“Daniel!”
“Those are the terms.”
Was it worth the risk of losing and having to take a boat ride with a man who refused to accept our incompatibility? I glanced back down the road. The baron’s carriage wasn’t slowing. It was worth it if it got Louisa and Daniel alone together; maybe he’d finally propose. “Agreed.”
The baron’s carriage passed our own broken carriage. Smirking, I elbowed Daniel. “You lost.”
“No, look.” The carriage had stopped. The long-nosed footman got down and spoke to John, then moved to the side of the road. John walked to the carriage and took the footman’s place.
The baron had offered a ride to John after all. It made no sense.
“Enjoy your solitary time with Mr. Lundall,” Daniel said.
Five
The next morning I wound my way across the lawn and down the steps leading to the garden and, a little farther, the path to the lake. We’d arrived home too late for much more than goodnights. I hadn’t even been able to give Alice her present on account of her having already gone to bed with a cold.
A breeze blew through the trees. Birds called and insects buzzed among the reeds. The calm water, lapping at the shore as though offering a caress, reflected white billowing clouds. A few rocks jettied into the lake, tempting me with the promise that by walking on them I could walk away from all the trouble men like Edward and Lord Williams created. Unwilling to resist their beckoning, I stepped along the dead-end path until water threatened to wet my boots. The air tasted wet and clean. This is exactly what I had missed by being away. This is exactly what I needed today.
“Margaret!”
Startled, I flung my arms out to keep from falling into the water and turned to see a chagrined Louisa, her hand covering her mouth. “I’m so sorry,” she exclaimed, her quiet voice barely audible. “I didn’t mean to surprise you.”
“Louisa. Just the person I hoped to meet.” I made my way back to shore.
“But what are you doing here? You should be gone at least another few days. Unless—” She gasped with delight. “You are engaged?”
I shook my head. “I never got the chance.” We walked the path along the shore and I tore a leaf off a tree as I relayed everything that had occurred. “I was so close. Mr. Northam is truly the most perfect man I have ever met.”
“Is he indeed?” Louisa bent and broke off a flower, adding it to her bouquet. “Have you told your family of him? That much perfection would make me uncomfortable.”
“You understand I mean perfect for me. I hardly think most would even consider him a good match. And, no, I haven’t told my family. I want it to be official before I give them hope.” I studied her. “You don’t think Daniel is perfect?”
“No.” Her light skin pinked at her cheeks. “Everyone has faults.”
“Daniel’s is to make people miserable.”
“You shouldn’t say such things.”
“Why not? It is the truth. He made me miserable with his actions, striding in just as I was about to finally rediscover happiness. And he makes you miserable every day by refusing to formally ask for your hand.” If only Daniel wouldn’t allow Edward’s actions to affect his own, he and Louisa would be happily settled and I wouldn’t feel guilty for my role in it, unintended though it was.
“Please.” She touched my arm. “Let’s not speak of it.”
I shrugged. “Well, you may not wish to speak ill of him. And I own that he’s a good enough person when he wants to be. But I consider him very high-handed. He even went so far as to tell me that even if Mr. Northam proposed, he wouldn’t let me marry him.”
“But he has no say in the matter.”
“Yes, and I reminded him of it, too. I believe he thinks I am getting desperate. He doesn’t understand.”
“Your brother is protective because he cares for you. He wants what is best for you.” She stopped to add another flower to her bouquet.
It didn’t matter the reasons behind Daniel’s actions. “Making someone live the way you think they should is not caring. He should encourage me—”
“Margaret! Over here!” Daniel waved from the top of a large boulder that lay half buried in the water. He was barely visible through the trees. His arm froze when Louisa stepped next to me. He jerked his hand down, stepped back, stumbled off the rock, and disappeared into the water.
“Oh, dear!” Louisa exclaimed.
Daniel reemerged, gasping, clearly uninjured though his hair was plastered to his face and his clothes clung to him.
“I think I should go,” Louisa whispered. But she didn’t move, her attention fixed on Daniel. It must have been a riveting sight for the man she loved to be standing so ridiculously wet before her. A titter escaped me.
Louisa turned bright pink. “I—oh.” She thrust the flowers into my hand, turned, and fled back down the path.
I would definitely tell this story at their wedding dinner.
As I walked to the boulder, Daniel slogged to the shore, looking more ridiculous than I had ever seen him. Served him right.
I tried to hold in my amusement, but a snort sounded at the back of my throat. I threw my hand over my mouth as laughter erupted from me. Daniel had embarrassed himself more effectively than any scheme I could have ever executed. If I had been at all adept at painting, I would have immortalized Daniel exactly as he appeared then, cravat hanging limp, coat and vest clinging to him. Then I would have hung the portrait in our entry.
No. I would have given it to Louisa for a wedding present so she could hang it in her entry.
“Margaret, this is not funny!” Daniel strode out of the water, his boots squishing with each step.
The sound made me laugh harder. “Yes, it is.” I leaned on the boulder, no longer trying to restrain the laughs.
Water suddenly ran down my hair into my face. I gasped and straightened. “Daniel!”
He smirked, shaking out the coat he had twisted above me. He draped it over his arm and propped an elbow on the stone. “Refreshing, isn’t it?”
A swampy smell now clung to me as water trickled down my back. Anger and laughter battled within. “No! It’s revolting and wet and—and—” The image of Daniel stepping off the rock flashed and I gave up on anger. “And highly amusing.”
Daniel scowled and struggled out of his waistcoat as though it were a competitor in a wrestling match. “I assume Louisa ran off after my . . . accident.”
“Admit it,” I said, setting the bouquet next to me. “The whole situation is laughable.”
His lips twitched. “You’re absolutely correct.” He lunged and wrapped his arms around me in a tight hug. I shrieked at the sudden damp.
“Just wanted to assure you I harbor no ill feelings.” His own chuckling rang through the air.
I shoved against him, breaking free of his grip. “Ill feelings for what?”
“For surprising me with Louisa’s presence. Now help me off with my boots.”
“It was not my fault you were perched on that boulder,” I objected.
He lifted a leg and held it out to me. His boots were covered in gooey mud.