Page 25 of Married to the Rake

Her pulse began to speed up when she spotted the broad shoulders and long legs of Brook. She frowned. But no Mr. Waverley. It seemed neither of them had managed to bring their father along.

“Brook?”

He turned swiftly and his expression softened when it landed on her. He glanced left and right. “No father?”

She shook her head. “No. And you do not have one either?”

“No. But I do have a mother.” He jerked his head to the right of him. “She is admiring some flowers not far from here. She shall return before long. My father was not feeling well enough but I did not want to leave you waiting here alone. Unfortunately, my mother decided she wanted to walk instead.”

“Ah. My father made it some of the way but his knee is causing him problems at the moment.”

“It seems we really are destined never to get our fathers together.”

Chloe closed the gap between them and pressed a hand to his arm. “We shall just have to keep trying. It was a good plan,” she insisted.

He gave her a half-smile. “You are a stubborn woman, are you not?”

She nodded vigorously. “The stubbornest.” She grinned.

There was a rustle from the trees and the sound of a woman humming. “That’s my mother. I do not know how she will react to your presence but I think it best that she does not see us together. She will suspect something is up.”

“Oh yes. I shall tuck myself in those trees over there and wait until you are gone.” She thrust a thumb in the direction of a group of trees by the riverside. She had squeezed herself between them many times as a child and they made an excellent hiding spot.

He nodded. “Let us meet again soon.”

“Of course.” As she hurried away to hide herself, she tried to shoo away the silly, excited feeling in her stomach. Brook wanted to see more of her. How foolish she was. It was only because of his determination to fix the rift between their families. Nothing more.

She squeezed herself in between the trees, wincing as the branches pressed into her stomach and breasts. She rolled her eyes at herself. The last time she had hidden here, she had probably been a darned sight smaller. She would be lucky if she could get out.

She peered through the leaves, satisfied that she was well hidden from Brook’s mother. His mother emerged, holding a bunch of flowers. She could not quite make out what they were saying but they conversed briefly and his mother left. Brook watched her leave then headed toward her position. “You can come out now.”

Chloe gave a little wriggle. Oh dear Lord. She was stuck fast. “Oh no, you go ahead. I shall just…stay here for a moment.”

“I made an excuse to remain. Now we can discuss our next steps rather than sneaking out of the house during the night again.”

She wriggled again but the branches seemed to press harder into her skin. There was no way of disentangling herself from this with any chance of being ladylike. Brook would never let her forget it.

“I…I think I quite like it in here. I might just remain here a little while.”

Brook came closer, his brow creasing. “Chloe, are you, by any chance, stuck?”

She let her head drop and heat flowed into her cheeks.

“Chloe?”

“Fine. It is because I am far too plump for this hiding spot anymore. And I am completely and utterly stuck. Happy now?”

His lips tilted. “You are certainly far too well-endowed to hide in there. Though, I would not normally say such endowment is a bad thing, you are perhaps not made to hide between trees.”

She huffed. Could he make this anymore worse?

“Give me your hand.” He thrust a hand between the branches toward her.

She weighed her options. She could remain and he would probably remain with her, teasing. Or she could continue to try to tear herself out and do herself an injury. And probably ruin yet another dress. Or she could swallow her pride and take his hand.

She supposed the latter was the better option. Reluctantly, she slipped her hand into his, aware of their gloves brushing against one another. His strong, capable fingers wrapped around hers then he offered his other hand and she took that as she wriggled from side to side while he pulled.

Slowly but surely, she emerged from between the branches. When the last branch gave way, she popped out like a cork from champagne and stumbled forward, launching them both back toward the river. He caught her in his arms, but it was too late. Her weight upon him forced him backward and they toppled into the shallows by the river.

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