Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

E liza had wondered if this was a bad idea.

But then she had seen Fitz standing there on the shore with nothing between him and the sun above them.

And had a feeling that this was one of the best ideas she had ever had.

She hadn't meant to spy upon him without revealing herself. She had seen him leave the house despite his obvious attempts to do so surreptitiously. She had followed him, considering that now might be the only time she would be able to have this conversation with him.

Then, before she could catch up and announce herself, he had begun to strip, and she had stood there behind a tree, unable to move for fear that in doing so she would announce herself, and she had a feeling that he wouldn't be pleased she had followed him here when he preferred solitude.

For he wouldn't be able to swim naked alone in her presence.

At least, not yet.

She smiled wickedly as she took a seat on a large rock on the embankment. She could see what had drawn him to this area of the estate. It truly was beautiful here, the waters reflecting the grey of the sky, melding with the green of the surrounding trees. She tapped her foot impatiently, wondering if now was the time to have this conversation, or if she should leave before he noticed her.

It took her too long to decide, however, for suddenly he broke through the surface, startling her, and she clenched her hands tightly together when he cast his eyes upon her.

"What are you doing here?" he called out, and she couldn't tell whether or not there was anger in his tone. More shocked resignation, she decided.

"I came to speak to you," she said, telling herself that she was not the type of woman to shirk from a man's response. Especially a man who was never angry. This was Fitz. She was sure he would be happy once he learned just why she had come.

"Could you not have spoken to me at any moment in the house? When I was clothed?" he asked as he trod water. The lake must be rather deep there.

"I could have, but this is not a conversation that I wanted anyone to overhear."

"That is a frightening prospect."

"Would you like to come closer? I'd prefer not to shout," she said, already slightly embarrassed at what she was about to ask. She didn't need the entire estate to overhear her.

"Very well," he grumped, swimming toward her until he stopped about half the distance closer, enough that she could speak in quieter tones, and he could stand on what appeared to be the lake's bottom beneath him, but not so close that she could see what was hiding beneath the surface.

A pity.

"What can I do for you, Lady Eliza?" he asked as though he was at a society event. It made her laugh.

"Are you bored, Fitz?" she asked, suddenly unable to get right to the point. It seemed far too forward, even for her.

"Bored? Now? Eliza, I am swimming in the lake on my family's estate in the middle of a Season in which I am supposed to be finding a wife and introducing changes to the law that have never been heard of before. Yesterday I engaged in a conversation about which servant the scullery maid prefers. So yes, I am bored."

He lifted his hands and threw them down into the water, causing splashes to reach the hem of her dress.

"Sorry," he murmured. "And in case you were wondering, I think she fancies the stablehand."

"It's fine," she said, trying to keep her chipper tone intact. "As it happens, I agree with you on that. Now, I also thought that my time here would be different. You can understand that I assumed Henrietta and Sloane would be here, as well as the rest of your sisters."

"Of course," he said, obviously curious about where she was going with this.

"Well, I have a proposition for you. One which would solve the boredom we are each dealing with."

He waited, one eyebrow lifted.

She took a breath, the words rushing forward.

"You see, for some time now, I have been very interested in the pleasures that can be found between man and woman."

His jaw dropped so suddenly she wondered whether he was going to faint. She could swim, but she wasn't sure she could swim well enough to rescue him from the bottom of the lake.

"I know that I will need to marry soon, and I understand that the relations between husband and wife can be… perfunctory."

"I-I suppose that depends on who you marry," he said, finally finding his voice, although his eyes remained round.

"Yes, I suppose, but the problem is, one would not know what type of husband she has until it is too late." She sighed. "Quite annoying."

He nodded slowly, jerkily, and she took that as a sign to continue.

"I decided that, before I marry, I would like to explore the pleasures that could be found so that I don't go the entirety of my life without experiencing them. That being said, I would like to do so safely and with a man whom I can trust. I have been considering options for some time."

He seemed to suddenly understand where she was going with this, as he shook his head and Eliza tried to push down the hurt that he would so quickly dismiss her.

"You are the brother to my friends. Your family is close to mine. You have experience so I would guess that you are proficient in such relations. And I expect you know how to prevent pregnancy, given that I haven't heard talk of you having any bastard children running about. With that being said, I was wondering if, in the time that we are both here at Appleton, you would share some of your expertise?"

He looked so dumbstruck that Eliza stood, prepared to enter the water to attempt to save him from drowning if it came to that.

