“Quite sure, Thomas. I am sure your cousin and I will have a wonderful time, and that I will love fishing. And at the very least, even if I do not, it will be nice to get some fresh air.” Vivian waved to Dominic as they reached the dock, taking his hand as he helped her up the stairs.
“Ah, Elington—have you decided to join us? I am afraid I have only two rods.” Dominic gestured to the tackle spread across the dock.
“Do not worry, Dorson, I am simply spectating.” Thomas held up his book. “I will be over here, reading.”
“He is worried something might happen to me.” Vivian rolled her eyes, but Thomas thought he saw a smile flit across her face.
“You will be perfectly safe, I promise.” Dominic bowed to her.
Thomas sat down on a nearby bench and opened his book. The bench was close enough to the dock that he could easily keep an eye on things.
He turned a page, barely taking in the words as he tried not to look up at his wife.
She wants to fish; fine, let her fish.
Vivian yelped, and Thomas looked up in time to see her yank her hand back from the bag of bait on the floor. “They are alive!”
Dominic made an apologetic gesture. “Ah, yes, I should have warned you. We use live bait as it helps attract the fish.”
“If touching the worms is too much for you, we can always return to the castle,” Thomas called with a half smile on his face.
“I thought you wanted to read your book?” Vivian pointed to the book in his lap.
“I am,” Thomas replied.
“How skilled a reader you must be to be able to read whilst not even looking at the page.” Vivian arched an eyebrow at him.
“If you hold that worm much tighter, you will squash it.” Thomas gestured to the worm that was wriggling in her hand.
“You are welcome to do it yourself if you think you would do a better job.” Vivian gestured to the hook in her hand.
“And deprive you of the experience you so desperately wanted? Perish the thought.” Thomas looked back down at his book.
He heard Vivian mutter something distinctly unladylike under her breath, and only just managed not to smile. Though he tried not to, he could not help but keep glancing up at her to see how she was getting on.
The tip of her tongue poked out from her mouth, and when she finally managed to get the worm on the hook, she let out a shriek of delight that sent a rush of warmth through his body.
She looked like a schoolgirl who had just found the best treasure. A smile threatened to steal onto his face, and Thomas hastily returned to his book.
“And now, it is time to cast out.” Dominic’s voice drifted to him, and Thomas looked up in time to see Dominic demonstrate the technique.
He watched as Vivian tried to imitate his cousin, clearly struggling with the rod’s length and weight, but determined to do it herself.
Has she always been this stubborn?
Dominic watched the set of her jaw and the way she placed her feet. Every muscle in her body seemed tense, and though it took her a few attempts, she eventually managed to cast the line out.
She turned to face him with a broad smile on her face. “I told you I could do it.”
“Well done, now all you have to do is wait until you catch a fish.” Thomas gestured to the line, keeping his face even as he felt a well of pride on his wife’s behalf.
She turned away from him, and he went back to his book.Perhaps I was worried about nothing. After all, Dorson is here, and he would not let anything happen to her.He suspected that Vivian would soon grow tired of fishing.
It was not the most thrilling of sports, and as he watched her watching the line, he had a sneaking suspicion that much of her conviction stemmed from his own attempts at dissuading her.
Is this what things will be like from now on?She had not tried to kiss him again, not since that night, and he told himself he was relieved.
Maybe her increased stubbornness chipped away at his relief. After all, while he enjoyed her fire, he did not want to see her get hurt because of it.
