“My lord, really, Mother will be mostvexedif she sees me in her company,” Miss Redfield whined, on the brink of panic. Justin patted the top of her hand.
Miss Mossant’s gaze narrowed suspiciously as she caught sight of him approaching with Miss Redfield. Initially, he saw a hint of vulnerability behind her defiant gaze. But as she seemed to realize what he was about, it turned to relief. Too late to turn back now.
“Miss Mossant.” He released Miss Redfield long enough to bow.
Grasping the skirt of her brilliant gown in one hand, the solemn lady curtsied hesitantly.
“Are you acquainted with Miss Luella Redfield? She was just now making known to me her appreciation of your dress.”
Miss Redfield fidgeted for all of thirty seconds before apparently deciding she’d rather vex her mother than contradict London’s newest earl. “Um, yes, Miss Mossant. No one else would ever dare appear in something so bold.”
“Why, thank you, Miss Redfield. I’ve grown ever so bored with wearing bland pastels.”
Justin smiled to himself at Miss Mossant’s gentle jibe. Now that he’d located her, he was reluctant to leave her alone.
He’d make the boat ride into a threesome. But indeed, this was an ideal solution.
“Miss Mossant, you must join Miss Redfield and me for a ride around the lake.” Without giving her a chance to respond, he tucked her arm into his and then winged his other toward Miss Redfield’s. Again, indecision flickered over the girl’s perfect features, momentarily marring her creamy complexion. She pinched her lips but slipped her hand in the crook of his elbow.
Luck was on his side, for certain. Quite pleased with himself, he assisted the ladies along the jetty toward the closest available craft. Dropping his arm, Miss Mossant stepped back while he carefully aided the other young woman aboard.
“Careful now, Miss Redfield.”
She clasped his hand tightly and gingerly found her seat. Once safely aboard, she spread her gown picturesquely around herself.
Justin turned toward Miss Mossant, who surprised him with an impatient frown. “This really isn’t necessary, Mr. White.”
“Why do you persist in addressing him as Mister?” Miss Redfield asked from her position on the water. “Are you not aware he is an earl? Surely, you insult him, Miss Mossant.”
Still scowling, Miss Mossant moved to board the craft grudgingly as Justin sidled her to the edge of the jetty.
“I take no insult, Miss Mossant,” he assured her.
She tentatively placed one slippered foot onto one of the wooden seats, her hand still in his, and then lowered her other one to the bottom of the boat. Justin experienced an inkling of concern when he realized Miss Redfield was rearranging her dress once again, unbalancing the boat in the process.
And then Miss Mossant lost her footing for some unknown reason.
She fell toward and then away from him and would have gone tumbling into the water but for his hand. At that moment, the boat, secured only with a loose rope, drifted away from the wooden pier, leaving a few feet of open water between them.
Torn between releasing his hold on Miss Mossant, who by no means had found her balance, or jumping across the ever-growing expanse of water, possibly toppling all of them over in the process, Justin found himself at a complete and utter loss.
And then… the inevitable.
A Hasty Escape
As Miss Redfield arranged herself in the boat, Rhoda hoped her mother had met with more kindly guests. Poor, dear Mr. White seemed to believe he was performing a good deed. She’d recognized the expression on his face easily as he’d steered the reluctant, but perfect looking debutante in her direction. The girl had not been happy to make Rhoda’s acquaintance, let alone share her companion.
Once the confection of lace and pastel tulle had been arranged perfectly, making Miss Redfield appear like the center of a giant pink daisy, Rhoda stepped across and into the boat herself. She rather appreciated the strength of Mr. White’s hand as the craft rocked slightly when she shifted her weight.
One more step, except her foot did not land on the bottom of the boat, but on the slick material of the other girl’s dress. And when Miss Redfield pulled on the fabric in irritation, Rhoda shifted her weight, unsettling her already precarious balance. Without Mr. White’s firm grip on her hand, she would have landed on her bottom.
And then the world seemed to shift.
Her world, anyhow.
The boat began sliding away from the jetty and what with all the helping and being gallant, Mr. White stretched himself farther from the dock than was prudent.
Rhoda wished that he had released her hand before doing so.
