Page 72 of A Well-Trained Lady

I gasped as the water made contact with my skin a second time, and my body went rigid. “You should not have done that.” Ruth’s hands lifted in apology, but my smile betrayed me. “I may be out of practice, but you know I could once paddle with the best of them.” Gathering my skirts in one arm, I leaned down and splashed the retreating water in her direction.

A delighted squeal reached me in near unison to the water she paddled back at me.

“Where are my reinforcements?” I called, glancing at the others.

Miss Whitmore and Sarah gladly joined in, and the sound of shrieks and giggles echoed around us, my own interspersed with theirs.

Men’s laughter from the shore caught my attention, and I glanced over to find Augustus and Mr. Treynor watching us with amused expressions. “Surely you are not going to just stand there and watch me be defeated?” I called.

Augustus started in our direction, but when he came close enough, I concentrated my attack on him.

“Traitor,” he said, lifting his hands to shield himself from my meager attempts.

As he neared, I moved deeper to keep him from apprehending me, the bottom of my skirts now hanging limply in the water.

“Bella,” Augustus called, pointing behind me, and I thought he meant to cause a distraction when a cold wall of water hit against me with such force, it set me off balance. The momentum thrust me toward him, and Augustus reached out in time to grasp my hand as I tumbled forward onto my knees. My breath caught as the cold water moved over my lower back and legs, but Augustus pulled me upward just in time to prevent a full submersion.

Remorse was evident in his face as he took hold of my arms and lifted me to my feet. “I …” His words trailed off as we both glanced down at my soaked day dress clinging to my body and the white muslin fabric embedded with sand. “I’m so sorry.”

His apology conjured a whirlpool of memories from our youth—him always asking forgiveness for something he had convinced me to do against my better judgment. Without warning, a laugh burst from me.

“Bella?” Augustus asked, sounding more concerned by my laughter than consoled.

A confirmation of my joyous state shot through me. “I am well. More than well, actually.”

A grin pulled up on one side of his mouth. “And you realize you are soaked through from the waist down?”

I nodded, burrowing my toes into the coarse grains of sand beneath my feet as another wave pressed against me. “And I have not felt so alive in years.”

He looked back at the others standing in the shallower water, their expressions equally concerned. “All is well,” he called. “Bella decided she would like to try sea bathing.”

Without another thought, I put my arm beneath the water and pulled up a handful of wet sand, tossing it toward him. It spattered across his buckskin breeches and shirtsleeves.

He looked down at the mess I’d made, and when his eyes lifted to mine, they were full of familiar mischief.

As he started toward me, my heart leapt, and I lifted a hand in concession. “I now realize I should not have done that.” My laugh betrayed me.

He shook his head as he drew closer, determination in his features. “That is twice now you have attacked me with no provocation.”

Seeing as he had no intention of being pacified by my empty attempts, I turned to flee, but he bounded forward, wrapping his arms around my waist and lifting me into the air. By the time he set me down in front of the others, I was laughing so hard I could hardly draw a breath. “As you were all witness to her treason, I bring her before you to ask what punishment should be imparted.” His arms remained around my waist, holding me close against him to prevent my escape. “Opinions? Verdicts?”

“Grant her mercy,” Sarah said.

“I concur.” Ruth smiled, taking in my drenched skirts. “She seems to have received sufficient justice already.”

“Hear! Hear!” Mr. Treynor called.

Miss Whitmore also wore a smile on her face, though I was certain it could not be real, and the thought chastised me. How would I feel if the man I loved had his arms wrapped around another woman? A woman who had declared to me that she was set on obtaining someone else’s suit? But was I still set on that offer? With Augustus so near, I was certain I was.

“See, there?” I said, attempting to twist enough in his arms to look up at him. “I believe it is unanimous.”

“No.” Augustus said, pulling me tighter and making my heart pound against my chest. “As I am also voting.”

“The wronged do not get to sit on the jury.”

“So you admit that I have been wronged?” He glanced between the others. “Does anyone wish to recant their pardon now that she has so willingly admitted her guilt?” Augustus turned us toward Mrs. Brundage. “Mother? What say you?”

“As though I would let you enact a punishment on poor Miss Godwin.” Mrs. Brundage’s blue eyes sparkled. “Her nature is such that she would not act without first being provoked.”