Page 59 of The Charming Words of a Common Scoundrel
Sam smiled broadly at her. He leaned in and whispered, “You better be careful. Your laugh sounds quite a bit like Lady Hawley’s laugh.”
She smiled at him. “Lady Hawley’s laugh has grown on me unexpectedly.”
He flushed and shook his head. She looked at him amused. “Are you blushing?”
Sam shrugged and Clara added, “Perhaps because you asked your ex-lover to befriend me?”
He truly did turn red then. He opened his mouth to speak and then closed it, before he finally said, “I didn’t want you to be alone. I wanted you to have a friend.”
Perhaps she should find it odd that her husband had sent his previous lover to make sure she was okay, but for some reason she was only amazed at his thoughtfulness.
“You are a good person, Sam Kincaide,” she said quietly.
He looked startled, and she wanted to say more but was distracted by her parents and brother's appearance on one of the walkways not far from the dock. She gasped before pushing her shoulders back and composing herself. She wanted so desperately to run to Henry and embrace him. The desire to show such affection startled her because even in her everyday life it wasn’t something she had ever thought to do. She waited, hoping he would see her, so she could at least smile at him. He held a boat in his hand and scanned the Serpentine.
Please, please, Henry, she pleaded silently—look at me. His eyes finally landed on her, and they widened in surprise before a smile broke across his face. Her heart ached at the sight of his smile, but she smiled back at him. She felt her lips tremble but pressed them together.
Henry stepped towards her but then stopped. He turned to her parents, speaking animatedly. Clara prepared herself for the cut that was coming but her parents looked at her and nodded a greeting, startling her. They nodded to what Henry was saying, and he ran towards the dock. She wanted to wrap him in her arms, but every etiquette rule she had been raised with prevented her from doing so.
“Clara,” he said, stopping in front of her.
She was so overcome with emotion that a quiet sob escaped her mouth. Sam placed his hand on her back to comfort her. She took deep breaths to get control of her emotions. Sam smiled down at Henry and said, “That is a mighty fine boat you have there.”
Henry looked up at him, his face wrinkled in confusion. “Are you my sister’s husband?”
Clara smiled. “Yes, he is. This is Mr. Kincaide.”
Sam leaned down and said quietly, “You can call me Sam.”
Henry’s eyes widened in surprise at the informal request. “You can call me Henry then,” he whispered as if they were sharing a great secret and not their names.
“Where have you been?” Henry said, turning his gaze back to Clara.
“I have been adjusting to married life.”
“Are you adjusted now? Is that why I couldn’t see you?”
She wanted to yell that it had nothing to do with her marriage but their parents' dismissive attitude, but she held back.
“Yes, something like that.”
He nodded, and as any child would, quickly changed the subject to what brought him to Hyde Park. “Will you help me launch my boat?
Clara beamed at him. “Of course.”
“I can help if you like,” Sam offered.
She knew he was being thoughtful, but she would not give the opportunity to play with Henry up for anything. Clara shook her head and said, “No, just a hand to help me kneel.”
Henry quickly dropped to his knees and Clara gracefully knelt next to him. “What a lovely boat. Do you have a name for it?”
He turned red with embarrassment. “I named it after you. It’s called theClara.”
Her heart ached, knowing that he had been missing her, but she forced herself to smile. “Well let's hope theClaradoesn’t sink like I did.”
Henry giggled and placed the boat in her hands. She delicately set it in the water and gave it a push. Henry jumped up, excited. She looked up at Sam who was already holding his hand out to her. She placed her hand in his, and he easily pulled her up.
Her brother jumped around watching the boat move through the water before heading toward an embankment. He left them there and dashed off to retrieve it.
