Page 41 of His Stolen Duchess
Georgina swallowed, keeping the smile glued to her face while she did, but her brows furrowed ever so slightly. She nodded at him, looking down at his hand briefly before turning back to the water and taking a deep breath.
He had to admire her conviction as she stepped into the water. The cold lapped at her skin as she broke the water’s surface, making her jerk back a little, but she didn’t stop. She placed herother foot into the water and stood for only a second before she continued.
Lysander followed her in. He matched her pace, staying right behind her in case she panicked as the cold struck her.
When the water was halfway up her thighs, he smiled, knowing that she couldn’t see him.
The sight was a picture to behold. The lake was still in the middle distance, and the trees reflected perfectly in the water. Behind them rose the foothills and the brightening blue sky. All of nature’s beauty surrounded and framed Georgina.
The bathing suit clung to her, showing off her hourglass figure, and he could imagine the hair flowing down her back if she hadn’t tucked it into the bathing cap.
The chilly water must have dampened his passion enough. He could stand behind her and admire her figure without wanting to reach out and grab her. He followed her in, his feet tracing her step and his eyes tracing her body.
Georgina came to a stop once the water reached her neck. The water was also nearly to his shoulders.
“No hesitation,” he remarked. “You walked all the way in without stopping. How do you feel?”
“I’m ready to learn what to do next.”
He could hear the light tremor in her voice.
“Last time you learned how to float, and perhaps that was the wrong way to do things. When you ran into some trouble, you didn’t know what to do to help yourself, so we’ll focus on that this morning.”
“Good,” she said nervously. “I was thinking I would ask you about that. I want to be able to save myself in the water.”
“Then let’s start with the breaststroke.”
“Your Grace, we could have done this back at the manor instead of coming all the way out here, don’t you think?” She moved around slowly in the water to face him.
Lysander sighed. “Do you wish to learn or not?”
“That all depends on what you are teaching me.”
He had half a mind to grab her body right then and rise to the challenge, something she would not expect him to do, but he remained composed.
“I want you to imagine you are swimming like a frog. First, you can put your arms out in front of you, and you will tip yourself forward, and I will take hold of your midriff to keep you steady. Then, you can begin to kick your legs. Let’s get you in position first.”
He took hold of her waist, and for a moment their faces were close. He tipped her forward before he had thoughts of doing anything else. Her comment about the breaststroke was implanted in his mind. He held onto her soft body as she became horizontal in the water.
“Good. I won’t let you go at all for this lesson. I want you to pull your feet toward your body and bend your knees outward. Then, draw your feet around in circles, kicking them back and out before bringing them together again. Try that now.”
Georgina kicked dutifully with her legs as instructed.
“Almost perfect. Did you feel how that drove you forward a little?”
“I did!” Her voice was full of wonder at her unexpected accomplishment.
“Let’s try that a few times. Kick your legs again and again, and if I hold you, you should move around in a circle under your own power.”
Georgina kicked, then laughed as she moved around in a circle under her own propulsion.
“Is this swimming?” she asked. “Am I swimming?”
“Partly.” He didn’t feel the cold of the water anymore. “There is still much to learn, and you will have to do this sometime without me holding you up, but you are a quick learner.”
Georgina laughed again, the joy in her voice loud and clear. The sound was amplified by the lake, and the Duke imagined it carrying over the lake to the village, where his subjects would know it was her laughing.
I didn’t think they would accept her so quickly, but she seems to have a magic touch.
