Her friend gave her a look of pity. “Oh, Beth, Caroline sees better than you think. Better than you, apparently.”

“I assure you, I don’t like Mr. Darcy.”

“But Mr. Darcy likes you, I think.”

“Impossible. That man hates everyone, me in particular. Why, he only stares at me to find fault. No, Charlotte, you’re very wrong about Mr. Darcy.”

Charlotte tried to respond, but she stopped when Anne Burroughs approached.

The lady smiled nervously. “You’re both going to get an invitation to Mother’s Fourth of July party at the ranch, but I wanted to personally encourage you to come. You… you will, won’t you?” Anne only relaxed when both Beth and Charlotte assured her of their attendance. “Oh, that’s wonderful! Beth, may I ask you something?” She paused as her color rose. Beth waited patiently for her friend to speak and gave the girl her most encouraging smile.

“Will you come and stay for a few days before the party?” Anne asked in a rush.

Beth clearly was taken aback, and Anne’s face crumpled, fearing a rejection. Beth took her hands and said, “I would be delighted, but I have to help Jane—”

Anne cut her off. “I’ve already asked Jane, and she said she could spare you for a few days. Please come. I’ve never had anyone over to the house before, except for my cousins. I mean, I love my cousins, but it’s not the same.”

Beth glanced at Jane, who was smiling at her from across the room. Beth shrugged her shoulders and returned her attention to Anne.

“Very well, I’ll ask my father when I visit home tomorrow. If he says yes—”

Anne laughed in girlish joy, a sound Beth had never before heard from the shy and serious heiress. “Oh, he will, he will! Thank you, Beth. Oh, Will, Beth is coming to the ranch to visit with me! Isn’t it fine?”

Beth whirled around to find Will Darcy standing behind her. She felt herself flush—from embarrassment, she reasoned.

“I think that’s a grand idea, Cousin,” he said gravely, his blue eyes brighter than before. “Thank you for your kindness, Miss Bennet.”

“Wait,” cried Caroline. “Who’s going to help me with Jane?”

By then, Mrs. Bingley had arrived and had taken her sister-in-law in hand, assuring her that they would get along splendidly. Beth fell into a conversation with Anne, Charlotte, and Gaby about the party, but she could feel Will Darcy’s eyes upon her as he stood enigmatically against the wall.

“Hush, boy, let’s be quiet now,” Darcy whispered in Caesar’s ear as they crept along the riverbank. The horse responded, as his rider knew he would, and made almost no sound as he walked upriver, close by the bushes.

They reached the familiar tree, and within moments, Caesar was grazing while his master stole closer to the riverbank. He found the spot and settled down in anticipation of his quarry. He didn’t have long to wait. Only minutes passed before a lovely female figure made her way down the opposite bank and began undressing.

Darcy had tried and tried to resist the siren song of watching Beth Bennet bathe, and it had turned into a losing battle. His mouth was dry as he beheld paradise across the Long Branch. Gloriously nude, the girl slipped under the water, moving slowly in the cool shade.

Darcy’s shirt, wet with sweat, clung to his body. His jeans felt too tight, for reasons unrelated to the blistering June heat. The water, the woman, was just too inviting. He could not wait any longer.

As quietly as he could, he slipped off his boots. Setting them by his hat, he took off his shirt. His pants were next and moments later, naked as Adam, Darcy waited behind the bushes until Beth turned her attention to the far riverbank. He slipped into the water unnoticed by the girl but then froze. What to do now? He couldn’t just swim over there without warning, could he? That would frighten Beth, and frightening her was the last thing Darcy wished to do.

“Miss Beth,” he called out softly.

The girl cried out and ducked as low in the water as she could and still breathe. Quickly, she turned around. “Mr. Darcy?”

“Miss Beth, don’t be afraid, it’s just me.”

“What are you doing here!? Go away!”

“Shush, quiet. I don’t want to raise any ruckus.”

“But I’m not decent!”

