“In charades,” Bridget emphasized.
“Do you see what you can do when you decide to behave yourself and work with me?” the Duke asked, smiling.
Bridget turned to look at him with a mix of fury and amusement. She opened her mouth to say something but then thought against it.
“Didn’t I tell you I could be charming?” the Duke teased.
Bridget stood up to excuse herself. “You did, and I might get to see that sometime.”
Nicholas laughed. He could see he had started to charm her, and he very much wanted to charm her more.
CHAPTER14
Chills and Warmth
“There you are!”
Bridget almost jumped out of her skin. She turned around to find the Duke approaching her with a towel slung over his shoulder.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” he asked with a smile.
“I am not looking at you any such way,” Bridget claimed. “I was only surprised because you snuck up on me. What is it you want?”
“I shall have to be charming enough for the both of us, it seems,” the Duke told her.
Bridget shook her head.
“I only wanted to check on you and enquire about your ankle today. I understand that is the only thing holding you back from going on walks with me, and I hope it will be healed soon.”
“I appreciate your concern,” Bridget offered. “It still causes me some discomfort, but I shall be able to walk soon, and I will not need a chaperone.”
“You know where I am if you need me,” the Duke said.
“Yes, I do, so I shall come to you if I need something, and you will not need to come and bother me. I assume you are going for a swim.”
“I am,” the Duke said with a wistful smile. “Oh, it is beautiful out there. It might be the highlight of my day. You must come with me.”
He said it with such assurance that Bridget almost agreed immediately. “No, it would not be right.”
“Of course, it would be right, and you need not worry about anything untoward. We can swim on opposite ends of the beach if you like.”
“I’m not sure,” Bridget replied. “My ankle is still a little sore.”
“Then it will be the perfect thing for it. Whenever I am sore, the chill of the water always relieves any aches and pains. You have not been able to ride your horse since your accident, and that must frustrate you. There is something about walking into the cold water that is as freeing as riding at full speed.” The Duke held out his hand to her. “Come with me, and you won’t regret it.”
Bridget took his hand as if under his spell. “I have missed riding.”
“Then it is settled. We shall swim to work up an appetite before supper.”
Bridget expected him to make some comment about them being in swimwear or alone on the beach, but he did not. She didn’t know if that meant she should trust him less.
She snatched her hand back when she realized he was holding it in the middle of a hallway that someone could walk down at any moment.
“I need my swimming apparel,” she muttered.
“Not a problem. I shall meet you at the beach when you are ready.”
“Fine,” Bridget said.
