9. Chapter Nine

Wearing her fashionable seaside bathing dress, Kat strolled along the busy street arm in arm with Anna and Beth. Aunt Justine walked ahead of them, the emerald feather adorning her Leghorn hat blowing in the breeze beneath her green parasol. Kat might be worried about a million things—Lord Greyson's threats, her absurd attraction to Evan Eaton, Alexander deciding he didn't wish to court her, sea creatures biting off her toes—but her lavender Berlin silk was not one of those things. Its lace trim was exquisite, and its pelisse style ensured it was quite comfortable. No one would guess that she had slipped into it in mere moments.

"I am truly excited," Beth said. "I hear the sea makes your skin glow."

But eels and jellyfish filled that water. Kat winced.

"Ethan swears by it," Anna said. "He takes a dip every day when it is warm enough."

"But this is England. 'Tis never warm enough to immerse oneself in that." Kat pointed at the endless blue water.

"My heavens," Beth declared. "You do take the fun out of everything, Katrina Harrington."

Anna squeezed Kat's arm affectionately. "I have never suffered an ailment until now. So this will be my first time, too."

But her sister-in-law looked so healthy. "What ailment?" Kat asked.

Anna bit her bottom lip. "Well, I have been unable to conceive a child."

Kat's cheeks caught fire at the mere mention of Ethan and Anna engaging in baby-making. "Does sea dipping help with that?"

"We will see," Anna said. "I am willing to try anything."

"I do not have any ailments," Kat said. "So I have no idea why I let you all talk me into this."

"Unless you count how uptight you are." Beth grinned mischievously. "I suppose a dip in the sea might knock that right out of you. Or freeze it out of you."

Kat halted, jerking the three of them to an abrupt stop. The glare she bestowed on her cousin was wasted, for Beth was preoccupied with waving and smiling at someone.

"Hello, Alexander. Hello, Evan," Beth called.

Kat followed Anna and Beth's gaze. The handsome duo stood on the path, talking to Aunt Justine. Evan held a sketch pad, and Alexander carried a leather satchel.

Beth tugged on Kat's arm, dragging her forward. Unable to meet Evan's gaze and smile, Kat peered into the earl's eyes. Alexander's brilliant smile solidified her feelings. Lord Wellspring would be her affianced.

"We went to the beach to sketch," Alexander said. "But we forgot…"

"Our pencils," Evan finished.

"Yes. Our pencils." Alexander tapped the satchel he carried and winced. "Empty except for a telescope and a moldy apple."

Lord Wellspring let fruit mold in his art satchel? Nay. He was much too tidy. On the other hand, Evan Eaton probably carried entire rotting orchards in his art satchels. Well, if Evan actually was an artist and had a satchel. Which was entirely preposterous. Art took discipline and talent. The good Lord above would not bless the scoundrel with a perfect physique, beautiful eyes, skill, and discipline.

"Lord Wellspring," Anna said. "My friend Robert Dickens is enjoying your company. Thank you for making him feel welcome."

"Robert Dickens?" Evan asked.

"Buttons. His name is Robert Dickens," Anna said.

Kat swallowed the bittersweet lump in her throat. "I believe it was my mother who decided to call him Buttons. ‘The butler who is as cute as a button,' she used to say."

"My sister did have quite a sense of humor for a duchess," Aunt Justine said.

Alexander blushed. "Buttons…er, Robert, joined us while I painted Katrina earlier today."

Really, there was no need for Alexander to explain himself or be embarrassed that he enjoyed the company of someone of a lower class. For heaven's sake, Anna was Kat's sister-in-law, and the woman had become her dear friend. So why the odd tension in the air, and why were the men shuffling their feet as if uncomfortable?

Kat finally met Evan's gaze. He was sucking on the inside of his jaw as he often did when lying or being a general scoundrel. The heavy silence was probably his fault—just like everything that had gone wrong the last few days.

A master at conquering the social lull, Aunt Justine waved her hand toward the caravan of colorful wooden carts atop massive wheels, attached to the horses dotting the beach. "Gentlemen, please excuse us. We have a sea-dipping date."

The men wished them luck and continued toward Yardley Manor.

Aunt Justine clasped Kat's hand and pulled her onto the pebbles, prattling away. "While we change in the cart, the horses pull it into the water. And there is no need to fret. An experienced dipper helps you with everything."

Helps? Since she was reasonably certain that the Amazonian-sized women lugging the ladies about in the water were trying to drown their unfortunate victims, Kat snorted.

