Page 4 of Snowed In with the Jilted Duke

She could only hope his marriage to Penny would break the spell sufficiently for her to find someone she could be contented with even at the fringes of Oliver and Penny’s life together.

The sound of her name drew her back to the present, and she turned to find her mother standing next to her, pouting.

“Lord Hugo has convinced the duchess we must rest, so we had best go upstairs now.” Mother rolled her eyes, but Pippa blessed the captain’s thoughtfulness even as she wondered at it. He escorted Penny to her with a bow, leaving her to support her sister as they navigated the stairs.

As they followed Mother up the stairs, Pippa looked back to see Oliver standing just outside the doors of the salon. He watched her and Penny together, a slight frown on his face, and her heart skipped a beat.

Surely he could not suspect she had briefly pretended to be Penny at his betrothal ball. Or that she, Pippa, had been the one he had kissed, a kiss that still brought a tingle to her lips even as shame roiled her gut once again?

Surely not.

It had been late spring in London, towards the end of Penny and Pippa’s long-delayed first season. Pippa had strolled onto the veranda from the ballroom of her family's rented townhouse in the middle of her sister’s betrothal ball, deliberately keeping her steps measured and waving her fan with mock languidness.

If she had to stay in that stifling room for one more moment, she would scream.

She had glanced back over her shoulder to see Penny being twirled on the dance floor, with yet another besotted gentleman gazing down into her bright face.

It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair. They were identical twins, yet Penny had all the charm and vivacity. Pippa was dull by comparison, in both personality and looks, and everyone knew it. Including herself.

Her sister had even had the devil’s own luck when it came to her arranged marriage. A duke, no less, and a young, handsome one, to add fuel to the fire of Pippa's burning jealousy.

Meanwhile, Pippa had had only had two or three tepid offers her whole season, all of whom she suspected had been more motivated by her generous dowry than any attraction to her person. Besides, none of them had met her mother’s exacting standards.

"After all, Pippa, darling,” her mother had said, "your dear sister Penny will be a duchess! We cannot allow you to throw yourself away on just anyone."

Pippa's stomach had roiled with a potent combination of rage and jealousy. She loved Penny, she really did, but everything came so easily to her while Pippa struggled. Her arranged marriage, her popularity, their mother's love. Not even a drop could be spared for Pippa.

"There you are, Miss Montgomery.”

A shiver went down Pippa's spine as she recognized that deep voice immediately. It was the Duke of Kendal.

Her sister's promised husband.

She turned with a smile and raised her fan. "Yes, here I am."

"You are looking quite beautiful tonight."

Pippa had opened her mouth to reply, but suddenly realized what had happened.

Kendal had mistaken her for Penny.

That same demon of jealousy that had haunted her for years inspired her to fold her fan and rap Kendal lightly on the arm with it. Penny’s flirtatious voice emerged from Pippa’s lips before she could stop herself.

"Compliments will get you nowhere with me, Kendal. You are dreadfully late."

The duke looked surprised for a moment before stepping closer. "My apologies. I was unavoidably detained."

"I hope this is not the kind of husband you intend to be."

His mouth quirked at the corner, softening his habitually stern expression. "What kind of husband do you expect me to be, then?"

The new warmth of his expression had caused Pippa to drop her gaze from his and fidget with her fan before she caught her courage and met his eyes. "One who bothers to arrive on time to his own betrothal ball."

Kendal threw his head back and laughed, and Pippa watched, mesmerized. He seemed so much more relaxed than she usually saw him, alone here with her in the dark.

Thinking she was Penny.

She glanced past his shoulder and saw Penny dance across the ballroom window, laughing and flirting with her partner as they moved through the figures of the lively country dance.