Dizzy Dilemmas (22 page)

Before Genevieve could reply, however there was a snort from Robert and so as Genevieve turned on him, Glenmore grabbed Dizzy’s hand and hurried her down the path with Ross and Erica almost pushing them out of the way in their haste to get past.

“Sorry, my dear,” Ross apologized as he overtook her.

“Apologies,
” muttered Erica as she scooted past.             

“Poor Robert,
” Dizzy uttered  somewhat breathlessly as she was almost  running to keep up with Glenmore who still had hold of her hand and was tugging her along. “Perhaps we should stay with him in case she shoots him.”

“No. He brought this on himself so we need to get out of the firing range.”

“Actually, you brought this on him by your comment and I added to it with mine. He merely snorted!”

“Yes but there was a wealth of meaning in that snort; it was a snort of a thousand words! Now hurry up because if Ross and Erica get too far ahead they will eat all the food before we get there.
”

“So our leisurely stroll before lunch
is really a running race!” she puffed but Glenmore did not reply as he was too intent on reaching the food, and indeed increased his speed which meant Dizzy had to run in earnest.

             
The servants had set out the picnic near the lake and Ross and Erica were already comfortably ensconced on a blanket sipping lemonade by the time Marcus and Dizzy reached them. Pressing a hand to her side in an effort to ease the stitch, Dizzy flopped down and gratefully took the glass a servant held out to her though it was several moments before her breathing was calm enough to enable her to take a drink.              

“There is nothing like a brisk
walk to sharpen one’s appetite,” Marcus said, having sent the servants off to enjoy their own lunch and sitting down next to Dizzy. “We should wait for the others I suppose. I hope they are not too long.”

“That is if they make it at all. They have pr
obably killed each other by now,” Dizzy stated and then went on to ask; “Why do they dislike each other so much? They are both generally amenable and pleasant people who are well liked and yet when they are together it is open warfare. I cannot understand it.”

“I do not know how it started but I can tell you that their animosity is of long standing. Before I met your sister, Robert had led me to believe she was a real termagant, so imagine my surprise when I
discovered her to be such a pleasant person,” Erica replied.

“If they have put an end to each other’s existence then there is no need to wait. We should just tuck in
,” uttered Marcus.

“
No they are still alive for here they come now,” Ross informed them and then raised his voice to call; “Hurry up we want to start!”

             
The picnic was not only bountiful but delicious and so little was said as everyone enjoyed the repast which included several sweet dishes alongside the savoury. Dizzy lay back on the blanket and closed her eyes; listening to the birdsong and enjoying the peace the park had to offer. She was thinking that it would be perfect, with the sun shining and the gentle breeze if it were not for the little insect that kept tickling her face even though she kept swatting it away. A persistent little devil to be sure but she was determined not to open her eyes so when it again flicked against her cheek she snatched at it and realized it wasn’t an innocent insect after all but a piece of grass being manipulated by a guilty Duke.

“Must you be so annoying?” s
he sighed, closing her eyes again.

“Yes I believe I must,” h
e replied once again tickling her with the strand of grass.

“Go and annoy someone else then!”

“It would not be nearly as much fun as it is annoying you, Gherkin. Besides they are all over by the lake trying to catch a fish.”

“Catch a fish?
With what?” Dizzy sat up in time to see Robert plunge a fishing net into the water.

“An angler must have left it behind and so they are
having a competition to see who can be first to net a fish,” Glenmore said, leaning back on his hands and watching his friends as they squabbled over the rules of the challenge.

“Do you think it will end in tears?” Dizzy asked “I would not p
ut it past Genevieve to push Robert in; or he her for that matter!”

“That would be incredibly funny if it were not for the fact that we have to share a carriage with them
all the way back to town! Not only would they be all wet but in all likelihood they would smell as well.”  Glenmore held his nose to emphasize the point and Dizzy laughed.

“Then let us hope that they stay dry although it would be amusing to see them fall in!” sh
e added.

“I do believe there is a wicked side to you, Lady Dizzy!” Glenmore
pretended shock.

“If you knew how often it is me that falls in or trips over or bumps into and so on; you would forgive me if I secretly hanker to see
someone else do it for a change,” Dizzy explained with a grin. “Admit it. You would find it funny too.”

“I was about to suggest we join them but I am rat
her afraid you may topple me in,” he said

“You have my word, Your Gr
ace that I will not push you in,” she announced solemnly then ruined it by saying “Mainly because I know that you would not hesitate to dunk me were I to serve you such a trick.”

             
Whilst the servants packed away the remains of the picnic, they each took it in turn with the green net; all the while arguing techniques and all singularly unsuccessful.

“You are all making t
oo much noise!” complained Erica when it was her turn. “You are frightening the fish!”

“Just admit that you are as ba
d as the rest of us, sweetheart,” urged her husband and laughed when she shot him a glare.

A couple of minutes later, Erica grudgingly admitted defeat, much to Ross’ delight who could not resist poking fun. Erica smiled angelically at him and strolled towards Dizzy whose turn it was next but before she reached her she suddenly swung around in an effort to catch Ross behind the knees with the net. Just as it looked like he would be toppled over, he nimbly jumped away
; landing safely on his two feet.

“My darling girl, I know you too well to be felled by such a trick. You will have to tr
y harder if you want to beat me,” he crowed.

“Hump
h. You will not be crowing at the annual swimming gala when I pound you out the boat in our next pillow fight!” she said.

