Page 96 of The Viscount in her Bedroom
The boat was veering to the east, where the lake narrowed and curved away toward a copse of trees that hung over the water’s edge. Louisa didn’t bother to correct his course.
Simon was rowing harder now, faster, as if he was in a race. She wondered with amusement if he was trying to get away from her.
He couldn’t make everything go away by ignoring her, and if she had to teach him that, so be it.
“I was thinking about having a dinner party,” he said stiffly.
“Lovely.” And it was a step forward for him to consider eating among people, but right now, he was just trying to distract them both. She trailed her fingers in the water, then flicked droplets at him.
He blinked when they hit his face. “Very funny.”
Laughing, she leaned back on one hand, letting her foot brush against his.
He inhaled, but said nothing. The pace of his rowing said it all.
“What do you think about Paul and Georgie?” he asked.
She sensed his relief at having found a topic.
“I think it could turn out well,” she answered, still trailing her foot along his. “If she becomes too busy to assist you in the mornings, you know that I will.”
“Be careful, Louisa,” he said softly. “I can be selfish. I’ve been selfish with Georgie.”
“It’s not selfish if she wants to help you.”
He stopped rowing, then reached down and grabbed her wandering foot. She didn’t try to pull away.
“Is that whatyouwant, Louisa—to help me?”
“If you’re asking if I pity you, that is the most ridiculous—”
But he suddenly stiffened and cocked his head. “You never corrected my course once. I always pull to my left.”
“I know,” she answered, distracted by his hand surrounding her foot. “I’ve never come to this part of the lake, and the trees are quite beautiful near the bank.”
“Trees!” He shouted the word, dropping her foot, and in that moment, the boat hit something submerged in the water.
Surprised, she fell forward and caught herself on his thighs. She looked up into his face.
He pushed her back to her own seat. “Are we taking on water?” he demanded.
She looked behind him and saw that the wood of the floor was cracked and raised up. Water seeped in.
“Yes. Oh, I’m so sorry, Simon.”
“It’s my fault,” he said shortly. “I never told you about the submerged trees in this part of the lake. How far are we from shore?”
“Not far.” She blushed. “I was enjoying the view of the trees hanging over the water.” And her view of him. She wasn’t worried—surely she could swim if she had to.
“Is the hole small enough to cover with your hand?” he asked.
“It’s pretty jagged, but I can try.”
“Then I’ll keep rowing. Do you see anyone?”
From beneath her bonnet brim, she searched for signs of life, but they were totally alone. “There’s no one, Simon.”
He leaned to the side while she stood up. The boat rocked wildly, and she grabbed his shoulder. Carefully she stepped into the bow to kneel down. Three inches of water already filled the bottom, soaking into her skirts. Using her umbrella, she tried to push the damaged pieces of wood back in place, but they broke off completely, leaving an even larger hole.
