Charlotte shrugged. “I’m not sure. It’s always been the same way. It might be because I treat them just as I would anyone else. I don’t see them as lesser than myself just because they are animals, or a child in Clara’s case. They all have feelings. Even the smallest insect has feelings.”
“I see,” Nathaniel said, and his brow knotted as he became deep in thought. Charlotte used this opportunity to search further for the ball, but eventually the two of them had scoured the area of shrubbery, and neither had found the ball.
“Is it possible that it went further?” Charlotte asked.
Nathaniel stroked his chin.
“There is a slope. It did come off the ground with a lot of force after you kicked it.”
“I already told you I didn’t kick it,” Charlotte replied.
They walked through the shrubs. Charlotte lifted her dress to prevent it from getting caught on the jagged twigs. This meant that she was moving a little more slowly than Nathaniel.
The slope led to a pond that was surrounded by tall grass.
“It must have settled there,” Nathaniel said, pointing to the grass. The pond was still, tranquil. Lily pads were near the edge of the pond, and on the opposite side, a few ducks swam.
Charlotte increased her pace when they emerged from the shrubs. She caught up with Nathaniel and believed she caught sight of the ball, nestled in the tall grass, half-obscured.
Nathaniel saw it at the same time. He stretched out his leg, trying to move across her and block her advance. But he put more attention into blocking her than he did on keeping his balance. The ground was moist because of the pond water, and he slipped.
Charlotte watched him fall back at an angle, as though a rug had been pulled from beneath him. She had been too slow to prevent the vase from smashing, but this time she was close enough to help.
She twisted her body and stretched out her arms to catch him. Unfortunately, he was too heavy, and she was not strong enough. Momentum was already pulling him down, and Charlotte could do nothing to stop him.
He landed on his back, crashing to the ground, his body jerking with the impact. Charlotte was pulled over him, unable to let go quickly enough.
But she did not fall onto the ground.
She fell onto him.
Suddenly, their faces were close together. Her body was draped over his. She still clutched his clothes, and the falling sensation had not left her mind. Her lips were parted as she stared at him, and the presence of his body below hers was intoxicating. She could sense his power, his strength. All of his masculinity lay beneath her.
Her mind swirled. Dangerous thoughts were conjured, and it took all of her willpower to force breathless words from her throat.
“This is what I get for helping you,” she whispered.
She watched his lips twitch. She noticed his eyes flicking back and forth, studying her intently.
“My reward is a muddy dress and sore elbows,” she added flippantly, hoping to push away the tension she felt.
He wasn’t saying anything. He was just staring at her. They were alone again. Nobody could see them. If he wanted to kiss her, there was nothing stopping him. She almost willed it, drawn tothose lips once again, the animosity that crackled between them blazing like fire. She would be helpless. She would be…
“You shouldn’t have grabbed me then,” he replied.
Charlotte drew back, amazed that he would choose this moment to once again jab at her, blaming her for what happened when she only had the best intentions.
“Was I supposed to just let you fall?”
“I’m covered in mud, too. I can feel it all up my back. Some people might say that you pushed me down.”
Charlotte rolled her eyes.
“Good grief. I don’t know how to respond to that. I suppose it’s true that no good deed goes unpunished. The next time you fall, I won’t try to help you. I would appreciate a word of thanks, however. Or do you not appreciate it when someone puts themselves in harm’s way for you?”
Nathaniel sighed and grimaced.
“Thank you,” he said through gritted teeth.
