Page 28 of The Castle in the Bay

As if she needed to.

She led him further out until they were chest deep. The waves lifted them gently, and the wild swells seemed to subside somehow into a calmer motion.

‘Ok.’ Iona stopped, still holding his hands. ‘We’re going to duck.’

Monty threw her a look. ‘What? I’m not putting my head under.’

‘You don’t have to.’ Her grip on his hands tightened briefly. ‘Just lower yourself down so your chin is resting on the surface. Like this.’ She sank down, not letting go. Her head peered out of the water like a seal. ‘Now you try.’

‘Ok.’ With a sharp inhale, he bent his knees, pulling himself down.

‘Not bad, right?’ Iona beamed at him.

‘Not bad at all.’ He smiled in spite of himself.

Iona let go of his hands and floated back a bit, the hair from her ponytail swirling around her. How like a mermaid was she? Or maybe a siren. Because something about her was very alluring. ‘Did you ever learn to swim?’ she asked.

‘At school. About a hundred years ago, but it was never something I enjoyed.’ That was an understatement. The days of shivering at the side of the pool waiting for his turn were etched into his mind as a particularly painful part of his school life.

She raised an eyebrow. ‘Well, hopefully it’ll come back to you. Do you know how to tread water?’

Monty nodded. ‘Yeah, I think I can manage that.’

‘Great. Like this.’ She demonstrated, kicking her legs in a rhythmic motion.

Monty mimicked her movements, the water pushing against him. It was harder than it looked, and he felt a bit stupid.

‘That’s it.’ Iona’s eyes travelled over him, confirming how daft he must look. Why else would she eye him like that? ‘Now, try some strokes with your arms and if you’re able to push forward, then do it.’

Monty took a deep breath. He’d got this far. He was in the sea and actually it wasn’t as bad as he’d thought. The initial stab of cold had fizzled out and while he wouldn’t call it warm, it wasn’t that cold either, just bearable enough to not want to get out and curl up in a rug next to a fire – though later on he might. He pushed forward into the water, the way he remembered, but also in a way that felt intuitive. His arms cut the path and his legs moved him forward. He was nowhere near as graceful as Iona, who was bobbing around like a seal, ducking under and then surfacing with seemingly no effort at all.

‘You’re doing fine.’ She swam closer. ‘Just try raising your shoulders a little more. It’ll keep your chin out of the water.’ She put her hands under him, holding his shoulders as he kicked like a frog.

‘I feel like a kid at swimming lessons.’

She smiled, and he blinked. Sometimes, without his glasses, he felt more exposed than ever to external scrutiny. Her face was close and, although she was holding him in this stupid position,the moment was oddly intimate. Not something he should be thinking about. Keeping afloat was really all that should matter, but breaking eye contact was difficult. When their eyes connected, strange currents of energy bolted through him. Or maybe it was just the waves lapping over him.

‘You’re getting the hang of it.’ Iona moved her hands, almost instantly swimming off. He couldn’t keep up, but he was swimming. Actual, proper swimming in the sea. This had to count for something in the adventure stakes.

Monty’s chest swelled with pride and something else he couldn’t quite identify.

Iona flipped over and floated on her back. ‘You’re doing great for someone who didn’t want to come in at all.’

‘Thanks.’

‘Try this, if you feel up for it. It’s so relaxing.’

‘I’m not sure I dare.’

‘Here.’ She came back to him. ‘Turn around and lie back. I’ll hold you, so you can get the feel of it.’

Monty hesitated, then turned his back to her. He leaned back, letting the water support him. Iona placed her hands under his shoulders, guiding him.

‘Just relax,’ she whispered, her breath warm against his ear, sending tingles through his cool skin. ‘The water will hold you up.’

He took a deep breath, forcing calm. The gently rocking waves cradled him. Iona’s hands stayed steady.

‘How’s that?’

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