Page 52 of Dubious about the Duke (Second Sons of London 5)

“I can’t run,” Charlie said breathlessly.

Sera merely laughed, laying back on the lawn and staring up at the sky. Then she said, “I do believe that’s a cat.”

“Where?” Charlie asked, looking about.

She gestured to the clouds. “Up there. Come lay with me and see for yourself.”

Eagerly, the boy joined her, stretching out. Surprisingly, Freddie did the same, laying next to his brother.

“Over there. That group on the left. Do you see the cat? The pointed ears?” she asked.

“I do,” Charlie told her. “I even see his tail.”

“I don’t,” Freddie mumbled.

“You have to use your imagination, Freddie,” she gently chided. “If you don’t see a cat, what do you see?”

He squinted, studying the sky. “A mouse,” he announced. “There.”

Win looked into the sky as Freddie told where the mouse was and strolled toward the trio laying in the grass. He dropped down and unfolded his limbs until he lay next to Sera. Very close, in fact. So close that his fingers brushed hers. Though he longed to entwine his fingers with hers, he did not want to frighten her away. He turned his head and inhaled the faint scent of jasmine and then looked back to the sky.

“I see it,” he told the others. “Oh, it is a fat, little mouse. He must have been feasting on the bread in the kitchens.”

“Do you see anything, Your Grace?” Charlie asked him.

He concentrated and said, “I do. See that clump of clouds on the right? It looks like a dragon to me.”

They lay on the ground for several minutes, finding new shapes as the clouds shifted with the wind. Win enjoyed being close to Sera—and surprisingly, listening to the boys.

Finally, Freddie tired of the game and sat up. “Ready to race?” he asked. “I’m not dizzy anymore.”

“Do you see that old oak on the left?” Win counted. “The sixth one from the top of the drive? That is the end point.”

He scrambled to his feet, as did Sera and Charlie.

He touched Freddie’s shoulder. “Don’t you dare run off before the race starts. We need an official at both the starting point and the finishing line.”

“Why?” Freddie asked warily.

“To make certain no cheating goes on,” he replied. “Charlie, go to the oak and stand next to it. You may judge which of us touches it first.”

Charlie began running the distance to the tree.

“You, Sera, will start the race for us,” he told her, sounding very businesslike. “Choose a place for us to line up and give us a mark.”

She nodded, looking very serious as an official should. Glancing about, she walked to the lane and paused.

“Here. I have found your marks.”

He and Freddie moved toward her and Win saw her point.

“See that rock?” She went to it and touched it. “Line your toes up evenly with it.”

They did so and she raised her hand, shading her eyes. He saw the curve of her breasts and the sunlight playing upon her auburn hair and very nearly left his mark to sweep her into his arms and kiss her. That would not be wise in front of the boys.

But later?

“Are you ready, Charlie?” she called.

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