She lifted an eyebrow. ‘Something tells me you wouldn’t ask a real lady to sit there.’
‘You are a real lady, although if you mean some timid debutante just out of the schoolroom then you’re right, I wouldn’t. But then I wouldn’t have asked her to come with me in the first place.’ He held out a hand and gave her a quick wink. ‘Fortunately, I know you’re not likely to have a fit of the vapours.’
‘I might surprise you.’
He grinned as she accepted his hand and stepped down from the jetty, staggering against him slightly as she made her way to the stern.
‘It’s very wobbly.’ She sounded anxious.
‘I won’t let you fall, I promise.’
‘So far, so good.’ She settled herself on his coat, rearranging her skirts and then opening up the parasol that her grandmother had insisted she carry in the sunshine. ‘Do I have to address you as Captain now we’re on the water?’
‘Naturally. Unless you want to be put in the brig for insubordination.’ He untied the rope that held them to the jetty and jerked his head towards the other end of the boat. ‘It’s over there and there’s no coat to sit on.’
‘Oh, dear.’ She laughed. ‘Well, then, whatever you say, Captain.’
Samuel looked away quickly, using one of the oars to push them off as a bolt of desire shot through his body. She looked so pretty leaning backwards, one hand trailing in the water while she twirled her parasol in the other, completely relaxed, too, definitely more than she had been at luncheon, as if she were happy that it was just the two of them again. Considering what they’d discussed that morning he took that as a good sign.
‘What are you thinking about?’ he asked as they glided out into the middle of the lake.
‘Just that I could get used to this. It’s so peaceful. All I can hear are birds singing and water lapping against the oars. Is this how it is at sea?’
‘Not exactly.’ He laughed at the idea. ‘Ships are noisy places, especially ships with cannons and squadrons of marines on board. There isn’t much time for quiet reflection.’
‘I suppose not.’ She gave him a quizzical glance. ‘You look happy.’
‘I told you, I like water.’
‘Does Staunton have a lake?’
‘I’ve no idea.’
‘You ought to find out just in case you do inherit. What self-respecting captain can have a house without a lake?’
‘I’d be a retired captain, but you’re absolutely right. If there isn’t, then I’ll make it my first order of business to dig one. If I inherit.’
‘I think you’d make a very good earl.’
‘Based on?’
‘On my own vast experience of running country estates, naturally.’ She paused, her expression turning serious. ‘And because you’re a good man.’
‘For a gentleman?’
‘For any man.’
He felt a fresh stirring of desire, his blood heating at the words. ‘You ought to be careful, Anna. That kind of praise might go to my head.’
‘I’ve said enough insulting things about you. It’s about time I redressed the balance a little.’
‘Is that why you let me kiss you this morning? To redress the balance?’
‘No.’ A delicate pink flush suffused her cheeks. ‘I let you kiss me because I liked it.’
‘I liked it, too. If I thought I could get away with it, I’d do it again.’ His gaze dropped to her lips. They were slightly parted and temptingly moist-looking. ‘You know the far shore is a long way from the house. I could take you there and kiss you properly. No one would see. Not without a telescope anyway.’
‘They still might wonder what we were up to. I don’t want my uncle and grandmother thinking I have loose morals on the first day I meet them. Besides, we don’t need a distant shore. I have this parasol. If we hide behind it, then nobody will see.’