Earl of Sin (Lords of Scandal 6)

Anne tried to maneuver the oar but it slipped in the lock. The boat drifted out further from the pier as she struggled to gain control of the small boat. “I can’t get it to work.”

Mary started down the path to the pier. “Take a deep breath and then pull the oar closer to your body.”

But as the girl fumbled again, she let go of one of the oars and it promptly slipped into the lake. “Oh,” Anne cried, immediately reaching for the oar. “Let me just.”

“No,” Mary called. “Don’t.” but it was too late. The boat tipped and Anne toppled into the water, the boat landing upside down on top of her. Mary gasped and then, not sure what else to do, dove into the water. Thank goodness, summers spent in the country meant she could swim and her light summer fashions didn’t drag her down. With sure strokes she made her way to the boat diving under the water to find Anne in its murky depths. She crested once, panicking when she couldn’t see the child b

ut then a piece of fabric on the water’s surface caught her attention. Anne was under the overturned boat.

Diving back in, she pushed to the rowboat, coming up and out of the water in the dark of the little boat. Anne was barely conscious, her hand loosely holding the oar as she moaned softly.

“Anne,” Mary gasped grabbing the bench, to give herself a bit of respite. She reached her other hand under the girl’s neck to make sure she could still breathe. “Anne, are you all right?”

“Mary?” The girl turned toward her. “I think I hit my head.”

Mary pulled the girl closer. Inwardly she flinched. At least Anne was alive, but swimming the girl back was going to be challenging. And then there was Cole. He’d kept Anne tucked away doing lessons for years. One trip to the park and she’d nearly destroyed his child. “It’s all right. Let’s get out into the sunlight and then we’ll figure out how we get to the shore.

“I don’t want to let go of the boat.” Anne answered.

“You don’t have to. We’re just going to duck under the edge while we keep holding on. Can you do that?”

Anne nodded. “I think so.”

“Such a brave girl.” She stroked Anne’s cheek.

“You’re not angry with me?”

Mary shook her head. “I would like you to proceed with more caution. Your father trusted us to be adventurers. We have to reward him with doing so in a safe manner.”

Anne wrapped her free arm around Mary. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” She kissed the girl’s head. “Now hold your breath and close your eyes. We’re going under.”

Sin arrived home to find a lovely note with scrolling handwriting in the center of his desk. The words, however, made him shift. They’d gone to the park.

Their excursion shouldn’t be a big deal. And yet, he’d managed to keep Anne under his watchful eye and to have her gone…

Fortunately, Mary had given him the exact location. He breathed a sigh of relief. How did she understand he needed to know these things? He covered his heart with his hand. She’d confessed her love yesterday. He hadn’t been able to say the words back, which made him hang his head in shame.

All night, as they’d dined together, laughed together, and then tucked his daughter in, he’d been tempted to say the words. “I love you, Mary. You’re my salvation.” But his fear held him back.

Perhaps this picnic was the perfect opportunity to rectify his mistake. After grabbing his hat, he headed for the park after them. He spotted their blanket almost immediately. First, there were no others set up but it was also the same one they’d used the day before. Glancing about, he didn’t see them anywhere. And then his eyes landed on the overturned boat. No one was about. His heart seized in his chest and without another thought he threw his hat to the ground, ripping off his coat as he sprinted toward the water.

He didn’t pause as he dove into the murky water and cresting the surface, he heard a small cry.

“Papa.”

That made him stop. Looking ahead, he saw both Anne and Mary holding the edge of the boat. “We’re all right,” Mary called. “We just…”

Without a word, he began swimming for them again. He could have lost them, lost them both. How could they do this to him? But then he stopped. How much of his life would he live to avoid all the things that might go wrong? That wasn’t fair to Anne or Mary. He’d been trying to protect her to the point of barely living life.

Reaching the boat, he grabbed Anne in a hug. “Mary,” he gurgled out. “Put your arm about me too.”

She draped her free arm about his shoulders. “I’m so sorry,” she gasped. “I pushed too far. I—”

“It’s my fault. I didn’t listen to Mary. I won’t do it again.” Anne pulled back. “Papa, don’t change your mind. Please marry Mary.”

He shook his head. They knew him too well. “Of course I am going to marry her.” He pulled back. “I love her, you know.”