Author's note: all usual disclaimers apply. For Tess, who would rather freeze than melt. And yes, I have tampered with time slightly for dramatic, or more accurately, romantic effect. Then again, who said it was set this weekend...

"Why can't you be a modern earl and have a flashy sports car? One with air conditioning."

Tommy Lynley, 8th Earl of Asherton, looked over at his companion and laughed. "I don't like modern sports cars. They have no class."

"Possibly not, but they do have cold air coming out of their vents."

"I'm sorry, Barbara." He looked at her. Sweat was beading on her face in a light sheen and the tips of her hair near her ears were saturated and clinging to her cheeks. "You do look hot."

"I am hot," she snorted as she fanned herself with a magazine she had taken from her bag.

"Mmm." He smiled and looked away. If only she knew how hot. If only he was brave enough to tell her.

"I should have stayed in London."

"It's just as hot there, and you don't have air conditioning in your flat."

"No, but at least there I could stand under a cold shower, or sit naked on my lounge under a wet towel."

Tommy closed his eyes and tried to picture it. "Mmm. You are welcome to do that at Howenstowe if you like."

"Watch out, you're drifting into the other lane."

He opened his eyes and pulled the car back. "Sorry, it's the heat. I... lost concentration."

"How do the Africans put up with this? Or the Australians? They must be masochists."

"I don't think they derive sexual pleasure from the heat."

"What?"

"Masochists. They derive sexual pleasure from their deprivation or pain."

Barbara growled. "It'd be impossible to derive sexual pleasure from this heat. Well, whatever the correct word is, they must be it."

Tommy grinned at her. He disagreed. He was deriving a degree of sexual pleasure from her discomfort in the heat. She seemed freer, without most of her usual barriers, and her actions were, unintentionally, exceedingly sensual. On cue, Barbara undid another button on her shirt and flapped the collar in an attempt to get air into her shirt. In this temperature, her shirt was a poor choice. The artificial fibre did not breathe well and it clung tightly to her body, accentuating her curves.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Tommy felt his ears tingle. "Like what?"

"Like you think I am making a fuss about nothing. It's 36 degrees out there. And it's the third day above 32. When I agreed to come to Cornwall with you, I had no idea it would be in the middle of a heatwave."

"Astrological events don't react to Earth's weather I'm afraid. This is the last significant lunar eclipse of our lifetime."

"Which we could have watched in London. With a cold lager in a beer garden. With air conditioning or big fans."

"It wouldn't be the same. Too much ambient light there. Here it will be much redder. I guarantee you won't be disappointed."

"Yeah, I'm just not good with this heat."

"When we get there, we can go for a swim at the cove if you like."

"Now you tell me. I didn't pack bathers."

"I don't mind."

"What?"

"Swim in anything. An old tee-shirt or your underwear." He grinned cheekily. "Or we could skinny dip."

"Skinny dip? With you?"

"Why not?"

"Sir!"

He dared a quick glance. She had gone beetroot red. "I'm sorry, Barbara. That was uncouth."

"Why would you even say that?"

He shook his head. "Because... I don't know. The heat must be affecting me too. After the last month, we deserve a break. I thought a long weekend away would be relaxing for both of us. My comment was just a bit of fun."

"Yeah, sorry. I thought you were serious for a minute."

"I was about a swim. And we can find something for you to wear."

"Did you ever...?"

"Ever what?"

"Skinny dip."

He turned. Her question sounded shy yet curious. "In the summer, yes. Judith and I used to enjoy it as children and I have stripped off for a swim sometimes when I go walking. It gives you a wonderful sense of freedom and connection with nature."

"Weren't you scared someone would see you?"

"No. The cove is on our land and any boats would have to come well into it to see anything. I would see them first."

Barbara nodded. "I've never been game. Never had the option really."

"The offer is always there."

Her face turned a deep beetroot red. It made her eyes sparkle. She shook her head. "Nah. But a swim might be good."

It was another hour before they pulled into Howenstowe's driveway. "Here we are," Tommy said.

