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CHRISTIAN STROLLED slowly to the lake, the happy conversation of the other guests floating through the air. He pulled at his collar, careful not to muss his cravat. Miss Penelope Beasley had been partnered with him for this outing, and she had kept up a steady commentary on the current fashions and the gowns she’d had made for the house party. All that was required of him was to nod at regular intervals, which left him free to focus on Alice. Something had changed between them in the wood that morning. Their thread of connection had become something much stronger, and the pull toward her was becoming hard to resist.
And he was finding that he didn’t want to.
He watched Pembroke help her into the boat, intent on rowing her to the privacy of the small island that boasted a Roman folly. Alice glanced his way, and when their gazes locked, she smiled and tilted her head in acknowledgment. Their growing attachment seemed mutual and Christian was glad of it. He’d never met a woman who’d captivated him so thoroughly.
She sat down in the boat and turned her attention back to Pembroke. He was nervous, wiping his hands on his breeches before taking out a handkerchief and mopping his brow. Something was definitely troubling the man, and Christian had no doubt Alice could ferret the cause out of him. Christian just wanted to stay close and offer any assistance she might need.
"Are you ready for our boat excursion?" he asked the woman at his side, lengthening his stride a bit to get to the edge of the lake and not be far behind Alice.
"Of course, my lord," she said, hurrying to keep pace with him.
He stepped to the next available boat and held out his hand to help Miss Beasley into it. She was quite unsteady and it took several moments before she was settled. The second she was, he climbed in as well, taking the oars in his hands, while a footman pushed them into the water.
He started off at a leisurely pace, keeping Alice and Pembroke in his view. She was wore a fetching blue walking dress with a matching bonnet that framed her face just enough to leave room for a few curls to escape. He remembered how soft those curls had been against his cheek as he’d carried her to the horses after the attack. He’d been quite tempted to remove his gloves this morning to touch them again and see if his memory did them justice, but had decided against it. Touching her hair might have led to wanting to kiss her, and that wouldn’t do.
Pulling back on the oars, he concentrated on Alice’s gestures and mannerisms to gauge how well her questioning was going. So far she looked quite relaxed and at ease with Pembroke’s conversation. He wished he were closer so he could witness her questioning skills. She was quite genius to use her standing in society to gather intelligence. No one would suspect a duke’s daughter of passing along details she gathered during ton events.
Miss Beasley watched him from beneath the brim of her bonnet. “I was so pleased to be partnered with you today, my lord. The weather is exceedingly fine.” She gave him a bright smile and twirled her parasol half a turn.
Christian smiled politely. There were few topics of conversation that were appropriate for society events, and evidently they’d exhausted the fashions of the day and were moving on to the weather. Society hadn’t changed a bit since he’d left for war. “It is very fine weather we’re having,” he agreed.
“I’m glad there’s no wind to rock the boat. As pretty as it looks, I’m ever so afraid of the water,” she said, looking at the side of the boat. “I hope we shan’t tip over.”
Christian raised his eyebrows at the implication that he couldn’t efficiently row a small boat, but she was staring at the water as if it might suddenly attack her. “I won’t let anything happen to you, my lady,” he assured her.
He glanced over at Pembroke and Alice. She was smiling, trailing her hand along in the water, and Pembroke was watching her closely. Did his shoulder pain him while rowing? Part of Christian wanted to confront the man and force him to prove whether he had indeed been the one Alice had wounded in the wood. But the duke wanted to draw out the French buyer along with the traitor, so, for now, he had to be satisfied with this cat-and-mouse game.
“Have you ever seen a more picturesque view?” Miss Beasley asked. “Langford Park is quite pleasing to the eye. And how wonderful that the duke added a Roman folly to the island for a bit of flair. Very stylish for his generation.”
“Yes, quite.” Christian kept up the steady rowing pace to the island, but glanced back at the Park. It really was quite beautiful. “I’m partial to Northfield Hall, my family’s country seat, though we do not boast a folly.”
Miss Beasley giggled and twirled her parasol again. “I’m sure you could add one if you wished, my lord.”
“Yes, of course.” He looked beyond Miss Beasley’s shoulder and watched Pembroke help Alice out of the boat. She was still limping slightly, but Pembroke didn’t seem to notice. How much pain was she truly trying to hide? Regardless, he had to admire her tenacity. She wasn’t letting anything interfere with the investigation.
“The breeze from the water is heavenly, don’t you agree?” Miss Beasley leaned forward to catch his eye.
He pulled his attention from Alice and focused on Miss Beasley. “It is quite nice.”
“Perhaps you wouldn’t mind another turn about the lake so we can enjoy it.” She was clutching the edge of her seat with one hand as if she couldn’t wait to get to land, but looked at him in expectation of staying on the water.
Christian couldn’t contradict a lady, so he smiled politely and bent to the task of angling the boat away from the island. This was going to be the fastest turn about the lake ever seen at Langford Park. Not only for Miss Beasley’s peace of mind, but because Pembroke had offered Alice his arm, and they would soon disappear around the bend that led to the folly. He would lose sight of them. Though Alice could take care of herself, he didn’t want her to be alone with the man who may have attacked her the evening before and had caused Alice such distress this morning.
As if Lord Pembroke could read his thoughts, his gaze left Alice’s face for a moment and searched the guests who were close to the island. When his eyes met Christian’s, Pembroke gave him a curt nod and then smiled down at Alice, pulling her closer to his side as they moved out of sight.
Christian barely contained a growl. What message was Pembroke trying to send? Was he courting Alice, or planning her demise as an agent to the Crown? Either option was unacceptable.
Stretching his arms, he rowed in a large half-turn before returning to the landing that would lead them to Pembroke and Alice. Once they had reached dry ground, he got out and pulled the boat more securely ashore. Miss Beasley released a small sigh, obviously relieved.
Christian held out his arm. “May I escort you to the folly?” he asked.
Miss Beasley reached for him, but stumbled as she was disembarking, and Christian barely managed to catch her before she ended up in the mud.
“Oh!” she cried out, looking up at him with wide, blue eyes. “You’ve saved me from a terrible fall, my lord.” Her lower lip started to tremble. “I was so afraid of ruining my new gown, but you were my hero.”
“I often vanquish any mud that tries to splatter on a lady.” He gently helped her to an upright position until she was standing on her own two feet.
She giggled again. “A noble knight coming to my rescue.”
“As any gentleman would.” He gave her an exaggerated bow, and she laughed.
She took his arm once again, and they started up the path. “You are very different from what I imagined, my lord.”
“Oh?” He gave her a sidelong glance. “How so?”
“I expected someone with your rank to be more reserved and unapproachable, but you are quite amiable,” she admitted. A shade of pink touched her cheeks. “I hope it’s not improper to say so.”
Christian drew his brows down and shook his finger. “Miss Beasley, you must go on thinking me reserved and unapproachable. I have a reputation to protect." His lips curved in a half-smile. “Anything to the contrary shall be our secret.”
She giggled again and leaned closer. “Of course, my lord. Your secret is safe with me.”
They were approaching a bend in the only path that led down to the folly and Christian felt his neck prickle. That could only mean one thing. They were being watched. He could feel it. But by whom?
Scanning the crowds, he didn’t see anyone out of place. A gaggle of servants stood on the shore near the older guests who hadn’t come on the boat excursion. But no one seemed to be paying particular attention to them. Yet, Christian had learned long ago to trust his instincts. Someone was watching them. Closely.
Quickening their pace, he steered Miss Beasley down the path. He wanted Alice in his sight. Now.
