SPLASH.
It came from her right side, the side hidden from her view by the tree trunk. She closed the diary and tried to move around a little, holding on to the trunk.
SPLASH.
This time she saw it. It was an arm! And there! Another arm! Somebody swam there! There was an entire human body in the water. A man! The entire naked body of a naked man! Naked! Droplets glittering in the sunlight! On his naked, naked skin!
She could right away establish that it was a very well formed male frame paddling to shore.
Naked.
Where had he come from? At this part of the lake it was at least two miles wide at the narrowest point.
Flora looked down.
It would take her too long to climb down the tree. She was not high up but with her long skirts and the way she sat on the branch, it would not be an easy endeavour.
She had no choice but to stay where she was.
The man stopped.
Had he seen her? Flora's heart raced. If he saw her it would be dreadfully embarrassing.
The best thing to do, she decided, was to simply wait it out in the tree.
He reached the shoreline.
The water was still deep at the grassy ridge and he had folded his arms in front of himself resting his head on them, most likely exhausted from the effort of swimming across the lake.
All of a sudden he lifted himself. With one perfect movement he sprang out of the water and stood right in front of the tree.
Naked.
And then Flora fell.
Strangely, it took her an unnaturally long time to fall and the world almost halted when her face was on the same height as his groin.
With a loud "thump" she landed at his feet. A sharp pain went through her ankle but Flora did not even scream. She just lay there, on her back, looking up into the sky, debilitated by shock. Her entire body felt flushed and she was waiting for her brain to explode.
"Signorina, si è fatta male?" a voice asked from above.
Flora had begun to study the italian idiom, but the quickly uttered phrase was beyond her understanding, especially in her present circumstance.
"I believe I should try again. Are you hurt, Miss?" the voice asked again, this time in perfect English, as crisp as Darlington's or Surrey's could ever be.
Flora was blind with tears of shame.
Fortunately.
She did not want to see what most certainly hung just a few hands above her face.
The man must have come to a similar conclusion. "Might I borrow your scarf, Miss? I believe we would have an easier time conversing if my family jewels were covered."
What did he just say? He can NOT have said that!!!
Flora thought she must have somehow agreed - but maybe she had not - anyway, she felt her silken stola being pulled out from under her.
"There! I am decent now. You can look."
Flora did.
The afternoon sun was in her eyes and all she could behold was the glittering form of a Greek Olympian in complete undress, apart from the pink scarf he had wound around his middle.
"Holy Christ, that's my mothers scarf!" she cried out without thinking and hated herself for the dreadful habit of not being able to hold her tongue.
"Your mother is a Lady of taste, this is exquisite silk. And I am glad you found your speech, Miss. Would you have the kindness to answer my question regarding your well-being? Will you be able to walk on your own?"
Flora bit her teeth and tried to move her foot. It hurt.
She shook her head. "No, I believe, I can't, Sir. Might you call at the house and ask for a few servants to come and get me, there should be at least three valets with nothing to do. They would— "
Without much ado he leaned forward and lifted her up into his arms.
"No, you can't!" Flora shrieked as any good English girl would when suddenly snatched up by a naked man. A naked wet man!
"Of course I can, I have lifted much heavier weights, believe me. When I was in Germany, I once lifted a wine barrel that weighed twice as much as you do. You are very small, you know. Has anybody ever told you?"
Floras cheek was pressed against his arm and she felt his hard body through her summer dress which was made of three extremely thin layers.
"They don't have to tell me, I know I am small, but wait! Where are you taking me? Do you know the way? We have to find Her Grace! The Duchess of Surrey! She lives here. We live here! I am her companion. She will take care of me! I believe she is on the veranda over to the left with— "
"HER Grace? Can it be true? Noooo... HER Grace? Really?" He began to laugh.
They rounded a corner and Flora could see the veranda where Gigi and Clara were served tea by Mariella the Housekeeper.
Gigi jumped up as soon as she saw the strange pair approach.
"What is the meaning of this?" she demanded imperiously, general's daughter that she was. "Unhand her, Sir. This instant!"