Page 5 of Snowed In with the Jilted Duke

No one knows I’m out here. No one will ever need to know.

She turned back to Kendal and gave him what she hoped was one of Penny's most charming smiles. "You needn't dance to my tune every day. But a bit of consideration on special occasions would not go amiss."

"I apologize, my dear." He took her gloved hand and kissed the back of it, gazing down at her. "I had thought you indifferent to my presence or absence."

Pippa knew she was blushing, but had been unable to bring herself to pull her hand away. The expression on his face mesmerized her. It was as though he was seeing her for the first time.

"No," she said with an honesty that surprised even herself. "I always look forward to seeing you."

"I shall keep that in mind."

After another moment's hesitation, he leaned in close, and she tilted her face up to look up into his. He now had both of her hands cradled in his.

He was going to kiss her.

And she had no intention of stopping him.

Her eyes drifted closed as his lips brushed hers in a whisper-soft kiss that sent tingles all through her. She leaned towards him, and he deepened the kiss, his mouth warm and firm as he⁠—

A racket from the doorway caused Kendal to pull her into the shadows as a young man stumbled onto the veranda, clearly deep in his cups.

"Apologies, I beg you," he slurred, and leaned over the edge, shoulders heaving as he tried not to vomit.

Before Kendal could object, Pippa slipped away from his hold and dashed back into the ballroom, fan held up to conceal her burning face. The orchestra finished their tune with a flourish, and Pippa disappeared into the crowd of dancers, concealing herself from any prying eyes as her heart raced.

No one had seen them.

A hand tugged at her arm, and she turned to see Penny, face glowing with exertion from the just-completed dance. "Come, Pippa! They're doing a quadrille next and we can be in the same figure."

Pippa allowed herself to be pulled along and introduced to her partner, who bowed to her when she curtsied.

The guilt would crush her later, she knew, but for now, all she had been able to think of was Kendal's lips on hers, his body so close she could feel the heat of it through all their layers of clothes, his breath puffing fast as they kissed.

It could never happen again. Never ever.

But she had felt a secret, shameful satisfaction that, for once, Oliver had thought her as attractive as Penny. Even though he had thought her to be Penny.

Shaking off the memory, Pippa followed Penny and their mother upstairs. It had been high-handed of Lord Hugo to insist they rest, but Pippa was grateful. Seeing Oliver and Penny greet the guests together as a soon-to-be married couple had been even more difficult than she had thought it would be.

Penny paused inside the room to look around, and Pippa knew she was thinking of the upcoming wedding, when everything would change. They had shared this room for almost ten years’ worth of Christmases at Gaitskill Castle. Next year, Pippa would have this room to herself when she came to visit the Duke and Duchess as their spinster sister. Perhaps to be the spinster aunt when the time came, though her mind shrank from that.

"It will be very peculiar for you to be married and gone," Pippa said, watching her twin. Penny certainly seemed more resigned than joyous at the upcoming nuptials.

"Perhaps you can come live with Kendal and I," Penny said carelessly, and Pippa flinched. "You seem to get along quite well."

Attempting to appear equally nonchalant, Pippa crossed to the window that looked out over the back garden, staring sightlessly at the dusting of snow on the landscape. “Of course we get along. We are to be... to be brother and sister, are we not? You should want us to get along."

"Of course."

Blessedly, their maid Sally chose that moment to come out of the dressing room, already prepared to read both twins a scold. "There you are, Miss Penny. Let me get you out of that dress and into your dressing gown so you can rest."

"Very well."

As Penny followed Sally into the dressing room, Pippa sank down onto the window seat.

She must get hold of herself. She had known for years this day was coming. A single kiss nearly two years ago could not change what had been arranged between their families when they had all been mere children.

Penny had been the one chosen by their grandfather to marry Oliver, and they would wed in three days. The family was gathered; the banns were read. It was far too late for anyone to cry off now.