Page 34 of The Duke's Auctioned Spinster
“It only seems like that because there aren’t any predators here.”
“I should hope not,” Rose said, eyeing him. He caught her gaze and folded his arms, arching his eyebrow.
“Do you truly think that I could be a predator?”
“I thought men valued themselves on hunting.”
“Not all men. I prefer to prove myself superior by wit or skill in various games. Besides, what use would there be in hunting prey that is drinking from the lake? It hardly seems like a challenge,” he said. At first, Rose believed he was gesturing at her, before she quickly realized that, actually, he was motioning past her, at the foal that was drinking beside the lake.
It had now been joined by its mother, who also bowed her head and drank the clear water. When Rose looked at it, she thought of her own childhood, how special memories had been made with her mother and father, but mostly individually, through separate activities rather than as a family.
Rose was struck by the sight of the animals, and, as she felt Edmund getting closer and closer to her, she decided to increase the distance. She approached the animals, focusing more on keeping her movements still and gentle than on ensuring her steps were assured. As a result, she didn’t realize she wasapproaching a particularly wet patch of the ground where the mud was slick.
Before she knew it, her foot slipped, and the world spun. Her balance was lost, and she thrust out her arms to steady herself, but she feared she was making a fool of herself. This promenade might end with her losing all her grace and composure, and she didn’t even have Jenny to help her clean up.
Chapter Fourteen
Edmund noticed something out of the corner of his eye. It was a flash of movement that he might have ignored if he were back in London, for that city was a place of constant movement. Out here, however, in the sleeping, motionless meadows, there was only one thing that movement could mean.
Rose had slipped.
There was a cry of surprise that startled the mother and her foal, although Strum and Pluck remained unbothered and were not distracted from their drink. Edmund moved swiftly, stretching out his arms as he threw himself forward. Rose landed in his arms, but his momentum drove him forward, and he was unable to stop himself from falling as well.
He twisted his body to ensure that he bore the brunt of the impact, but he only realized at the last moment that he was heading toward the shallow water at the edge of the lake.
They landed with a splash. The water wasn’t deep, but it was cold. It seeped beneath his coat and into his breeches, and the long, wet grass tickled his back. As he fell and lost his footing, he twisted to the side, and Rose landed in the water as well.
She reached out a hand to steady herself, but it disappeared beneath the water, and half her body ended up soaked through. They stared at each other for a heartbeat, and he thought she might erupt with anger, castigating him for ruining her dress and making a fool of herself.
Instead, she laughed.
It was a sweet sound, one that perfectly matched the lightness of the day and the gentle ambiance of the meadow. Edmund pulled up his hand, and water dripped from his fingers and sleeve. He plucked out his handkerchief from his pocket, the very same one that she had returned to him, and found that it was sodden as well.
Even so, he used it to wipe his hands.
“I am not sure this is very effective,” he admitted in a wry tone, and Rose seemed to find this remark absolutely hilarious. The laughter continued to bubble out of her. Her cheeks became rosy, and her body shook powerfully, sending ripples across the water. She clasped her hands together, and Edmund couldn’t help but laugh either.
Joy spread across his face, and he laughed so hard that he felt a pain in his side. He pushed the handkerchief back into hispocket, and it made a squelching sound that made them both laugh again.
Strum and Pluck lifted their heads and looked at them curiously.
“They must think we’ve lost our minds,” Edmund said after a time.
“Perhaps we have. I thought you were taking me for a ride today, not a swim.”
“The entire lake is at your beck and call, my lady.”
She drew back. Edmund studied her. The water settled upon her face, making it glisten as though she were made of marble. Her eyes seemed brighter, her lips fuller. He followed a drop of water as it ran down her cheek and lingered on her chin before it dropped. Strands of hair were matted against her forehead, the color darkened by water. And her dress was now clinging to her so that it seemed no thicker than a shadow.
It clung to her form, tracing the gentle lines of her figure. His throat tightened, and a burst of fire rushed through the core of his body.
He felt his gaze lingering upon her, and he tore it away, reminding himself again that he must retain control. He could not allow this situation to get out of hand or Rose to keep getting under his skin.
The laughter faded, and he began to move. Water sloughed off his body as he stood up.
“We should probably rise before the toads become suspicious of us. They might believe we are here to claim their territory.”
“We wouldn’t want that,” she said.
