“Oh?” She canted her head towards him.
“You are a cargo entirely too precious to risk dunking in the river,” he said, attempting to sound jovial though his words came out rather more earnest than he had anticipated.
“You flatterer,” Charlotte said though her cheeks coloured.
“It is true,” Dominic replied.
“And what if I decide to dunk you in the river?” She grinned mischievously at him.
His stomach twisted, and it felt for a moment as though he had lost his footing. He shook his head and smiled at her. “Then I imagine we will both get wet. Or you will be stranded, unless you know how to punt.”
“Sadly, I do not have the balance for it. I fear that if I were to try, I would not only capsize the boat but sink it as well.” Charlotte gave him a sidelong look. “Thankfully, I do know how to swim.”
“Well, that is a relief.” Frederick gave the two of them a look.
Dominic felt his cheeks redden and gestured in the direction of the lake. “We should probably get to the boats. I expect if we are too long in getting there, we shall be stuck with something that is half rotted.”
“Well then, we should do our best to avoid that,” Charlotte said slipping a hand in his.
Without thinking, Dominic twined their fingers together, half noticing how natural it felt for them to walk hand in hand. He caught Frederick looking at them, but his cousin did not say anything.It is just for appearances. That is it.
“I think I shall take my leave of you. I do not relish the thought of being trapped on a boat with you two lovebirds.” Frederick doffed an imaginary cap at Charlotte and began to run.
“We are n—” Dominic began, but his cousin had already raced out of earshot. “Ridiculous man.”
“I suppose it will help convince the others… I hear I am to pick something you would enjoy from the other side of the lake?” Charlotte said, gesturing to the horizon.
“And I will need to find you wildflowers,” Dominic agreed.
“There are some lovely flowers in bloom this time of year; I’m sure you will pick something really rather fetching,” she said.
“Such faith in me; are you not worried it is misplaced?” He winked at her.
“No. Should I be?” she laughed softly, but Dominic saw a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes.
“No.” He squeezed her hand reassuringly. “You can trust me.”
“That is good to know.” Charlotte’s smile seemed to hold something else that Dominic could not quite name.
They lapsed into silence, and Dominic breathed in the cool air.
He wanted to say more, but at that moment, they arrived at the shoreline and saw the throng of people gathered at the lake edge, clamouring to get into one of the punts.
“Oh good, it looks like there are still many boats.” Charlotte tugged him towards the crowd. “Come on, let’s go.”
As they jostled amongst the crowd, and the mob pressed against them, Dominic felt a familiar sensation begin to steal over him.Not now, please not now.
His muscles tensed, and he swallowed, feeling nausea begin to steal over him. He forced himself to focus on the task at hand and guided Charlotte safely into a punt. He pushed off from the bank, ignoring the shaking that was spreading through his limbs.
“Well that was certainly —” Charlotte began, promptly cutting off when she saw him. “Dominic, what is wrong?”
“It is nothing.” He shook his head, immediately regretting it.
The punt swayed ominously, and he thought he would lose his balance. It felt as though the world was closing in around him, as though the sky were suddenly falling.
His hands shook on the pole, and he almost let it slip from his shaking hands.
“Please, do not do this. Not now.” He sank to his knees, not trusting himself to stand.
