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The earl was on the point of diving in after her when her head cleared the blue surface and he saw that she was laughing.
He frowned down at her, hands on his hips.
“Dammit, woman, you must be more careful. That you could be so graceless leads me to believe that it is a nursemaid you need.”
The earl did not see the twinkle in her eyes when she asked him in a subdued voice, “Will you not help me, my lord?” She swam close to the dock and held out her hand to him. He closed his fingers about her wrist, unaware that she had positioned her feet against the pilings.
Little minx, Joseph thought, knowing full well what she intended. He could not prevent his shout of laughter when Cassie’s limp muscles suddenly tensed and she pulled the earl, face forward, into the water.
Joseph saw a tangle of arms and legs and heard her crow of triumph. When the earl’s dark head rose to the surface, she pressed her hands down on his shoulders, using all her weight, and pushed him under again.
Cassie was still laughing when the earl grasped her legs and dragged her down. When he finally released her, she broke to the surface, gasping for breath. Her golden hair streamed about her and a slimy water reed hung limply over her forehead.
“And you accuse me of being clumsy, my lord.”
He swam to her and pulled the water reed off her face. “No, my girl, I am only guilty of trusting you.” Her eyes were alight with mischief, and he grinned. “Are you ready to return to land?”
“Ah yes, my lord, now that I have given you your comeuppance.”
Joseph hauled both of them, dripping wet, onto the dock. Cassie was still smiling as she pulled her thick mantle of wet hair over her shoulder and wrung it out. Joseph eyed her curiously. She certainly did not appear to hold his master in dislike now, indeed, she appeared carefree.
“Why did you name her Fearless?” Cassie asked as they walked back toward the villa.
“It seemed appropriate.” He paused a moment and continued lightly, “I have finally done something for you that you approve?”
“Indeed you have, my lord,” she said, pushing a heavy mass of wet hair from her forehead. “She is beautiful, so sleek.”
“Would you subscribe, my dear, to the notion that one good turn deserves another?”
She drew up a moment and gazed up at him warily. “You mean, my lord, if you scratch my back, I’m to scratch yours?”
“I desire a promise from you, Cassandra.” As her eyes gleamed suspiciously, he added with a smile, “Nothing in any way final, I assure you. Merely a stated agreement from you, of one evening’s duration.”
She pursed her lips, arguing with herself, and to his relief, she finally nodded.
“Very well,” she said slowly. “I suppose that I must take your word at some things. What is it you wish me to promise?”
“I am planning a dinner party this Thursday evening and have invited the cream of Genoese society. Since you are here with me, in Genoa, I ask that you attend the party, meet my friends, and conduct yourself with propriety.”
She looked up at him, her lips tightened. “So I am to pay the piper for my boat. You have planned this quite nicely, my lord. I hope you do not expect me to thank you for your deviousness.”
“Surely it is not so much to ask, Cassandra.”
“You are a villain, my lord.” She hunched her shoulder at him, gathered up her sodden skirt, and walked toward the gardens.
During the next few days, Joseph wondered if he would spend the remainder of his days guarding his master’s English lady, so sharp was her tongue around the earl. He knew it was only a matter of time before she approached him to help her escape. She did so on a lazy afternoon when they were fishing aboard her sloop in the middle of the lake.
“The fall months in England are beautiful,” she began, her voice soft with sadness.
“The fall months are beautiful most everywhere, madonna, save of course in northern Africa.” Joseph maintained a stoic countenance, knowing what was to come.
“But I am English,” she said, her voice sharp now, “and to me, there is nothing to compare to the crisp, cool air and the changing color of the leaves.” Her hands tightened around her fishing pole, and he sighed.
She laid a hand on his woolen sleeve. “Joseph, you know that I do not wish to be here, that I am naught but the earl’s prisoner. Will you not help me?” Cassie mistook his brooding silence for uncertainty. “There are ships, English ships, in the harbor. I saw them when we went to the city. I can get money, I know that I can. We could even arrange it so that the earl would believe that I struck you and escaped. You will see, he cannot blame you. Please help me—you must.”
Joseph raised a gnarled hand to her. “Madonna, why is it that you do not wish to wed the master?” She was not a fool, he knew, and the earl was of noble birth, titled and wealthy. Certainly, all the ladies he had observed appeared to find the earl most desirable, all the ladies save one.
“I have no wish to see my name inscribed in their precious Golden Book, and certainly not next to his. I will never wed him.”
