“I don’t know…”
“It will be all right,” Ella said trying to soothe her. “Melisande wants to go to the pond. We should do that.”
Jaclyn nodded, too tired to argue further. What Ella did not say was that it would be easier to just agree; otherwise, Melisande would make a scene. Sometimes it was just simpler to go along with what she wanted. As long as it did not lead them to something they would regret anyway—though she hoped that they would not cross paths with anyone at Easton Abbey again. She had no luck with that every other time they went to the pond. They were not supposed to go there. With a resigned sigh, Jaclyn turned back to Ella and said, “All right, we can go to the pond. Do you mind retrieving a blanket for us to sit on, and I’ll have a basket of food packed for our picnic.”
"I can do that," Ella agreed. “We can meet back here in a half hour.” She turned to Melisande. “Is that all right with you?”
“It’s perfect,” Melisande said. “I’ll wait here for you both.”
Of course she would not help them with anything. Sometimes Jaclyn thought Melisande treated them as if they were there to serve her. She rolled her eyes and turned away from the girl. Jaclyn and Ella walked together back to the school. Their paths diverged once they were inside to see to their tasks. It did not take long for one of the kitchen maids to pack a basket of cold foods for them to take on their picnic. Jaclyn left the kitchen and met with Ella and Melisande in the garden.
“Shall we go then?” Ella asked.
“Of course,” Jaclyn agreed.
They walked mostly in silence toward the pond. When they reached the water, she breathed a sigh of relief to find it unoccupied. Ella set about laying the blanket under a nearby tree and then sat down. Jaclyn set the basket on the blanket and then joined her.
"I’m going swimming," Melisande announced, her voice floating across the air with a defiance that made Jaclyn’s heart sink. What was that hellion thinking?
"That is not a good idea…" Jaclyn said. "We’re supposed to have a picnic—don’t be foolish. You don’t want to swim in the pond."
But Melisande was already darting toward the water. She had unbuttoned her gown and pulled it over her head faster than Jaclyn could have imagined. She sat down at the bank of the pond and removed her boots and stockings. She sat there in nothing but her shift. "I do want to swim," she replied in a decisive tone. She glanced over her shoulder at Jaclyn and stated, "I don’t see why I shouldn’t."
Jaclyn’s stomach clenched. This was not a good idea. She glanced at Ella, whose eyes were wide with concern. "She cannot swim there," Jaclyn said quietly. "This is Easton land, and it’s right next to the Havenwood property. If anyone sees us here…" Not to mention the scandal it would cause…
"I agree," Ella replied, her voice low. "But I do not think we can stop her."
Jaclyn bit her lip. She had been trying to keep the peace, to make the best of the situation. But now it seemed everything was beginning to unravel. "You’re right," she murmured. They stared in horror as Melisande leapt into the pond.
With a heavy sigh, Jaclyn and Ella sat down on the blanket Ella had brought and began to prepare the picnic, hoping that, somehow, they could enjoy it without drawing too much attention to their presence. Let Melisande swim… Perhaps it would not be as terrible as Jaclyn believed. But it wasn’t long before the sound of hooves reached her ears, signaling the arrival of some unwanted guests.
Jaclyn’s stomach twisted as the Marquess of Easton, the Duke of Amberwood, and Viscount Kendal appeared in the distance. The men were all far too familiar to Jaclyn. Lord Easton would not be pleased to discover them there. Melisande was completely oblivious to the scandal she was about to cause. Jaclyn’s heart sank as she realized, with sudden clarity, that their little picnic was about to turn into a much larger problem. She had to get Melisande out of the pond and fast. She raced toward the pond to tell Melisande to exit the water, but as she neared the bank she slipped and went flying into the water. Horror filled her as she landed in the water with only one thought racing through her mind—she was going to strangle Melisande. If not for her none of this would have happened.
Six
The sun shone bright and unobstructed leaving a nice warmth against Kingston’s skin as they rode toward the pond. A cold gust of wind carried through the trees, rustling the leaves and drawing a sharp contrast to the heat of the day. Kingston had barely noticed the weather as he, Lord Kendal, and Lord Easton were engaged in conversation as they rode. He narrowed his gaze as he studied the pond. There were ladies there. Ladies that should not be anywhere near that pond. He sighed and motioned in the direction of the pond. “I fear your warning that the ladies at Havenwood Academy not go near the pond went unheeded.”
The marquess sighed. “I wish I could say I was surprised, but…” His voice trailed off as he shook his head.
Kingston had a feeling he knew the identity of one of the ladies. Lady Jaclyn Thomas had to be one of them. Easton’s wife had been with Jaclyn that first time—the instance prompting the marquess to pay a call on Havenwood and have a discussion with the headmistress. Though back then Easton had had not been married to Jaclyn’s cohort.
“Perhaps I should pay a call on Mrs. Havenwood this time,” Kingston drawled. “A duke might have more clout at the school.”
“No,” Easton said. “I will have Charlotte visit with her friend. I think she will have more pull with the ladies at the school.” He grinned. “As she was one of them once they’re more likely to listen to her cautions.”
“And what should we do about this situation?” He gestured once again toward the pond.
“I think…”
That was, until a sudden splash pierced the stillness, followed by frantic splashing.
Kingston’s gaze snapped toward the pond, and his heart lodged somewhere in his throat as he saw her—Jaclyn—struggling in the water. She flailed in the water, but she was fighting a losing battle. He suspected her gown had gone heavy with water and dragged her beneath the surface. Her boots, soaked and filling with water would only weigh her down further, making each movement a futile attempt to stay afloat. The shock of the sight seized Kingston’s body into motion before his mind could catch up, his horse was galloping toward the water’s edge. He dismounted quickly and tore off his coat.
“Jaclyn!” he shouted, his voice sharp, but the words barely broke through the rising panic in his chest. She gasped, her head bobbing under the surface as the water continued to pull at her, her arms flailing uselessly.
Kendal and Easton were at his side immediately. He motioned toward the other female in the water. “One of you take care of that.” He pulled off his boots and without a second thought, Kingston plunged into the pond, the cold water biting into his skin as he waded deeper. He swam toward Jaclyn. Her desperate, panicked movements were growing weaker, her face barely above the waterline before she was pulled under once more. He reached her just as her body sank again, grabbing her by the waist and pulling her up, dragging her toward the bank with all the strength he could muster. Every moment felt like an eternity, the weight of her in the water almost unbearable.
Finally, with a last heave, he managed to get her to the shore, but she was still unconscious, her lips pale, and her body slack in his arms. His heart pounded in his chest, frantic as he placed her gently on the ground. “Easton!” Kingston called urgently, his voice hoarse. “Help me!” Easton, having already made his way toward the pond, knelt beside him. They exchanged no words but shared the understanding that immediate action was needed.
