I had been avoiding Anne all day because I knew she would ask again about my bruises. I hadn’t yet decided how I would explain what had happened. At dinner, everyone had been curious, but I had managed to deflect their questions. When the ladies withdrew to the drawing room, I had left my port at the table with the other men to come outside alone. With Lady Tottenham ill in her room and unable to dictate my actions, I had escaped the party for the evening. There was nothing on the schedule, so I expected the other guests would dissolve from the drawing room early as well.
It was clear that we were all growing weary of one another’s company.
The only person I cared to see was Anne, but I couldn’t risk her asking too many questions that I didn’t know if I should answer.
I wiped the water off my face, pushing it back into my hairline. Crickets chirped loudly in the tall grass around the pond. Apparently Lady Tottenham’s groundskeeper hadn’t caught them all. The noise only added to my disagreeable mood.
I blinked the droplets from my eyelids, my vision adjusting to the fading light. The warmth and beauty of the sunset stretched out over the entire lawn and all the gardens surrounding it. The other guests were likely still gathered in the drawing room. The men would be lazily reading poetry in an attempt to entertain themselves. Octavia was surely playing her third piece on the pianoforte by now, not giving her sister the opportunity to display her talents. Anne must have been sitting on her usual place on the settee, looking beautiful, observing every conversation, but being too sweet and witty to take part in any of them, though being humble enough not to realize that.
I held my breath and closed my eyes, sinking under the water again. Darkness enveloped me as I swam to the opposite side of the pond. Everyone would think I had gone mad if they saw me out here. I no longer cared. I should have come to this pond weeks ago. It was refreshing and peaceful. Besides the crickets.
“What on earth are you doing?”
I blinked the water from my eyes at the sight of Anne traipsing through the grass in her champagne evening gown. She stopped at the water’s edge. She held her skirts up with delicate fingers, dark brows drawn together.
As shocked as I was to see her, my spirits instantly lifted at her horrified expression. She was far too endearing not to tease.
“Swimming.” I sank down until just my neck and head floated above the water. “Would you like to join me?”
She exhaled with disbelief. “No, thank you.”
I laughed, floating on my back. “Are you certain? The water is quite refreshing.”
“I have never been more certain of anything.”
I glanced up to see her appalled expression. “Well, if you’re simply going to watch me swim, would you do me a service and eat a few of those crickets? They are far too loud.”
A laugh burst out of her. “Alexander. Come out of that water at once. There are toads and fish in there.”
“Are you telling me there aren’t toads in there?” I pointed toward the house.
Her smile broadened, and she turned her face away in an effort to hide it. She shook her head at me. “If you are referring to Mr. Lymington?—”
“You’re the one who pointed out the similarity.”
Her laugh was delightful, and I would have bottled the sound if I could. She leaned forward. “You’re atrocious.”
In the glow of sunset, she looked nothing short of a goddess. I stared up at her, momentarily caught off-guard. My heart was in my throat at the thought of losing her. It was likely in my eyes too, and for a moment I was struck with the fear that she could read my thoughts. I had never known the vulnerability of loving someone who didn’t love me in return. The pain was a thousand times worse when I remembered that it was my brother she loved instead.
“How did you know where to find me?” I asked.
“Mr. Hatcher mentioned that you wanted to take a walk outside.” Her brows drew together again. “A walk sounded much better than sitting in that drawing room all evening.”
“I will tell you what’s even better than a walk.”
She raised her brows. “Hmm…a swim?”
I chuckled. “I know I won’t convince you. You are quite stubborn at times.”
She scoffed. “Refusing to jump into a pond full of toads fully clothed in my evening gown does not make me stubborn. It makes me sensible.”
I stood up in the shallow water, trudging toward her.
A wave of satisfaction passed through me as I watched her gaze lower to my chest and shoulders. My shirt was soaked through, leaving little to the imagination. The first time we had met, she had seen me without a shirt, so she shouldn’t have been as scandalized as she appeared. “Are you calling me insensible?” I asked.
She averted her eyes after several seconds, staring down at the water. She brushed hastily at a curl on her forehead. “Yes, I am.”
My confidence grew as I stepped out of the water, joining her on the grass. “I suppose itwouldhave been more sensible not to wear my clothes.”
