Page 13 of A Seaside Scandal (Change of Heart #2)
Edmund and Mr. Croft followed the perimeter of the beach at a slow pace, seemingly engaged in conversation.
My heart picked up speed the same moment my horse did.
Charlotte kept up easily enough, but we left Mama in the distance as she walked with her parasol across the grass.
The brisk air cooled my skin, just as chilled as it had been that morning at the secluded beach.
The mist from the nearby sea made my hair frizzle against my face, yet Charlotte’s somehow remained silky smooth.
I led my horse into a smooth canter, and I even managed to smile through my nerves. I caught Edmund’s gaze first, offering a wave—and also demonstrating my ability to maintain my seat with the reins in one hand.
Mr. Croft turned his head, his eyes landing on mine.
He studied me for a brief moment before bringing his horse to a halt.
His gaze shifted to Charlotte, then back to me, a furrow in his brow.
A pinch of regret almost made me drop my reins.
Perhaps I should not have joined Charlotte. Would he think me too forward?
“Alice.” Edmund gave me a curious look as I led my horse up beside his.
I hoped he knew that I wasn’t still attempting to match him with Charlotte.
As angry as I was with her now, I would never wish her to be my sister-in-law.
She did not deserve a man as wonderful as my brother, that much was certain.
My blood still boiled with anger beneath my veins, but I held my head high, a pleasant smile on my lips.
“A fine morning, is it not?” I beamed up at the sky, which was covered with just the right number of clouds.
I was proud of how calm I must have appeared, but beneath the brass buttons of my riding habit, my heart was pumping fast. My hands were sweating inside my gloves.
Mr. Croft watched me with those dark brown eyes, and I sensed a wall of sorts between us.
He must have still been thinking of the punch incident.
“Indeed,” Edmund replied. I was grateful he didn’t question my decision to join them after I had already refused multiple times. I had been keeping my promise to Charlotte, and all the while she had been plotting to betray me.
She stopped her horse beside mine, tossing her head to one side as she glanced at the landscape behind the two men.
“I have never gone riding with the sea behind me before. It is undeniably exnihilating.” Her lashes fluttered downward before she lifted her gaze to Mr. Croft’s face.
“I simply could not resist such a beautiful view.”
He looked down at the mane of his horse, his jaw tight.
Little did he know that he was the beautiful view Charlotte was referring to.
Her method of flirting involved a certain tone of voice and movement of her features rather than anything direct.
I, on the contrary, had never been good at flirting. I simply smiled far too much instead.
As a frequent recipient of Charlotte’s flirtatious behavior over the years, Edmund had become quite skilled at recognizing it.
He cleared his throat. Even though Charlotte had directed her remarks at Mr. Croft, Edmund was the one to reply.
“A swim in the sea is the most exhilarating, I think.” He chuckled.
“Mr. Croft convinced me to visit the dippers this morning.”
I gasped. “You went out in one of the bathing machines? You?”
Edmund’s smile spread wider. “It was a dare that I couldn’t refuse. I expect all my future ailments to be prevented by that single dip in the healing waters of Brighton.”
Mr. Croft laughed. “I never made such a promise.”
“But it is implied,” I quipped. “Do you frequent the waters yourself, Mr. Croft?” The question was more abrupt than I intended, but I wanted to prevent Charlotte from speaking first.
His gaze flickered over my face for a moment, then shifted to the sea. His manner was much colder than before, and it sent a pang of disappointment through my stomach. “I have on occasion,” he said. “But not in the traditional way.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Oh? In what way?”
His mouth quirked upward, but he was silent for long enough for Edmund to interject with a laugh.
“I don’t think Mr. Croft wishes to paint such an indelicate picture of himself in the company of ladies.”
Charlotte was quicker to decipher the comment than I was. A sly smile overtook her face, and I strongly suspected the blush on her cheeks had been conjured up at will. How on earth did she do that?
Mr. Croft wore a full smile now, and I couldn’t help but stare at it. “I have always ensured my swims are brief, and only in secluded areas,” he said. “If I am going to swim in the sea, I don’t care to have a dipper pushing me underwater by the shoulders.”
“It was quite a strange experience, I must confess.” Edmund grinned.
“Well, if you ever wish to swim without a dipper, take the beach eastward,” Mr. Croft said. “You’ll be sure to find a place without onlookers, especially early in the morning.”
My ears perked up. Had Mr. Croft gone searching for a secluded beach just as I had?
Had he found the same one? A surge of jealousy gripped me.
Why was it so much easier for men to do daring things like plunging into the sea for a solitary swim?
They were not even required to be fully clothed.
They could laugh about it, but all I could do was beg one of my companions to accompany me to the bathing machines so a dipper could push me underwater by the shoulders. It was entirely unfair.
I wanted to say how I had stumbled upon such a beach, but I kept my mouth shut. Mr. Croft was likely to think I was telling tales simply to relate to him, just as Charlotte had at the ball about my horse and her love of the countryside.
Charlotte edged her mount in front of mine, flicking a curl from her forehead as she regarded Mr. Croft with a coy smile. “How scandalous of you to recommend such a practice to Edmund. What if you were to encounter unexpected onlookers?”
He gave her a brief glance. “Then I suppose I would have to find a new beach.”
She looked down, shielding her eyes with her lashes as she always did before scooping her gaze upward. “I admire your resolve, Mr. Croft. No one should ever think to stop you from obtaining what you want.”
He cleared his throat, exchanging a glance with Edmund.
My brother didn’t bother to hide his amusement.
Surely he was happy to see that Charlotte’s flirtations were directed at someone else now.
I didn’t want to contribute to the awkwardness in the air, so I sat still on my horse, my jaw tight.
The skirts of Charlotte’s riding habit rested just inches from my horse’s mouth.
The mare shifted restlessly, but remained in her place as she ought.
I wished she would nibble on the fabric. Perhaps give it a nice, firm tug.
Edmund watched me with a look of concern. His features were hesitant for a short moment, but then he turned his attention to Charlotte. “Miss Lyons, in all the years I have known you, I have yet to see you on the saddle of a horse. Are you comfortable in your seat?”
I fought against a devious smile. It was an honor to have a brother so fully on my side of a battle. Did he realize he was directly contradicting what she had claimed at the ball?
Charlotte’s lips pinched together, but then she let out a shrill laugh. “My riding lessons were always conducted privately on the grounds of my family estate. I am quite comfortable indeed.”
“Would you take a ride with me to the edge of that path?” Edmund gestured into the distance. “I should like to see the result of these lessons.”
Her smile froze, and she laughed again. It was a tempting offer, to be sure. Edmund had always been her first choice of a prize. She shot a glance at me, then at Mr. Croft as the hesitation built up in her features. “Y-yes. Of course.” The words finally spilled out.
Edmund nodded toward the empty grass ahead as he led his horse forward. Charlotte followed him, but not without another peek behind her shoulder. Her eyes were a shade too possessive in Mr. Croft’s direction as Edmund drew her farther away.
My heart thudded fast in my chest. Edmund’s motive was clear. He was playing matchmaker, just as I had always tried to do with him. It was quite unlike him, but I couldn’t think of any other explanation.
Intentionally or not, he had left me entirely alone with Mr. Croft.