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As she walked closer by the water, she noticed several children splashing in a section of ocean.

In the distance, she saw three young women wading in the water, splashing each other and laughing.

Smiling, Tabitha recalled when she had done this as a child and young woman.

Would it hurt to wade through the water right now, especially if others were doing it?

Cautiously, she stepped into the cold water. She sucked in a quick breath from the chilling temperature, but within seconds, her body became used to it. Gradually, she wandered a little deeper until the water reached her shins.

As much as she enjoyed this, she must make sense of her thoughts. Unfortunately, they had been jumbled since she first saw Nic as the clergyman. If she really looked back on it, she’d been confused from the first time they’d met, especially after their first kiss.

They’d been at Diana’s grandmother’s cottage, and Nic and Lord Tristan had shown up unexpectedly. Neither she nor Diana realized that the men were suspicious of Tabitha and wondered if she had been the one murdering the lords of the realm in the middle of the night.

Tristan had asked to speak with Diana in private, so that left Nic alone with Tabitha.

The rogue was charming with his words until soon he’d convinced her that she had wanted his kiss.

To this day, she didn’t know how he was able to accomplish that, but the kiss had been more thrilling than she’d expected.

His passion literally left her mindless.

The thing she remembered most about that kiss was how good it felt, and how she’d wanted it to go on and on.

Later, she’d discovered Nic had only kissed her to distract her from what Tristan and Diana were doing. The whole night had been nothing but a farce; accusations flew, and feelings were hurt badly.

When coolness touched her knees, she stopped. Blinking out of the haze her thoughts had put her under, she realized she’d ventured out into the water a little deeper. Heavens! Why hadn’t she realized?

She glanced behind her, scoping out the others who she’d greeted along the way. Only a few couples had noticed her, and they just smiled and waved. The others that she’d noticed earlier who were playing in the water were looking at her as well. Goodness! What could they possibly be thinking of her?

She tried to smile under the embarrassing situation, as she waited for them to leave. Wading through the water became bothersome now that most of her dress was wet. Although the sun was warm, the water was still cold on this spring day.

The roar of water rushing toward her had her jerking toward the loud sound. A wave came her way, and her heart dropped. She didn’t know how to swim!

Turning, she tried to hurry toward the shore, but the weight of her dress kept her from moving fast. Closer and closer the wave came. Knowing it would soon hit, she clenched her fists and held her breath.

When the water rushed over her, it pulled her down. Before she knew it, her feet were swept up and she couldn’t feel anything under her. Continuing to hold her breath, she flailed her arms and legs, trying to find something solid to hold her.

Her chest burned as panic filled her, but she couldn’t take a breath until her head was above water. When her life flashed before her, she feared the worst. She might not survive.

Oh, Lord! Help me!

*

Nic couldn’t run down the slope fast enough.

A moment ago he’d spotted Tabitha wading knee-deep in the water. At first, he’d chuckled, wondered why she’d do such an outlandish thing, but within seconds the wave had swallowed her.

As he tore down the side of the hill toward the water, he ripped off his clergyman coat, and yanked off his cravat. These would only pull him down when he dove in the water to find her.

He didn’t bother to take off his boots. That would only slow him down. She had already been in the water for a good ten seconds. He prayed she had taken a deep breath before going under.

His long legs ate up the distance between the sand and the water until he was to the point that he could dive in and swim. He’d been watching the wave to see where it might have taken her. Pushing his arms to the limit, he swam in the water, searching for her.

From the corner of his eyes, he noticed something bright yellow just underneath the water. Moving in that direction, he forced his arms to go faster. The moment he was within reach, he grabbed at the dress and yanked her to him.

Immediately, his hand held her head above water. They were in a deep spot, but he could still stand, thankfully.

Her eyes were closed, and her body felt limp. His heart sank. “Breathe, Tabitha,” he commanded and shook her.

Tabitha’s head rolled forward, resting against his chest. His arms tightened around her waist. Her chest expanded and released. He sighed heavily. “Tabitha, take a breath. You’re all right. I have you.” He turned and headed back to shore.

Coughing, she slowly opened her eyes. Color gradually seeped into her face. Tears stung his eyes as joyful reprieve overwhelmed him. “Oh, Tabitha. I almost lost you.” Groaning, he buried his face in her neck and held her closer. She still seemed weak and unmoving, which worried him.

When they reached the shore, he dropped to his knees and laid her on the sand. Her eyes closed and once again, panic whipped through him like a tornado. “Tabitha? Please say something.”

Her eyes flickered open and she nodded. “I’m…fine.”

Relief poured through him, and he gathered her in his arms, pulling her close to his chest. Nuzzling his face against her ear, he felt the urgent need to kiss her—to show her how grateful he was that she was responsive. If she had drowned, he didn’t know what he would have done.

“Mr. Woodland?” The high-pitched sound of a woman’s voice rented the air. “Is Miss Paget all right?”

Realizing where he was at—and what he’d almost done—brought him out of his shocked state.

He lifted his head. Immediately, he noticed the small crowd that had gathered.

Mrs. Smythe and Miss Talbot were the ring-leaders out in front.

From what he could see, most everyone wore an expression of worry, but not the two busy-bodies. They appeared appalled.

Groaning, inwardly, he knew he had to say something to dig himself out of this quickly before these people got the wrong idea…which of course was the right idea, he just couldn’t let them know it.