“You snuck up on me,” she said in a hard voice. She tripped over her skirts, scooping up a handful of the sopping fabric.
“I explained the location of this beach to your brother on the Steine.” I fought to keep my balance as a wave hit my back. “You overheard.”
“Why on earth would I care to follow you here?” She turned to face me in the waist-deep water. “You made your opinion of meveryclear that morning.” Her face darkened a shade.
“Only after you and Miss Lyons made your intentions so inappropriately obvious.”
She reared back. “You think I’m trying to ensnare you?”
I stared down at her. She knew precisely what she was doing. “What lady would put herself in a position like this if she had any other intention than that? It seems that you want your reputation to be ruined. And ruined by me.”
“How dare you accuse me of such a thing! I am a lady.”
“You have not been acting like one.”
She gasped, marching a step closer in the water. “And you? Are you such a perfect gentleman?” The mocking tone in her voice made my chest tighten. “You were harsh to me that morning, and you did not even give me a chance to reply. Will you allow me to do so now?”
I remembered every word I had spoken to her as I rode away on my horse. I swallowed hard, nodding in the process.
She tipped her head up toward me. She searched my face, her sharp glare cutting my skin like a blade. “I do not wish to marry you. I never did. I would never try to ensnare you, because I don’t wish to even benear youever again. In fact, I am repulsed by the idea. Is that what you wish to hear?”
“Yes.” My throat burned. I could hardly believe I had once thought so highly of her. And so often. My first impression could not have been more wrong. “I am quite relieved to hear it.”
I sensed her anger escalating, her cheeks flushing darker. Her eyes locked on mine. She didn’t seem at all dismayed by my lack of clothing. In fact, she seemed like she wanted to shove me backward into the water and leave me to drown. “Then let us part ways now and never speak again,” she said.
“Excellent.” Whether or not she was telling the truth about trying to ensnare me was irrelevant. We were in a very compromising situation, and a discussion needed to be had on the subject. “We must pretend this incident never happened. Return home and speak of it to no one. Ensure your maid’s silence as well, at whatever cost.”
She pushed her hair away from her forehead, releasing a huffed breath. She shivered, wrapping her arms around herself, but nodded. The water only came to her waist, and her arms were textured with gooseflesh. A wave struck her from behind, and I reached forward to steady her. I caught her by the upper arms, and she fell against me. There were her hands again—flat against my chest, all ten fingertips leaving a tangible mark. Like the traitor it was, my heart picked up speed.
She looked up at my face. For a brief moment, the anger drained from her eyes. Her chest rose and fell with a heavy breath. The freckles across her nose matched the ones on her collarbones, and her eyes matched the sea all around us. My insides burned, and a surge of sudden desire struck me harder than the waves. My gaze flickered over her lips. They were flushed, just like her cheeks and the tip of her nose. Despite my anger, doubt, and utter frustration with this woman—a wild longing to kiss her galloped through my mind.
What the devil was wrong with me?
I tore my gaze away from her mouth, but her eyes weren’t any better. There was still a fire behind them, but it was different, softer somehow—and it tugged me closer. I was moments away from doing something regrettable and irreversible, and Miss Kellaway did not seem at all inclined to stop me.
This was what she wanted. This was her plan.
The thought flitted through my head, providing me with enough sense to tear my gaze away from her face.
On the cliff above, three women stood near the edge.
My vision cleared, their bonnets and brightly colored gowns coming into view. All three women were looking down at the sea—atus—lips covered in shock, eyes round with dismay.
Chapter Twelve
ALICE
Ihad been trying very hard not to look at Mr. Croft and his wet hair and lack of a shirt, but I had helplessly given in to my curiosity. My heart pounded fast. When had I touched him? I couldn’t recall the exact moment I had placed my hands against his chest—the waves had nearly toppled me over—but now I couldn’t seem to move my fingers at all. I had anchored myself to him, but what I was feeling now was far more tumultuous than the waves. I caught his gaze shift somewhere up above the rocks.
He released me quickly, taking a large step backward in the water.
A sense of clarity gripped me, and I caught my breath. I was only steps away from being out of the sea and wrapped up in my warm cloak. My emotions were boiling far too close to the surface. Jonathan Croft was the most infuriating man I had ever met.
His face turned white, his jaw tense.
What could possibly have him so discomposed?
I followed his gaze toward shore, shivering violently now.
