Suitors and Sabotage(74)

Dropping onto the ground in front of the girls, Ben sat with his knees bent, leaning against the tree. He had flopped quite close to Imogene, and she lifted her hand, laying it on his shoulder in reassurance, in camaraderie, in empathy … and in love. But he was not to know the last.

“Well, that was an adventure I might have done better without,” he said. “Another accident … and yet, Josh checked the boat yesterday in preparation.” He sighed and shook his head.

“Not an accident,” Imogene said, watching his beloved profile. He was safe; he was alive. It had been so terribly close.

Ben nodded, staring at the water. “No, not an accident.”

“There are times I do not like to be right. This is one of them.” Although her being right had somehow dissipated Ben’s anger.… Or had nearly dying done it? Mattered not, they were friends again.

Imogene smiled, wishing she could kiss his cheek. Just a chaste kiss, nothing provocative. A sign of her affection and relief. Though, if he turned at the right moment … No, best not think it. Emily was sitting beside them a scant two feet away. It was a disloyal thought. She squeezed his shoulder instead.

Pursing his lips for a moment, Ben huffed a sigh and then stilled. “Thank you,” he said finally. “You jumped into the water with no thought of your own safety.”

“It was but a moment.” Imogene laughed. “I wasn’t thinking very clearly.”

“Imogene?” Ernest’s voice was clipped. “What are you doing?”

Imogene blinked, realizing that her hand was still on Ben’s shoulder and that she had been staring at him overlong. She pulled her hand away and sat back.

Ernest stood at the water’s edge, dripping, holding Ben’s errant boot. His head was tipped slightly, as if he was trying to see her from a different angle, and his brow was furrowed very deeply.

Lifting her cheeks into the semblance of a smile, Imogene met his gaze. “Agreeing that this was no accident.” She could see Ben bobbing his head in front of her.

“Yes, I think we will have to come to terms with the fact that someone has ill-intent, Ernest. I think Imogene has had the right of it all along.”

“I have been saying much the same,” Emily added, her voice having gained strength. Her pallor was going.

“Yes.” Ernest continued to frown, staring at Imogene for a long minute and then turning to Ben. “Your boot,” he said, coming forward. He dropped it at his brother’s feet, looked meaningfully at Imogene, and turned away, stalking down the shore toward the point.

Imogene stilled; she hardly drew a breath. And yet her mind roared. He knew! Ernest had seen something in her expression. Something that had told him Ben had won her heart. Her throat tightened, and tears threatened to spill. She gulped silently and closed her eyes for a moment before rising. She had to talk to him. This was not going to be an easy conversation.

Glancing at Emily, Imogene gestured toward the point. “I think I’ll join Ernest.”

Emily’s understanding smile almost undid her.

*

IT TOOK SOME effort to catch up to Ernest. He had made good time … rushing to nowhere. Imogene had lifted her wet skirts above her ankles, trotting after him. He must have heard her pursuit, but he did not slow down until she called his name.

Even then, he stood where he was, not turning around. Motionless, looking out at the channel. Had he gone another thirty feet or so, he would have been forced to halt. He had reached the end of the point.

“Ernest, we have to talk,” she said to his back. He neither turned nor answered. She circled around, standing in front of him.

With a clenched jaw, Ernest stared over Imogene’s right shoulder. She had never seen a living, breathing human being look more like a statue. A cold, lifeless statue. Not made of stone—but glass. Fragile. Ready to shatter. Even before she spoke, Imogene felt the trickle of a tear on her cheek.

“I am so sorry, Ernest.”

“You are in love. But not with me.”

“I am so very sorry,” she said again.

“When were you going to tell me? Going to keep stringing me along—spending time with Ben? Asking me to wait. Bah! There was no chance, was there?”

“I didn’t know for certain. I have never been in love before—”

“It’s hard to mistake.”

“Perhaps for you. I wasn’t sure if what I felt for Ben was fleeting. My experience is small, Ernest. I hold you in great affection. Admire you. Respect you and enjoy your company. I thought these, too, could be the beginnings of love. I asked you to wait because I didn’t want to make a mistake.” Imogene swallowed with difficulty. “I tried to say something at Greytower, but you were rushing Ben off—bringing him to Musson.”

“Six days before you got here. You could have written.”

“That would have been cold and cruel—”

“Crueler than keeping me hoping … planning a future for us? All the while you were pining for my brother. There is no hope for you there, you know. He has no thoughts of marriage. He will be apprenticing for another two or three years … at least!”

“I know, Ernest. I don’t expect my feelings to be reciprocated, and please…” She reached out and touched his arm. At last he turned his chiseled face toward her. “Please, you must promise not to say anything. He would feel terrible.”