The Captain's Caress by Greenwood Leigh

Author:Greenwood, Leigh [Greenwood, Leigh]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Ten Talents Press
Published: 2011-12-07T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter 25

“Would you like to go for a ride on the river?” asked Gonsalvo as he rose from the table. “The current is almost nonexistent at this time of the year. We can float idly along.”

“That sounds like a lovely idea,” Summer replied languidly, “but I’ve eaten so much I’m not sure I can move.”

“I can carry you.”

“How many times do I have to tell you to behave, Gonsalvo?” admonished Anita. “If you are going to upset the countess with your foolishness, I will not be able to leave you alone with her.”

“Where are you going?” asked Summer, trying to clear her mind of the heaviness that seemed to weigh her down.

“I hate to admit it, but I don’t care for boating on the river,” Anita confessed, “particularly after I’ve eaten.”

“I’ll come with you,” Summer offered.

Anita staunchly refused. “Absolutely not. Stay here and enjoy your afternoon.”

“Are you trying to run away from me?” Gonsalvo quipped.

“Not at all,” Summer languorously replied. “I just didn’t want Anita to think I was deserting her.”

“I’ll have some refreshments waiting when you return,” she offered. Summer made a face at the thought of more food, but Anita only laughed. “The river makes you hungry,” she said.

Summer’s and Gonsalvo’s eyes followed her as she traversed the walkway to the riverbank. It took very little time for her to reach the bend in the path, turn, and wave to them before disappearing behind the hibiscuses.

“Would you like anything else?” Gonsalvo asked.

“I couldn’t eat another bite. I’m so stuffed I just might stay here and go to sleep.”

“If you must doze, it’s much nicer on the river. The current is so sluggish you will hardly know you’re moving.”

“Where does it go?”

“It twists and turns through the estate for the next mile or two, and then comes out on the other side of the house a short distance from where we entered the avenue. It’s a long ride to nowhere.”

“That suits my mood.”

Gonsalvo helped Summer out of her chair.

“Will the sun be hot?” Summer asked, remembering she had not brought a sun shade.

“The boat is fitted with a large parasol.”

“You think of everything, don’t you?”

“It’s always wise to plan ahead.”

“Now you sound like Captain Douglas,” Summer complained. “It’s too warm and I’m too full of your delicious food to listen to anything that sounds like good advice. I want to waste my time, be frivolous, and do absolutely nothing worthwhile.”

“Admirable.” He laughed. “Spoken like a true Spaniard.”

“You Spanish can’t be allowed to have all the fun,” Summer decreed as she permitted herself to be led down stone steps to where the boat was tied. “If I’m going to spend the rest of my life freezing in Scotland, I’ll be practical when I must.”

“Does your husband know how much you dislike Scotland?”

“I don’t actually dislike it.” Summer chided herself for letting her tongue get away from her again. “It’s just that after spending my whole life here, it will be very hard to get used to blizzards and frozen rivers.”

“I should think it would be impossible.

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