The American Bride - By Karla Darcy Page 0,23

her hands and after considerable practice had more or less mastered the elementary stroke.

In the beginning Cara had hiked up her long skirts but as she became more involved they had fallen into the water and she was now wet to the knees. She chaffed at the restrictions of society and wished she could throw off her clothes and join the children in the water. She knew how much easier it would be for them to learn if they could see how she cut the water.

"Can't you come in too, Miss Farraday?" Belin begged.

"'Fraid not, dear. I doubt if it would be considered quite the thing."

Standing in the shallows Cara wriggled her toes in the sand delighted with her freedom from the cramping half boots she had been wearing. She watched the children, smiling at the high-pitched giggles that accompanied their efforts. Calling instructions to Richard she was pleased at his attempts to help Belin to float. She applauded enthusiastically each of their efforts as they shouted for her to watch.

"I think we better call it quits for today. I don't want you to get too tired or you won't have any energy left for tomorrow. Besides I'm getting hungry."

Tucking up her skirts Cara waded out to the children. She reached down to take Belin's hand but as she touched the wet fingers, her waterlogged skirts tumbled down and the shift of weight tipped her forward. Before she could fall in the water Cara jerked her body backwards. But she had overcompensated and with flailing arms she splashed down into the cool water. Both children rushed to her aid but, realizing they were too late to help, threw themselves beside her, gasping in hysterics. Realizing the ridiculousness of her position Cara joined in the general hilarity. Still laughing she struggled to her feet, hugging the children to her and staggered toward the shore

Looking up, she was speared by Lord Wilton's brown eyes.

Julian sat a deep-chested bay stallion directly above the pile of clothing on the shore. He was accompanied by another gentleman who was also mounted. Cara felt the blood rushing to her face, and groaned in an agony of embarrassment.

"Good morning, Miss Farraday," drawled Lord Wilton. "Are we interrupting some more lessons?"

"Lord Wilton." Cara nodded with a composure she was far from feeling. She ground her teeth and straightened her back trying to appear unconcerned at her disheveled appearance. With a steady pace she strode out of the water reaching down to retrieve one of the towels she had brought along.

Trying to ignore the presence of Julian and his companion, Cara handed a towel to Richard who proceeded to dry himself as he cast angry glances at the intruders. Belin, full of enthusiasm from the exercise, was far from cowed by the presence of the adults. Chirping and chattering she shook herself like a puppy, spraying water in every direction.

"Miss Farraday was teaching us to swim, Uncle Julian. It's ever so nice." She wriggled happily as Cara tried to dry her. "Miss Farraday says I'll be a smashing swimmer 'cause I've got a secret."

"Perhaps you'll tell it to me some time, Belin."

Julian pushed back the black curls on his forehead with a leather-gloved hand, looking at the little girl with a puzzled expression. He watched her for a moment then raised an eyebrow at the governess. Without words Cara knew he was questioning the change in the child and she nodded her head in confirmation.

"I haven't seen either of you children in quite awhile. Perhaps you would care to join me and my guests tonight after dinner?"

Although the invitation was phrased as a question, his tone made it evident that it would be a command performance. In two days Cara had already had enough confrontations with Julian and wondered at the possibility of avoiding the evening's audience. She considered smallpox or typhoid but assumed the way her luck was running that any dread disease would arrive too late to spare her from the coming interview. Groaning inwardly before those sparkling brown eyes she bowed to the inevitable.

"I'm sure the children would be delighted."

With a flash of white teeth Julian grinned at the obvious omission of the young woman's own pleasure in the audience. He had been correct in his original supposition that the addition of Miss Farraday would enliven his household. The girl had a penchant for getting herself into awkward, not to say unusual, situations. Chuckling he stared at the bedraggled group. Conscious of his companion's restive movement,