Page 8 of Just About a Rake (Ladies Who Dare #5)

I f Leonora had known she’d be soaked in a lake from head to toe, she might have rethought some of her decisions. As moments went, this was not one of the best. Honestly, it was one of those moments that one didn’t quite enjoy in the moment but might be able to draw a laugh from after a good amount of time had passed.

About the only thrilling sequence of this spectacle was Dare, him drawing her to him before the boat capsized and then becoming a bundle in his arms as they did. And the fact that he was at present, like her, soaked to the bone.

A rake falling into a lake.

Very well, there was a bit of enjoyment in that!

The men, however, had gone utterly silent, and on an instinctive level, Leonora understood it was a full ten parts bad. But all she could do in this particular sequence of events was appreciate Dare, hair dripping water onto his face, and the sculpted contours of shoulders through the shirt that stuck to his body.

By Jove!

Such masculine beauty.

She’d been aware of Dare for some time now, of course, but she couldn’t say she’d ever thought about how his body might look beneath his impeccable tailoring. Until now.

This was Dare.

She’d always known it, in one sense, yet for the first time, she felt it. The true presence of this man had been cloaked, or hidden amongst their banter, their seemingly innocent flirtation. But that was all misdirection. A pretense from both sides. One they happily ignored while they were both having fun. Dare could become a flirt at the drop of a hat, but he was not a man to be trifled with.

Ah, heavens! Leonora wanted to trifle.

She wanted to trifle so much! How might it feel dragging a hand down his back? Would those hard ripples flex beneath her fingers? If he kissed her, would she be able to taste all of his secrets?

Calm down, Leonora!

Had she lost her mind?

Yes, yes she had. And happily at that.

“Leonora,” Dare’s soft whisper came. There was a slight hesitation in his low, gruff voice, a question mark woven into her name. No more than a few inches separated them, and she could feel the warmth of his body stroking along the ripples of her skin. Her gaze lifted to meet his to find his eyes were burning into hers. “You are staring.”

Yes, well, who wouldn’t stare? Who wouldn’t forget about the water, forget about the discomfort and chill of being soaked in the presence of such a body? She couldn’t resist any longer. She poked at his chest, not hard, but not gently either. Her prod was filled with curiosity. He jerked as though an electric spark had arced between them, but he didn’t move away from her. His expression remained calm, almost too calm. Except for those stormy blue eyes.

“Isn’t that my line?” Leonora murmured back, matching his low voice. “You are staring.”

“It can be, just not now.” He nodded to the left. She turned her head slowly to blink at the picture of a lakeside crowd gathered on the bank to see what had happened.

Drat.

She’d ogled Dare while all eyes were on them!

Double, triple drat.

Heart, who’d been silent up until now after finding himself tangled up with his own unexpected person—Calstone—found his voice again. “What a damn disaster. I can’t imagine tomorrow’s headlines. This is all that damn interloper’s fault.”

Leonora scowled. “Don’t be such a blame pusher, Heart. You’re the one who jumped to your feet and started this disaster. Lord, one would think the water would have doused your fire. Should I do it for you?” Best believe she’d give him a good whack over the head, audience or not.

His fierce scowl turned to her. “Just who do you think you are talking to?”

“I’ve been wondering that for the better part of six years!”

“That’s a damn long time to wonder about something!”

A dramatic sigh came from Calstone. “Let us not start a fuss again.”

Leonora ignored her brother and started to wade to the shore. As soon as Heart had opened his mouth, the forgotten chill had started to seep back into her skin and bones.

A hand on her wrist stopped her. “I’ll carry you.”

She glanced at Dare. “Carry me? That would be rather shocking, wouldn’t it?” But not unwelcome.

“True.” His gaze dropped to her bosom, and a heat spread across her cheeks. He whispered, “But it would be less shocking than what you are revealing at the moment.”

Her gaze tracked over his chest before meeting his gaze again. “That makes two of us. We can always strut out with confidence.”

“Or we could scandalize our peers with modesty and help each other cover the most revealing bits?”

“That might work as well.”

