Philipwasabout to fall into the water.
That was clear because Maven had just pushed him toward it.And Malcolm wouldn’t have vexed himself about that.He was sure Maven had her reasons.
And after all, his brother could swim.
No, what he realized before it happened was that Philip was going to take Scarlett into the water with him.She was crossing back toward the picnic party just as Philip fell.Philip was not a small man.And he collided into her as he hurtled toward the water himself.
“Bollocks,” he swore, rising immediately to his feet and bounding toward the pond.All he could think of was reaching her.There, the water was deep, and even a light summer gown might weigh her down.
As he ran, he saw she had not reemerged.Panic filled him.Philip bobbed up and looked around, seemingly disoriented.
When Malcolm hit the water, the cold sliced through him.His feet left solid ground, but his arms enclosed around her nearly immediately, helping her to the surface.
She spluttered, and he hauled her the short distance to the shore.
Now, he could hear the screams of those sitting on the picnic blankets—and Tilly shouting, “Scarlett!”from the boat.
She was in his arms, on the bank of the pond, coughing and gasping.
“Are you well?Can you breathe?”
Their embrace was completely improper.He was aware of that.And yet he couldn’t let her go.Not when he was unsure if she was all right.
She coughed.“Yes.I’m fine.I just fell in—and then my skirts—they were very heavy.”
“Goddamn it.”
He wanted to kiss her, to hold her closer, but he knew he couldn’t.Not with everyone watching.So, instead, he pulled her to her feet.
“Ah!”she cried out.
“What’s wrong?”
“My ankle.”She winced.“I must have twisted it going in.”
Without thinking, he swept her into his arms.
“What are you doing?You’ll hurt yourself!”
He snorted.He worked with his body every day.Or at least he had before this infernal house party had taken over his life.
“I am taking you to the gig.And then back to the hunting lodge.Where is your stepmother?”he said, scanning the party for Mrs.Perkins.
“She isn’t here,” Scarlett said faintly.“Really, I can walk—”
“No.”
George and Tilly had reached them in the boat.
“Scarlett, are you hurt?”Tilly shouted.
“Just my ankle,” she called back.“Don’t disturb yourselves, please.I am only going to go back to my room.”
“I’ll come with you,” Tilly declared.
“No,don’t,” Scarlett said with force.
Malcolm knew what Scarlett must be thinking.She didn’t want Tilly to end her afternoon with George—not when their courtship appeared to have resumed its normal tenor.
