"Auspicious," Alexandra corrected serenely.
James ignored them, watching as the Woodmeres approached the hire-boats.
Woodmere spoke to the boatman while his mother inspected the boat, skepticism etched into her brow.Esme and Genny stood apart, watching ducks quarrel over crumbs.
The ducks, James thought, had the right idea.Entirely uninterested in arrangements, entirely committed to taking what crumbs they pleased.
He cleared his throat."Berkshire.Langley."
Magnus sighed."Yes, Redford?"
"It occurs to me that the Serpentine is a hazardous place."
Alexandra's eyes gleamed."Is it?"
"Perilous currents.Treacherous ducks.A shocking scarcity of companions well-versed in the art of not being bored,” James said, his gaze following Esme.
Magnus's mouth twitched."You wish to go ashore."
"Briefly," James conceded."To pay my respects, to see whether Lady Esme has survived another evening with her parents' expectations intact."
"And to meddle," Alexandra added.
"Only a little," he said.
Magnus considered."If I row you to the bank, will you promise not to drown anyone?"
"I shall make every effort.”James grinned."Unless provoked."
Alexandra laughed."Oh, row him in, Magnus.If we don't supervise, he will only find a worse idea."
Magnus muttered something about martyrdom, then angled the boat toward the nearest landing.
By the time James stepped onto the small wooden platform, shaking his cuffs back into place, the Woodmere party had secured a boat of their own.Woodmere stood in the stern, while the dowager Viscountess negotiated the exact number of oars required.
Esme and Genny waited on the bank.
James approached with his most disarming bow."Lady Esme.Miss Moreland.How very industrious of you to be awake before noon."
Genny brightened at once."Lord Redford!Have you come to rescue us from watery doom, or to cause it?"
"On this occasion," he said, "I am merely an observer of nature.I hear the Serpentine is at its most dangerous when infested with matchmaking mamas."
Esme's lips curved."Hyde Park is considered entirely safe, my lord, provided one keeps to the proper paths."
"And do you?"he asked.
Her gaze flicked toward the carriage road, then back to the water.
"Not always," she said.
Genny bounced."We are to row, can you imagine?Woodmere says it will be 'wholesome.'I suspect he intends to steer us in circles until we admit that marriage is the only sensible alternative."
"An alarming doctrine," James said.“Lady Woodmere intends to accompany you?"
"Indeed," Esme said, "and frown disapprovingly at anyone who laughs too loudly.Lord Woodmere will keep us from colliding with anything interesting."
James heard himself say, "You could always defect."
