Page 71 of A Well-Trained Lady

My face pinkened under his consideration. “Do you plan to wade in the sea, Augustus?”

He took a few steps toward us. “If you do.”

I tipped my head to the side. “You are fully aware I will not.”

“Then neither will I.”

“Well, I will.” Ruth sat herself in the sand and began removing her shoes and stockings. “Who will join me?”

Sarah eagerly plopped herself in the sand to begin removing her shoes also, as did Mr. Treynor with his boots and jacket. Miss Whitmore smiled at us and gave a small lift of her shoulders before doing likewise.

“It seems we are the only ones abstaining,” Augustus said, looking behind us.

I glanced over my shoulder, and to my great shock, Mrs. Brundage was pulling the stockings from her feet as well. I couldn’t help but laugh, and the sudden desire to join them overwhelmed me. When I tried to force it away, it refused to go.

Augustus drew closer. “You are contemplating getting in.”

“No, I am not.”

A smile pulled at one side of his mouth. “You are. I know that look.”

The others were now entering the water, their invigorating laughs drifting on the breeze. “It would be completely improper.”

“And completely enjoyable.”

I bit at my lip and gave a resolute shake of my head. “I cannot.”

His hand lifted, grazing my arm ever so gently with his finger. “Think of how refreshing the water would feel on your skin.”

Despite the way my skin prickled from his touch, I sent him a pointed glare. “Do you have no limits to your persuasion, sir?”

He laughed. “Not when, on our last outing, you so generously admitted I need only press you a little harder and you will comply.”

“You will not relent, will you?”

“I will. Once you get in.”

I looked back to the sea, my heart racing as I allowed my foolish desires to overcome reason. “Very well.” He was assessing me with wary eyes when I met his gaze, and I was certain he did not believe me. I hardly believed it myself. “But you must not watch as I take off my stockings.”

With a hint of a smile on his lips, he turned from me.

I sat, making quick work of removing my half-boots and discreetly untying my stockings before rolling them up and shoving them inside my shoes. I pulled off my gloves, and after a brief quandary, also removed my bonnet.

My stomach was aflutter as I stood and faced him. “I am ready.”

His gaze skirted over my bare feet. “You are in earnest, then? You truly intend to get in?”

I lifted an accusatory brow and set my hands on my hips. “You always were a bad influence on me.”

“Someone has to be,” he said, shrugging off his jacket and removing his waistcoat. It wasn’t until he started untying his cravat that my gaze lifted enough to notice his amused expression.

I diverted my eyes, feeling vulnerable without the shade of my bonnet to hide my blush. “I think I shall wet my toes.” As I neared the water, an incoming wave stretched up toward me, and I hitched my skirts higher than was proper, stepping into the cool water just as it retreated. The pleasure that ran through me was familiar, similar to that of wading in streams. Another wave drew close, and I took a few more cautious steps, allowing the water to wrap around my ankles.

“Bella, you got in.” Ruth hurried toward me, her skirts gathered and draped in one arm, the other arm swinging at her side.

The cold water from her movement splashed on the bare skin of my arms, causing me to draw back. “But I shall not get in as deep as you,” I said, noticing how the hem of her dress was already soaked through.

Ruth’s gaze followed mine to her collected skirts. “It will dry.” She paused before pulling back her foot and kicking water in my direction. “As will yours.”