“Yes, best behavior. You don’t need to keep repeating that if you’re doing it. Just keep acting like you are, and we don’t have to talk about it, all right?”
The parrot tilted its head and looked at him expectantly.
“And I’m still talking to a parrot who can’t fully understand me. Is this the first sign of lunacy or the last one?”
Mr. Squawksby tilted his head in the opposite direction.
“Why am I asking you? Listen, just stay out of sight and don’t let Georgina see you, all right? I don’t need her thinking there is anything more going on here than there is, which is absolutely nothing.”
“Best behavior.” The phrase was spoken more softly this time, as though the parrot really did understand, and they had just engaged in some form of conspiracy.
“Just stay out of sight,” he reminded it as he turned from the gazebo.
They might use it sometime. It was the perfect place for a picnic, and now that Georgina felt safe being around the water, there was no reason not to take advantage of it.
He looked up to see her coming through the trees in her familiar bathing suit. The fabric clung to her shapely figure, and histhoughts immediately returned to their recent lovemaking. She was now his, but in a way, he was also hers.
Lysander had engaged with women in the past when he’d been bored or needed to satisfy his carnal urges, but he wouldn’t need that anymore. He would never tire of the curves of her body, the noises she made in bed, and the way she let go of herself when he took her. There were many things he would not tire of, so there would be no need to look elsewhere for pleasure.
The reason for marrying her was to secure an heir and carry on his name and bloodline, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t have a little fun along the way. Heir or not, that would not be the last time they shared a bed.
“Good morning,” Lysander said.
“Good morning, Lysander. It’s a beautiful day.”
“It is,” he agreed. Lysander looked over his shoulder at the gazebo and couldn’t see the parrot any longer. He almost smiled to himself. He turned back to Georgina. “Shall we begin?”
“Of course,” she replied. “Whatever you wish.”
What I wish is to have you back in my bedchambers again.
She gave in to him then, just as she had two nights ago, and there was nothing more alluring in a woman. They were on his estate, where no one would bother him, and he had half a mindto take her there on the grass. If it were not so important that she learned to swim, he might have done just that.
“Then into the water,” he ordered.
He walked with her into the cool lake. She didn’t need him to hold her anymore as they moved deeper into the coldness. She didn’t flinch at all now as the water crept up her body like his hands had. Nor did she shiver when she turned to look at him, the water up to her neck.
“Do you remember what I taught you?” he asked.
Georgina nodded. “I’m ready.”
“I’ll be with you,” Lysander reminded her.
Georgina took two deep breaths, then turned toward the middle of the lake and pushed out. Lysander quickly followed, kicking his legs and doing the breaststroke with his arms. The Duchess’s body was tight as she swam, her head held tensely above the water, but she swam. She moved through the water gracefully, keeping herself afloat.
“Bravo,” Lysander called from a few feet away, matching her strokes in case she got into trouble. “You are a natural, and I shan’t need to worry about you near the water anymore.”
Georgina stopped swimming and began to tread water, just as he had taught her, using her arms on the surface of the water as she kicked with her feet.
“Why go through all this trouble?” she asked.
“What trouble?” he replied. “It’s no trouble at all to ensure your safety.”
“You could have engaged someone to teach me, Lysander. You are a busy man, and you rarely have any time for yourself. I appreciate the time you have put into teaching me how to swim, but I still don’t understand it.”
“There’s nothing to understand.” He could feel his breathing getting heavier, even though the activity didn’t exert him.
“Why the big secret?” she asked, treading water effortlessly as she spoke.
