Page 65 of To Have & To Hold

“I will.”

He pushed the oars forward and the blades skimmed the surface before dipping beneath the water. He felt Emilia’s body tense against his as she strained to pull the oars.

“Slower Emilia,” Nathaniel chuckled. “Your arms do far less than you would believe.”

“What do you mean?” She asked, turning slightly in his arms to try and look at him.

“When you row, most of your strength is in resisting. Each movement starts here…” Nathaniel gave into the dizzying madness for just a moment, letting his hands drift from the oars to brush the sides of her waist.

She inhaled sharply, and Nathaniel froze. He waited for her to pull away, but as her breath started to slow, he felt her relax against him just a little more.

His hands remained where they were, but he continued to explain. “You push with your legs first.”

Emilia nodded slowly.

“And then you use the strength of your back.” He traced her motions with gentle pressure across her shoulder blades.

“And finally your arms finish the stroke.”

He returned his hands to hers and helped her pull the oars gently from the water before they plunged below again. The skiff glided smoothly over the mirror-like river, and Emilia laughed softly. Nathaniel loosened his grip on her hands so she could feel the satisfaction of moving the boat on her own.

“I can see why you enjoy this so much,” she said.

Nathaniel smiled, “I must admit, I am finding this morning even more enjoyable than most.”

He reached up to brush the wild strands of hair away from her face and neck. Emilia turned her head until she was nearly facing him. Her eyes searched his face relentlessly, and it nearly stole his breath.

“Why do you look at me that way?” She asked.

Nathaniel’s brow furrowed. “What way?”

“I do not know,” she admitted, shaking her head. “I can not figure it out. ”

“Surely you can not fault me for wanting to memorize every detail of you, my dear.” He cupped her cheek. “You are beautiful.”

The sky was just beginning to awaken with a flush of pink, and the emerging light caught the reflection of tears inEmilia’s eyes.

“Truly?” She asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Nathaniel tilted his head, his brows raised in confusion. “Yes truly. Have I never told you that before?

Emilia shook her head slowly. “No one ever has.”

Nathaniel’s heart squeezed painfully and a flash of anger heated his body.

How had he never told her?

The mornings he had seen her in the breakfast room, her hair loosely plaited and falling over her shoulder. When she returned from a walk in the garden, her cheeks flushed and her eyes bright. The red gown from the Langley ball that still haunted his dreams.

How had no one ever told this woman that she was beautiful?

He shifted his seat until his legs straddled the bench, turning them both until they were sitting face to face.

“Well,” he said, his voice weighed down with the emotions he had been holding back for far too long. “That is an injustice I must remedy immediately.”

Emilia’s mouth dropped open, but she did not protest.

“Your eyes,” he began, his gaze holding steady on hers. “Are as decadent as warm honey. I cannot even look at you without losing my thoughts entirely. It is as though time itself slows down, and my entire world narrows to the simple fact that I am looking at you.”