“Fine, yes, thank you. I seem to keep swallowing the sea.” She gave a little laugh as if her words were witty, while knowing they weren’t.
However, at least she had the attention of a man, although his gaze was fixed upon the fabric clinging to her breasts.Nothing wrong with looking, she supposed. Besides, with her hair under the cap, and the way she was squinting into the sun, she had no other assets for him to admire.
“You were at the picnic, weren’t you?” she asked.
“Indeed. I am Lord Dodd. A pleasure to meet you.”
“Thank you, my lord. I am Miss Talbot, daughter of—”
Before she could finish, he lowered himself down into the water.
“Do you swim?” he asked before swimming a few feet away and then back to her, showing off his form.
“No, I don’t.”
“Perhaps I could assist you if you care to learn.”
He had kind brown eyes, and he could be an unmarried man, ripe for plucking. Or was he?
Deciding not to beat about the bush, she asked, “Are you married?”
He appeared startled. “No. Why do you ask?”
She smiled. “If you are to become my swimming tutor, I would hate to anger your lady upon the beach.”
“Very thoughtful, but I am a bachelor.”
Glynnis wished she could ask him if he was in good standing with his bank or whether he had caused the birth of many babes on the wrong side of the blanket. That would be beyond the pale. Therefore, despite no longer being able to feel her fingers or toes, she decided to let this man give her a swimming lesson.
“Start by crouching in the water thusly,” he directed.
She copied what he did.
“And now reach your arm over and out and pull it back toward you. That will propel you forward, especially if you give a few kicks once you get going. You can keep your head up above the water the entire time. Try the other arm.”
She did as he told her until her arms were going in and out of the water. At least she was warming up.
“Try to become horizontal upon the sea’s surface by pushing off with your legs. Go ahead, I’ll help you.”
As she followed his instructions, he boldly placed a hand under her stomach and another on her back to keep her from sinking.
“Keep your arms going, Miss Talbot. I will support you.”
She was actually swimming. It was invigorating, and she felt the glory of her success.
“Now kick your feet, as if you are fluttering them, up and down.”
As she did, Lord Dodd gave her a little push and sent her farther away from the shore. Immediately, Glynnis panicked and let her legs drift downward. The ocean floor had disappeared until finally the tip of her toes touched it. With the water up to her chest, she felt more than a little alarmed.
Glancing toward the beach, her gaze sought out Hargrove, to find him watching intently, with his hand shading his brow under his hat.Had he witnessed Lord Dodd’s lesson?
Sighing, she would rather have had the viscount’s hands upon her, but that was out of her control. Moreover, the wind was picking up, as were the waves rocking everyone nearby. Her enthusiastic tutor paddled toward her.
“A good time to go in, I believe. The winds have shifted. There may be rain by nightfall.”
And then his warm hands were upon her again, and a little more easily, Glynnis stretched out, using her arms and legs to propel her the few feet back to the bathing machine. The Prince Regent had already gone back inside his royal one, and a horse was pulling it to the shore.
All around her, ladies and gentlemen were also retiring.
