Page 14 of What a Widow Wants

“What does his dancing have to do with sea bathing?” Fanny cocked her head, eyebrows lowered as well.

“It has to do with his character. If a large man has taken the time to perfect his dancing, when he could have spent it hunting or riding or shooting, then he learned it for a reason.”

“And the reason is?”

“To seduce women.”

“By dancing with them?” Fanny burst out laughing. What had Matthew said to her friend when they had danced together? “Did he try to seduce you, Elizabeth?”

Even the scant moonlight entering the carriage showed Elizabeth’s glare. “Of course he didn’t. But he’ll try to seduce you if you don’t have a care for where you go or when you see him.”

“I’m only to go to the beach, get into a bathing machine—which I shall order as soon as we reach our apartment—and plunge myself into very cold water.” Fanny shivered at the thought. “I won’t even see Matthew once I leave the promenade. He won’t be able to come onto the beach while the ladies are there.”

“Then why is he even coming?”

“I’m not sure. But he promised me something wicked and I plan to hold him to that.”

“Something wicked?” Elizabeth’s eyebrows threatened to disappear into her hairline. “Then I refuse to be a part of any of this, Fanny. This is not what we came to Brighton for. We have our reputations to think about.”

“I am thinking about my reputation and I want to be a ‘Wicked Widow,’ just like Charlotte.”

“That sobriquet was an unfortunate mistake perpetrated by the ton.” Elizabeth sniffed. “Fortunately, it’s died down quickly and did not seem to harm her much. I daresay her removal to Kent shortly will help people forget.” Elizabeth stared her down. “Therefore you can go unaccompanied to the beach. I will have nothing to do with whatever scandalous behavior Lord Lathbury has in mind.”

“Elizabeth,” Fanny said, grasping her friend’s hands and turning her voice soft and wheedling. “You promised you would chaperone me in Brighton, and since sea bathing is part of the world here, you are all but obligated to come with me.” Fanny squeezed the cold hands. “Do say you’ll accompany me?”

Sighing, Elizabeth nodded. “Yes, I will.”

“Bless you, my dear.” Fanny sat back, tension draining away.

“I do have certain conditions, however.”

“What conditions?” She could smell trouble whenever her sensible friend had that arch tone in her voice.

“You must not bring Lord Lathbury nor any other gentleman to our apartment, save for an invitation to tea, and even that I will strongly discourage. I am not old enough to chaperone you properly, so you must act with utmost discretion, should you decide to flirt with him.” Elizabeth stared at her frankly, and Fanny’s stomach sank. No possibility for a discreet tryst with Matthew. She’d be lucky to stand up with him twice at a dance under Elizabeth’s gimlet eye.

“I agree to that condition. What other rules do you wish for me to abide by?”

“You are not to act scandalously at any public assembly we attend.”

“I do not court scandal, Elizabeth.” Fanny squirmed on the seat. Apparently she’d have to curtail the glorious ideas she’d had about their time here in Brighton.

“Perhaps not, although it certainly finds you often enough.” With a sniff, Elizabeth sat back in the carriage. “Do you agree to that condition as well?”

“I suppose I will have to.” Brighton was becoming less a lark and more a jail. “Are there any other ways you propose to deter me from having fun while we are here?”

“Only this.” Her companion laced her fingers together on her lap. “I know you are eager to venture out in society once more. Please be careful about the gentlemen you allow to court you. I do not include Lord Lathbury in that warning, as his intentions are perfectly clear. Others may not be so matrimonially inclined, however.”

“Well, thank God for that.” Especially since she had no intention of marrying at the moment. “I believe I can talk and dance and flirt with a variety of gentlemen here without getting myself compromised.”

The carriage pulled to a stop before their lodgings.

“You had better hope so, Fanny,” Elizabeth said as she rose.

“So you will accompany me to the promenade in the morning?”

“Yes, but I will not sea bathe. I detest cold water, so you must do that alone. I’ll remain on the beach so the proprieties will be satisfied.”

The coachman handed Elizabeth down and Fanny followed her, outwardly sedate, inwardly dancing a jig. Tomorrow morning she would see what kind of wickedness Lord Lathbury had in mind.