Free The Romance by M. C. Beaton, Marion Chesney Page B

energy, their spitting and swearing had offended his delicate nerves, but had left him with the ability to swim like a fish. He surfaced, dived, grabbing hold of Jane’s dress, hauled her to the surface and began to head for the bank, holding her tightly. Lord Gyre was there before him. Once he had seen that St. Clair could swim, he had rowed energetically for the bank. Jane had fortunately closed her mouth tightly when she sank and so she was soaking and shaken but not otherwise harmed, and retained enough of her wits to quickly see the romantic advantages of the situation. Thrusting aside her mother, who had appeared on the scene, Jane stumbled to her feet and threw herself into St. Clair’s arms, crying, ‘My hero! I owe you my life!’
    Mirabel looked on fondly. So much for Belinda Beverley and her ambitions.
    ‘I think Miss Chalmers should be taken directly to the house and put to bed,’ said Lady Beverley crossly. She flashed an irritated glance at her daughter. Why couldn’t it have been Belinda who had nearly been drowned?
    After Jane was led away, Lord St. Clair sat down on the grass and took off one boot, emptied out the lake water, and then glared all around. ‘Ah, there you are, Perry,’ he said crossly, espying his cousin, who was trying to sidle away. ‘You said you would see to things. Didn’t you notice the boat was leaky?’
    ‘I am not your servant,’ retorted Perryfuriously. ‘I only checked there were enough boats for the party.’
    Lord Gyre turned to Belinda. ‘How deep is the lake?’
    ‘Where the boat sank? I am not sure. About fourteen feet of water, I think.’
    ‘We should get two men to dive down with ropes and try to lift the boat up,’ said Lord Gyre.
    ‘Why?’ demanded Perry.
    ‘I just want to make sure no one had been tampering with it.’
    ‘That’s ridiculous,’ expostulated Perry. ‘The planks probably had sprung in the heat.’
    ‘Nonetheless, I would like to make sure.’
    ‘Then you organize it,’ said Perry, and strode off towards the house.
    ‘Why bother?’ said St. Clair, standing up. ‘I’m thirsty. Let’s all go back and have some luncheon.’
    Lord Gyre walked off in the direction of the stables and the rest of the party made their way back to the house.
    ‘That was an interesting accident,’ said Mrs. Ingram, falling into step beside Belinda. ‘If it was an accident.’
    ‘I think it must have been,’ said Belinda. ‘If anyone wanted to drown Saint Clair, they would hardly try to do so when so many people and servants were about.’
    ‘The plan may have been to disgrace him.’
    ‘Well, if that was the case, it sadly missed.Saint Clair is the hero of the day.’
    ‘I think Perry Vane might have been behind it some way. In fact, if you want to regain Mannerling, I would concentrate your attentions on Mr. Vane. He means to have the place, of that I am sure.’
    Belinda moved rapidly away from her. Mrs. Ingram gave a rueful shrug. Now I have been much too impertinent, she thought.
    Lizzie scampered after her sister. ‘You almost ran away from Mrs. Ingram, Belinda. Did she say something to offend you?’
    ‘She suggested I should concentrate on Perry Vane because he means to discredit Saint Clair and gain Mannerling for himself.’
    ‘He must not succeed,’ said Lizzie fiercely.
    ‘Why?’ demanded Belinda drily. ‘I thought it did not matter whom I married as long as I got Mannerling.’
    ‘But I cannot like Mr. Vane. And we were agreed that Saint Clair would make an amiable husband. Did you hear that Mrs. Ingram was haunted during the night?’
    ‘I heard she was frightened by the tinkling of the chandelier, nothing more. Mrs. Ingram has too vivid an imagination and sees ghostly happenings and Gothic plots everywhere she looks. And yet, if she had any sensitivity, she would take herself off.’
    ‘Why?’
    ‘Because she is Gyre’s ex-mistress,’ said Belinda crossly. ‘You would think any womanof breeding and delicacy would find