Julia looked down into the boat when she was standing on the bank beside Frederick. “Do you mind being abandoned?” she asked Camilla.
Camilla smiled back. “Not at all,” she said. “Malcolm will take me back safely. I hope you do not get blisters,Julia.”
“That was bad of Freddie,” Camilla said. “You were her escort this afternoon, Malcolm. Would you have preferredto go with her yourself?”
He gazed at her for a while. “No,” he said. “Should I have, Camilla? I would far prefer to be here with you. Shewill be more at ease with Freddie.”
She laughed. “I am not sure that Mama or Daniel would approve of their going off alone like that,” she said,“though I can see no harm in it when they have beenbrought up as cousins. And I cannot think that Freddiewould hurt her despite his shocking reputation.”
“Perhaps we should not have let them go,” Malcolm said.
Camilla smiled. “Can you imagine stopping Julia from doing something she had set her mind to doing?” she asked.“It was either alone or with Freddie.”
Malcolm rowed in silence for a while.
Camilla closed her eyes and turned up her face to the warmth of the sun, “It is so lovely out here,” she said. “Andso peaceful, Malcolm. You are such a peaceful companion.One does not have to make a constant effort to keep abright conversation going. I feel utterly happy.”
“Do you, Camilla?” he asked
“I have not felt happy since Simon’s death,” she said, “though I decided this spring to return to living. Unfortunately, when we were in Bath, Mama pushed any numberof older gentlemen my way. She thinks that having experienced one unhappy love match, I cannot want another.”
“Don’t marry an older man, Camilla,” Malcolm said.“And don’t marry for less than love.”
“I don’t intend to,” she said, smiling at him. “But I will think of all that later in the year when Mama wants us to goto London. For now I want to enjoy the summer and thelake and the sun. And your company.”
“You can have that as often as you wish, Camilla,” he said, “if it will bring you some happiness.”
She smiled at him with gratitude and affection, and he smiled back.
Julia and Frederick walked for a few minutes in silence. The trees were denser on this side of the lake. The air wasfilled with the sounds of water lapping and birds singingand insects droning. It was wonderful.
“I thought Malcolm was the afternoon’s favorite, Jule,” Frederick said, “You were prepared to entrust him toCamilla’s care?”
“It was not very kind of me, was it?” she said, lowering her parasol when she found it snagging on too many twigsand brushing against too many leaves. “Poor Camilla. It iswell nigh impossible to hold a conversation with Malcolm.”
“I don’t think Camilla has that problem,” he said. “They grew up as close chums, you know, rather like you and Gussie. I think it was the general belief that they might endup together. But then Camilla fell for a military uniform.”Julia looked up at him in surprise. “Camilla and Malcolm?” she said. “No. They are both too quiet.”
“Perhaps Camilla allows him to get a word in edgewise,” he said.
“Meaning?” She looked up at him indignantly. “Meaning that I talk too much, Freddie?”
He chuckled. “Not for me, Jule,” he said. “I can always shut you up when I have a mind to it.”
“Well,” she said, trying to remain indignant but laughing instead.
“So Malcolm is being rejected,” he said, “and Gussie already has been. Dan has never been in the running. How did you take to Les’s offer this morning?”
“I was moved,” she said.
“Moved?” He raised his eyebrows.
“He is sweet and kind,” she said. “Les knows how to give. In fact.” She frowned. “In fact, according to one definition I heard recently, I think Les knows a great deal aboutlove.”
Frederick chuckled and set an arm about her shoulders. “And so do I, Jule,” he said. His voice was lower suddenly,more husky. When she looked up at him, it was to find himregarding her from beneath half-lowered eyelids. “We wereinterrupted a week or so ago. I decided that maybe I shouldback off and let everyone else have a chance with you too. Ithink it is time to resume our—conversation. Don’t you?”Yes, she did. She had something she desperately wantedto forget and replace with another, less disturbing experience. “Yes, I do, Freddie,” she said.
He stopped walking and turned her to face him, setting his hands at her waist. She spread hers over his chest andbeneath the lapels of his coat. His muscles, she was relieved to find, were quite as solid as Daniel’s. His chestwas just as broad. He was a little taller. Her hands had toslide up a little farther to his shoulders.
"That’s what I like,” he said. "A willing wench.” His dark eyes were smiling at her.
