Samuel waited outside for an hour while Anna went to meet her family. It gave him some time to think about what had happened in the herb garden, which he had to admit, in retrospect, might have been somewhat misguided. They’d both been through enough emotional turmoil over the past few days without him bringing up the subject of marriage. He probably should have waited. On the other hand, he couldn’t bring himself to regret it, either. The fact that she hadn’t refused outright made him optimistic, too.
‘I’m sorry for keeping you waiting,’ a voice called out from behind. ‘I hope you don’t feel banished out here.’
‘Not at all.’ He turned to find Tobias Holden walking towards him. ‘I’m sure you had a lot to talk about.’
‘Twenty-five years’ worth and we’re not finished yet. I just wanted to thank you again for bringing my sister and niece back to us.’
‘They were coming anyway.’
‘But you came with them. My mother and I are both grateful.’
‘Then you’re welcome.’ Samuel inclined his head with a smile. The other man had a kind face, a lot like his sister’s, and greying curls that seemed determined to stand upright rather than flat on his head.
‘We’ve wasted so many years.’ Tobias sounded regretful. ‘I always thought that Elizabeth must hate us for what happened.’
‘I don’t think she’s the kind of person who hates.’
‘Neither is our mother, although I’m afraid she never had the courage to stand up to our father. Neither did I, unfortunately, and after he died... Well, we assumed it was too late for a reconciliation.’
‘Was he such a tyrant?’
‘He wasn’t a bad man, but he was very proud. Once he found out who my sister had eloped with, he forbade us from ever speaking about her again.’
‘Did he know she lived in Bath?’
‘I believe so. He had terrible gout, but he refused to go anywhere near the city.’
‘And your older brother? What will he think about all this?’
‘Anthony can think what he wishes. I won’t let him spoil things.’ The other man’s expression turned resolute. ‘Now, will you stay and have luncheon with us?’
‘I don’t wish to intrude. Perhaps I ought to leave the ladies here and return later?’
‘I won’t hear of it, Captain.’ Mrs Fortini emerged out onto the terrace at that moment, Anna on one arm and the Dowager Duchess on the other. ‘There’ll be no more tears, I promise. We’ll all be perfectly composed for the rest of the day.’
‘Well, then...’ Samuel smiled, though his eyes felt like magnets, drawn inevitably straight towards Anna ‘...how can I refuse?’
Mrs Fortini was as good as her word, Samuel reflected, as he, Tobias and Anna strolled in the grounds later that afternoon. The mood during luncheon had been warm and light-hearted, without any tears at all, as if nothing untoward had happened during the past twenty-five years. Even Anna had started to smile and relax in her new family’s company, though she seemed subdued, too, as if her thoughts were elsewhere...
Her uncle Tobias, as it turned out, was another kind of seafarer, a member of the Royal Academy who’d been a member of several scientific expeditions to study ichthyology around northern Europe. It was a topic he enthused about over luncheon, insisting on taking Samuel and Anna to see what he referred to as his ‘pride and joy’ afterwards.
‘There it is.’ Tobias stopped beside a lake, around a hundred feet in length and only slightly less in breadth. ‘Stocked with the finest examples of trout and perch I could find.’
‘It’s a beautiful prospect.’ Samuel smiled as his gaze fell upon a small wooden jetty. ‘You have a rowing boat.’
‘Yes, I like a day’s fishing now and again.’
‘She looks like a sturdy vessel. Do you think I might be permitted to borrow it?’
‘Of course.’ Tobias looked surprised. ‘Do you want to go fishing?’
‘Not today, but I’ve been pining for the water over the past few months.’ He exchanged a swift glance with Anna, wondering if he could convince her to join him. There was only one way to find out... ‘And I’d like to show Miss Fortini here my navigational skills.’
‘On a lake?’ Her eyes lit up with amusement.
‘At least you can be sure we won’t get lost.’ He grabbed her hand before she could argue, pulling her towards the jetty.
‘Samuel!’ Anna gave him a remonstrative look as they reached the boat. ‘There’s only one bench.’
‘Then you’ll just have to sit in the stern. It looks dry enough, but here...’ He shrugged out of his jacket and laid it flat in the bottom of the boat. ‘Use this.’
She lifted an eyebrow. ‘Something tells me you wouldn’t ask a real lady to sit there.’
‘You are a real lady, although if you mean some timid debutante just out of the schoolroom then you’re right, I wouldn’t. But then I wouldn’t have asked her to come with me in the first place.’ He held out a hand and gave her a quick wink. ‘Fortunately, I know you’re not likely to have a fit of the vapours.’
‘I might surprise you.’
He grinned as she accepted his hand and stepped down from the jetty, staggering against him slightly as she made her way to the stern.
‘It’s very wobbly.’ She sounded anxious.
‘I won’t let you fall, I promise.’
‘So far, so good.’ She settled herself on his coat, rearranging her skirts and then opening up the parasol that her grandmother had insisted she carry in the sunshine. ‘Do I have to address you as Captain now we’re on the water?’
