For a man so prone to the darkness, what he had created in the light was most beautiful. Fields of brilliant flowers of many colors lay beyond the stone steps. To the right of it was a hedge maze she was told was speckled with statuary, and to the left, beyond the vast fields, was a large pond. She had not been close to either yet, but Delia had told her that the pond was a most serene place to sit and think, and that the maze was fun and had some incredibly artful statues of Greek Gods and Goddesses.
Since she had recently learned that George was fond of hide-and-seek, Caroline chose to check the maze first, believing it was the perfect place to play.
“George!” she called, stepping into the cool shade of the tall evergreen hedges that made up the maze’s walls. “Georgie, where are you?”
When she got no answer, she walked deeper into a maze; a sense of dread was creeping up on her. The high walls darkened the space and reminded her too much of the small closets Agatha once trapped her in. She drew in a short breath, but before long, she grew dizzy. Trembling, she dropped her hands to her knees and put her head down, willing her lungs to pull in longer,deeper breaths.
You are fine. You are fine. You are not trapped.
“Your Grace?” A feminine voice rose behind her. “Are you unwell?”
Caroline stifled a sob as she rose to her full height, relief pouring through her. She made sure to fit a smile upon her lips and hide her trembling hands in her skirts before turning around. Still, a tremor of anxiety moved through her when she saw only Clara standing there.
“I am fine,” she assured her. “But I was looking for Georgie. I was told you were playing with him?”
Clara nodded, then glanced around the maze walls with uncertainty.
“We had struck up a game of hide-and-seek,” Clara explained. “I am not used to the boy being so lighthearted, so I had not expected him to take off so. We started to play about a quarter of an hour ago, but I have not yet found him.”
“Did you give him rules?” Caroline asked, forcing her worried mind to focus. “Let him know that he could not hide beyond the maze?”
Clara blanched.
“I did not realize... I mean, I did not even think. Your Grace, I apologize for my lack of thought,” Clara stammered, now looking as worried as Caroline felt. “Do you think he went beyond the maze?”
Anger laced through Caroline’s fear, but she pushed it down, knowing it would do her no good.
“You stay here, go through the entire maze, and keep calling out to him. Tell him the game is over and it is time for his lessons,” Caroline commanded. “I will go and search the gardens and pond. If you find him, bring him to me straight away.”
Clara gave a stiff nod and turned, ready to take off at once.
“Wait!” Caroline exclaimed, feeling her fear of small spaces encroaching upon her again. Clara turned to her with an expectant look. “How do I find the quickest way out of here?”
Clara gave her a kind look and pointed to the maze wall nearest to Caroline.
“That is the outer wall, Your Grace. Put your hand on it and keep it there. There are no hidden tricks to this one, so it should lead you straight to the exit,” she answered.
“Thank you,” Caroline breathed, relieved to know it was such an easy trick.
She placed her hand against the soft bristles of the evergreen walls and began to make her way. A short while later, she drew in a deep breath and was nearly dizzy with relief when she found the opening. Knowing there was no time to linger, though, she began to run and went back to the patio so that she could see over the gardens again. Upon reaching them, she scanned her dark eyes over the beautiful scenery, and her heart stuttered when she saw splashing coming from the distant pond.
Oh, no. Oh, Lord. George!
Caroline took off again, racing down the stairs and toward the pond with a quickness she never knew she was capable of. By the time she reached the bank of the pond, her muscles ached, and her lungs screamed for air, but even so, she dragged in a breathand readied herself to dive into the water.
She was about to make her final leap into the pond when suddenly the calm surface broke, and Damien’s head and naked shoulders emerged. Gasping, Caroline willed her body to stop, but her momentum took her scrambling into the water. Cool water engulfed her, soaking into her hair and dress as it flooded into her mouth. However, powerful arms wrapped around her, and she felt herself being lifted to the surface before a different sort of panic could set in.
Coughing and sputtering, Caroline broke the surface just in time to hear Damien muttering curses and demanding what on earth she was thinking.
“Georgie,” she gasped, paying him no mind as she gripped his shoulders and wrenched her head left to right. “Is Georgie here with you?”
“No,” Damien’s deep voice rumbled as she coughed again. “Take a moment and breathe, Caroline,” he commanded, his arms tightening around her as he walked her to the bank. “Then tell me what has happened.”
Caroline pushed her ruined hair out of her eyes as she dragged in a deep breath, still looking for the little boy. Then something else caught her eyes, and before she could stop herself, she raked her gaze down Damien’s back. Water beads glistened in the sun against the powerful muscles of his back, over his hips, and down to a chiseled round of supple flesh that most certainly was his backside.
“You... you are naked!” she exclaimed. Her blood and cheeks instantly heated at the realization, and she began to push herself out of Damien’s arms.
“Your Grace, you are not supposed to touch me. And definitely not when you arenaked!”she hissed.
