Marrying Miss Hemingford by Nadia Nichols Read Free Book Online Page B

that this was not the sort of conversation a well-bred young lady should be having with a man, certainly not in their present state of undress, but she could not bring herself to turn away from him. He fascinated her. ‘Oh, I am sure you do.’
    â€˜You are a long way from the beach, Miss Hemingford,’ he said, looking back towards the bathing huts. ‘Should you have come so far? The tide can be very strong…’
    â€˜I am a good swimmer, Dr Tremayne. Have no fear, you will not be obliged to rescue me.’ She laughed, but he did not respond and she wondered if he ever smiled. ‘I—I can keep going for hours.’
    â€˜You do say.’ His tone was amused, almost disbelieving.
    â€˜I do and, to prove it, I will race you to that rock.’ Before he could respond, she was off, cleaving powerfully through the water.
    He kept up with her stroke for stroke, and it was not until they reached the rock that she realised she could not clamber out because what had been a shapeless garment when she put it on, would have a very definite shape now, clinging to every curve of her body: breasts, hips, legs.
    â€˜I must return to my aunt,’ she called out to him, making for the shore. ‘She will be wondering what has become of me.’
    â€˜And I must return to my patients. Good day to you, Miss Hemingford.’
    He swam away from her towards a cove below the cliffs and she could see he was wearing breeches, but nothing else. Even in the cool water, she felt herself going hot. She turned and swam back to where Mrs Bartrum floundered in three feet of water. Her aunt was not alone.
    Major Mancroft was beside her, wearing a loose-fitting jacket and trousers of the same rough cotton as her dress, which was a relief, for she had heard that the men often swam naked. ‘Miss Hemingford, good morning,’ he called as she approached. ‘I have been endeavouring to persuade your aunt into deeper water.’
    â€˜No, no,’ the lady said, thoroughly embarrassed. ‘I am perfectly at ease here.’
    â€˜Madam, you will become cold if you do not move around a little,’ he said, moving closer. ‘Pray, let me assist you. Take my hand. There is nothing to worry about. We are unobserved from the shore and no one thinks anything of it when ladies and gentleman meet in the water. It has a calming influence, you know.’
    Anne laughed. ‘Is that another of its cures?’
    Her aunt was shivering. ‘I think I have been in the water long enough for a first encounter,’ she said, turning back to the bathing machine where Susan waited at the top of the steps with a large towel. ‘I will dress and wait for you on the promenade. Do not hurry, if you are enjoying yourselves.’ And with that she disappeared under the hood.
    â€˜I, too, have had enough for my first dip,’ Anne told the Major, making for the machine she had been using, gladof the shelter of the canvas hiding her as she climbed the steps and hurried inside.
    The horse was put back into the shafts and the little vehicle was pulled up on to dry land, and half an hour later she stepped down, fully dressed again and feeling thoroughly refreshed. She would come again if the weather remained calm.
    When she regained the promenade, she discovered Major Mancroft, once more in uniform, had arrived before her and was sitting on a bench talking to her aunt. ‘Ah, Miss Hemingford, I thought I would wait and escort you home. I am not on duty today.’ He rose and offered both arms and the ladies took one each and strolled along the sea front, talking easily as they went, with Amelia and Susan falling in behind them.
    â€˜Did you see service in the Peninsula, Major?’ Mrs Bartrum asked.
    â€˜Alas, no. I am on the staff, which is why I am in Brighton at the moment. In case his Highness needs me.’
    â€˜Is he in residence?’
    â€˜He is expected, I believe.’
    â€˜And does