Before her words had a chance to turn cold, a hand snaked across her back and she was lifted up into his arms. A small gasp flew past her lips as she looped her arms around his neck at the swift lift.

“Dare! You blackguard! Put my sister down.”

“And then what?” Dare shot back. “Don’t be a fool.”

Heart motioned for her to be handed over. “I will carry her.”

Leonora snorted. “You will not.”

“Ladies, ladies, ladies,” Calstone drawled, wading between Heart and Dare. “Have you forgotten so soon that we have an audience? Let us all just get out of the water.”

Oh, Lord. Why did that keep slipping her mind? She could only imagine the headlines tomorrow. That parrot would be a distant memory in the face of the lake spectacle. At least it wasn’t just her and Dare this time. “We shall surely appear in the papers again tomorrow. Should we make haste?”

Dare unhurriedly made his way back to the shore. “It’s too late, love. Rush or not, the damage has been done. Just relax and—” Dare slipped and fell back into the water with a splash, Leonora being dunked right along with him.

She let out a short, high-pitched scream before her entire upper body became submerged again. What rotten luck!

“Bloody hell!” Dare cursed, rising with her in his arms.

How strong was this man?

Leonora tried to squirm from his embrace, but his arms held her perfectly—and tightly—against him, so she just gave up. She had wanted to touch him, feel him, but she could hardly enjoy the moment now that her awareness had shifted fully to all the people on the embankment. “Let me go if I am too heavy.”

“I’m all right, and you’re not heavy. My foot slipped on something squishy.”

Leonora shuddered. Something squishy? “Hurry! We need to get out now.”

“We can’t hurry. We might slip again.”

Heart’s loud snort came from somewhere behind them. “How incompetent. Drop my sister again and I will end you before all these people.”

“Ignore him,” Leonora tossed loudly over Dare’s shoulder, but she decided it wasn’t enough and also cast a glare his way. Her gaze caught on something moving toward them in the distance. Something big. Something long. Something with ridges along its back.

Her heart stuttered in her breast.

No, it couldn’t be. They didn’t live in England. Except...

“Dare.”

His gaze met hers. “Yes?”

“Do crocodiles eat humans?”

His hold tightened. “Why? What’s wrong?”

“Don’t look now,” Leonora said slowly, unsure if her eyes were deceiving her or not. “But a crocodile is moving toward us.”

His brow rose. “Now is hardly the time to jest.”

Time had seemed to slow upon glimpsing the thing, and it suddenly sparked back to life twice as fast. “I’m not jesting! There is a crocodile! Run!” She clutched his neck as though her life depended on it. “Heart! Calstone! Run!”

Two foul curses followed her cry.

Pandemonium broke loose.

Dare didn’t even look back, he just cursed and picked up his pace. “If you are jesting, I shall take you over my knee, I swear.”

“Why would I jest about my life?”

His grip was firm, his body tensed with the effort of ambling toward the nearest spot on the shore. Fortunately, they weren’t that far away. The water around them made it difficult to rush, and with every stumble, every slip, Leonora gripped Dare tighter. She might very well suffocate the poor man by the time they reached solid ground.

That swimming log grew larger and larger as it approached.

Leonora forced her panic down. If she panicked, Dare would panic, too.

The shoreline wasn’t kind either. Weeds made it hard to navigate, and sucking, squelching noises alerted Leonora to the mud trying to swallow Dare’s boots. But the man never faltered. He was a soldier with a mission. He didn’t stop, didn’t even pause to catch a breath until they finally reached grass.

Their hosts rushed forward. “It won’t bite!” Lord Brimfield cried. “It won’t bite!” He almost sounded like that blasted parrot.

“Who the devil keeps a pet crocodile?” Dare demanded.

Well, they could at least be thankful that all eyes had turned to the crocodile. Though Leonora just needed a moment for her heart to catch up before she could appreciate the feeling.

“It’s not a crocodile, it’s an alligator,” Lord Brimfield defended.

“Is there a bloody difference?” Dare snapped.

Good question. Leonora didn’t know either.

“Yes, of course,” Lord Brimfield said. “An alligator—”

“Forget the bloody difference,” Heart growled, having caught up to them. “Is it legal?”