“We shall see, sweet pea; I have been practising and am confident that this year I shall be the victor. Besides last time I went easy on you!”

“Such lies!” Erica was outraged.

“Such blatant lies indeed
,” Robert added. “Several witnesses spoke of your defeat last summer, my friend and they all said you were well and truly defeated despite your best efforts. I was told that the honour of the men rested on your shoulders, and you lost!”

“Alright; what you say is all true!” Ross said, grabbing Erica around the waist and giving her a quick kiss. “You are a like a demon in a pillow fight!”

“And do not forget it!” she warned him, returning his kiss.

Dizzy began making her way to the water’s edge with the fishing net firmly clasped in her hand and her attention fixed on the task at hand and therefore she missed the significant glances that passed around the others
. Glenmore gave an understanding nod and went to join her just as she leaned over and plunged the net into the water and he immediately clasped a handful of material at the back of her dress.

“Just a precaution, Gherkin!” he said when she turned her head to glare at him. “We do not want you falling in.”

She ignored the others as they all voiced their assent. “I am clumsy but I am not that bad!”

“Yes you are, Dizzy
,” Genevieve told her bluntly. “And stop growling; I can hear you from here and as Grandmamma would tell you it is not acceptable for a lady to growl when fishing!” at which everyone laughed including Dizzy in spite of herself.

“When is it acceptable for a lady to growl?” asked Erica intrigued.

“We don’t know,” Dizzy called over. “I have been trying to find out for years but am none the wiser.”

“Concentrate on
what you are doing, sweetheart lest you have us both in!” warned Glenmore, who tightened his hold on her dress.

Dizzy sent him a fierce look and retuned to
fishing, this time leaning further out causing Glenmore to utter an expletive before throwing his arm around her waist and holding her tight to him. He realised the error of his move as soon as her rounded bottom made contact with his body. Because she was bending forward it thrust her bottom snugly into his groin sending lust coursing through him and making his unruly body harden with desire.

Ross turned to Erica and whispered “Bad move!
It will definitely cause him some discomfort!”

Marcus was thinking the same thing but if he let her go she would fall into the water.
‘Cold water is surely the answer’ he thought but when he tried thinking about cold water it did nothing to cool his desires because he then imagined her with wet clothing clinging to her delicious body. He groaned.

Dizzy who was about to rebuke him for holding her in such a fashion
, changed what she had been about to say to ask him if he was alright.

“Please sweetheart, for both our sakes, stop wriggling.”
he murmured.

“I was not aware I was, Glenmore. I am just trying
to catch something and succeed where the rest of you have failed. I think you should let go of me!” she told him and went on with what she was doing.

“I cannot let you go because you would fall in
,” he explained then though clenched teeth; “You are wriggling again!”

“Are you saying that my wriggling is hurting you?” she asked, puzzled.

“No sweetheart I am saying that it is making me want to ravish you. It is taking all my willpower to stop me taking you here and now. It is sweet torture but torture nonetheless.”

“Oh so when I do this
,” Dizzy deliberately wriggled her bottom, “it drives you mad with desire?”

“Careful Gherkin
,” he warned, tightening his arm around her and grinding the evidence of his arousal against her. “It works both ways.” He was pleased when he heard her gasp and correctly interpreted it as rising desire in her.

“I get your point, Glenmore,” s
he said breathlessly. “I believe I have had enough of fishing so you can release me now.”

“Wise girl!” h
e said much relieved that his torment was nearly over. “But before I let you go I need to warn you that I want you and I will have you.”

Dizzy was glad he did not seem to expect an answer. This was a dilemma indeed for she had been raised following a strict moral code whereby young ladies did not give
their virginity to anyone other than their husband. She knew that many women of the ton had extra marital affairs some even before they had produced the requisite heir but she held very strong views on the subject and believed that one should abide by one’s marriage vows. Thus she was determined to marry only for love. Glenmore had made it perfectly clear that he was avoiding marriage and so she had no doubts about his intentions; he wanted her and planned to have her without any binding ties. The dilemma was that she wanted him too and was not sure she was strong enough to say no; strong enough to withstand him when he demanded what she wanted to give, even though it went against everything to which she adhered. It would be a betrayal of her moral code and yet if she found the strength to stand firm would that not be a betrayal of her own self and would she come to regret it for evermore.

It was agreed that everyone was as bad as each other when it came to fishing with a small net. The picnic hamper and blankets had been packed back onto the coach but when they approached it there were no servants to be seen.

“Isn’t that your coachman lying down there by the lake?” Genevieve asked pointing to a spot a hundred yards along the shore than where they had been attempting to fish. “Do you think he is ill?”

“No. The other servants are close by and they d
o not seem perturbed in any way,” Robert answered.

“I wonder what he is doing?
” said Erica. “Perhaps we should go and see.”

“No wait and watch!” Marcus
; having a very good notion of what he was doing, stopped them.

They all watched and waited and a few moments later their patience was rewarded when the coachman suddenly flipped over and a fish flew through the air to land on the grass.

“That is amazing!” Dizzy exclaimed as they rushed over.

“Nay, my Lady.” said
Greaves the coachman “It is called fish tickling and just takes patience that’s all. My Da taught me how when I was a nipper. I’m glad I still have the knack mind because it has been many a year since I last caught a fish that ways.” He then added with a decided twinkle in his eyes; “Of course with all the noise you were making it made it easier for me because the fish all swam down here out of your way!”