Page 39 of A Seaside Scandal (Change of Heart #2)

The force of the water knocked me backward until I was completely submerged.

My back dragged across the sand until I found the surface again.

I sat up in the shallows where the wave had deposited me, sand all over my gown and hair.

Salt burned my eyes as I searched frantically for Margaret.

Thankfully, she had been washed up beside me, coughing and gasping for air.

She rubbed at her eyes with a shriek, kicking against the water that rushed toward us.

I scrambled toward her, pushing the wet hair away from her face.

My throat burned as I coughed out the last of the gritty water from my lungs.

I took her arm, and this time she didn’t fight against me as I helped her to her feet.

We trudged out of the water, but the moment we were free, she darted a few feet away from me on the sand.

“Does the salt burn your eyes?” I asked in as calm of a voice as I could manage. She still rubbed them, blinking hard. Her lips quivered.

I took a step toward her. “Let us go back to the house together. The sea is far too dangerous.”

She stopped rubbing her eyes for long enough to focus on something in the sand. She crouched down, picking up a small white shell. The distress in her features faded, a smile overtaking them.

I sighed, willing the rate of my heart to slow. “We cannot collect shells right now, Margaret. We must return to the house.”

She didn’t listen, following the edge of the water with fresh determination.

I followed closely behind her, my legs still shaking from the terror of the past few minutes.

What would have happened if I hadn’t noticed she was gone?

I didn’t dare imagine. At least now I knew where she was, even if I couldn’t convince her to listen to me.

Where was Susan? Had she not followed me out of the house?

I trudged behind Margaret, my lungs still burning.

In the distance, down the same path I had taken to the beach, I caught sight of a man. I rubbed my stinging eyes, squinting at his form as he drew closer. It was Jonathan, running across the sand in our direction.

I sighed with relief, increasing my pace to keep up with Margaret. I shivered, wrapping my arms around myself. Jonathan’s face came into clear view, his skin flushed from the exertion of his run. How had he found us?

I opened my mouth to explain what had happened, but his voice cut through the crashing of the waves. “Why the devil would you bring her out here?” His baffled look reminded me of the day he had found me swimming in Brighton.

I faltered back a step.

The wind pushed his hair back from his forehead, his raw frustration on full display.

Margaret continued walking down the beach, stooping over to collect another shell. Jonathan moved in front of her, blocking her path, but his eyes never left my face. “Margaret cannot swim, Alice! Putting yourself in danger to swim in the sea is foolish enough, but endangering my sister—”

“I rescued her!” I cut him off. I could hardly believe how quick he was to accuse me. My heart sank, yet I felt close to bursting with sudden anger. “She was already on the beach when I found her.”

His hard gaze took me in from head to toe before examining Margaret. “You have both been underwater. How do you expect me to believe—”

I marched toward him, hot anger galloping through my body.

“All you ever do is doubt me! You doubt my intentions, you doubt my character, and you doubt my judgment. I will not endure it a moment longer.” My hands curled into fists at my sides.

“You may think what you want of me, but I will not waste my breath attempting to explain myself to you. I already know you will not listen.” I glared up at his face, angry tears burning in my eyes now.

“You claimed that you wanted to honor me, but I don’t know how you expect to do that if you cannot take me at my word. ”

His expression faltered.

I stormed past him, but I heard his footfalls on the beach as he followed me. “Alice, wait.”

“No!” I whirled around, arms wide. I felt like a madwoman, dripping wet with seawater and sand, but after my fight with Charlotte, I had learned not to hold my tongue. “I have waited long enough for you!” I sniffed, my throat tight. “I have nothing to prove.”

I turned around again, but he jogged forward, grabbing me by the arm.

I jerked it away and faced him. He breathed heavily, eyes searching my face.

I refused to allow him to speak again, to cast any accusations at me that I did not deserve.

How dare he assume that I was foolish enough to guide Margaret outside to swim in the sea during a storm?

“What do you think of me, Jonathan?” I demanded. “Do you think me a fool?”

He shook his head, a twinge of pain on his brow. “No, of course not.” He reached for me, but I took a step back. His hand dropped through the empty air.

“Do you think me a fortune hunter?”

His eyes met mine in the dim light, a flicker of doubt within them.

“I fell in love with you in Brighton!” My face burned hot as the confession spilled from my lips.

“It was before I knew of your fortune, or your estate, or anything you could offer me. Charlotte knew how I felt, yet when she learned of your inheritance, she decided to pursue you herself. It infuriated me, and I felt certain I would lose.” The confession spilled out of me, and I was powerless to stop it.

“That morning at the beach, I had given up. You told me you didn’t want me.

” My throat ached, and I struggled to swallow.

“I didn’t know you would be there swimming at the same time. And I wish you hadn’t been.”

I knew I had nothing to prove, yet the confession left me feeling lighter and freer than I had in weeks. It was Jonathan’s choice what he believed, but I would no longer wait for his approval or attempt to earn his love. Mine had been freely given all along.

I saw something like regret in his eyes, but my tears were flowing down my cheeks now, and I could hardly see through them. I turned fast, marching up the beach as quickly as I could without running.

This time, he didn’t try to follow me.