"Would somebody please get me out?" she pleaded, but nobody was paying any attention to her.
"My wife swears like a postillion, and look where it got her."
"You are so haughty it's unbearable!" Darlington raged.
Francesco nodded. "I second that."
Surrey's cheeks were bright red. "Have you forgotten who you're talking too? I'm the Duke of Surrey!"
Francesco whooped. "I'm the Prince of Karlsburg! I win!"
Darlington snorted. "I wish you weren't always this egotistical, Surrey! But I guess it is fruitless to discuss anything with you that does not concern you personally. Your youngest sister should concern you personally, though."
"Yes, but she should not concern YOU!" the Duke was screaming into the Earls face. The two lords were facing each other like two raging bulls about to hit their heads together.
"Oh NO? Somebody has to to point it out! I can't stand to watch it any longer!"
"And what is it to you?"
"I'm simply pointing it out!"
"I think you are assuming, my Lord! By what right do you think you may criticise my sister?"
"I care for her! Something you obviously don't do!"
"YOU CARE FOR HER?" The Duke shoved the Earl.
"YES I DO!" The Earl shoved back.
"YOU? YOU? WHO NEVER CARES ABOUT ANYTHING?" The Duke shoved the Earl again.
"THAT'S NOT TRUE!" Darlington was white as chalk. Flora held her breath.
"NO?" Surry was obviously fuming.
"IS THAT SO HEARD TO UNDERSTAND? I'M WORRIED ABOUT CLARA'S PROSPECTS! SHE'LL NEVER FIND A WORTHY HUSBAND LIKE THIS!"
"WHY DON'T YOU MARRY HER YOURSELF THEN?"
"FINE! I WILL!"
"YOU WILL?"
"YES, I WILL, I SWEAR BY GOD!"
Both men stared at each other in stunned silence and disbelief.
Flora, who had been frozen by the threat of violence that had hung in the air between James Crawford and Dominic St. Yves, sighed in bewilderment.
There's this weird thing poking me again. Now into my belly. What is it?
Her attention returned to the Prince and she found him gazing at her as if from far away.
Suddenly, she was more aware of his hard body than ever. She had not noticed how close she must have held on to him while the two men had been fighting, but now she realised she had actually wrapped her legs around him.
"This is shocking! The poor girl!" she exclaimed weakly.
"What? Who?" the Prince asked, looking almost stupid. His chest was heaving.
What's wrong with him?
"Clara of course."
"Why? What happened to Clara?"
Is he sick again? Maybe his head injuries were worse, maybe he's going to die after all, maybe— are those his hands on my buttocks? Have they been there long? Oh, Lord! Is that his, his, his, his I-can't-even-think-the-word-now that is poking me?
Flora had never been happier for wearing pantalettes.
"I'll have to leave for London immediately," Darlington said sternly.
"We'll be back in September," the Duke replied just as seriously. "I expect you to have your affairs in order by then."
"Yes. Please inform your sister of our arrangement."
"I will."
Flora heard them, but she did not really understand what was being said. She was too occupied with her own situation. She did not even notice how the Earl walked away.
Her inside had begun pulsating. There was a strange yearning in her, a magnetic pull towards the Prince, she felt incomplete as if something had to be done right now. Something basic. Something primeval.
"Come now, Miss Parker." A third hand took hold of her and she was pulled out of the water like a pike on the rod. "I'll ask a servant to get you some clothes, Francis. I will have both of your explanations."
"Oh, what a relief," the Prince groaned. Flora's blood ran ice cold.
Francesco shook himself a little, then he looked up. "It was that monstrous dog! He is to be blamed for all of this, for this predicament. He jumped against her and she fell into the water. I had to save her, had I not? I'm sure you would not have wanted a dead ward on your hands?"
"Mr. Wimple?" the Duke asked. "He could not jump if his life depended on it."
"Oh, yes!" Flora said through clattering teeth. "He's been exercising!"
"He came running down the hill! It was a terrible sight!" Francesco insisted.
Dominic gave Flora a little shove. "Off you go, Miss Parker. I'll interrogate Mr. Wimple as soon as I get hold of him. He and I have always been on excellent terms."
Flora began walking towards the house. She dripped like, well, like a wet dog. Unfortunately, shaking did not seem an option for her. She intended to keep a last bit of dignity. Surrey followed close behind.