Darcy smiled. “Well, neither am I. I figure that makes us even.”

Darcy swore she hid a smile at that. “How did you know about this place? Have you been spying on me?”

Darcy had the grace to look embarrassed. “No, really. The first time—the only other time—was an accident. Really.”

Rather than looking offended, the girl just treaded water, her hair fanning out behind her. “But you came back.”

“I couldn’t help myself.”

She frowned. “You wanted to see an undressed girl.”

“No! I wanted to see an undressed you. You’re the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen.”

“You’re just saying that.”

“No, it’s true, I swear. Can I come closer? I don’t want my voice to carry.”

She seemed to think about that. “All right, but not too close.” Darcy swam across the river until he was a couple of feet away. “That’s close enough,” Beth decided.

Indeed, it was close enough. Darcy could make out her pale form under the surface of the water. He looked up to see with a shock that Beth was carefully looking back at his body.

“Do you swim a lot?” she asked.

“Yes, but not in the river. We’ve got a big lake on Pemberley. I’ve been swimming there since I was a boy.”

“Is it warmer than the river?”

“Yeah. Are you chilled?”

She nodded.

“It is cold. Maybe if I got closer, we could keep each other warm.”

She seemed undecided, and a crease formed between her eyebrows. “That sounds indecent.”

Darcy flushed. “Sorry.”

Beth smiled slightly. “I didn’t say no. I said it sounded indecent. Can I trust you?”

“Yeah.”

She nodded and turned her back. Darcy slowly swam to within a foot of her, resolutely keeping his eyes fixed on the back of her head.

“Is that better?” he asked. The water was shallow enough for him to touch bottom—in fact, he had to squat to keep his torso underwater.

“A little.” Beth looked over her shoulder and bit her lip. “I’ve seen that look before. You stare at me all the time. The society meetings and at Jane’s. You do it a lot.”

Darcy licked his lips. “I can’t help it.”

She turned away. “You like looking at me?”

“Yeah.” Darcy’s voice cracked.

“So do I,” Beth said softly.

Darcy couldn’t believe his ears. “What?”

She turned slowly to him, her arms crossed to shield her breasts underwater. “I like that you look at me. I like the way you look at me. Nobody’s ever looked at me like that before.”

“That’s because no one else loves you the way I do,” Darcy blurted out.

Beth’s eyes grew wide. “You love me?”

Darcy couldn’t say anything; he just nodded.

Beth stared at him, eyes boring into him, looking for the truth.

Darcy glanced away from her scrutiny. “I’m sorry—I just thought there shouldn’t be any secrets between us, given, well,” he shrugged, “our present situation.”

Beth giggled a bit and then sobered. “Look at me,” she commanded. “Look into my eyes. I can see people’s feelings in their eyes.”

Darcy could do nothing but obey. For long moments he allowed himself to get lost in her gaze. Finally, Beth gasped.

“You do love me,” she declared.

Without thinking, he reached for her under the water. His fingers gently caressed the soft skin of her upper arms and shoulders. Instead of recoiling, she sighed and fell into his embrace, her hands the only thing between them. Slowly, with the utmost care, Darcy lowered his lips to her slightly open mouth. The kiss began gently, like the wings of a butterfly, until Beth moaned and returned the kiss. Before Darcy knew it, their arms were about each other, her soft, warm body firmly against his. A fire was ignited—hands and lips were everywhere—promises and declarations were demanded and made. When Darcy felt Beth’s leg curl around his, he reacted instinctively. He reached down, carried her in his arms, and strode to the soft riverbank.

As he laid her down, Beth looked up in fear. “Oh, please, don’t dishonor me!”

Darcy’s earnest gaze took in her scared eyes, inflamed lips, and erect nipples. “I can’t dishonor you, my love. I can only love you. You’re to be my wife—I promise you that here, before God and nature. We’ll never be parted from this day forward.” With that, he kissed her deep and long, a kiss she returned full force.