Charlotte was quicker to decipher the comment than I was. A sly smile overtook her face, and I strongly suspected the blush onher cheeks had been conjured up at will. How on earth did she do that?
Mr. Croft wore a full smile now, and I couldn’t help but stare at it. “I have always ensured my swims are brief, and only in secluded areas,” he said. “If I am going to swim in the sea, I don’t care to have a dipper pushing me underwater by the shoulders.”
“It was quite a strange experience, I must confess.” Edmund grinned.
“Well, if you ever wish to swim without a dipper, take the beach eastward,” Mr. Croft said. “You’ll be sure to find a place without onlookers, especially early in the morning.”
My ears perked up. Had Mr. Croft gone searching for a secluded beach just as I had? Had he found the same one? A surge of jealousy gripped me. Why was it so much easier for men to do daring things like plunging into the sea for a solitary swim? They were not even required to be fully clothed. They could laugh about it, but all I could do was beg one of my companions to accompany me to the bathing machines so a dipper could pushmeunderwater by the shoulders. It was entirely unfair.
I wanted to say how I had stumbled upon such a beach, but I kept my mouth shut. Mr. Croft was likely to think I was telling tales simply to relate to him, just as Charlotte had at the ball about my horse and her love of the countryside.
Charlotte edged her mount in front of mine, flicking a curl from her forehead as she regarded Mr. Croft with a coy smile. “How scandalous of you to recommend such a practice to Edmund. What if you were to encounter unexpected onlookers?”
He gave her a brief glance. “Then I suppose I would have to find a new beach.”
She looked down, shielding her eyes with her lashes as she always did before scooping her gaze upward. “I admire your resolve, Mr. Croft. No one should ever think to stop you from obtaining what you want.”
He cleared his throat, exchanging a glance with Edmund. My brother didn’t bother to hide his amusement. Surely he was happy to see that Charlotte’s flirtations were directed at someone else now. I didn’t want to contribute to the awkwardness in the air, so I sat still on my horse, my jaw tight. The skirts of Charlotte’s riding habit rested just inches from my horse’s mouth. The mare shifted restlessly, but remained in her place as she ought. I wished she would nibble on the fabric. Perhaps give it a nice, firm tug.
Edmund watched me with a look of concern. His features were hesitant for a short moment, but then he turned his attention to Charlotte. “Miss Lyons, in all the years I have known you, I have yet to see you on the saddle of a horse. Are you comfortable in your seat?”
I fought against a devious smile. It was an honor to have a brother so fully on my side of a battle. Did he realize he was directly contradicting what she had claimed at the ball?
Charlotte’s lips pinched together, but then she let out a shrill laugh. “My riding lessons were always conducted privately on the grounds of my family estate. I am quite comfortable indeed.”
“Would you take a ride with me to the edge of that path?” Edmund gestured into the distance. “I should like to see the result of these lessons.”
Her smile froze, and she laughed again. It was a tempting offer, to be sure. Edmund had always been her first choice of a prize. She shot a glance at me, then at Mr. Croft as the hesitation built up in her features. “Y-yes. Of course.” The words finally spilled out.
Edmund nodded toward the empty grass ahead as he led his horse forward. Charlotte followed him, but not without another peek behind her shoulder. Her eyes were a shade too possessive in Mr. Croft’s direction as Edmund drew her farther away.
My heart thudded fast in my chest. Edmund’s motive was clear. He was playing matchmaker, just as I had always tried to do with him. It was quite unlike him, but I couldn’t think of any other explanation.
Intentionally or not, he had left me entirely alone with Mr. Croft.
Chapter Nine
JONATHAN
The tension in my shoulders had just begun to release when Miss Kellaway turned her playful blue eyes in my direction. At least her eyes weren’t as coy and overly seductive as Miss Lyons’s. In fact, they did strange things to my stomach.
I shifted on my horse, intent to ignore how lovely she looked with the rising sun on her features. My anxiousness toward her hadn’t lessened since the ball—it had multiplied. I was more aware than ever of the measures ladies took to secure a fortune once they caught the scent of one. Miss Kellaway’s mother, the attentive captain, strolled nearby while her two soldiers took aim and fired.
Even Mr. Edmund Kellaway could have been involved in this scheme.
Why else would he voluntarily lead Miss Lyons away on a solitary ride? He had meant to leave me alone with his sister, I was certain of it.
“What do you usually ride at your home in the countryside?” Miss Kellaway asked with a glance at my horse. Her gaze lifted to mine.
I drew a deep breath, forcing myself to remain polite. I took too long to answer, my voice lodged somewhere deep in my throat. Did she even like horses? Or was she pretending? A young lady who was willing to throw a glass of punch on her friend at a public assembly was capable of any form of disagreeable behavior. I pushed aside my suspicions. We were stuck together now, stranded on this corner of the grass without any other companions. I could at least try to have a pleasant conversation.
“An Arabian with a white coat. Dark nose and ears.” I gave a small smile. “His name is Edmund, actually, but please do not tell your brother.”
Miss Kellaway covered her mouth with one hand, but her laugh still burst out, muffled by her glove. “You cannot be serious.” Her expression smoothed over. “I’m afraid I must tell him.”
“No.” I gave her a scolding look. “Men do not enjoy sharing their Christian names with a horse.”
Her hand dropped, revealing her wide smile. “Nor do women. You don’t happen to have a mare named Alice, do you?”
