The American Bride - By Karla Darcy Page 0,44

her body. She knew Mrs. Clayton would scold her if the housekeeper saw her with the bright sun shining on her face. A lady of fashion was supposed to have skin the color of white magnolias. Fashion be hanged, Cara thought, relishing the heated warmth that invaded her body. She wriggled her toes in the soft bottom of the lake.

Smiling, Cara shaded her eyes against the glare and watched Belin bouncing up and down in the water. Lots of outside activities had done wonders for both Richard and Belin. They were thriving with the exercise and the fresh air. Cara's heart swelled with pride as she acknowledged the transformation that had taken place in the children. Belin was taking pride in her appearance even though she had not given up many of her wilder ways. Richard had lost the unhealthy pallor, replaced by a hearty tan from his outdoor activities. His face no longer held its habitual withdrawn expression but was now more often wreathed in smiles.

"Watch, Miss Farraday," Richard shouted.

Applauding and laughing at the boy's antics, Cara's mind wandered to Julian. Much to the mystification of the household he had begun a week of social calls, ostensibly to get better acquainted with the other landowners. From Glum, Cara learned the real reason behind the sudden flurry of visits. According to the worried headgroom, Julian was hunting for the girl he had seen in the woods. For safety's sake Cara had given up her morning ride and now chaffed at the inactivity. Eventually he would lose interest and then she could continue her riding.

As if she had conjured up the man, Cara sensed Julian's presence even before she saw him. Although he approached her and stood quietly beside her, she ignored him. Groaning inwardly at his intrusion, Cara fought to control the tranquil expression on her face. She concentrated on Richard as he swam across the water.

"Well done, Richard," Julian shouted to the puffing boy.

Startled by his uncle's unexpected presence, Richard gulped a mouthful of water and rose coughing in the waist deep water. When Richard stopped choking, he stood red-faced, his expression setting in the sullen look that Cara dreaded. She waited for Julian's caustic comment.

"How's the water, Belin?" Julian asked, ignoring the sulking boy. "Do you suppose I'd freeze to death if I came in?"

Richard stood transfixed, eyes widening in disbelief as Julian pulled off his boots and threw his jacket onto the sandy shore. Belin squealed with delight as her uncle's lithe body cut the water beside her. Julian swam out to the center of the lake, then turned and swam back to stand beside his nephew whose expression was one of dazed awe. Cara, as amazed as the children by the man's behavior, sank down on the towels with her back against a tree trunk. A smile of pure happiness flitted across her face as she watched Julian work with one child, and then the other.

Her eyes roamed over the muscular body of the man who was her husband. His wet shirt clung to his chest, molding and rippling with his every move as he showed Richard how to stroke with his arms to best advantage. As her eyes dropped to the flat stomach and lean shanks of the man in the water, Cara blushed. She had to admit that Julian was a magnificent specimen with the agile grace of a sleek animal. Leaning against the rough bark, Cara watched the frolics of the threesome in the water.

This was a totally different Julian. In her first interview with the man, he had been sarcastic, arrogant and condescending. There was little evidence of these traits now as he played with the children. He was gentle but firm with Belin, coaxing her out into deeper water then swooping her up in his arms when she faltered. Watching the adoration on Richard's face Cara prayed that this was not just a momentary whim of Julian's. The boy needed his guardian's companionship, needed a person of his own class to act as role model. If only Julian's interest in the boy would last, Richard's life would be substantially more stable.

Conscious that Julian would safeguard the children, Cara's thoughts slipped backwards in time to her own childhood. The summer had always been wonderful, full of long hours outside. Her parents had given her a great deal of freedom, she realized now, although at the time she took it all for granted. She swam and rode almost every day, falling asleep at