're in there!" the voice boomed.
His stomach rolled and clenched as a giant unseen hand seemed to squeeze his chest like a vise.
Agatha.
Well, now it was final. She was singlehandedly trying to kill him. Had she no respect for the inebriated and half dead? He blinked several times and rubbed his eyes just as the door burst open. Agatha entered with Percy, his irritated valet, in tow.
"How could you?" she screamed again affirming his earlier assumption that she was planning his demise.
"How could I, what?"
"Be such a man!"
He wasn't sure if he should be pleased or horrified that his aunt had accused him of such. He looked down to make sure at least half of his body was covered and sighed in relief that it was.
"Did you want me to be a woman?"
Percy coughed.
Agatha narrowed her gaze. "Your very presence irritates me."
Benedict sighed. "So it seems. I take it this is the reason for your intrusion? My offensive sex and irritating presence. Pray, if I offend you so, why don't you simply leave?"
She snorted and stomped her heel onto Percy's foot.
Eyes wide, Percy clenched his teeth and slowly lifted his eyes heavenward.
God does not hear our pleas my friend, believe me, I've tried, Benedict thought.
"You are not listening to me!" Agatha yelled.
Any louder and his head might explode. Then again, if he died, he wouldn't have to listen to Agatha screeching anymore.
"Apologies, you were saying something about irritation and my offending sex?"
"You've made a horrible mess of everything! Do you even know what people are saying? It's all over the gossip rags. Oh, my heavens. You've done some terrible things, Benedict, but this is truly worthy of a prize!" She thrust a paper in his face and lifted a handkerchief to her eyes.
Benedict took the paper and scowled.