by Fiona Miers
She had not expected her father to permit her to accompany Thomas on his excursion. But as his climbing ability was restricted by his injury and he would be unable to go anywhere that could pose any danger to himself or to her, he had agreed.
Thomas had sent a note to her home, stating that he would send a carriage to collect her, and she had been anxiously excited about it. The conditions of her father’s approval were that their manservant, Marcus, would accompany them.
Marcus was a burly man and would ensure both Rebecca’s person and reputation were safe. And although her father didn’t say it plainly, he made it perfectly clear that he did not wish to be a grandfather yet.
Of course, Rebecca laughed off such a thing with cool indifference. She was certain that she and Thomas would not engage in such intimacy. Even if he felt the same way about her that she did about him, it was much too soon for such things.
Rebecca heard the sound of the approaching carriage even from the parlour, and her pacing came to an abrupt stop. Her heart pounded in her chest and her hands clasped together even tighter. There was a knock at the front door, and for once it would not be a patient seeking medical care. It would be Lord Thomas Melton, and the thought of it both terrified and excited her.
“Miss Rebecca,” a maidservant said from behind her, and she turned around.
The maid stood in the doorway and smiled at her. “Your carriage has arrived, Miss.”
“Thank you,” Rebecca said, her breath catching in her throat as she left the parlour.
Standing by the front door were Thomas and her father, who did not seem to notice her until she was halfway down the hallway. They spoke of Thomas’ leg, and Dr. Morton advised him to be careful.
“There she is,” her father said suddenly.
Rebecca smiled, but was perplexed by how polite and happy her father appeared to be in Thomas’ company. He hadn’t liked the thought of Rebecca joining the young lord for a fossil hunting excursion, but his actions and demeanour towards Thomas now communicated something different. What had changed her father’s behaviour? Had he finally realized that she was no longer a child and was able to make her own choices?
Unlikely.
“Good morning, Thomas,” Rebecca said.
“A good morning, indeed.”
“Marcus will accompany you on your excursion this morning,” her father said, his gaze narrowing slightly.
She then realised that her father was simply reassured by the presence of Marcus as the chaperone for their outing.
She embraced her father before stepping out the front door and into the radiant morning light, where the carriage awaited her and Thomas.
And Marcus.
THE COOL BREEZE CARESSED Rebecca’s cheek as she gazed at the beach, and the water lapped along the pristine sand. She and Thomas were comfortably seated on a rug, enjoying a lovely spread of bread, cheese and fruit. And although the food was delicious, she was much more enthralled in Thomas’ company.
“I was rather surprised that your father did not greet me at the door with a hunting rifle,” Thomas said. “He does not appear to like me very much.”
“Oh, Father does not keep the rifles in the house,” Rebecca said.
Thomas’s eyes widened and she could not help but chuckle at him. “It was a joke. My father does not use rifles. Scalpels are his preferred weapon.”
“Your sense of humour is dark and troubling.” Thomas said, then with a grin added, “But also refreshing.”
Rebecca laughed once more and shook her head. “I will graciously accept that compliment.”
“I wish to thank you for persuading your father,” he said. “It is lovely to spend this time with you.”
“Indeed. I was not certain my father would agree.”
“How did you manage it?”
Rebecca flicked a wayward lock of hair from her face with an exaggerated hand gesture. “A lady doesn’t reveal her tactics.”
Thomas laughed. “Certainly not. Shall we walk to the cliff face over there? It is known to have a number of common fossils.”
“Is your leg comfortable for that sort of effort?” she asked.
“Knowing you are here with me makes it all the more comfortable, Rebecca,” he said.
Happiness danced through her and a smile ran across her lips. “Indeed.”
Rebecca stood from the rug and held her hand out to Thomas, but before he was able to take it, Marcus stepped in and helped Thomas to stand.
“Thank you, Marcus,” Thomas said, a grin on his face.
“You are most welcome,” Marcus said in return. “I am merely following Dr. Morton’s orders.”
“Of course,” Rebecca said as the trio slowly made their way to the rocks spread about the cliff face.
The water did not reach the rocks, so they proceeded through. The sand was scattered with the loveliest small fossils and shells Rebecca had ever seen. She could barely contain the excitement she felt as she examined each one closely.
Thomas gazed upon her in the most wonderful manner.
“What?” she asked him, as she held a pale pink seashell in her hand.
“Nothing.”
“The expression on your face tells a story, Thomas.” Though she’d like him to tell her exactly what sort of story.
Thomas grinned sheepishly and nodded. “I am simply relishing in the sight of you. Seeing the excitement and the wonder in your eyes makes me unable to look away.”
Rebecca’s cheeks heated and she lowered her gaze. “You cannot say things like that.”
“And why not?
“Because—”
“Miss Rebecca,” Marcus shouted out suddenly. “The tide.”
Marcus was on the other side of the rocks, and much to their horror, the tide had risen quite rapidly.
“Oh my,” Rebecca said with a gulp as she grabbed Thomas’s arm. “What are we to do? We cannot get back to the beach.”