‘Naturally. Unless you want to be put in the brig for insubordination.’ He untied the rope that held them to the jetty and jerked his head towards the other end of the boat. ‘It’s over there and there’s no coat to sit on.’
‘Oh, dear.’ She laughed. ‘Well, then, whatever you say, Captain.’
Samuel looked away quickly, using one of the oars to push them off as a bolt of desire shot through his body. She looked so pretty leaning backwards, one hand trailing in the water while she twirled her parasol in the other, completely relaxed, too, definitely more than she had been at luncheon, as if she were happy that it was just the two of them again. Considering what they’d discussed that morning he took that as a good sign.
‘What are you thinking about?’ he asked as they glided out into the middle of the lake.
‘Just that I could get used to this. It’s so peaceful. All I can hear are birds singing and water lapping against the oars. Is this how it is at sea?’
‘Not exactly.’ He laughed at the idea. ‘Ships are noisy places, especially ships with cannons and squadrons of marines on board. There isn’t much time for quiet reflection.’
‘I suppose not.’ She gave him a quizzical glance. ‘You look happy.’
‘I told you, I like water.’
‘Does Staunton have a lake?’
‘I’ve no idea.’
‘You ought to find out just in case you do inherit. What self-respecting captain can have a house without a lake?’
‘I’d be a retired captain, but you’re absolutely right. If there isn’t, then I’ll make it my first order of business to dig one. If I inherit.’
‘I think you’d make a very good earl.’
‘Based on?’
‘On my own vast experience of running country estates, naturally.’ She paused, her expression turning serious. ‘And because you’re a good man.’
‘For a gentleman?’
‘For any man.’
He felt a fresh stirring of desire, his blood heating at the words. ‘You ought to be careful, Anna. That kind of praise might go to my head.’
‘I’ve said enough insulting things about you. It’s about time I redressed the balance a little.’
‘Is that why you let me kiss you this morning? To redress the balance?’
‘No.’ A delicate pink flush suffused her cheeks. ‘I let you kiss me because I liked it.’
‘I liked it, too. If I thought I could get away with it, I’d do it again.’ His gaze dropped to her lips. They were slightly parted and temptingly moist-looking. ‘You know the far shore is a long way from the house. I could take you there and kiss you properly. No one would see. Not without a telescope anyway.’
‘They still might wonder what we were up to. I don’t want my uncle and grandmother thinking I have loose morals on the first day I meet them. Besides, we don’t need a distant shore. I have this parasol. If we hide behind it, then nobody will see.’
‘Is that an invitation?’ His heart leapt at the thought. ‘Does this mean you’re considering my proposal?’
‘I didn’t say that.’ Her lashes fluttered downwards for a second, obscuring his view of her eyes. ‘But it might help me to decide.’
‘Well, in that case...’ He rested the oars on his lap and leaned forward, bringing his face down to hers.
‘I am considering it.’ She spoke softly, tilting the parasol so that they were both sheltered from any view of the house. ‘Only I can’t promise anything, not yet.’
‘I understand.’ He rubbed his nose lightly against hers. ‘It’s a big decision.’
‘Not to mention sudden and impetuous and reckless. And anyone watching is going to get very suspicious if I keep my parasol here for much longer. You ought to hurry up and kiss me, Captain Delaney, or I’ll have to do it myself.’
‘Go ahead.’ The words made him positively feverish. ‘I’m not going anywhere.’
Brown eyes seemed to spark briefly before she kissed him, closing the remaining distance between them without hesitation or trepidation or the faintest hint of reticence. Her lips were soft and silky, tasting of the wine they’d drunk at lunchtime, intoxicating his senses more than a whole bottle of rum could have done. He kissed her back, sliding his tongue past the smooth line of her lips. She moaned softly and he went deeper, cupping one hand around the back of her head as he tasted the inside of her mouth. He could feel each of their heartbeats accelerating through both layers of their clothing, could feel the gasp of her breath as his own emerged in increasingly short bursts. Unfortunately, he could also feel the oars slipping away from his lap.
‘You’re a fast learner.’ He ended the kiss reluctantly, making a grab for the oars before they fell into the water.
‘You’re a good teacher, Captain.’ She tipped the parasol back behind her head, her cheeks pinker than ever. ‘I’m almost tempted to let you take me ashore, after all. Except that then I’d have to marry you.’
‘If I thought you could be compromised so easily, then we’d be there already.’ He arched an eyebrow. ‘But something tells me you wouldn’t let me get away with that.’
‘You’re right. Unlike ladies, shopkeepers are allowed to be slightly scandalous. It might actually sell more biscuits, especially if you do turn out to be an earl.’
‘Well, in that case...’
‘No!’
‘Just as long as you’re thinking about it.’
‘I am.’ She leaned back again, a smile dancing about her kiss-swollen lips. ‘I am thinking about it, Captain.’