“Because the water cures you. Not in the way that the doctors yap on about. In a deeper way. You float on it—in it—and are reminded of how the world should be.”
She wasn’t precisely sure what he meant by that. She could ask him, and he would elaborate. He would very likely say something devastatingly true, and beautiful. But she, she who made her living commissioning words, surprised herself by not wanting any of them to answer her question. She wanted to know what the answerfeltlike. What did it feel like to float and know how the world should be? Would it be similar to the sensation she’d experienced two days ago, floating in the arms of her dipper? Probably that, and more, for it would be Effie’s arms buoying her, rather than those of an unsmiling stranger.
Effie was staring at her with an intensity that made her eyebrows itch. She flashed him a smile and said, with a breeziness she did not feel, “How can a lady refuse such an offer?”
“She cannot. Therefore, I shall now answer your other questions. I know you care little for your reputation, but I think it better that we not be seen.”
“I agree. Consenting to being seen with three lords on the street on a bright summer day is quite apart from being seen with one of them in the sea in a state of half undress.”
He gave a curt nod, as if they were discussing a business matter. “I suggest our beach in Hove, where we ended our walk yesterday. In the very early hours, before the sun comes up.”
“Very well. Tomorrow?”
“Yes. Tomorrow’s Sunday, so everyone will be at church. Is six too early? The sun should just be coming up.”
“Six is fine.”
“Shall I collect you? I can take Lord Harcourt’s carriage, or I could come on horseback. Do you ride?”
Did she ride? When would a woman like her have had occasion to learn to ride? Effie was such an endearing mixture of wise and obtuse. “I do not ride. I walk. I shall meet you there.”
She could tell he wanted to object to the idea of her walking alone at such an hour. She held up her left hand and used her right to gesture at her ring. “I have my protective charm.”
“Have you enchanted it?” he asked—seemingly seriously.
“Of course not. It was a figure of speech.”
“I think you could, if you wanted to. I think you have so much more power than you know.”
Why did that assertion make her throat tighten? She pretended to misunderstand. “I merely meant that being ‘married’ provides a certain degree of protection when I walk alone.”
“I knew what you meant.” Was it her imagination or did the smile he produced look a little sad? “Shall we dine before I depart?”
He rose from the bed. He must have begun perspiring at some point during their . . . exertions, for some of the flour that had migrated to his face had pilled, forming little dough balls.
She grinned, which caused him to grin. Any residue of wistfulness in the air was chased away.
She pointed at the mirror. “Fix your face before we go downstairs, husband.”
Chapter 7
Nightswimming
Effie tried to sneak out of bed early the next morning, but Archie awakened.
“There’s no need foryouto use the window,” Archie said drily, even as Effie perched on the sill, one leg already swung outside.
Drat.
In a repeat of the previous two nights, Archie had come to Effie’s bedchamber and wordlessly gotten into bed with him, rolled over, and fallen asleep. Effie had, as on previous nights, been moved by the gesture.
Unlikeprevious nights, Archie’s presence had not helped Effie sleep. But in this case, his inability to drift off was due to excitement, not melancholy. He hadn’t wanted to oversleep his meeting with Jules, and he could hardly have asked a servant to wake him up. So he had remained wakeful, but contentedly so.
He summoned a carefree tone. “I am going for a walk.” It was not, strictly speaking, untrue. He was going to walk to the beach.
And then he was going swimming with Julianna.
She would be wet.
