Kissing Death

Welcome to Deception

BenedictPOV

            I stood at the foot of the grand staircase waiting for Catherine.  The man beside me gave me a stiff welcoming bow of his head.  "I'm the Marques of Luxemburg manor, Henry Luxemburg," he said with a smug smile.

           "I'm the Duke, Benedict Wells," I said, arching an eyebrow.

           He nodded his head and rolled his eyes.  "I suppose it must be lovely having a pick at either of them then," he said.  "You could have the belle with heart, or the bombshell."

           "I only have eyes for Catherine, she is the most beautiful woman I have seen all season," I said looking up at the staircase, waiting for her to come around the corner.

           "Beauty only goes so far," he scoffed.

           "And I'm assuming you're marrying for personality?" I laughed.  "That's what is wrong with you younger men, you still have that romanticized vision of love.  Love is nothing more than a word created by the hopeless."

          "You're right my Lord, but I'd rather spend my life with pure beauty than whatever Catherine claims herself to be."

           I watched the man with careful eyes before I turned my attention back to the staircase.  I couldn't help but let my jaw drop in shock.  Two Catherine's ascended the staircase towards me.

           Catherine beamed at me as she took confident strides towards me.  She had a bright yellow gown on that spread around her in a wonderful hoop of lemon.  The fabric moved in soft waves mirroring her movements.  Her vibrant, red lips pulled into a triumphant smile.  Her shoulder length blonde curls swayed as she made an effort to make her all too thin hips sway provocatively.  Her dress was a similar style to her sister's.  The caps laid low on her shoulders, revealing her lovely, marble shoulders and sinking low on her chest.

           The woman who I determined was the sister took hesitant steps, falling behind Catherine's quick stride.  Her figure was much fuller, but she was still extremely tiny compared to other women in the ton.  She appeared to be a younger, more innocent looking version of Catherine.  But her dress showed nothing near innocence.  She was dressed in a rich turquoise dress that hung off her shoulders and had a low neckline, revealing more skin than I knew publically acceptable.  She had a large teal, full feather in her braided bun to finish the ravishing look.

           "My Lord," Catherine said, looking up at me with cool amber eyes.  Her yellow dress was bright against her pale, glassy skin.  I took her fingers in mine as I kissed her knuckles.  "Caroline, this is my darling, Lord Benedict," Catherine said warmly, beaming up at me.

           "Good eve, my Lord," Caroline said, sinking low in her curtsey and turning to her date.  She curtseyed as she smiled somberly at the man.  He kissed her fingertips before resting her fingers possessively in the crook of his arm.

           "Shall we be on our way then?" He asked, beaming down on her.  She seemed uncomfortable beside him, but slowly nodded her head, stealing a glance at me.

           I took Catherine's hand before stepping outside and into my carriage.  Caroline and Henry followed close behind us and I couldn't help but let my thoughts sway from Catherine to Caroline.  The way her blonde curls were pulled back from her face, the shape of her waist, her shy mannerisms, everything about her was so far from Catherine, it was like a breath of fresh air.

           "Beny," Catherine complained, resting her head against my chest.  "You haven't said a word to me yet."

           I glanced down at her and I could see the desperation in her eyes.