“Usually tell it better,” he defended sleepily.
She patted the hand that had slipped around her waist. “Of course you do.”
Brandon had mentioned offhandedlyat one time that before the Marchands left, he would take them sailing on the river after dark. The evening prior to their departure, Clara winsomely reminded her father of his promise. Paul and Michaeline protested that Brandon must not feel obligated, but he brushed aside their arguments.
Clara was sitting on Shannon’s lap, jabbing at a child’s sampler. Shannon’s fingers had already been much abused as she tried to steady Clara’s hand and show her the proper way to make a simple cross-stitch. She winced as Clara accidentally stabbed her with the needle again. She put the pad of her index finger against her lips and sucked on it, her violet eyes casting a very real appeal in Brandon’s direction.
In a few strides he crossed the drawing room and lifted Clara. “I think we should leave as soon as possible,” he said, giving Clara a little toss in his arms. “This poppet already thinks you’re a pincushion.”
“Pincushion! Pincushion!” Clara repeated gaily while Brandon directed everyone to go to the landing.
Cody prepared the skiff and held it steady while the others boarded. It was crowded once they were on, but they managed to accommodate elbows and legs and declare themselves comfortable in spite of the squeeze. Cody managed the sail. Shannon nudged Brandon once and lifted her chin in Cody’s direction.
Moonlight bathed Cody’s face, and there was a profound sense of peace in his features as he guided the skiff. His enjoyment of the task at hand was transparent, communicating itself to anyone who cared to see. Brandon did, and he squeezed Shannon’s hand, telling her that he understood.
Clara grew restless on her father’s lap. Brandon let her slide off his legs and sit to one side so she could slap at the waves.
“Don’t you dare fall in,” Shannon warned.
Clara giggled. “You can jump for me. Just like before. ’Member that time?”
“Mon Dieu!”Oneof Michaeline’s hands fluttered to her breast while the other pointed out Clara.“Pourquoi ne peut-elle pas nager?”
The question was clearly directed at Shannon, and she only felt her heart resume beating when Brandon answered in her place. “Clara cannot swim,” he explained, “because I haven’t taught her yet. She’s too young.”
“Nonsense,” Paul scoffed. “Aurora could keep her head afloat when she was younger than Clara. It is good sense to teach the little one to swim when she lives so close to the water,n’est-ce pas?”
“Perhaps next year,” Brandon agreed.
“Want to swim,” Clara pouted, dipping her hand in the water.
Brandon ignored her and directed the conversation away from all mention of the water. Clara eventually tired of repeating herself and moved to the other side of the skiff, closer to Shannon, and finally crawled onto her lap. By the time Cody brought the skiff back to the launch, she was sound asleep.
“I’ll take her,” Brandon said as Cody helped Paul and Michaeline out of the boat.
Shannon shook her head. “No, I’ll hand her to you when you’re on the pier.”
Brandon stepped out and turned to take Clara. “Be careful. Cody doesn’t have the skiff secured.”
The boat rocked unsteadily when Shannon lifted Clara to Brandon’s outstretched arms, but Brandon caught his daughter easily. Paul and Michaeline were already strolling hand in hand toward the house. Cody was sitting on the pier, cursing a stubborn knot, and Brandon’s hands were otherwise occupied. Seeing that she would have to manage herself, she placed her foot exactly where she had seen Brandon place his and gave a little hop. She realized her mistake immediately. Without some weight to balance her own, the skiff rolled to one side. She felt her foot slip and tried to regain her balance and fall back into the boat. Instead she pushed the skiff away from her and plunged into the water. What air she had in her lungs was lost between her cry of alarm and the impact of the cold water.
Shannon was not afraid at first. She knew someone would pull her out. It was then she panicked, realizing that someonehadto pull her out. She moved her arms and legs experimentally, wondering if she could learn to swim by sheer force of her will. Her sodden skirts merely tangled in her legs, dragging her deeper until she felt the suck of an undercurrent.
Michaeline and Paul had rushed back to the skiff when they heard Shannon’s cry, turning in time to see Cody jump in the water. Brandon did not look at them until Cody brought Shannon to the surface after his second dive. What he saw in their faces then told him the charade had come to an end.
Chapter 10
Shannon glanced up from plaiting her braid as Brandon came from his chamber into hers. Her head dipped again while she deftly finished her task, squeezing water from the end before she fastened it with a black ribbon. In her present mood she considered black the most suitable choice.
She noticed Brandon had already changed his damp clothes. His jacket was dark blue, severely plain except for three silver buttons on the deep cuff of each sleeve. A white neckcloth showed at his throat, then disappeared beneath his satin waistcoat. His breeches were cut of the same cloth as his jacket. In contrast, his hair looked exceptionally bright, and flecks of gold were apparent in his eyes. There was nothing about his appearance or the set of his features to suggest that he was dreading the forthcoming confrontation with the Marchands.
Brandon leaned against the doorjamb, folding his arms in front of him. “Where is Emily? I thought she would have you tucked in bed by now.”
Shannon stood, crossing the room to the four-poster, where her clothes had been laid out. “I sent Emily out because she was fussing and because I do not want to go to bed.” She exchanged her robe for a forest green linen gown. The sleeves were pleated at the cuffs to follow the curve of her arms, and the neckline of the bodice was edged with lace. She went to Brandon and gave him her back. “Fasten me, please.”
His fingers worked the tiny cloth-covered buttons. There was no need to ask what her intentions were. “Are you certain this is what you want to do, Shannon? There is no need. I am quite prepared to face Paul and Michaeline alone.”
She spoke to him over her shoulder. “I want to be with you,” she said with quiet sincerity. “You could not have entered into this thing without me, and I would like them to understand that. You will not refuse me, will you?”
