Gad, she looked adorable.
Of course, she would look even more fetching with that monstrosity of a robe off her.
Rob had stripped down to an old shirt and work trousers. “Ready?”
She looked up at him and cast him a melting smile. “Yes. Let’s go.”
They made their way down to the beach.
He grinned with appreciation when Fiona took off her robe to reveal the bathing costume. It was of black cotton instead of the usual wool that was impossible to wear if one wished to swim, for the wool absorbed water and would sink a swimmer. Her very practical cotton outfit came down only as far as her knees, revealing an expanse of shapely leg. The matching black cap had little white ribbons on it similar to those on her bathing gown.
Rob soaked her in along with the sunshine. Fiona had the sort of face that looked great in hats, caps, bonnets, anything placed atop her head. They made her eyes look bigger. Like aquamarine pools to drown in.
She had a body men would fight wars over, too. The allure of Helen of Troy came to mind.
He tugged off his shirt and boots but decided to swim wearing his trousers.
He wasn’t sure why. Perhaps he wasn’t up to pushing Fiona beyond her limits just now. She had seen him naked last night, but he did not feel it was appropriate to fully reveal himself again this afternoon.
No particular reason for this bit of modesty, just a prickle up his neck. And he never ignored those prickles.
Just why he had them was not clear to him yet, but they had him on alert.
“Come in with me, Rob. It’s a beautiful day and the water is quite calm. I’ll race you to the rocks and back.” She pointed to an outcropping at the edge of their sheltered cove. It served as a boundary for swimmers, because going beyond it meant one had to deal with the swifter currents of the English Channel, and few people were strong enough to battle those.
“You know I am going to win, Fiona. I’m the stronger swimmer. How about we just swim lazily along the length of the beach? I do not like the idea of us getting so close to that open water.”
She sighed. “All right. I never knew you to be so cautious. Those rocks aren’t very far and we would not go beyond them. Oh, and look. My neighbor’s sons are rowing out to that outcropping now. See, over there.”
Rob frowned. The boys looked to be young, no more than ten years old, and undisciplined if one judged by the way one boy was scampering about the tiny boat instead of keeping to his seat. But who could tell for certain what they intended at this distance?
Perhaps this was what his sudden unease was about. Although children were often spry on their feet, they did not understand tides or currents or quite how slippery those rocks could be.
The tide was rolling in and waves splashed with greater force against their boat, sometimes dangerously rocking it, even though those waves were mostly gentle. “Who are they? And why is there not an adult with them?” Rob asked.
“They are the Marquess of Milbury’s sons, I think. The marquess purchased the neighboring property to mine last year but only moved in a few weeks ago.”
He nodded. Cherish and Gawain’s estate was to the west of Shoreham Manor, and now Fiona had this new neighbor to her east.
“I met him when we were in London last month,” she continued. “He’s a widower. I’m not sure who is taking care of his sons.”
A widower? Rob did not like the sound of that.
He stared at the boys. “Obviously, no one is taking care of them at the moment.”
Fiona had several rowboats of her own that she rarely used except when having one of her house parties. They were kept in a shed beside the beach steps during the summer. Rob hurried over to the shed and dragged one out.
Fiona frowned as she watched him pull it across the sand toward the water. “What are you doing?”
“What does it look like I’m doing?” He set it in the water and locked the oars in place. “I have a bad feeling about those boys. They think they are off on an adventure, and I am concerned it is about to turn tragic.”
“Really, Rob? Oh, I see your point. Those rocks can be slick and treacherous. Do you think they are going to climb onto them?” she asked, following him into the water.
“Possibly.”
He was about to shove his boat off toward them, but Fiona stopped him and climbed in. “I’m coming with you. You’ll need my help.”
“No, I can handle it. Get out, Fiona. I don’t need you drowning, too.”