Silence followed. Another good question.

“Brimfield,” Calstone said, loosening his wet cravat, “I don’t have to tell you the dangers of having such a creature in the water while you have guests on your property! Where did you even acquire such a thing?”

By this time, Leonora was no longer listening to the chatter. Her pulse had settled some, her body felt exhausted, but a calm had also settled over her.

“Are you cold?” Dare asked her softly. “Just hold on for a moment longer.”

Take all the moments you need.

Her eyes drifted over the scene surrounding her. From a turn about the lake in a boat to dashing from an alligator.

At least they weren’t ruined.

But they were a spectacle.

*

Dare didn’t want to let go.

He was wet, utterly bedraggled, and he was doing something scandalous in full public view under the guise of being a concerned and honorable gentleman, but he didn’t want to let go. The sensation of her body against his felt as natural as breathing. It made his pulse quicken in a way he couldn’t—wouldn’t—explain.

Damn Heart. This was all his damn fault.

What the devil was wrong with the man? Dare understood Heart didn’t want him near his sister, but shouldn’t he show a bit of decorum instead of lashing out like a bumbling bear? Dare at least had the wherewithal to behave to some degree. Of all that happened between him and Leonora up until this point, everything headline-worthy hadn’t been deliberate.

Calstone suddenly cursed. “It’s still bloody following us!”

“He won’t attack!” Brimfield cried.

Dare cursed and clutched Leonora tighter to him, moving farther away. How the hell was an alligator in this lake? Brimfield should be taken to task for this.

Cries erupted from the audience.

That was the sound of an alligator coming onto shore.

“Oh, dear,” Leonora murmured, her neck craning over his shoulder. Her breath warmed his skin, and a sweet scent tickled his nose, a sweetness not even the lake water could wash away.

Yes. Oh, dear indeed.

He swept a quick gaze over the situation. All eyes were on the reptile, and the gazes that were occasionally still cast to them couldn’t help but quickly return to the toothy danger that threatened the merriment.

More cries and gasps filled the air.

For a moment, Dare didn’t know if he should curse the alligator or praise its existence. He didn’t want to become the creature’s lunch, but for the most part, it diverted everyone’s attention away from the catastrophe that was the four of them.

A fool’s thought.

That alligator was part of the deuced catastrophe.

A hand patted his shoulder. “Put me down.”

Dare glanced down at Leonora, her soft-blue eyes on him. “Are you sure? Your dress must be heavy.” He was having trouble walking himself. And this sponginess of each step was detestable. Also, if he could hold her just one moment longer... “We also have an alligator on our tail.” The last was meant to tease.

She peered over his shoulder. “My brother is big and slow. And he has more meat. If the creature is going to eat anyone, it is him.”

“How savage.”

Dare slowed his pace and glanced back. All the other couples on the lake had rowed to the furthest part of the shore to clear the water and give a wide berth to the alligator who lay on the embankment, unmoving.

To the side, their hosts were explaining that the thing was harmless and that no one was in danger.

Unbelievable.

“The thing is a pet ? Who keeps such a pet?”

“I have to agree. What do they feed him?”

“I’d rather not know.”

They reached their former spot on the blanket, and Dare reluctantly set Leonora back on her feet but stayed close at her side, ready to snatch her back up and run should danger once more present itself. She instantly removed her slippers and tossed them aside while Dare reached for his discarded jacket, but before he could drape it over her shoulders, a soft voice intercepted.

“Here take this.”

He turned, only to encounter the Duchess of Crane offering Leonora a shawl to cover herself. His gaze flicked to Leonora, who stared at the woman unblinkingly.

So conspicuous. She’d have made the worst spy.

He draped the jacket over Leonora’s shoulder. “No need. My jacket is thicker.”

The duchess turned her attention to him, slowly withdrawing her hand. He didn’t miss the ever-so-fleeting flash of annoyance. “That’s true.”

Dare almost thought she would say something about having called on him earlier that morning. Warn him away. But her gaze returned to Leonora.

“Would you like for me to escort you home?”

