Page 34 of A Provincial Peer

“Yes.” She beamed and reached for the red sailboat.

He handed it to her and then offered the other one to Caroline. “This might take getting my feet wet,” he said, “but a win for the red sailboat will be worth it.” Tugging off his boots, he set them beside the blanket and stuffed his stockings inside them. “Come,” he said, extending his arms to Meg. “You hold the boat, and I shall hold you.”

Meg came willingly. As he lifted her off the ground, she threaded one small arm around his neck and held on tight.

“Are you ready?” he asked.

She nodded, her eyes shining with excitement. “Where are we going?”

His heart swelled at her complete trust in him. “Into the river,” he said. “So hold on tight.”

The arm around his neck tightened, and he moved to the water’s edge.

“If you launch where you did before, Caroline, Meg and I will put our boat in a foot or two farther into the river.”

Caroline studied the spot uncertainly. “Can you manage getting into the water with her?”

“Yes.” He caught the hint of anxiety in her voice. “I give you my word, I shall not drop her.”

She met his eyes. “I know.”

Benedict was not sure what he’d done to gain Caroline’s and Meg’s full confidence, but he was determined not to fail either of them. Setting the bulk of his weight on his right foot, he slowly lowered the left one into the river. He sucked in a breath. The water was frigid.

“Are you all right?” Caroline asked.

“I am quite sure the water temperature is significantly colder than it was when I was ten.”

“We could launch from the shore again,” she suggested.

He shook his head, braced himself, and submerged his right foot. “The worst is over. One foot is already numb.” Taking a cautious step forward, he moved away from the bank. The water rushed past, splashing his breeches. He took two more steps before turning downstream. “Are you ready, Meg?” he asked.

“Yes.” She had yet to relax her tense grip on his neck.

“If you let go of my neck for just a moment, I shall lower you enough that you can set the boat on the water.” He glanced at Caroline. She had resumed her kneeling position on the riverbank and was holding the blue boat over the water. “Are you ready, Caroline?”

“Ready,” she said.

“The red sailboat needs a win, Meg,” he said.

The little girl nodded enthusiastically and released her hold on him so as to grasp the red boat with both hands. “This time it will reach the rock first,” she said.

With a grin, he carefully lowered her so she was suspended over the water. “Ready. Steady. Go.”

Meg and Caroline released their boats simultaneously. Benedict raised Meg, and she instantly wrapped her arm around his neck again.

“It’s winning,” she cried, pointing with her free hand. “The red one is winning!”

The numbness in Benedict’s feet had worked its way to his knees, but he remained in the water, watching and cheering with Meg as the red sailboat made its triumphant run toward Wesley. Moments later, the footman swung the fishing net into the water, catching the red boat handily as it passed the boulder.

“Yay!” Meg cheered.

On the riverbank, Caroline clapped her hands. “Well done, my lord. Well done, Meg.”

Boyish delight filled Benedict. “The red boat challenges the blue boat to the best of three,” he called.

“The blue boat accepts the challenge,” Caroline replied, turning to meet Wesley.

Carrying both captured boats, the footman handed the blue one to Caroline and carefully tossed the red one to Benedict. Benedict caught it one-handed and offered it to Meg. She seized it.