"You come out on the other side, where an umbrella shields you from public view," Aunt Justine declared as breezy as if this were not a dangerous undertaking. "'Tis all very respectable."

And terrifying. Kat wrapped her arms around her torso as they approached a pair of red carts sitting so high off the ground, they required steps to enter.

"Good day." Aunt Justine waved to the two long-legged women clad in blue wool approaching them.

One bent her knees to peer into Kat's eyes. "My lady, there ain't nothin' to be afraid of. I'm Gertrude, and I'll take excellent care of you. I'm quite strong."

Hercules himself would not make Kat feel safe.

The next few minutes were a blur. Anna and Aunt Justine pushed aside a curtain and disappeared into the cart beside them. Beth dragged Kat up the stairs and into a dark wooden box that did nothing to allay Kat's fears.

"You did not bring a maid to help you change?" Gertrude asked.

"There is no need," Beth said. She turned in a circle, then posed. "Our new bathing dresses are quite easy to get in and out of."

"Lovely indeed and so fashionable. What ailment do you suffer from?" Gertrude asked Beth.

"I've been gluttonous," Beth said. "I have not ceased eating sweets since I arrived in Brighton." She leaned close to whisper, "I also am gluttonous when it comes to men."

A lady should not go about announcing such indelicate things.

"Elizabeth Fletcher," Kat reprimanded.

Palms up, Beth shrugged. "How will the dip cure me if I am dishonest?"

Gertrude bobbed her head. "Yes. One must be honest for us to prescribe the correct number of dips. Ten works well for ailments such as yours. Lady Katrina, your nervous affliction will require twelve dips."

Kat bristled. "I most certainly do not have any ailments or afflictions."

Beth snorted indelicately.

"You should change," Gertrude said.

Without hesitation, Beth stripped. Kat struggled to breathe as she removed her boots, stockings, and dress.

Once they were bare except for their shifts, Gertrude helped them place their belongings in a raised compartment. "It will keep everything nice and dry," she declared.

They had no sooner secured their possessions, when the cart lunged, startling Kat.

Beth squealed with delight.

"The horses are pulling us into the water," Gertrude explained.

Kat closed her eyes and prayed.

She was still asking God to keep the sharks at bay when Gertrude tapped her on the shoulder.

"Are you ready, my lady?"

Not if she had a million years to prepare. Still, she opened her eyes.

Smiling, Beth pulled the curtain serving as a back door aside. The sea foamed and gurgled until it eventually became one with the horizon.

"Wait for me, Miss—"

Before Gertrude finished her directive, Beth leaped from the cart, landing with a splash.

"Oh, my heavens," Kat murmured as her trepidation turned into concern for her cousin. She flew to the curtain and peered into the water.

Beth had disappeared into its depths.

"She's a brave one." Gertrude hummed in appreciation.

How could the blasted woman be so unconcerned? Kat's favorite cousin was drowning.

"Please help her," Kat begged.

Beth's head and shoulders jutted from the water. "Oh, Kat, it's glorious. You must come in." Radiating pure joy, Beth jumped up and down, her arms waving and splashing.

A large wave rolled toward her.

"Beth, be careful," Kat called.

Her warning was too late. The wave overtook Beth and knocked her over.

Kat brought a hand to her heart. Her cousin was lost to the sea.

But, a second later, Beth's head bobbed out of the water. She sputtered and spit, and then laughed from deep in her belly.

It seemed that, like Evan, the sea filled Beth with pleasure. What Kat wouldn't give to be so carefree. She could do this. She would dip in that rumbling water.

Gertrude lowered herself into the waves. Her wool dress floated up around her. Thereupon, she helped Kat descend the stairs.

Kat dipped her toe into the bitter water and squawked. Her short-lived bravery fled with the icy sting. She hesitated, one foot in the water, one on the stairs, her hand in Gertrude's. Meanwhile, Beth played at being a porpoise, and from beside her, Anna's dipper pushed her into the water, then yanked her back out at least a half-dozen times.

"Come, my lady." Gertrude tugged.

Kat fought her pull. "Wait."

"What, my lady?" Gertrude asked.

"I do have an ailment. I am afraid of everything. And I do not want to be. I want to be more like…"

Her cousin might vex her, but she was so carefree and adventurous. Kat pointed at Beth. Additionally, she wanted to be more like… She sighed. It was time to accept the truth. She wanted to be more like the man she both disliked and desired.

"What is the prescribed number of dips for that?" Kat asked.

Gertrude whacked her on the back, and Kat hurtled toward the water, her life passing before her eyes.