“There’s a second carriage for Laura’s family,” Henrietta said. She was seated across from Alex, looking as stylish as a fashion plate in her white linen seaside ensemble. “We’ve only room for one more in the barouche.”

“A great deal of fuss,” Squire Talbot muttered.

“There’s nothing wrong with fuss, Papa,” she replied. “Not if the end result is pleasure.”

George grinned. “Hear, hear!”

The barouche rolled along the now familiar country road that led past Talbot’s Wood to Bramble Cottage. Alex’s stomach tensed with anticipation as they approached.

Since parting from Laura at the pond, he’d tried very hard not to think of her proposal. And even harder not to think of the words that had preceded it.

You don’t want land. What you’re looking for is a family.

A family.

She’d never know the seismic jolt those words had delivered. Would never know how much he’d been tempted.

He couldn’t marry her. Couldn’t love her. But he could be a friend to her. A friend to her brother, and her aunt. There was nothing dangerous in that, surely.

Unless one could call a rapid pulse and a swiftly beating heart a danger.

He experienced both the moment he set eyes on her.

She came down the garden path to meet them as the carriage pulled up to the cottage gate. Like Henrietta, she was garbed in linen—a cream-colored skirt and loose-fitting jacket trimmed in black braiding. There was a wide-brimmed straw hat in her hand. “Good morning,” she said, smiling.

As they all exchanged greetings, a footman opened the door of the barouche to hand down Henrietta. “You’ll be wanting Alex to help with your brother,” she said, “but I may as well come, too, in case your aunt requires any assistance.”

Alex jumped down from the barouche to follow the two ladies into the cottage. He wondered who Henrietta thought she was fooling. Her penchant for petty jealousies was plain for all to see.

She linked her arm through Laura’s as they entered the hall. “I’ve brought you one of my bathing dresses. Pray it fits.”

Laura laughed. “I shall swim, even if I must leap into the sea with all of my clothes on.”

“Ladies don’t swim, Laura,” Henrietta retorted. “They bathe.”

Mrs. Bainbridge came down the stairs to meet them, her plump face aglow with pleasure. “Oh, Miss Talbot! How good of you to come and fetch us. So generous. And Mr. Archer! So very obliging of you to help with my nephew.”

Laura met Alex’s eyes. The conversation between Henrietta and Mrs. Bainbridge seemed to fade into the background. He was certain he could hear his heart pounding.

At that moment, he’d have given anything for a private word with her. Just a brief second or two alone so he could put her at her ease.