Page 84 of The Duke Who Loved a Widow
“We could have done with you,” agreed Robert. “It was touch and go for a while. Dr Alwood tells me that both boys should learn to swim immediately, so a lesson this afternoon.”
“Can I join you?” asked the colonel. “Give Julia a chance to catch up with Elinor, and I’d like nothing better than a swim and helping those two rapscallions learn.”
“You’re on. I’ll find you to walk down there later,” Robert said, happy to have support managing the boys.
Would Arabella be there? He hoped so. He needed to see her and explain that the engagement was about more than the court case.
***
They had taken the boat out to the island for the swimming lesson. The little beach and the shallow water were perfect for swimming, and Robert wanted them to be in a different place, away from the spot where Henry nearly drowned.
No Arabella, and no Emma either. Nathaniel, Colonel Lloyd, and Robert set off with the boys for an afternoon of swimming.
They splashed, and the boys learned how to kick their legs. They floated holding logs for buoyancy. Freddy surprised them all by suddenly floating on his back, and Henry immediately copied him.
The dogs splashed around them, natural swimmers who chased sticks thrown into the water.
“They’ll be swimming in no time,” said the colonel. “I’m going to show them how to tread water. They can hold one of those cedar logs and move their legs while staying upright.”
He went back into the water while Nathaniel and Robert watched from the shore.
“I heard you were engaged,” began Nathaniel to Robert.
“Yes, quite a surprise that you weren’t engaged before me. It all happened so quickly,” Robert replied.
Nathaniel looked wistful. “We should have got engaged the day on the island. It all went wrong.”
“I thought when you took so long to arrive at the island that you might be proposing,” Robert commented.
“I was, well, sort of was,” Nathaniel mumbled, obviously embarrassed.
“Did she turn you down? I’d be very surprised,” asked Robert.
“No, indeed not. Miss Emma was very receptive to marrying me,” confirmed Nathaniel.
“Then what’s the problem?”
“I’m afraid I told her we should wait until after her first year in London,” admitted Nathaniel.
“You did?” Robert couldn’t hide his surprise.
“It’s difficult. I don’t want to encourage her to marry me when she hasn’t had a chance to have a season. She might find someone else,” explained Nathaniel.
How easy it is to give others advice, he thought, even when the course of his own love wasn’t flowing smoothly.
“Do you want my thoughts? However, I warn you that I’m no expert in matters of the heart,” confessed Robert.
Nathaniel nodded.
“Miss Emma seems to me to be a strong-minded young woman who knows her own heart. She wanted to marry you. The issue is about this London season and suggesting that she wait a year.”
“If I’d merely proposed, she would have been delighted. I know that now,” Nathaniel said with misery clouding his features.
“If you want Emma and are ready to be married, you need to consider the timing. Why not talk to Sir Joseph and get his take on this,” suggested Robert.
“I shall. We seem a little closer, after rescuing Henry, but this isn’t how I want it to be.”
“Make your lady feel special. Talk with her about waiting, but listen to what she says,” Robert told him.
