It was. And she had no idea where she’d gotten the idea or the nerve to issue it. However, to him she promptly said, “Perhaps, but nevertheless, I’m confident I can win.”
A faint flicker of admiration flashed across his eyes. “Are you now?”
She nodded and cautiously pressed the snow in her pocket into a smaller, harder ball.
“I don’t believe I’ve ever had a lady issue a challenge to me that would test her physical abilities against mine. For all your bravado and confidence, you do realize that I can throw much harder and faster than the lads, don’t you?”
Her gaze swept the length of his face, across his broad chest, down to his slim hips to his powerful-looking legs, and then swiftly back up to his pensive light green eyes.
Oh, yes. She knew.
“You’re probably more accurate too.”
“I’m glad you realize that. Now, do you want to change your mind about this, or are you prepared to lose?”
“Neither,” she said backing away from him.
He nodded. “All right, I accept. If you hit me first, Fallon and Heron can go out for one hour. Not two.”
“There will hardly be time to do anything in only an hour. Two. That’s the challenge.”
“One and a half. Take it or not. It doesn’t matter to me.”
He was a tough negotiator. “And that’s a promise?”
His eyes narrowed. “I don’t know why you need confirmation, but yes. I give my word.”
“Good.”
Without further thought, Lillian pulled her hand out of her pocket and let the ball of hard ice fly from her hands, hitting the marquis dead center of his breastbone.
He looked down at the wet snow breaking apart and falling from his neckcloth and waistcoat. His eyes widened in disbelief. The wonderfully stunned expression on his handsome face would be forever etched in her memory as one of her fondest.
Lillian brushed the excess snow from her gloves as if she’d just successfully finished a dusty job. “I believe I won, my lord.”
He started toward her. “You little trickster.”
She held up her hand to stay him. “Remember, I am the duke’s sister, and whether or not you like it, you lost fairly.”
“Fair? You already had snow in your pocket.”
“I know.” She laughed lightly, unable to believe she actually pulled off her quickly devised plot. “You should have known that I already had a plan to win before I challenged someone as strong, powerful, and clever as yourself.”
The flicker of admiration she’d seen in his eyes earlier became a bright gleam. “I should have, and you can bet I won’t let you catch me unaware again. Tell me, do you ride and shoot as well as you throw and plot?”
“I ride extremely well, but I’m afraid no one has ever trusted me with a pistol or blunderbuss in my hands. Not yet, anyway. Why do you ask?”
“I’m thinking it might be best for me to practice some of my skills so I’ll be prepared for the next challenge, should there be one.”
“The next one will be up to you, my lord.”
“I believe that in itself is a challenge as well, Miss Prim.”
“Perhaps it is. You’ll have to decide that. I’ll see you at dinner this evening?” Lillian then turned and rushed away.
Chapter 3
So she was a blonde. A stunning blue-eyed blonde.