“It will be all right. Take my hand.”
Rebecca nodded as she took Thomas’ hand and he led her to the water. A gasp escaped her throat as the cold water surrounded her legs and feet, but Thomas continued to pull her, and they waded through the water.
The water continued to rise so rapidly that it soon reached their waists, and Rebecca clutched Thomas’s hand tightly. She wanted to scream but could only wheeze as the freezing cold water washed over her.
She looked at Thomas, sure the terror was obvious on her face.
“It will be all right,” Thomas said urgently, still moving towards the beach.
Before Rebecca was able to respond, the strong current and an unexpected swell caused her to lose her footing. She screamed loudly as Thomas’s fingers slipped from her grip, and she disappeared beneath the icy water.
Terror consumed her as the water swept her off her feet. She was unable to swim and panicked instantly. The icy water around her swirled and ebbed, seeming as though it tried to suck her down into its depths.
When she’d screamed as she fell into the water, the salty water had filled her open mouth. When she tried to spit it out, even more water forced its way inside. The water was murky and stung her eyes.
When she’d been a child, her grandmother had spoken of the ocean as majestic and beautiful. But also a dangerous and dark place, which caused devastation and chaos.
That was why Rebecca had feared the ocean, and the reason why she had not been taught to swim. Or wished to learn. She had never ventured into the water by herself, until this very moment.
Darkness flashed before her eyes, and before she succumbed to the power of the water, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist. It became light around her as she was lifted out of the water. She gasped for air, her throat burning from the salty water.
Thomas managed to climb onto the rocks behind them without falling down himself, and scooped her up into his arms. Then he made his way to a spot against the wall of the cliffs where the sand was dry, and gently placed her down on the sand.
&nb
sp; He crouched beside her and she coughed violently, so he softly patted her back.
“Are you all right, Rebecca?” he asked.
Salty water spewed from her mouth as she coughed. She was embarrassed for Thomas to see her in such a state, but she was grateful that he had been there to rescue her. She nodded quickly and coughed a few more times.
“Are you certain?”
“Indeed,” she said hoarsely, her throat and nose burning profusely, causing her eyes to water even more.
“Miss Rebecca? Lord Thomas?” Marcus called out to them from the other side of the rocks, which were separated by a wide stream of water. “Are you all right?”
“I’m all right,” Rebecca said loudly, waving at Marcus that she was not harmed.
“We shall have to wait for the swell to subside,” Thomas called out to Marcus.
There was no point in attempting to cross the water again. The first try had almost killed her. She didn’t wish to experience that again.
Rebecca closed her eyes and covered her face with her hands. Her pride was wounded. She was a silly young woman who needed rescuing. How pathetic she must have seemed to Thomas. She dared not look at him.
“You swallowed a lot of water,” Thomas said quietly and sat on the soft sand beside her.
“The swell took me by surprise. I did not expect that,” she said, her arms shaking as she pushed herself to sit up.
“You’re safe now,” he said. “We must merely wait for the tide to lower.”
“The water will not reach us, will it?” she asked her chest tightening at the mere thought of being in the water again.
“No, it will not. It is at its peak.”
She began to shiver, and Thomas slid his arm around her shoulders.
“I won’t allow anything to happen to you,” he said.
She lifted her gaze and looked at him, his dark hair damp from the water, and his eyes bright and clear.
“How is your leg?” she asked, her voice shaking.
“Do not fret over me. I am fine.”
She nodded and pursed her lips.
Thomas brought his hand up to her face and with his thumb, brushed a lock of wet hair from her face. Rebecca didn’t want to know what she looked like, but judging from the expression on Thomas’ face, it was not as terrible as she imagined.
Rebecca shivered once more, her lips quivering from the cold. Much to her surprise, Thomas wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly against him. She allowed him to do so without contention or reluctance. Although, if her father were to find out, he would be furious, and Marcus would surely inform him of what had happened.
“I have a confession to make,” she said, her teeth chattering.
“And what is that?” he asked.
“I cannot swim.”
“I gathered as much.”
“I’m embarrassed that you had to see that, and see me in such a state,” she said.
“There is no need to apologise. And you are not in such a bad state as you think.”
“Thank you for your kind words, although I doubt—”
Before Rebecca could say any more, Thomas leaned in and pressed his lips against hers. His kiss quieted her, and she didn’t mind in the least.
Their lips parted for a moment, but Rebecca didn’t want their kiss to end so suddenly. She leaned forward and returned his kiss with one of her own.
Her lips parted as did Thomas’, and their kiss deepened. She melted into his arms and mouth. She no longer felt the cold or the feelings of embarrassment. Her throat no longer burned, nor did her nose, and the taste of sea water had been replaced by the delicious taste of Thomas.
Despite not having kissed or having been kissed by anyone in such a manner, Rebecca had not expected it to feel so good. She lost all sense of time and space, and it was merely her and Thomas on that beach.
Lost in their own world, their own paradise, their own piece of heaven.
