Page 30 of His Stolen Duchess
“You’re in the water,” the Duke said. “Take a moment to feel the temperature of the water and get used to it.”
She couldn’t feel his hand until she tensed hers. As long as he held her, she knew she wouldn’t drown, and now that she was full in the water, it didn’t feel that bad anymore.
“It doesn’t feel as cold,” she said.
“I want you to try something. I will keep hold of you, and I want you to bring your legs up until you are floating on the surface.”
“What if I sink?” she asked.
“I will have a hold of you the entire time.”
Georgina nodded quickly, a shivery nod. “Don’t let me go.”
“I won’t,” the Duke promised. “I’ll need to let go of your hand so you can put your arms out, but I’ll still have a hold of you. Just be sure to relax.”
Georgina moved her hand when the Duke let go of it. She didn’t want to bring her legs up, fearing her head would go under the water and into the waiting darkness.
When the Duke’s hands took her waist, she felt some of her nervousness slip down into her feet and the ground below. That triggered something, and it was as if her feet were weighted, but not anymore. They came up as if by themselves, but she knew she was doing it.
Lysander brought his hands under her body as she became horizontal, half-cradling her to add to the buoyancy of the water.
Georgina knew this was far from learning to swim, but she felt elated as her body made its way to the surface, and she looked up into the pale blue sky. She was floating in the water. Three swallows passed far overhead. She watched them move from left to right, and as she tilted her head to the side, water flowed into her ear, and she panicked.
She flailed her arms, splashing the water, which hit her in the face and only made her panic more.
“I have you!” The Duke shouted, lifting her up and mostly out of the water.
Georgina floundered a little more before she realized she was safe, and she calmed down a little. He brought her head back straight, staring up at the sky, and dared not let it move. She felt the Duke’s strong arms beneath her, and she knew that as long as he had a hold of her, she would not drown.
“I’m sorry,” Georgina muttered. “I don’t know what came over me.”
“It’s all fine,” he soothed. “You are doing brilliantly for your first time in the water. You’ll be swimming in no time.”
His words to her were magical, and she felt better each time he spoke in his deep, calming voice.
“Are you ready to try again?” he asked.
Her breath was still quick, but she wanted to impress him. “I’m ready. I shouldn’t have turned my head like that. I’ll be fine, I promise.”
“I’m sure you will.”
The Duke lowered her back into the water. She glanced briefly to one side to look at him, but quickly looked back up at the sky. If she kept her eyes on the blue above, she wouldn’t have to think as much about the blue water around her.
Then the Duke let go a little so she could float on the water under her own buoyancy, but it was too sudden. She felt herself bobdown and panicked before she had a chance to float, her legs kicking and her arms flailing as she tried to keep her head above the water.
She didn’t hear or feel the Duke for what felt like an eternity, but he must have been holding her and talking to her for a long time. She finally opened her eyes and saw his face close to hers, and she felt the redness coming to her cheeks from panicking so much.
“I’m fine, I’m fine!” she claimed. She laughed nervously. “That was… I’ll be fine this time.”
“Perhaps that is enough for today,” he told her.
Georgina felt her chest tighten. “I told you I’m fine. I want to do this, and I’m the one who gets to decide.”
Before Lysander could respond, she reached out, planted her left hand against his chest, and pushed herself away from him to prove she could float on her own.
He reached for her clothing, but she was too quick.
The water swallowed her instantly.
