Page 71 of The Duke's Impossible Deal
Soon, the air was thick with snowballs and laughter. Tobias felt a weight he had not realized he had been carrying shift as he ran through the drifts of snow, ducking and weaving and throwing snowballs back.
The sound of Rowen’s laughter warmed him, burrowing into his chest and filling him with warmth. He caught her eye briefly, and in that moment of distraction, she tripped and tumbled over.
He darted forward, catching her in his arms. Her breath tickled his face, and he breathed in the scent of her violet perfume. He held her steady as her eyes danced in the winter light.
“Are you ready to surrender, Duchess?” His breath was a cloud of fog that hid her grey eyes.
He could feel her breathing heavily as he held her in his arms. His own breathing was ragged, and he could not tell if the pounding heart he felt was his or hers. His eyes drifted to her lips.
She curled a hand around his neck, her lips parted. His breath caught as she leaned towards him. “Never.”
Cold snow trickled down his neck, and her laughter rang in his ears as she moved away from him. Or at least, as she tried to.
“Such dishonorable behavior,” Tobias growled, though he could not keep the amusement from his voice. “I think you deserve a taste of your own medicine.”
“That would hardly be gentlemanly, Tobias.” Rowen tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
He leaned closer. “As you so frequently remind me, Rowen, I am no gentleman.”
He let her go, and she fell in the snow. Her fingers closed around his shirt, pulling him down with her. They collapsed in a tangleof limbs, rolling down the hill together. When they stopped, she was on top of him.
Every muscle in his body tensed, and his breath caught. He felt heat rush to his face as their eyes met. Her breath tickled his lips.
He swallowed, shifting slightly. The movement only made him more aware of her weight.
“What are you doing?” Georgie’s voice came from above them.
They hastily broke apart, and as Tobias saw the flush spread across his wife’s face, he was sure that his own was just as bad.
He cleared his throat and gestured up the hill. “We fell.”
Georgie and Alistair exchanged a look and then grinned at them. “That was silly.”
“A little,” Rowen agreed.
Tobias noticed that she was shivering and the blue tint to her lips. He took off his coat and wrapped it around her. “I think your mother is cold. Shall we return home? I will have Cook bring us all some hot chocolate, biscuits, and cakes.”
“Can I ride on your shoulders?” Alistair asked as he skipped towards him.
“Iwant to ride on his shoulders!” Georgie frowned.
“I think I should be able to carry you both if you stand.” Tobias helped the twins climb onto him and held them steady as they all made their way back to the house.
Once they were inside, Tobias fetched them all warm blankets, and Rowen ushered them into the drawing room to sit by the blazing fire.
Tobias stood by the door for a moment, watching as Rowen curled up in an armchair, sipping from a steaming mug of hot chocolate. At her feet were Georgie and Alistair. Their hair was a mess, and their cheeks were rosy. Their smiles were bigger and broader than he had ever seen.
He sat in the armchair across from them, and to his surprise, Alistair moved from his spot on the floor to sit by Tobias’s feet. His heart felt as though it might burst.
“Maybe tomorrow we can all go out for a ride? If it is not too snowy.” Georgie looked hopefully between Rowen and Tobias.
Tobias saw Rowen swallow. “His Grace might be too busy to come riding with us, darling.”
“If you want me to join you, I will make time.” His eyes met hers, and he canted his head, making his statement more of a question.
Do you want me there?
“Of course, we want you to come!” Alistair frowned. “Don’t we, Mama?”
