a slight chill. Lucy was glad she’d changed into a thicker cotton riding habit and sturdy shoes.
Will also had on a coat and he seemed glad of it.
They rested the horses, allowing them to graze nearby.
“Would you like to sit on the dock or in the grass? That looks like a nice spot.” He unhooked the basket and the blanket, holding them with one arm while he offered the other to Lucy.
Lucy placed her fingers around the crook of his elbow as she considered their options. “Why don’t we take the boat out? We can eat on the water.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
They walked down the dock to the boat. Lucy held the basket and blanket while Will climbed in. She handed them to him. “I’ve got you.” He held out his hand for her.
“Thanks, Will.” She took it, using her free hand to hold up her skirts.
Once she was settled Will removed his jacket, laying it next to him, and took up the paddles. “Should we go out into the middle?”
Lucy grinned. She’d never been on a boat before. “Let’s.”
Will rowed for several minutes. Lucy couldn’t help but admire the way his muscles worked under the thin muslin shirt. Beads of sweat collected along his brow and upper lip.
“Are you admiring my manliness?” His eyes sparked with mischief.
She blushed. “Perhaps I’m wondering why you’re making those grunting noises.”
He laughed. “I don’t grunt. I roar with virile masculinity.” He winked and made a point to grunt even louder.
She covered her mouth to hide her laughter. “Are you sure it isn’t because rowing is too taxing, Mr. Godwin?”
“It isn’t easy, Miss Channing. Perhaps you’d like to give it a try?” He stopped rowing and held out the ends to her.
But she shook her head. “I don’t want to accidentally send them into the depths.”
“Well then you should admire me quietly,” he said with pretend brutality.
“But it’s too much fun to tease you, Mr. Godwin.”
They’d reached the middle of the lake. He stopped rowing and stowed the oars inside the boat. “Hopefully the cook packed us something to drink as well.
“Let’s see.” Lucy opened the basket.
Inside were a multitude of foods and two bottles. “Success,” she said, holding the bottle up triumphantly.
“Good.” Will sat up straight and rolled his shoulders. “Rowing is good for the shoulders, biceps, and triceps. Wow, they are burning.”
“Let me find us some glasses and I’ll pour you—”
“No glasses needed,” Will interrupted, taking the bottle from her. He popped the top and drank straight from the bottle.
A proper lady would be shocked by his lack of manners, Lucy knew. Instead she took the bottle back and did the same, closing her eyes against the bright sun. The bottle’s contents ran down her throat, immediately cool and refreshing. She decided right then and there that this moment was one of her favorites. “I can’t imagine how I ever lived without you,” she said, blurting the feelings in her heart.
Will awarded her with another winning smile. “The feeling is one hundred percent mutual, Lucy.” She offered him back the bottle, but he declined. “Well then, show me what we’re eating.”
Lucy pulled out two different kinds of cheeses. They’d been precut. Fresh baked bread that was still warm. Apples and grapes.” She handed Will an apple and he immediately took a bite.
“Mmmmmm, that’s good.” He took another one.
Lucy tried hers and had to agree. It was the perfect combination of sweetness and tartness. She gave Will a hunk of bread and some cheese.
While they ate, two ducks landed and settled on the water. Will and Lucy listened to their quacking.
“What do you think they’re saying?” Will asked.
“I have no idea. They’re ducks.”
Will stuck his hand in the water and flicked it at her. “That’s why you make it up.”
“She wiped her face with a napkin the cook had been kind enough to pack.”
“Very well.” She finished chewing her bread and
Will also had on a coat and he seemed glad of it.
They rested the horses, allowing them to graze nearby.
“Would you like to sit on the dock or in the grass? That looks like a nice spot.” He unhooked the basket and the blanket, holding them with one arm while he offered the other to Lucy.
Lucy placed her fingers around the crook of his elbow as she considered their options. “Why don’t we take the boat out? We can eat on the water.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
They walked down the dock to the boat. Lucy held the basket and blanket while Will climbed in. She handed them to him. “I’ve got you.” He held out his hand for her.
“Thanks, Will.” She took it, using her free hand to hold up her skirts.
Once she was settled Will removed his jacket, laying it next to him, and took up the paddles. “Should we go out into the middle?”
Lucy grinned. She’d never been on a boat before. “Let’s.”
Will rowed for several minutes. Lucy couldn’t help but admire the way his muscles worked under the thin muslin shirt. Beads of sweat collected along his brow and upper lip.
“Are you admiring my manliness?” His eyes sparked with mischief.
She blushed. “Perhaps I’m wondering why you’re making those grunting noises.”
He laughed. “I don’t grunt. I roar with virile masculinity.” He winked and made a point to grunt even louder.
She covered her mouth to hide her laughter. “Are you sure it isn’t because rowing is too taxing, Mr. Godwin?”
“It isn’t easy, Miss Channing. Perhaps you’d like to give it a try?” He stopped rowing and held out the ends to her.
But she shook her head. “I don’t want to accidentally send them into the depths.”
“Well then you should admire me quietly,” he said with pretend brutality.
“But it’s too much fun to tease you, Mr. Godwin.”
They’d reached the middle of the lake. He stopped rowing and stowed the oars inside the boat. “Hopefully the cook packed us something to drink as well.
“Let’s see.” Lucy opened the basket.
Inside were a multitude of foods and two bottles. “Success,” she said, holding the bottle up triumphantly.
“Good.” Will sat up straight and rolled his shoulders. “Rowing is good for the shoulders, biceps, and triceps. Wow, they are burning.”
“Let me find us some glasses and I’ll pour you—”
“No glasses needed,” Will interrupted, taking the bottle from her. He popped the top and drank straight from the bottle.
A proper lady would be shocked by his lack of manners, Lucy knew. Instead she took the bottle back and did the same, closing her eyes against the bright sun. The bottle’s contents ran down her throat, immediately cool and refreshing. She decided right then and there that this moment was one of her favorites. “I can’t imagine how I ever lived without you,” she said, blurting the feelings in her heart.
Will awarded her with another winning smile. “The feeling is one hundred percent mutual, Lucy.” She offered him back the bottle, but he declined. “Well then, show me what we’re eating.”
Lucy pulled out two different kinds of cheeses. They’d been precut. Fresh baked bread that was still warm. Apples and grapes.” She handed Will an apple and he immediately took a bite.
“Mmmmmm, that’s good.” He took another one.
Lucy tried hers and had to agree. It was the perfect combination of sweetness and tartness. She gave Will a hunk of bread and some cheese.
While they ate, two ducks landed and settled on the water. Will and Lucy listened to their quacking.
“What do you think they’re saying?” Will asked.
“I have no idea. They’re ducks.”
Will stuck his hand in the water and flicked it at her. “That’s why you make it up.”
“She wiped her face with a napkin the cook had been kind enough to pack.”
“Very well.” She finished chewing her bread and
Similar Books
