24. Isla
Isla
The trip to the island was quick, and before Isla knew it, they were slogging through the shallow water onto a pristine sandy beach. She grinned at Celie, then grabbed the hands of her two friends and took off running, laughing and kicking up sand just as she’d pictured her mother doing.
Lily stopped them with a tug and then sat and removed the bulky boots. The other two did the same before she pulled them to their feet once more and led them toward the dense forest full of palm trees, ferns, and broad-leaf plants none had seen before.
Celie pointed to a sandy path, and they raced along it until they reached a secluded clearing next to a small pond fed by a bright, scenic waterfall. Several medium-sized lizards sunbathed on the rocks, and when the women stopped, Lily pointed up into the trees. “Look at that parrot up there.”
“And over there! Several are watching from that branch. See them? Just there.” Isla walked toward the tree full of colorful birds while Celie strode to one of the rocks and sat to roll up her trousers.
She swiveled around and dangled her feet in the cool, clear water.
“No one will believe I soaked my feet in a freshwater pond beneath a waterfall on a deserted island.”
Ilona, Jonto, and Nico strode into the clearing and dropped bags containing everyone’s extra clothing and a basket filled with fruit, freshly baked bread, and sweetmeats the cook had prepared especially for the outing.
Jonto called out, “Can you swim? Feel free. The weather’s warm enough that you won’t catch a chill, and everyone brought a change of clothing as I suggested, right?”
Neither Celie nor Lily had to be invited twice. Celie stood and flung herself off the rock and whooped like an exuberant child, while Lily rolled up her trouser legs before she, too, launched herself into the water.
Isla smiled at her friends and went to sit on the warm rock where she hoped to sun herself.
Jonto sat on one side, and Ilona took the other.
The day couldn’t have been more perfect.
There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, and they sat and listened to the birds filling the air with their songs.
With a casual shrug, Jonto cleared his throat and said, “We know you can’t swim, and we’d like to take you to the shallow part of the pond and give you some lessons.
Knowing how to stay afloat is essential when you’re spending time on the ocean, and we’ll both be there to keep you safe. ”
“No. I couldn’t. I’m fine?—”
Ilona nudged her with an elbow. “Why do you think the captain changed his mind about having me along, My Lady? I’m an excellent swimmer, as is he, and between the two of us, we’ll have you floating and maybe even swimming in no time.”
Jonto added, “Not to mention Ilona teaches all new sailors who come into my fleet how to float and swim. She’s downplaying the fact that she’s really an expert in the water.
” He looked at Ilona with a teasing grin, “And, just so you know, I changed my mind because the lady spoke her mind to the Fitzgeralds, and I needed you to help me in place of Lady Fitzgerald, who said she knew how to swim. She assured me she’d teach Isla herself and my assistance wouldn’t be necessary.
Since she’s no longer available, I thought having you along to help was only proper.
” He turned and looked Isla directly in the eyes.
“This is your chance to spread your wings, Isla. Take a chance and do something that makes you uncomfortable. That’s part of what makes life so enjoyable. ”
Isla watched Celie and Lily, who’d swum to the waterfall and paddled beneath the cascading water, laughing and joking around. She wanted more than anything to wade in the shallow end, but her fears held her back.
Ilona slid off the rock, knelt before her, and gently rolled up her pant legs.
Isla pulled both feet onto the rock and wrapped her arms around her knees. “No, I can’t.”
The steady gaze Ilona turned on her calmed Isla’s beating heart. “My Lady. You can, and I’ll be right beside you. You’re braver than you think, but you’ll only discover what you’re capable of by leaning into your fears instead of allowing them to hold you down.” She stood and held out her hand.
Just coming on this trip was more adventure than Isla ever hoped to have. With firm resolve, she decided Ilona was right. It was time to face her fears rather than shrink away from them. Pursing her lips, she put her hand in Ilona’s and allowed her to lead her to the near end of the pond.
Jonto stepped to her other side, and they walked her into the pond together. When the water was up to her breasts, Ilona swept her arm beneath Isla’s knees, and when Isla stiffened and threw her arms around the other woman’s neck, Ilona simply held her in the water until she began to relax.
