Page 48 of Love Wasn’t Built in a Day

“It’s marvellous!” she chortled, letting go of Hetty’s arm to dip her fingers into the water. “Can we go deeper?”

Hetty stared at her in amazement. All her fears seemed to have vanished, supplanted by the joy she took in the moment.

“Certainly. Come, Cilly, her grace wishes to go in deeper.”

Cilly flashed her a grin, and with one on either side of her, they carefully escorted the Dowager Duchess of Hawkney farther into the sea. She shrieked and laughed with them at each wave that splashed over them, sending spray into their faces as they gave a little jump through each one.

“Oh, I adore the sea!” Gee-Gee exclaimed, clutching Hetty’s arm. “Thank you, my dear, thank you so much for giving me the courage to do it. I never should have if you’d not encouraged me. You too, Cilly, for taking care of a foolish old lady.”

Hetty smiled at her, touched and pleased by the admission.

“Not in the least foolish, I very nearly turned tail myself,” Cilly said with a laugh, giving Hetty a pointed smile. “If my darling sister hadn’t nearly ducked me under, I might well have done.”

“You’re welcome,” Hetty replied cheerfully. “Now then, do you two wish to return to sit on the steps while I swim?”

“I think it might be wise,” Cilly admitted, clearly not relishing the responsibility of keeping Gee-Gee upright alone.

“I could do with a sit down. Those waves are rather wearing upon my old legs,” Gee-Gee admitted, as they escorted her back to the bathing machines.

“You may go too, if you wish to swim,” Gee-Gee told Cilly, who shook her head.

“No, I thank you. I’m not half so brave as Hetty, but she swims like a fish. Go along, dear, show us how to do it,” she called to Hetty.

Hetty laughed and lost no time in plunging back into the water, and launched herself upon a wave, swimming farther out as seagulls cried raucously overhead.

“Don’t go out too far!” Cilly’s voice, ever cautious, joined the sound of the gulls and Hetty turned onto her back.

“I won’t!” she replied, and swam along, parallel to the shore.

Hetty sighed with pleasure, enjoying the chance to stretch her muscles. The water gave her a sense of freedom, though swimming with the heavy material dragging about her legs was not as easy as it might be. Still, it was worth the effort.

She was not idle by nature and loved to walk and ride and get outside, but since Gideon had kissed her and then apologised for it, the joy seemed to have gone out of her, and with it any desire to bestir herself. Yet that was stupid. She would not allow herself to mope about because the fellow she fancied did not feel the same way. Or at least, not enough to put himself out for her.

She told herself it was his loss, but it would be hers too if she did not get out and enjoy her time here with Cilly. Her sister would be married by the end of this year, and then Hetty would be alone until she followed suit. If she didn’t want to stay that way, she must find herself a man, one that she liked and who liked her, and that her father would approve of. Not too much to ask, she thought morosely, as she turned around and swam back the way she came.

As she made her way back to the bathing huts, she saw Cilly help Gee-Gee to her feet and make their way towards them.

“Did you have a good swim?” Cilly asked.

“Marvellous,” Hetty replied, determined to be cheerful. “Well, your grace, what do you think of sea bathing now?”

“I think it’s wonderful and I ought to have tried it years ago,” Gee-Gee said stoutly. “I feel ten years younger. I shall come again the next chance I have.”

Hetty and Cilly laughed with delight. “Come on then, let us go a little deeper,” Hetty said with a grin. “Then we’d best get ourselves dry.”

Gideon wrapped the towel around his middle and flopped down on the blanket Damian had provided.

“Here,” Damian said, thrusting a bottle of ale at him.

Gideon took it, drinking greedily and wiping his mouth on the back of his hand. “I’ve got to admit it, Damian. This was a bloody good idea.”

“Good God,” Damian exclaimed, pressing a hand to his heart and attempting to look thunderstruck. “Don’t tell me I did something right for once in my sorry life.”

“For once,” Gideon agreed, grinning as he lifted the bottle and took another swallow.

“Have you seen the ladies again since we dined with them?” Damian asked, lifting his own bottle to his lips.

Gideon darted a glance at him, wondering why he asked. “No. Have you?”