“Johann David Wyss,” she murmured.
“Have you read it?”
She shook her head. “I’ve readRobinson Carusobut not this one.” It was the later version, titledThe Swiss Family Robinson. It had only recently been published.
“I thought you would enjoy it. I wanted you to know that women can travel too. You are not destined to forgo all of your adventures, merely because you are a girl.”
A girl.
She laughed. She was hardly a girl any longer. Nonetheless, she opened it and flipped through the dog-eared pages.
“My apologies for its condition.”
But she was shaking her head. “It is a prized possession. I cannot accept it.” It was inappropriate for her to accept a gift from a gentleman who was not her husband or brother or father, in any case.
“Consider it a loan, then,” he persisted.
She would read it because he wanted her to. Reading was one experience that she could share with him.
“I will do my best to finish it before the end of the party,” she promised.
He had turned around without her being aware of it and was smiling. His eyes sparkled with humor. “I wonder why you didn’t wear this concoction when you climbed into my bed.”
Oh, good Lord! But it was too late to hide her ridiculous appearance from him now.
She touched her fingertips to her cheeks. “It’s for the burning.”
He tilted his head and frowned. “I didn’t stop to think of how long we were in the sun. I kept you out too long.”
“I forbid you to take responsibility for my carelessness. It was a wonderful day. Please, do not apologize.” It had been a very lovely day, indeed. One of the most enjoyable she’d had in ages.
“It was,” he agreed and then he bowed and backed toward the door. “I’d best leave before your maid returns.” He winked. “Sweet dreams, Maggie. I know mine will be sweeter for knowing you.”
And then he was gone.
When Margaret turned to stare at herself in the vanity, her eyes flew open wide. The water on her gown had made it all but transparent. She might as well have been naked. She could easily make out the dusky pink tips of her breasts and—Good God!—the dark triangle between her thighs.
If her cheeks weren’t already flushed from the sun and covered with honey and oil, she was certain they’d be beet red.
It seemed she was to have no secrets from this man!
12
Choose Wisely
Afew miles up and over the hill behind Land’s End, Margaret’s father had ordered a brook damned off in order to create a lake. Depending on how much rain fell in a given year, it was used to mitigate floods but also to hold water for later distribution to the lower fields. In addition to its practical purposes, the small reservoir made for a pleasing scene and was occasionally used for swimming.
Nearby, a tidy storage building housed three small boats for rowing.
Penelope had had them all brought out, repaired and cleaned for the day’s events. In between pleasure trips, across and back, there would be a rowing tournament, and it went without saying that an informal picnic would be served as well.
Servants had been working all morning to transport the prepared cold cuts, cheeses, fruit, and loaves of bread as well as wine to the location.
The most enthusiastic hiked up to the location but most traveled to the lake’s edge in coaches and a few of the gentlemen rode atop mounts.
Margaret sat beside George that morning in an open barouche with Lady Sheffield on her other side and Mr. and Mrs. Spencer and Miss Crouch sitting on the opposite bench.
“Lady Danbury assures me that boats will be available for romantic excursions around the perimeter of the lake. You will allow me to row you, won’t you, my dear?” George surprised her by asking.