Jonto rested his fingers beneath her elbow and grinned. “That’s it. Relax. You know the water’s only chest deep here, so even if Ilona were to let you go, which she won’t, but even if she did, all you’d have to do is stand, and you’d be fine.”
His soothing tone calmed her fears up until the point when Ilona lowered her down to the water. She tightened her grip around her shoulders, not caring that her nails were digging into the swordswoman’s flesh.
Ilona merely grinned. “Put your head back and pull in a deep breath. There, can you feel how buoyant you are? Let go of my neck and allow the water to hold you up.”
They encouraged her with smiles and laughter, and by the end of an hour, Isla was relaxed and comfortable floating on her back.
After another half hour, they’d taught her to move her arms through the water to propel herself backward, albeit with Ilona’s hand on the small of her back and Jonto walking beside her.
The cool water caused her nipples to visibly peak, which might have been embarrassing if not for the fact that Jonto seemed determined to look anywhere but at her buoyant breasts.
Ilona, on the other hand, not only looked but winked mischievously when Isla glanced down to see how obvious her body’s reaction was beneath her soaked bodice.
To her acute embarrassment, the material clung to her breasts as though it were painted on.
When Ilona tipped her forward, Isla stiffened, throwing one arm around the woman’s shoulders until Ilona pushed down gently on her legs. “Relax. I only want you to drop your legs and stand. I want you to get comfortable walking through the water on your own.”
Isla lowered her feet to the pond’s silty bottom and then looked at where Celie and Lily were taking turns jumping from a low rock into the frothing water near the falls.
Without taking her arm from around Ilona’s shoulders, Isla tested her footing to make sure she was stable.
The water came to her chin and she shook her head.
“No, it’s too deep here.” She moved back several paces.
Ilona nodded agreeably. “One step at a time. You know how to float now. That’s a huge win for you, My Lady.” She glanced at Jonto. “I need to help Nico get the picnic ready. Do you mind staying with Lady Brighton?”
“While we’re on this trip, Ilona, I don’t mind if you call me Isla. Both Lily and Celie do, although Lily is playfully calling me Lady Brighton in front of the Fitzgeralds.” Mentioning her friends brought back a twinge of anxiety that Isla hadn’t felt since coming to the island.
Her face must have given her away because when Jonto took her by the elbow, he changed the subject immediately. “That’s fine, Ilona, I’ll stay with her.” He gestured toward the waterfall. “Let’s at least walk until the water becomes deep enough that you become uncomfortable again.”
Isla released her death grip on Ilona and resisted the urge to transfer it to Jonto.
With shouted encouragement from Celie and Lily, she moved one foot and then the other forward through tall, slender reeds.
“Whatever plant’s down there feels cool and smooth against my skin.
” The sensation was enjoyable until several small creatures bumped against her shin.
“Oh!” She knew live creatures inhabited freshwater ponds, but it hadn’t occurred to her that they’d want to touch her.
It happened again, harder this time, and she jumped sideways into Jonto. “What was that?”
Trying but failing to suppress his amusement, Jonto put his arm around Isla’s waist to steady her. The hand was beneath the waterline, out of sight of the others. “What was what?”
“Something bumped me.” The warmth of Jonto’s body against hers felt so right, but when she glanced up, she found Lily watching her. With a knowing smile, her lady’s maid dove headfirst beneath the falls. “Is there something behind the curtain of water?”
As if he’d been holding his breath, Jonto exhaled and gently rubbed his fingers up and down the bodice covering Isla’s ribs.
His distraction was evident when he answered.
“There’s a…a cave, a small cave, more like a platform, really, behind the curtain.
And some still water and a few boulders, similar to what we’re in right now.
” He guided her forward until the water was nearly up to her neck.
Isla stiffened when her feet began to rise.
“The key is to relax when you become buoyant. You’re no less buoyant in deep water than you are in shallow.” He moved his hand to the small of her back. “Remember, put your head back and relax.”
She did as instructed, and as before, her chest and thighs floated to the surface.
This time, she caught Jonto glancing at her protruding nipples.
He quickly looked away and whispered, “Relax. I won’t let anything happen to you.
” His free arm slowly moved back and forth through the water in short, languid strokes.
“How deep is the pond next to the falls?”