Dare should his head. “No need. I shall take care of Lady Leonora.” The little temptress still stood in a daze, and he didn’t know why, but he felt that she wasn’t quite ready to be in a confined space with this woman.

“You are both soaked. It’s better for you to return straight home, Lord Dare, don’t you think?”

Leonora’s brows furrowed slightly.

“It’s on my way,” Dare objected. “No trouble for me at all.”

“ I’ll take her home.”

Heart.

He was looking straight at Leonora, this heated gaze not once touching Dare or the duchess. Dare secured his jacket more tightly around her shoulders, effectively yanking her from her daze.

“Oh, right, thank you for the jacket.”

No need to thank me, love. But before anything could be said further, their hosts arrived at their spot. “Lady Leonora,” Lady Brimfield remarked. “I hope Basil didn’t give you too much of fright!”

Basil? Who named a damn alligator Basil?

Lord Brimfield nodded. “Look, he returned to the water. He is harmless, I assure you.”

“I’m quite all right,” Lady Leonora murmured, clutching the lapels of his jacket with both hands. Why did that simple action make his heart skip a beat?

“Brimfield,” Heart reprimanded, “like I said earlier, that thing is not a pet!”

“I disagree,” the man said. “Any animal tamed could be considered a pet.”

“A wild animal is still a wild animal!” Heart disagreed.

“Leonora?” Harriet’s voice was worried as she and Leeds strode over, sweeping over the excited crowd. Leeds crowded close to his wife. Almost as close as Dare was with Leonora. Dare scrunched his brows together but couldn’t find it in himself to step away even though he knew he ought to. “We saw what happened in the distance. Are you sure you are all right?”

“I’m fine,” Leonora reassured her friend. She did seem to have recovered. Thank God. Her eyes found him. “What about you?”

“I’m fine, too.”

Her voice softened with concern. “You slipped and fell.”

Don’t remind me of that humiliating horror, please. “The water broke our fall.”

Her lips quirked. “You also carried me. I’m not light.”

He flashed her a row of teeth. “And I’m strong.”

All eyes turned to them.

Right. Not the time or the place.

“My apologies,” the duchess said to the group. From the corner of his eye, Dare saw Heart flinch. “I have not been properly introduced to any of you, so forgive my interference. I’m Cassandra Faiththorne, the Duchess of Crane.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Grace,” Lady Leeds said with a smile. “I’m Lady Leeds, and this is my husband, the Marquess of Leeds.”

“A pleasure meeting you.” Her gaze turned to Leonora.

Dare sighed. Could it be any more awkward? How had the witty temptress suddenly lost her speech again? “Well, no introduction is needed for me.”

“Dare,” Heart growled.

He grinned at the man. “And since Lady Leonora and I are soaking wet—you as well—before we all catch a cold, I suggest we retire home.” Like Calstone, who had disappeared. Smart man.

“No!” Lady Brimfield cried. “First, you must change here. I’ve already instructed a servant to retrieve a few sets of clothing. I cannot allow my guests to leave all wet and bedraggled.”

Bedraggled. Why thank you very much. It was rather pitiful when someone else pointed it out, wasn’t it?

“No need. I shall take my leave.” Dare glanced to Leonora while the woman continued prattling on at Heart. He dropped his voice to a whisper. “Shall you be all right?”

She nodded, and Dare frowned at her rather subdued presence. This was not at all like the Leonora he knew. It was as though the sparkling woman had retreated into a shell.

“Are you sure?” he pressed.

“Dare,” she whispered, her hand snaking out to grip his wrist.

“What is it? What’s wrong?”

“Can you carry me again?”

Worry instantly sprang forth, his eyes tracking over her with a sharp gleam. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt anywhere?”

She shook her head. “No, it’s just... my legs feel awfully shaky.”

Dare didn’t hesitate. He lifted her into his arms and strode straight to the house. Behind them, Heart cursed and demanded something, but he didn’t bellow or roar. A bloody miracle. Perhaps their current misfortune had finally infiltrated his senses.

Another miracle would be escaping the affair unscathed, but Dare didn’t think they would be that lucky. One miracle a lifetime was already many.

Two?

Impossible.