Chapter 23

Chapter Twenty-Three

" P unting? She cannot be serious." Dominic gaped at his cousin.

He and Frederick were walking down to the lake together. It was the day after they had found the puppies, and Dominic had been checking on them in the kennels when Frederick had found him and informed him of the next event.

"Have you ever known Grandmother to jest about such a thing?" Frederick raised an eyebrow at him.

"No," Dominic sighed.

"And it's not just a punt. It is some kind of strange scavenger hunt. Or rather, she has decided it would be funny for the men to pick wildflowers for the women and for the women to find something for the men once we have reached the other side of the lake."

Dominic groaned. "Of course. She would use it as an excuse to play the match maker."

"I hope your lady love can swim," Frederick muttered.

"I can, but why would I need to?" Charlotte's voice sounded in his ear.

Dominic jumped, neither he nor his cousin had noticed Charlotte approach. He turned to her, his breath catching as he saw the smile on her face. She had done her hair in a different style, and he could not help but appreciate how beautiful she looked.

"Because my cousin is a poor punter at the best of times." Frederick darted out of the way as Dominic tried to thump him.

"I am not." He scowled.

"I do not think I have ever seen a boat capsize as many times as I have seen when you are at the helm." Frederick added to Charlotte in a stage whisper, "Honestly, by the time we were done, I might as well have swum. If I did not know any better, I would have thought you had done it on purpose."

"Perhaps I thought the water would do you good," Dominic said sweetly.

"And what if you decide it would do me good?" Charlotte raised an eyebrow at him.

"I do not think that is likely," he said.

"Oh?" She canted her head towards him.

"You are a cargo entirely too precious to risk dunking in the river," he said, attempting to sound jovial though his words came out rather more earnest than he had anticipated.

"You flatterer," Charlotte said though her cheeks coloured.

"It is true," Dominic replied.

"And what if I decide to dunk you in the river?" She grinned mischievously at him.

His stomach twisted, and it felt for a moment as though he had lost his footing. He shook his head and smiled at her. "Then I imagine we will both get wet. Or you will be stranded, unless you know how to punt."

"Sadly, I do not have the balance for it. I fear that if I were to try, I would not only capsize the boat but sink it as well." Charlotte gave him a sidelong look. "Thankfully, I do know how to swim."

"Well, that is a relief." Frederick gave the two of them a look.

Dominic felt his cheeks redden and gestured in the direction of the lake. "We should probably get to the boats. I expect if we are too long in getting there, we shall be stuck with something that is half rotted."

"Well then, we should do our best to avoid that," Charlotte said slipping a hand in his.

Without thinking, Dominic twined their fingers together, half noticing how natural it felt for them to walk hand in hand. He caught Frederick looking at them, but his cousin did not say anything. It is just for appearances. That is it.

"I think I shall take my leave of you. I do not relish the thought of being trapped on a boat with you two lovebirds." Frederick doffed an imaginary cap at Charlotte and began to run.

"We are n—" Dominic began, but his cousin had already raced out of earshot. "Ridiculous man."

"I suppose it will help convince the others… I hear I am to pick something you would enjoy from the other side of the lake?" Charlotte said, gesturing to the horizon.

"And I will need to find you wildflowers," Dominic agreed.

"There are some lovely flowers in bloom this time of year; I'm sure you will pick something really rather fetching," she said.

"Such faith in me; are you not worried it is misplaced?" He winked at her.

"No. Should I be?" she laughed softly, but Dominic saw a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes.

"No." He squeezed her hand reassuringly. "You can trust me."

"That is good to know." Charlotte's smile seemed to hold something else that Dominic could not quite name.

They lapsed into silence, and Dominic breathed in the cool air.

He wanted to say more, but at that moment, they arrived at the shoreline and saw the throng of people gathered at the lake edge, clamouring to get into one of the punts.

"Oh good, it looks like there are still many boats." Charlotte tugged him towards the crowd. "Come on, let's go."

As they jostled amongst the crowd, and the mob pressed against them, Dominic felt a familiar sensation begin to steal over him. Not now, please not now.

His muscles tensed, and he swallowed, feeling nausea begin to steal over him. He forced himself to focus on the task at hand and guided Charlotte safely into a punt. He pushed off from the bank, ignoring the shaking that was spreading through his limbs.

"Well that was certainly —" Charlotte began, promptly cutting off when she saw him. "Dominic, what is wrong?"

"It is nothing." He shook his head, immediately regretting it.

The punt swayed ominously, and he thought he would lose his balance. It felt as though the world was closing in around him, as though the sky were suddenly falling.

His hands shook on the pole, and he almost let it slip from his shaking hands.

"Please, do not do this. Not now." He sank to his knees, not trusting himself to stand.

The boat rocked again, and he gripped the edges harder. He was vaguely aware of sounds but could not focus on them.

"Dominic. Dominic!" He felt a hand on his cheek, warmth spreading from the touch of her fingers. "Sweetkins!"

He jerked his head towards Charlotte's voice. His eyes found her green ones. He followed the movement of her lips, and then he felt something tickle under his nose. He breathed in the smell of crushed lavender.

The nausea started to fade. He breathed in again. He was aware of Charlotte counting, and he began to match his breaths to her count. He let himself lean into her reassuring touch.

"There. Good. Keep going; you are safe. I am here. You will be well, Sweetkins," Charlotte murmured, her fingers gently stroking his face.

He did not trust himself to answer, instead focusing on his breath. He had no idea how much time had passed, but eventually, the world returned to normal.

Charlotte was still cupping his cheek, her face so close to his that he could almost see her eyelashes. She seemed to realise how close they were and hastily dropped her hand. He missed the warmth of it almost immediately.

He tried to smile at Charlotte, but it felt thin and weedy. "Thank you."

"Of course." Charlotte looked worried. "What happened?"

"It was the press of the crowd, I think. I hoped if I ignored it, it would go away." He massaged his neck. "I have never been very good in such situations. Still, it did mean we have a good punt."

"Is there anything I can do that might help in future?" Charlotte asked.

"You help just by being there," he replied without thinking.

She flushed and looked away. He cleared his throat and tugged at his collar.

"You know, ignoring such things rarely makes them better. Perhaps, in the future, you will simply reach for the lavender instead." Charlotte gestured to his pockets.

"I forgot to get any." He shrugged and patted himself as if to demonstrate just how empty his pockets were.

"Then I will have to make sure you always have some on you." Charlotte shook her head and then pursed her lips thoughtfully.

"Always?" Dominic teased even as his heart skittered in his chest. It must be left over from my attack.

"Well as long as we are together," Charlotte amended, her colour deepening in a most endearing way. "Perhaps that is what I shall get you when we reach the other side."

"I think there are lavender gardens on that side of the lake." Dominic frowned as he tried to remember.

"Wonderful." Charlotte looked at him, clearly still worried about him. "Are you sure you are well?"

"I just… Oh." Despite his best efforts, at some point, Dominic had lost his grip of the pole.

It was resting on the edge of their punt which was moving in the opposite direction. He dove towards it and managed to grab it with a triumphant yell. Unfortunately, his yell was drowned out by a splash.

He turned around in time to see Charlotte tumble from the punt and into the water.