Barbara got out and stretched. It was still hot, even though it was evening. "I hope you have beer in the fridge."

Tommy laughed. "Yes, that's not a problem. And I asked Cook to prepare a hamper. I thought we could picnic up on the cliffs while we wait for the moon. And if you still want a swim, we can take towels with us and swim before we eat."

"That's the best idea you've had all day."

"Right. Then I'll show you to your room and find you something to wear."

Barbara followed him into the mansion. She had been several times in the last year and knew where her bedroom was located, but Tommy always escorted her and checked the room had been prepared correctly with towels and fresh soap.

"I could ring Mother and ask if she has spares bathers in her room."

"No!" The thought of wearing Lady Asherton's bathers appalled her. "I mean don't disturb her time with Peter. Do you have an old tee-shirt?"

"Yes. I'm sure I do." Tommy gave her a disconcerting grin. He had a soft, sentimental look in his eyes. He had been looking at her like that a lot lately. She liked it. It was nice to feel special, but she was also aware it was unhealthy. Tommy needed to find new friends and move on with his life. He moved towards the door. "Give me a minute."

He returned with a choice of two tee-shirts and an old pair of rugby shorts. "I didn't know if you had anything other than jeans with you."

"No, ta."

"Right, well, I will change and meet you downstairs."

Barbara happily peeled off her jeans and shirt. She looked at the tee-shirt and shorts before deciding that wearing underwear would seem silly for a swim. Besides, it was too hot to care. She stripped off and pulled on his clothes. She bunched up the shirt near the neck and sniffed. They smelled fresh and citrusy but also had the woody undertone of his aftershave. She pulled them back into place. Wearing his clothes had an unexpected and unwelcome affect, especially after his risqué suggestion that they skinny dip. Feelings that she only indulged in late at night were surfacing.

"Don't be a sentimental idiot." She looked in the mirror and shook her head. In this outfit, she was safe. In a tee-shirt that hung loosely on her shoulders but was tight at her hips, and rugby shorts that were pulled so tight she could barely walk, she looked like a clown. "Yeah, this is a real turn-on I'm sure."

Barbara was wrong. Seeing her walk uncomfortably down the stairs in his shorts that pulled across her hips, Tommy swallowed hard. He had never before wanted to be a pair of shorts, but suddenly he wanted nothing else. "Ready?"

"Yeah."

With the heat, Tommy was wearing board shorts and a blue checked cotton shirt that he had left open. He noticed Barbara stare at his chest and then down to his legs. She blushed slightly and had just the hint of a smile. Then she licked her bottom lip and bit down on it in. When he breathed in, Tommy's throat felt dry. He started to to cough.

"You okay?"

"Yeah," he croaked, "just this heat."

"I know. I'm melting."

"Then have one of these." Tommy handed her an icy beer that he had hidden behind him. Her eyes and smile settled on the bottle in a look he wished she would give him. Without thinking, he sighed loudly.

Her smile faded into puzzlement. "Why the big sigh?"

He shook his head. "Just the thought of walking up the cliffs in this heat. Come on. You can carry the towels." He picked up the basket he had found waiting for him in the kitchen and held it up. "I put in some beer. I thought we could swim first then have our picnic on the cliffs while we wait for the eclipse. We have nearly three hours."

Barbara nodded. "Anything to get cool."

Tommy led the way down the winding path to the cove. The sun was weak, bathing the sand in an orange glow. He found a sheltered spot in the shade for the hamper then stripped off his shirt. "Race you." He turned and sprinted for the water.

"That's not fair."

Tommy laughed as he heard Barbara's feet squeaking on the hot sand just behind him. The water at the edge was warm, almost hot. He lifted his legs to run just a bit further before wading with his arms swinging to keep momentum. When he was almost waist deep he extended his arms and dived into the cool water. He took three big breaststrokes before surfacing. Running his hands over his hair, he let the water drip down. Barbara was staring at him. She was standing about ten feet away. Water lapped up under her breasts but she had not dived or gone deeper. "Dive in. It's wonderful."

She did not dive but took one step towards him. "This is a lovely spot."

