She envied his carefree spirit and the way he charmed people so easily. The ladies involved in the game couldn’t tear their gazes away from him. Another man was with him, but he preferred to lounge on a blanket and watch the game. From his reputation and the few times she had seen him at the theater, Clara knew he was Sebastian Devons, the owner of a scandalous gentlemen’s club and tavern popular among the lords. Her gaze went back to Sam. She had an overwhelming desire to say hello but stopped herself. She sighed and looked around for Henry, catching sight of him on a dock. He was leaning forward to grab a boat. Fear clutched her chest.
“Henry!” she yelled loudly, not caring if she was drawing attention to herself.
Henry glanced up at the call and clumsily fell backwards into the water. Clara gasped in horror and ran as fast as she could to reach him. She could hear Diana yelling behind her. She reached the dock in seconds. Clara fell to her knees, leaning forward to grab him. He grabbed her hands frantically, and she lost her balance, tumbling in with him. She shoved Henry towards the dock.
“Clara!” he screamed.
She did her best to kick her way closer to the dock, but her skirt and petticoats weighed her down. People were rushing towards them, but Clara wasn’t sure she could keep herself afloat. She made one more desperate attempt to grab the dock before her head went below the water. She felt someone dive into the water next to her, and before she knew it, she was slung onto the dock. She gasped for breath, coughing and sputtering.
“Clara! Clara! Speak to me,” a male voice said to her.
Things were blurry, but she could hear Henry's tearful voice along with Diana’s in the background. Strong hands clutched her shoulders, and she looked into familiar hazel eyes.
“I’m fine,” she croaked.
“What were you thinking trying to rescue him yourself?” Sam demanded as he pulled her face closer to his.
His eyes flashed with anger and worry. She touched his face. “I’m fine.”
The worry on his face subsided, but the anger was still there.
“Clara,” Diana said.
Clara remembered herself and pulled her hand back. Sam helped her to a standing position. She was soaking wet and shivering. Henry threw his arms around her waist and cried, “I was so worried.”
She hugged him. “I’m fine.”
Henry released her quickly and Clara stumbled under the weight of her wet dress and petticoats. Sam steadied her.
She smiled. “Thank you, Mr. Kincaide. I think I can manage from here.”
His eyes narrowed as he studied her. She started to shuffle down the dock but gasped in surprise when Sam scooped her up in his arms. “What are you doing?”
“I’m taking you to a carriage.”
She shook her head. But he looked down at her sternly. “I’m not arguing this with you.”
“What about freedom to make my own choices?” she snapped childishly.
He leaned in so only she could hear him. “When you have enough common sense to not topple into the water, we can talk.”
She wiggled to get out of his arms, but he pulled her closer and said, “We are already causing a scene. Let me get you in a damn carriage.”
Clara stopped wiggling, but she glared at him. Once by the carriages, Sam nodded to the driver of one of them. He hopped down and opened the door. Sam put Clara down helping her into the carriage before also helping her siblings in. He started to enter the carriage, but Diana placed her hand on his arm.
“Please, Mr. Kincaide. It will be better if we go alone. There will already be talk.”
Clara winced at the statement. Sam had just saved her life and was only trying to see her safely home, but as always, avoiding scandal was the priority. She couldn’t blame Diana. She was only trying to protect her from their mother’s wrath. He nodded tightly. “I will make sure your horses make it home. Take care of yourself, Lady Clara.”
She smiled weakly at him.
~
Sam made his way into the foyer of his townhouse. He was slightly intoxicated after spending the past few hours drinking with Sebastian Devons and Simon Miller at their gentlemen’s club, the Den. What an awful day. After Clara’s accident, he had returned home but felt cooped up and headed to the Den. He hoped friends, perhaps a lady, or at least the alcohol, would help him forget how he felt when he saw Clara go under the water.
He hadn’t even thought. He told himself he would have done the same for any lady, and he would have, but the desperation he felt as he searched for Clara under the water seemed different. It rattled him.
His butler, Henson, fidgeted in the foyer, frowning at him in disapproval. Good old Henson always judging him. Sam grinned, feeling the first bit of amusement in hours. Henson’s frown deepened even more.
