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They could still kiss in the rain, could they not? “What about your forfeit?”

“Well, my forfeit would require us to stay here a bit longer.”

“And…” Beatrice swallowed and tamped down the hope as the rain intensified. “Do what exactly?”

Adam took her by the hand and led her to the relative shelter of a nearby tree.

He glanced at the Serpentine meaningfully and took a deep breath. “Take a dip in the Serpentine.”

“Now?” She looked at the lake in horror. “It’s cold! It’s raining… It’s… wet.”

Adam let out a hearty laugh. “It’s wet in the rain too. But this way, at least if we accidentally run into anyone, they won’t be questioning why we are wet.”

She glanced from him to the lake and back again, shaking her head. “I admit, I had quite a few foolish things on my list, but this is beyond ridiculous.”

“I thought you wanted to be brave and adventurous.”

“I am brave and adventurous. I am just not… keen on getting wet. And likely, sick.”

He pursed his lips. “You owe me your forfeit. If you refuse it, I shall refuse mine. I shall stop helping you cross the other items on your list.”

Beatrice gasped. “How dare you? A gentleman would have asked for a liberty as a forfeit, not a torture!”

“Do not be so dramatic.” He laughed as he took off his coat and started working on his waistcoat. “It’s just one dip, and we’ll be out.”

She raised a brow. “You are coming in with me.”

“Of course. What kind of gentleman would I be if I let you in there by yourself?” He took off his boots and stockings, suddenly standing barefoot in front of her, wearing only a single shirt that clung to him under the pelting raindrops and breeches. “Come now. Where’s your adventurous spirit?”

Beatrice pursed her lips but took off her bonnet as she looked at the sky. A few drops landed on her head, and she ducked as if that would have saved her.

Very well, he wanted an adventurous spirit, she would show him just that.

She hiked up her skirt and started rolling her stocking down her leg, slowly, fully aware that he was watching her. She rolled it to her ankle and stepped out of her half-boot, hopping on one leg, nearly toppling over. Adam stepped closer and firmly grasped her upper arm.

Beatrice raised her head and grimaced under the raindrops. “Thank you.”

She rolled the stocking into a ball, gingerly placed her bare foot onto the wet ground and squirmed. Don’t be a ninny! This isn’t the first time you’ve been barefoot on the wet ground. She used to run around in the rain by the creek in her home village all the time. Somehow, this felt different.

She took off her other stocking and half-boot, all too aware of Adam’s gaze never leaving her movements. Then she hid her clothing under the tree before turning to Adam. “I am ready.”

He looked at her, taking in her hiked-up skirt to just over her ankles, and what she hoped was a glimmer of determination in her eyes and not a frightened glow.

“You are going to go in like that?” he asked skeptically.

“Yes?”

“And you’re going to ride back home with a gown full of Serpentine water?”

“Your breeches and shirt are going to get lots of Serpentine water too.”

“Yes, but not my coat or my waistcoat.”

“I am not going to undress down to my unmentionables.” She raised her chin to display the confidence she didn’t possess. “Now. Are we going in or not?”

“Very well, as you wish.”

Adam’s warm fingers gingerly wrapped around her hand, and they both stepped carefully toward the lake. The ground was slippery, so they had to pace their steps and hold on to each other lest one of them fell.