Amusement fills me and I pull forth a shift, confident that no one can see us. And even if they do, I suspect most of the people attending the SwanDance will choose to turn the other way and not pay any attention.
Her gaze rakes down my bare chest, but she clears her throat and tears it away before I can say anything about it.
I sink down beneath the water. "What did you want to talk about?" I ask her.
She lets out a sigh. "This was easier to think about saying when we were swans."
"Being swans doesn't allow for easy conversation though."
"No, it doesn't."
"What's on your mind?" I ask.
"I want this to be a real marriage," she says quickly. "I want it to be true in more than just name."
"I want that too," I assure her quickly.
"I don't think you understand. I want love, Philip."
"You have it."
"You can't just decide that you love me because I want you to," she responds.
"I know." I move closer. "You have my love because I want to give it. I love you, Letitia."
She sucks in a sharp breath. "You do?"
"Yes. I love you, more than I ever imaginedpossible. I believe I have loved you for a very long time."
She frowns. "You have?"
"I didn't realise it," I admit. "But no one ever held my attention the way you did. I would flit from one lady to another, flirting and doing much worse before I met you."
To my surprise, she lets out a small laugh. "I'm aware of your reputation, Philip. Everyone warned me that you were a rake."
"And they warned me that you were a flirt."
"I suppose I was," she responds. "Though I haven't much since we met. I looked for you in every ballroom I entered."
"I did the same. Dancing with you was always the highlight of any event."
The way she smiles at me makes it clear that it's the same for her.
I move closer beneath the water, only for a rustle amongst the reeds to spook us.
Letitia's eyes go wide with panic.
"Shift," I whisper to her.
She nods and disappears into the graceful swan from before.
A duck pushes through the reeds and quacks loudly, causing a small laugh to burst from me, followed by a hiss from Letitia.
"Shall we go home?" I ask her.
She bobs her head in what I assume is agreement and starts swimming back to the swan house, leaving no chance of me misreading the situation.
Fifteen