Page 20 of A Perfect Engagement
Daniel arrived in front of her, his ever-present grin in place. “Good morning. Boating today?”
“Yes, I am happy to read aloud if you will row us around in this sunshine.” She held up the book she had chosen,The Mysteries of Udolphoby Mrs. Radcliffe. “Care for a ghost story?”
“Anything butOthello. Mr. Greely’s reading last night was unbearable.”
Charlotte laughed behind one hand. “Come on, Susanna is saving us a boat.”
She climbed awkwardly into the boat as it rocked side to side, settling herself in the bow. Boats made her nervous. Even though the lake was quite shallow, only ten feet at its deepest, she was not a strong swimmer. Susanna climbed in with cool grace and sat next to her, and Daniel sat facing them in the middle seat in between the oars.
A servant shoved them off, and they slid out, slicing through the calm water of the lake. Susanna popped open her parasol to shade them.
“What an enjoyable way to spend an hour. Once we get out to the middle, we can just float for a bit. Did anyone pack snacks?” Her friend glanced around.
“Susanna, we just had breakfast! I think we can while away the rest of the morning without food. I brought Mrs. Radcliffe to read,” Charlotte said.
“By all means, read me a story as I labor at the oars,” Daniel commented.
She and Susanna giggled. The lake was relatively small, really more of a glorified pond. A man like Daniel would hardly break a sweat rowing from one end to the other. Charlotte opened her book and began reading from her favorite chapter. The one where the heroine is exploring the tower at night, trying to find an escape route to free herself from the evil count.
“Why is she climbing up if she wishes to escape? That makes no sense,” Daniel asked.
“It’s dark, and she doesn’t know where she is going,” Charlotte replied.
“She knows she is climbing stairs, doesn’t she?” he smirked.
Charlotte made a face at him before returning to the page. “Shush. She is about to bump into a ghost.”
“She is going to physically bump into it?”
Susanna hushed him this time with a sharp look. “Of course not.”
Daniel shrugged and resumed rowing.
Charlotte continued to read. But Daniel’s rowing distracted her from the word on the page. Each time he pulled back on the oars, the fabric of his jacket would pull tight across his massive shoulders. His powerful strokes had them almost out to the center of the lake already.
“Ahoy!” a voice called out. The Rivenhalls approached with Henry at the oars. Olivia waved as her husband rowed their boat closer to Charlotte’s. Lord Rivenhall expertly steered the boat right next to theirs.
“Enjoying yourselves?” Olivia asked.
“Yes, immensely. You?” Charlotte replied.
“I think I am getting too much sun. We are heading back to let someone else have a turn in the boat,” Olivia said.
“Oh, excellent! I will go back to shore with you.” Suzanna abruptly stood. “I feel like a third wheel with these two lovebirds.”
“Yes, leave them to have some time to themselves.” Olivia’s head bobbed in agreement.
“That’s ridiculous, Susanna. You can’t possibly switch boats,” Charlotte said.
But before she could protest further, Susanna stepped toward the other boat, causing their own to rock dangerously. Charlotte gripped the edges of the boat. Lord Rivenhall stood and held out a hand for Susanna while Olivia grabbed hold of their boat to keep the boats from drifting apart. Susanna hiked her skirt with one hand, grabbing hold of Rivenhall’s with the other. Again, the boat rocked violently.
“I agree this is a terrible idea,” Daniel said. “Watch out!”
Susanna determinedly set one foot into the other boat. Unfortunately, her other boot caught on an oar, and she began to flail. She stepped down on the edge of the boat, her weight tipping them dangerously to one side. Daniel stood to help her, and before Charlotte could even cry out, the boat flipped. Water rushed over her head, and she swallowed a mouthful of cold lake water.
She surfaced coughing.Oh my God!Panicking, she flailed her arms and legs. Her legs tangled in her skirts, and she couldn’t keep her head above the surface. She sank, her waterlogged skirts acting like an anchor. The water, murky with algae, made it impossible to see anything, increasing her panic. Her feet touched down on the bottom, and she pushed off with her toes. She surfaced, gasping for air.
Strong hands gripped her arms, holding her head above water. Daniel’s warm breath tickled her ear as he spoke to her in steady, reassuring tones.