"It is." Tommy sank slowly beneath the surface until just his head was visible. His natural line of sight was the waterline where the gentle waves sloshed around her breasts wetting the tee-shirt. Barbara was looking above him out to sea. She raised both arms to shield her eyes, and he was rewarded with a perfect view of his tee-shirt clinging to her body. Even through the faded dusty blue he could clearly see the darker colour of her nipples as they hardened. A warm wave of guilt made him look away. Was it wrong to desire his partner? His friend? It did not feel wrong. He was in love with her. He wanted to make love with her, to share his life with her.

"What are you grinning at?" she asked, jolting him back to reality.

"You."

"Why?"

On impulse, he stood and splashed her. "Complaining all the way down here that you are hot, then not getting wet."

She tried to scoop up water to throw back at him but lost her footing and disappeared under the water. Tommy took three strides towards her. She came up spluttering but smiling. He continued towards her. "Barbara, I need you to know something."

She frowned. "What?"

He was a stride away from her. "I lo...

"Aahhh!" Barbara jumped in the water. "Something bit me."

"Where?"

"On the toe." She turned and headed back towards the shore.

"Wait." He followed her. She stopped in water that just covered her knees. As she emerged from the water he had been unable to draw his eyes from the curves of her backside that were flattened slightly under the tightness of his shorts.

She lifted her leg and tried to look at her toe. "Just a red line."

Tommy stayed squatting in the water. Standing up now was not a good idea. "Probably a crab. You were unlucky enough to put your clodhoppers over his front door."

"Clodhoppers? I'll put them over your front door in a minute."

"You already have."

Barbara reached down and splashed him. He knelt up and splashed her back. She squealed in childish delight then ran a few steps away. Forgetting that his desire was obvious, he stood and chased her. They exchanged a series of splashes and laughed raucously as first one then the other tripped and fell. Barbara recovered and ran into deeper water. She turned and allowed her body to fall backwards. Tommy felt her eyes drinking in his body. She smiled shyly, then rolled over and swam away.

Tommy swam after her. He caught her within ten strokes. He grabbed the back of the tee-shirt. "Where are you going?"

She rolled to face him, but with his hand still gripping the shirt, it brought them face to face. They stared at each other. Tommy did not need words. Barbara's eyes widened. For the first time, he could see her feelings mirrored those he hoped she could see in his eyes. He pulled her against him.

"Barbara, I was trying to tell you..."

She put her hands on his chest and pushed him away. "No, Tommy. It's just the heat. Er, Sir. I meant Sir."

He pulled her closer. "No, it's Tommy. I want it to be Tommy."

"We're... making a mistake."

"Only if we don't act on our feelings."

She shook her head. "I can't." She pulled away and headed for the shore.

Tommy waded after her. "Barbara, wait."

"I... can't we just be mates? Why do you want more?"

"Because I love you."

Barbara clamped her hands over her ears. "No. You don't. You can't. Not me. Nobody loves me. You'll be disappointed. You... can't love me. I should never have come here. Not in this heat. It addles the mind."

She ran up the beach. Tommy followed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. I... I thought you felt the same way."

"If I led you on, I apologise. You're my friend. I thought we were just... being friends." Barbara wrapped a towel around her body as if it were her only protection from a horrible fate.

Tommy ran his hand slowly through his hair. He was searching for a way to salvage the situation. In the end, he said exactly what he was thinking. "Don't leave me, Barbara."

She frowned, but her face softened. She looked at him as she sometimes did - with pity. It was not the reaction he had hoped for, but he knew she would stay. "Where can I go?" she said with a shrug. "It's a long walk to London."

He ventured a smile. "It is, especially dressed like that. Why don't we ignore what I said and head up to the cliff and have our picnic? I promise I will be the perfect gentleman and friend. I am truly sorry that I upset you."

"I... overreacted. Let's just put it down to the heat."

"Yes, it's the heat. Or the full moon."

"You're not a werewolf are you?" She gave him a slightly wicked smile.

He laughed. "You'll only know if I bite you on the neck."