Chapter Four
Dinner the previous night had been rather stilted, with the other gentlemen being surprisingly quiet, and Miss Trowbridge being practically mute.
Freddie wondered if she had some sort of affliction, although surely someone would have said something.
And indeed, after dinner, when he walked past the library where the ladies were conversing before the gentlemen joined them, he heard her voice, clear and sweet, as she sat with her mother and one of the ladies so keen to impress the duchess.
So she could speak—she just didn’t want to speak to him.
After lunch, there was no planned activity, and with the sun already growing hot, Freddie decided to take his chance and venture down to the beach. He quietly told the duchess, and then suggested the outing to Darty, who was keen to join him.
“It is rather impressive, isn’t it,” Darty said as they made quick work of the steps down from the cliff path which led down to the beach. “A feat of nature. Makes you feel rather small.”
Freddie squinted into the sunlight. “I suppose so. I’m hoping it’ll make me feel rather cool, very soon.”
He had brought a towel with him, and planned to find the most secluded spot he could, strip off, and jump in the water.
After all, he could see that the beach was empty from his vantage point.
And as soon as he was in the water, no one would see him.
It was how he had swum as a boy, and he didn’t really see the need to change that now.
He supposed he could have swum in his drawers, but then he would have had to return without them, or with them wet beneath his clothes, and that seemed problematic.
No, better to swim entirely naked, and then dry off and put his clothes back on.
Simple—and no one, save Darty, need be any the wiser to his scandalous behavior.
*
“It’s too hot to walk this morning, Elizabeth,” Mama said, as they sat in the shade of the beautiful gardens, the ocean glittering in the distance.
“It’s so beautiful here, Mama. I don’t know if I will ever come again. I don’t want to stay confined to the house and gardens all week.”
Her mother sighed. “Well, I suppose if you must, you could walk alone. We are not in London, after all. And it is broad daylight. But for goodness’ sake, make sure you use your parasol.
You do not want your skin to burn in this heat, or to ruin your complexion.
” She reached up and stroked a hand against Elizabeth’s cheek.
“You have such beautiful skin, my dear. The perfect English rose. You mustn’t do anything to ruin it. ”
“I’ll use my parasol, Mama, I promise. And I won’t go far—I just want to see a little more of the place.”
Her mother nodded. “Very well. But do not go down to the beach—the duchess said the tides can be dangerous. I think I will rest. Make sure you are back in time for supper. You heard the duchess—her daughter is coming. She would think it very rude if you were not here, I am sure.”
“Yes, Mama,” Elizabeth said dutifully, before hastily retreating.
She was so keen to get out that she nearly forgot her parasol, and at the last moment had to ask a footman if he would fetch it.
At home she probably would have torn up the stairs herself, but she wasn’t sure the duchess would look too kindly on such exuberance.
It was certainly warm, and Elizabeth was grateful for the parasol’s shade as she strolled along the coastal path.
The beach lay below, and she wondered if she ought to have brought her maid, so she might feel brave enough to traverse the rocky steps down to the sand.
Her mother had warned her against the ocean, but if she stayed away from it…
But she was rather worried that alone she might fall and twist her ankle, and be left there for hours with nobody finding her.
And her mother had told her not to go to the beach.
Perhaps she was safer sticking to the path high above the beach.
She hummed to herself as she walked, rather enjoying the solitude.
When in the house, there was always someone to talk to, and although she enjoyed socializing, she also found it exhausting.
She shaded her eyes and looked out to sea.
There was a boat in the distance, bobbing near the horizon line.
The waves were gentle, and the expanse of water fairly undisturbed.
The odd seagull dropped down to fish something from the water, and she thought she spotted a seal, where she presumed there was a glut of fish.
She walked on around the corner, her eyes drifting to the beautiful beach, and wondering whether she ought to just brave those rocky steps and sink her feet in the sand.
She certainly couldn’t go all week simply admiring the view from her bedroom window.
Maybe she would suggest a group of them go down.
Although that would probably mean the duke would come, and the other men, and then she would find it very difficult to make conversation.
Even so, her mother would surely think it safe if she were not alone. Perhaps she would find herself brave enough to raise the topic at dinner, or sometime the following day.
It was then that her attention was caught by splashing.
At first she thought it was another animal, but then, when she found the source—in a small cove off the beach which was undoubtedly only accessible when the tide was just right—she heard laughter too.
She walked towards the edge of the cliff, unable to help herself, and watched for a moment as two men swam in the waves, laughing and splashing one another, generally looking like they were having an exceptionally good time.
She was entranced by the path they managed to make through the water with their strong arms, and by the joy in their voices.
It was only when one of them swam for the shore and strode from the water toward what looked like a pile of clothes that she realized he was entirely naked.
She gasped, and covered her mouth, but couldn’t quite bring herself to look away.
Surely he could not hear her, although if he looked up, he could certainly see her.
There was something captivating about the hard lines of his body, the chiseled muscles and the long, lean legs.
She had never seen a naked man before, and never had any desire to.
But now…now she could not stop herself from staring.
And then he did look up. She froze, like a deer caught by its hunter, and blinked, unsure what to do. If she moved away, she would surely draw more attention to herself from the naked stranger.
And then, as her eyes grew accustomed to the bright light, and the man clearly grinned and winked, she realized who it was.
And she turned on her heel and ran back to the house, leaving her parasol on the ground behind her, dropped in shock.