"I am filthy," she said, looking down at herself. "The lake's right there," he said. "It's so cold." "A bath, then?" She smiled seductively. "You'll join me?" "But of course." He held out his arm and together they began to stroll back toward the house. "Should we have told them we forfeit?" Kate asked. "No." "Colin's going to try to steal the black mallet, you know." He looked at her with interest. "You think he'll attempt to remove it from Aubrey Hall?" "Wouldn't you?" "Absolutely," he replied, with great emphasis. "We shall have to join forces." "Oh, indeed." They walked on a few more yards, and then Kate said, "But once we have it back . . ." He looked at her in horror. "Oh, then it's every man for himself. You didn't think--" "No," she said hastily. "Absolutely not." "Then we are agreed," Anthony said, with some relief. Really, where would the fun be if he couldn't trounce Kate? They walked on a few seconds more, and then Kate said, "I'm going to win next year." "I know you think you will." "No, I will. I have ideas. Strategies." Anthony laughed, then leaned down to kiss her, mud and all. "I have ideas, too," he said with a smile. "And many, many strategies." She licked her lips. "We're not talking about Pall Mall any longer, are we?" He shook his head. She wrapped her arms around him, her hands pulling his head back down to hers. And then, in the moment before his lips took hers, he heard her sigh-- "Good."