is right,” Rose said. “Anyone could come by and see us.”
“Nonsense,” Lily said. “The men are all on the hunt and won’t be back for hours yet. And the women are at the lawn party. Besides, we’ve been walking for almost an hour, and how many people have we seen along the way?”
“None, but…” Sophie fidgeted.
“There you are, dear.” Lily loosened Alexandra’s corset and turned around. “Now you do me.”
“Lily, we don’t have towels,” Rose said tentatively.
“True,” Sophie said, “and our undergarments will be wet. We simply mustn’t—”
Alexandra smiled and raised her eyebrows. “Then we’ll swim in the nude.”
Sophie clasped her cheek. “Where do you get such ideas, Ally?”
“I read, Sophie. A little gem called The Ruby.”
Lily warmed as Alexandra loosened her corset. She’d heard of The Ruby, an underground paper that published erotic stories. But how on earth had Ally seen it?
“What is The Ruby?” Sophie shook her head. “Never mind. I don’t want to know.”
Alexandra laughed. “I’m sure you don’t. But we’re perfectly alone here. And if we don’t wear any garments, we can dry in the sun before we put our clothes back on.”
“We should at least keep our undergarments on,” Rose said.
“By all means, if it makes you feel better to have a soggy chemise and drawers, then do so,” Alexandra said, “but I’m going in naked.”
“So am I!” Lily tossed her dress in a heap and stepped out of her corset and drawers.
“Lily, at least keep your chemise on,” Rose said.
“For goodness’ sake, Rose, there’s not another person within sight.”
Lily lifted the delicate garment over her head and ran into the water where Alexandra was already splashing around. The warm waves flowed over her naked form like a sensual embrace. Her mind wandered to the bath she had shared with Daniel that morning, but she shooed the thought away. She drifted over to Alexandra, where the water was nearly five feet deep. Her breasts floated on the surface as she splashed her cousin.
“Wouldn’t it be wonderful,” Alexandra said, grinning, “if some young men came by right about now?”
“That would be embarrassing, Ally.” But Lily couldn’t help giggling.
“No, it would be hilarious,” Alexandra continued. “They would be embarrassed beyond measure. They would see us frolicking about like two naked water nymphs, laughing and splashing each other. They would probably fall right off their horses!”
Lily turned to where they had left their clothes. “You were kidding, weren’t you Ally? I see a horse yonder.”
“Oh my.” Sophie gestured to them. “Stay under the water. If he comes close enough to see, duck your heads at the same time.” She pulled Rose away behind a cluster of large trees.
“Who could it be other than some servant out and about?” Lily said.
“You’re probably right,” Alexandra agreed. “Let’s just keep our treasures under the water until he goes away.”
“Oh dear God.” Lily gulped.
The beautiful hair she had washed and caressed earlier drifted in the slight breeze. Daniel sat atop a majestic black stallion. He wore a brown riding outfit and his shirt was open at the neck. His hair blew softly in the warm April breeze.
“What is it, Lily?” Alexandra nudged her arm. “Do you recognize him?”
“I’m afraid so. It’s the duke.”
“I’m going to faint,” Alexandra said.
Lily steadied her cousin. Their secret would be safe with Daniel, she was sure, but she didn’t know how to tell Ally without divulging her affair. “He probably doesn’t see us. Come on, let’s just move over here, towards the rocks, until he goes away.”
Daniel rode closer, guiding his horse around the piles of clothing. He looked out into the pool. Ally was turned away, but his eyes met Lily’s. She gave him a quick nervous grin. His head rolled back in gales of laughter as he turned his horse around and rode away. When she could no longer see him in the distance, she poked Ally. “You can turn around now. He’s gone.”
“He saw us,” Alexandra said. “I heard him laughing.”
“He couldn’t have known who we were. Our backs were turned. There’s no need to worry.”
“He may have recognized you, Lily. I saw you dancing with him last night.”
Lily’s skin heated, though not from the steaming bath. “While he was dancing with me, he wasn’t looking at my back. How would he recognize me?”
Rose and Sophie returned as Lily and Ally stepped out of the water.
“It was the duke!” Sophie said.
“Yes, we know,” Lily said. “I’m sure he didn’t know who we were.”
“He’s so handsome,” Ally gushed.
Lily looked away. “Of course, he’s attractive, but