"Are you going to be all right, Fitz? Perhaps you should come out of the water before you are overcome."

"I am not overcome," he argued. "I am… I am… surprised."

"That is to be understood," she said, knotting her hands together. "If you would like some time to think about this, please take it, although we cannot take overly too much time as soon enough your sisters might return or your detective might do his job and we will have to return to London."

"You have the same prospects as any other young woman. Why this sudden need?"

"I am curious. And I always like to satisfy my curiosity."

"You have listed all of the reasons why me, but… you hate me."

He lifted his eyes to hers, and she was surprised to find some hurt within them.

"I don't hate you," she said, telling the truth. "And even if I did, I could hate you on the inside and lie with you on the outside."

He lifted his wet hands, rubbing them over his face.

"All of the reasons you listed for us to be… intimate with one another are also the very reasons we should not be. Your family trusts me. I am trying to be a respected member of Parliament, which isn't easy with my reputation for being something of a scoundrel."

Eliza's heart fell. "So, you are worried that I would cause you greater scandal."

"Yes. No. I don't know."

Eliza nodded, her heart pounding as she asked the next question.

"Could you want me?"

"Am I what?"

"Are you attracted to me?" she asked, knowing that if he said no, it would wreck her, but she needed to know for then she would give up on this entirely. "Are you saying no because you feel that you would be repulsed by me?"

"Absolutely not," he said with such conviction that she believed him and her relief washed over her like a wave. "You are… most attractive."

"Thank goodness," she said, smiling wider than she likely should have.

She looked around her for a moment, knowing that this was her one chance. If she walked away now, it would be easy for him to say no in passing, and then any opportunity she had to reach this goal would be ruined.

She reached behind her, grasping the tie at the bottom of her dress's fastening and releasing it before shrugging her way out of the gown, her arms sliding through first.

"What are you doing?" he asked hoarsely.

"I am coming for a swim."

"No, you are not."

"Yes, I am. I am a fairly good swimmer, and the weather is quite warm."

"Yes, but you—I am—Eliza, this is not a good idea."

From the way he was eyeing her, however, she had a feeling that his words were at odds with his true feelings on the matter. She shed her gown and her stays, leaving just her chemise. She knew that once wet, the thin fabric would provide no barrier whatsoever, but if he said yes to her request, what did it matter?

She slipped off her shoes and stockings, setting her toes in the water, closing her eyes in welcome relief as it washed over them. Heavenly.

She began to wade in and noted that instead of backing away from her, Fitz was taking small steps toward her.

"Are you sure you can swim?" he asked, and she laughed.

"Of course."

He stepped closer, holding out a hand toward her. She took it and allowed him to lead her into the water until they were standing together, an arms-length distance between them. He was breathing heavily, his eyes dark with desire.

"This is a bad idea," he murmured, but inwardly, Eliza had already begun to celebrate, for she could tell that his reservations had begun to fall away from him.

"Don't you love bad ideas?" she asked.

"I do," he admitted. "But I have been trying to leave them behind."

"Sometimes a bad idea can become the best one you have ever had," she countered, taking a small step toward him, noting that he was doing the same, the gap between them closing ever so slowly. "That's where all the fun happens."

"You are no good for me," he murmured, lifting his fingers and running them along the side of her face as she leaned into his touch, shocked at how his caress remained on her face and yet the tremors ran through her entire body, warming her from the inside out to the cool water that surrounded them.

"Say no then," she challenged him, and he groaned as he moved his hands to her hips and hauled her in toward him so that there was no space left between them. His hard, muscular thighs molded against her soft ones, his chest broad and wet, covered in springy hairs beneath her fingertips.

He was so… masculine, and despite how difficult it had been to approach him, she was now rather proud of herself for doing so, for this was well worth it.

She was desperate to feel his lips on hers. He would know how to kiss her properly, not like the chaste experiments stolen in corners that she had attempted before.

"Very well," she breathed against his lips, which were but an inch away. "I shall find another to help me in my quest."

That did it – the moment the words were released, he growled, reaching out and wrapping his arms around her back, holding her still as his lips crashed down upon hers.

It was only then that she realized just exactly what she had gotten herself into.

She wasn't sure whether she should be scared or ecstatic.

Either way, this was one adventure that she was glad she hadn't missed, and one thing was for certain – she had chosen the right man.

Of that, she was sure.