Chapter 11 #2
Gideon regarded him with interest. It was unlike Damian to go to any trouble—not since they were children, at least—but he clearly had done.
Though he looked nonchalant enough, Gideon could tell he really wanted him to go.
Giving in, he laughed. “Oh, go on then. But if I end up surrounded by screaming women and causing a scandal, you are taking the blame.”
“Don’t I always?” Damian replied with a snort.
“No.”
Damian just clapped him on the back, so hard Gideon’s teeth rattled. “Buck up, old man. Let bygones be bygones. We’re not in the asylum yet.”
Somehow, these rousing words did nothing to soothe Gideon, but he followed his brother all the same. It was only a swim after all. What was the worst that could happen?
“I cannot believe you never told us you had a bathing machine until today, Gee-Gee!” Hetty exclaimed as the carriage rumbled over the uneven road.
“Well, there are two, actually, but they belong to Vinnie and Della, truth be told,” Gee-Gee replied with a shrug.
“And you’ve truly never used them?” Hetty asked, incredulous how anyone could resist the lure of sea bathing.
“No. Della and Vinnie had more sense than to ask me,” she retorted. “I cannot believe I am doing this. It’s so undignified,” she muttered under her breath.
Hetty studied the dowager suspiciously. “And you were disappointed when they didn’t, admit it, now,” she coaxed, having noted the eagerness with which the old lady had hurried to get ready the moment Hetty had suggested an impromptu trip to the beach.
Gee-Gee bristled, putting up her chin. “Not in the least disappointed. I’m too old for such nonsense,” she grumbled. Though the glitter of excitement that still lit her eyes told another story.
“You are nothing of the sort,” Cilly said, shaking her head. “The very idea. But don’t worry. I am not a strong swimmer like Hetty, so I shall stay with you, and we shall just sit and relax in the water. It will be most refreshing, I promise.”
This assurance seemed to mollify the dowager, who relaxed and stopped grumbling about having been talked into acting like a nitwit.
The carriage drew them along the road that ran close to the sea, past the site of the new hotel. Gee-Gee stared at the vast building which bristled like an oddly shaped hedgehog with scaffolding all over it.
“It will be quite a thing when it’s done. That young man is going places,” Gee-Gee said, her voice ringing with approval.
Hetty said nothing, cast down as she remembered Gideon’s words.
I am not for you, or for anyone. I am wedded to my work.
She gave herself a mental shake, having promised herself she would spend no more time brooding over the wretched man.
They were going to have a marvellous time swimming in the sea and then go home and enjoy a splendid dinner.
What could be better than that? Gee-Gee was pluck to the backbone and Cilly was her favourite person in the entire world besides her brother.
She was a very fortunate girl, and she would do well to remember that.
The carriage finally came to a halt, and the footmen carried their belongings down to the two private bathing machines before returning to the carriage and driving away to halt at a discreet distance.
Hetty and Cilly helped the dowager as she made her stately way across the sand. The air was alive with the cries of gulls and the gentle rush of the waves.
Gee-Gee eyed the hut with suspicion, clutching her cotton shawl about her shoulders as if she feared they might rip it from her.
“Are you quite sure these contraptions are safe?” she demanded, glancing at the wheels and the sturdy steps that led inside. “I’ve heard tales of ladies being swept away. Not planning on drowning me, are you?”
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.
“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.