Page 47 of Love Wasn’t Built in a Day

Hetty grinned mischievously. “Oh, Gee-Gee, you’ll be quite safe. If you get swept away, I shall save you. I’m an excellent swimmer.”

“The water is supposed to be invigorating. Good for arthritis and all sorts of aches and pains,” Cilly assured her.

“If one survives the experience,” Gee-Gee remarked acidly, but nodded at her maid who appeared in the open doorway of the first bathing machine and hurried to help her up.

Hetty and Cilly watched her go in, and the door closed behind her.

“Oh Lord. I hope she enjoys herself or we’ll never hear the end of it,” Hetty said with a laugh.

Cilly grinned and grasped Hetty’s hand. “Come along. Last one in the water loses.”

They hurried into the second bathing machine, exchanging gleeful glances as they changed into their bathing suits. They could hear the dowager’s nervous mutterings through the thin walls of the huts and smothered their laughter.

“Oh!” Cilly exclaimed, clutching the bench they sat on when the machine jolted forward. Horses pulled the machines deeper into the water, and they waited until they heard the knock from the driver, as he led the horses away and allowed them their privacy.

The two women waited long enough for the men to have retreated before Hetty got up and opened the door, peering outside.

“It’s all right, they’ve gone. You can come out, Gee-Gee,” she called.

A moment later the door to the other bathing machine opened, and the dowager looked out, clutching the jamb as if her life depended on it.

Hetty grinned and turned to make her way down the steps, eager to get in. Gasping as her toes touched the freezing water, she steeled her nerve, not wanting to scare Gee-Gee or Cilly off, and plunged in. The water came up to her waist, higher as a wave rolled to shore, lapping over her, and Hetty raised her arms, holding her breath as she turned and looked at Cilly and Gee-Gee, who were watching apprehensively.

“It’s… w-wonderful,” she said, trying not to allow her teeth to chatter.

Cilly narrowed her eyes. “It’s freezing and you know it,” she whispered, shaking her head, but turned to Gee-Gee. “Come along then, Gee-Gee. I’m game if you are.”

Cilly turned, dipped her toes in, and then gave a shriek. “Oh!” she exclaimed, turning to glare at Hetty over her shoulder.

“Oh, don’t be so hen hearted!” Hetty cried, reaching for her sister and grabbing her about the waist. With a laugh, she hauled Cilly down into the waves. Cilly shrieked, splashing and almost sending them both under as Hetty lost her footing.

“Oh, you horrid creature,” she exclaimed, laughing and indignant all at once. Provoked, she splashed Hetty, who retaliated until they were both dripping and laughing hysterically.

They turned to look at Gee-Gee, who promptly turned around and went back inside the bathing machine and slammed the door behind her.

“No!” Hetty cried, splashing through the water until she reached the steps and hurried up, the heavy, wet material of her bathing outfit making it difficult to haul herself up.

Banging on the door, it flew open again and Gee-Gee stood there. “I can’t do it,” she said stubbornly. “Certainly not if you two are going to splash and carry on like hoydens.”

“Oh, we won’t Gee-Gee, I swear,” Hetty said, laying her hand on her heart. “Will we, Cilly?”

Cilly, who had made her way to the dowager’s bathing machine, looked up, her expression earnest. “We were just playing about, Gee-Gee, but we shan’t do that to you. Cross our hearts.”

Gee-Gee looked mulish.

“It’s wonderful once you are in, and just think, you’ll be able to tell the Dowager Duchess of Langley what you did today. I bet she’s never sea bathed,” Cilly said provocatively.

This, of all things, seemed to do the trick. Gee-Gee put up her chin. “Very well, but if I drown, you will have my grandson to answer to, remember that.”

“You won’t drown,” Hetty promised her, taking the woman’s arm and helping her as she set a tentative foot on the steps.

“Heavens!” she exclaimed as a wave swept up, wetting her foot. “It’s icy!”

Hetty grinned at her. “Only at first. I promise you’ll get used to it, and it’s most invigorating. Were you not complaining how hot and sticky the day was? Well, here is the cure.”

Little by little Hetty and Cilly coaxed Gee-Gee down into the water. The three of them stood together, holding each other’s arms as the waves lapped about their waists.

“Well?” Hetty asked anxiously, wondering if the dowager was going to curse them for having talked them into it. But then a wondrous smile curved her mouth, and Gee-Gee gave a delighted bark of laughter.