She moaned softly against Thomas’ lips, and despite thinking that it would cause him to ease away from her, it only made him kiss her longer, deeper and with more passion.
It was sheer perfection. And she decided she would certainly not mind kissing him every single day for the rest of her life.
In fact, she would agree to it in a heartbeat.
THOMAS HADN’T KISSED many women before. In fact, Rebecca was one of the few women he’d found attractive. He didn’t regret kissing her, but as soon as she put her arms around him, he realised that it hadn’t been a good idea.
Especially not with her father’s manservant nearby. Rebecca’s father would certainly have much to say if he were to be made aware of this.
Thomas also suspected that this had been Rebecca’s first ever kiss of this sort.
It wouldn’t be terrible if people found out that they had shared such a moment, but he feared it might ruin the Rebecca’s reputation and he did not wish that to happen. Despite assisting her physician father in a role many people would find objectionable, it was obvious that Rebecca was refined and polite. A delightful person with a kind heart. The type of lady most men insist on marrying.
So why was this lovely young woman with such delightful attributes still unmarried?
Thomas could only think of one reason.
Her father.
He glanced at Rebecca, who was still shivering beside him. The thin material of her summer dress clung to her body, leaving very little to his imagination. His gaze travelled along the curves of her hips, her waist, and the subtle shape of her breasts. Her chest still heaved, accentuating those shapes even more. Scolding himself for thinking such vulgar and inappropriate things of such a lovely woman, he lowered his gaze.
Damn.
There were red blood stains on his breeches. His wound, or at least part of it, must have ripped open when he carried Rebecca to safety. His leg stung more than it had earlier, which the salty water had contributed to.
Luckily, the water level was now lower than it had been, and with the assistance of Marcus, he’d be able to get himself and Rebecca back to the beach and ultimately back to her father’s home.
Thomas straightened his back, raised his hand in air and shouted to the manservant. “Marcus, is the water shallow enough for you to cross?”
“Indeed, my lord,” Marcus answered. “I will retrieve a blanket from the carriage and make my way to you.”
“Good man,” Thomas said.
He turned to Rebecca and placed his hand against her cheek. “Marcus will cross the water and you will go with him.”
“But what of you? What if the water pulls you under?” she asked.
“I am a strong swimmer.”
“With an injured leg,” she said and frowned as she glanced down. “You are bleeding again.” Rebecca stared at his blood-stained breeches.
He exhaled slowly. “I am perfectly fine. Marcus is much taller than I am and would be able to carry you back to the beach. I will be fine crossing the water on my own.”
Rebecca nodded and bit her bottom lip. “Thomas?”
“Yes?”
“May I ask you a question?”
“You may.”
“Why did you kiss me?”
“Why do you think?” he asked.
“To stop me from babbling incessantly or to calm me in my panic,” she said.
“Is that what you think?”
“You have not given me a reason to think otherwise.”
Thomas watched as Marcus made his way across the water. “Perhaps we should discuss this another time.”
There was annoyance in Rebecca’s eyes, but she didn’t contradict him. Truthfully, she looked relieved when Marcus carried her across the water and back to the beach.
For him, wading into the water and swimming the deep part was more difficult than he had anticipated, but he clenched his teeth and ignored the pain in his leg so that soon enough he was once again wading out of the water and towards the woman who only moments ago, he’d had in his arms.
> When Marcus set Rebecca down, her knees gave way and she ended up falling to the soft sand. Her lips were a pale blue and her breathing was ragged.
Thomas crouched down beside her, and Marcus brought the blanket he had retrieved from the carriage earlier.
He took the heavy blanket from Marcus and wrapped the thick material around her.
Rebecca glanced up at her father’s servant. “Marcus, could you give us a moment of privacy?”
“But, Miss, I strongly suggest we go back to the townhouse. You are drenched and Dr. Morton—”
“Marcus, please don’t make me repeat myself,” she said.
Her firm tone surprised Thomas, but Marcus stepped away obediently. Rebecca turned to him and cocked her head.
“Was I correct as to the reason you kissed me?”
“Rebecca—”
“Tell me or we are not leaving this beach. I will freeze to death, and you will bleed out.”
Thomas almost laughed aloud. “You are delightful, and I enjoy spending time with you. I saw that you were in a panic, and I wanted to distract your mind from the crisis at hand.”
“It certainly worked.”
“Good,” Thomas said with a smile and he took her hand. “But I do wish I’d kissed you under different circumstances rather than as a means to calm you down.”
A wave of disappointment washed over her, but she brushed it away and focused on what was important.
“Thank you for being truthful, Thomas. I appreciate honesty more than you will ever know,” she said.
“As do I.” He smiled suddenly, and there was a warmth in his eyes she hadn’t seen before. “I have never known a woman who values truth as much as I do. It is refreshing to have that in common with you.”
“I agree,” she said with a nod, pushing down her more affectionate feelings for the moment. “Now, shall we return to the townhouse? My father must examine your wound. It looks as though it has re-opened. Does it pain you?”
He shrugged. “It stings, but that could be from the sea water as well.”