The girls glanced at each other and grinned. “I hope so,” they said at the same time.
“I wouldn’t be surprised to see Mr. Wendel Colborne. He paid quite a bit of attention to you, little sister,” Thomas said with a grin, enjoying the sight of his sister’s face turning pink.
“Thomas don’t tease your sister so,” his mother gently admonished. “Mr. Colborne was one of several admirers. Both young ladies had their share, didn’t you, my dears?”
Katie and Paula replied at the same time, both sharing the names of the men they found interesting and expressing hope the gentlemen would call.
Thomas felt gratified to see both girls so enthused about the Season and their future. He hoped they would find true love, as Slade and Isabella had.
Thomas thought back to the relaxed and loving nature of his friend’s marriage, demonstrated in so many ways last evening. He’d realized that a marriage in name only was not what he truly wanted. He wanted what Slade and Isabella had. His conversation with the dowager duchess had certainly been illuminating.Acourtship might be exactly what I need…The revelation jolted him into a realization that perhaps he and Frankie could put the past behind them and start anew. And there was no time to waste. “I must be off, ladies. I will be home for dinner, Mother,” he said, pressing a kiss to her cheek. He planned to share the tidbit in theTattlerwith Frankie if their conversation progressed in a more amiable direction today. There would be no arguments if he could help it. He was determined not to make the same mistake as he had last night.
* * *
“Momma, can I feed ducks?” three-year-old Maggie asked, pointing out the window of their coach.
“Yes, darling. We can feed the ducks. But you must listen to Momma,” Frankie said to her daughter. “No talking to strangers, darling Maggie.”
Maggie nodded and pointed out the window. “I want to see ducks now.”
“First, Momma must put her gloves on, darling.” She tapped on the roof of the carriage with her umbrella.
“Will it wain, Momma?” the child asked, pointing to the umbrella.
Frankie looked down and smiled when she realized the umbrella meant rain to Maggie. “No, darling. We have a very sunny day today. Momma keeps her umbrella with her, just in case.” She checked Maggie’s hat and wrapped her scarf around her neck. The driver opened the door, and she grabbed the small basket of bread. “Ready?”
“Ready.” Maggie smiled her precious gap-toothed smile. Her baby teeth were still coming in and Frankie thought she looked adorable.
Taking her daughter’s hand, the two of them walked down toward the shore of the Serpentine. Frankie placed the basket on the ground and pulled out part of a stale loaf of bread. Breaking it, she handed small pieces to Maggie, who promptly threw them at the ducks.
“Come get bread, duckies!” When the ducks saw the sprinkles of bread and heard Maggie’s laughter, they swam in their direction. Soon, a dozen ducks and a black swan loitered offshore, all focused on Maggie—listening to her giggle and vying for the pinches of bread she tossed in the water.
A small wailing sound from nearby drew Frankie’s attention. She turned toward the sound, scanning the area. Seconds later, a splash sounded, and she whipped her head around to discover that Maggie had disappeared from shore. “Maggie! Maggie!”
Mud swirled the edge of the lake where her daughter had been. Horrified, Frankie realized Maggie had slipped into the lake. Frantic, she kicked off her shoes and tucked the hem of her dress into her waist when she heard a small cry in the distance. Looking up, she saw her daughter’s flailing arms among the ducks—who appeared to be circling her.
“Help! Help us, please,” Frankie screamed in anguish as she waded into the water, but the mud sucking at her feet along the shore slowed her progress. “Maggie darling! Momma’s coming,” she cried, desperate to reach her daughter in time.
“Momma,” Maggie sputtered, grabbing onto the back of a black swan that uncharacteristically allowed her child to grab hold.
“I’m coming, Maggie! I’m coming!”
* * *
Thomas had just finished his ride through Hyde Park and was heading to the Serpentine when he heard her scream.Frankie!He knew it in his gut. Spurring his horse on, skirting carriages and other riders, he arrived at the lake to see Frankie flailing around at the edge of the river, trying to reach her daughter. His heart seized. He leapt from his horse and threw off his coat. Scanning the water, he quickly spotted the child barely bobbing her head above the surface. “Frankie, stay back,” he ordered over his shoulder. Launching himself in, he ignored the freezing temperature and swam as fast as he could. A moment later, he resurfaced with the little girl firmly in his arms. Gaining his footing along the muddy shoreline, Thomas made his way onto the bank, carrying the child.
“Oh, Maggie, my darling,” Frankie cried, taking the child in her arms, and frenziedly kissing her. Rocking her daughter and soothing her tears, Frankie turned to Thomas. “Thank you, Thomas. I don’t know what we would have done if you hadn’t come along. You saved her life,” she said in a ragged whisper.
“I can’t tell you how thankful I was to arrive when I did,” Thomas said, catching his breath. He reached out to touch Frankie’s tear-streaked face. For a short moment he was lost in the beauty of her sky-blue eyes, then realizing what he’d done, he pulled his hand away and cleared his throat.
“There’s a blanket in my basket, over there,” Frankie said in a trembling voice.
“I’ll get it.” Thomas ran over to the basket and pulled out the blanket. Rushing back to Frankie, he gently wrapped the blanket around her and the child. “We need to get you both home, or you’ll catch a chill.” He glanced around. “Where is your carriage?”
“I—I told Will to go home and come back in an hour.”
Damn it!He had to act quickly, it was autumn, and the morning air was crisp and cool. Drenched as they were, he feared for the child’s health. If pneumonia set in it could be fatal. Just then a carriage approached the path a few feet away. Thomas heaved a sigh of relief and recognized Hertford’s crest on the side of the sleek black carriage. Before the carriage had even come to a complete stop, Hertford leaped out and ran to them. “My God, Latham. What happened?”
“My daughter…” Frankie started with chattering teeth and blue-tinged lips.
