Page 30 of Just a Little Daring

“Quite, miss,” he said, sounding somewhat breathless. “So you’ve not seen her, then?”

“Alas, good sir, I cannot help you,” Viv replied with another brilliant smile, disinclined to lie outright to an officer of the law.

He blinked, swallowing hard. “Right. Right you are then, I… I’ll be on my way.”

“Good day to you,” Viv replied sweetly and watched until he was out of sight. “Insufferable half-wit,” she muttered.

“I know,” said the woman behind her, who got up and smoothed down her skirts.

Viv saw now that she was a pretty woman in her early twenties. Her hair was a soft gold, disordered and escaping its pins after her run in with the law, and her blue eyes danced with lively intelligence.

“They’re afraid of us. That’s the trouble. Socrates said it out loud, you know.”

“He did?” Vivien said, looking at her with interest.

She nodded with enthusiasm and straightened her hat as best she could. “Yes. He said, ‘Once made equal to man, woman becomes his superior.’ That’s what they’re frightened of. They know that if they educate us and give us the tools to be independent, they won’t be able to control us any longer, and that is terrifying to most males.”

Viv nodded. “Yes, I can see the truth in that, though I think there are exceptions. My father is one, and my brother too. They value mine and my mother’s opinions, and I was educated alongside my brother.”

“You were? Well, I applaud your papa,” the woman said, grinning at her. “Thank you, by the way, for hiding me.”

“I was happy to help you, Miss…?”

She screwed up her nose and gave an apologetic smile. “Oh, best not share my name, just in case. I shall be in the suds if it gets about I was in trouble with the law again. I’m not even supposed to be in town. But it was a pleasure to meet you. If you’ll excuse me, I’d better make myself scarce before that big lummox comes back and has another look. Good day to you.”

“Good day,” Viv replied, watching her hurry away with a sigh. What a pity. The most interesting person she’d met in ages, and she didn’t even get to know her name. Ah well. She bent and picked up the book she’d dropped, turning it to see it was Frankenstein, or, The Modern Prometheus. Well, she hadn’t read it and as she was certainly not in the mood for a romance, it would do nicely. With her selection finally made, Viv went in search of her brother.

8th April 1841, The Sea Front, Brighton.

“Well, this is grand. Sunshine, sea air, and the promise of some fine entertainments.”

Viv turned to regard her twin, who was beaming at her.

“Yes, I’m glad Papa brought us down. It is a beautiful day,” she agreed, enjoying the unseasonably warm sun on her face.

Though it was only April, it felt more like summer had arrived and after such a long and gloomy winter, this had the effect of a dose of effervescent salts on the humour of those enjoying all that the seaside offered. A substantial exodus from London had accompanied the adjournment of Parliament for the Easter recess and the removal of the Court to Windsor. Brighton subsequently had filled up with the great and the good of society, most of whom seemed to be promenading this morning in their finery.

“Well, would you look at that,” Ash said, beaming and tipping his hat to someone along the street.

Vivien turned in the direction he gestured to see two elegant young women hurrying towards them, their faces full of delight.

“Evie! And Aisling! Oh, how wonderful to see you both,” Vivien exclaimed, hugging each of them in turn. “But I didn’t know you would be here?”

“Mama brought us down yesterday,” Evie said, breathless with laughter. “Papa is tied up with some trouble over the railway, but Mama was desperate to escape London and get some sun and fresh air, so we came first, and Papa will join us in a few days. But we saw Aisling in town, and Mama said she might come with us if she wanted to.”

“I wanted to,” Aisling said with a soft chuckle, daring a glance at Ash. “Good morning, Mr Anson. How are you?”

“All the better for the company of two such lovely creatures,” Ash said, offering each of the young women an arm. “Now we shall be a merry party, and Vivien needs some merriment.”

“Is there aught amiss, Viv?” Aisling asked with concern as Viv took her free arm.

“No. Not in the least. Only it has been such a dreary winter, but the sunshine and your company were all that I needed. Are you staying long?”

Evie shrugged. “Everyone will disappear a few days before Parliament sits again on the twentieth, so I suppose that will be an end to the entertainments to be had. I imagine we’ll return to town then, for Mama has several social engagements.”

“Will you try the sea bathing?” Aisling asked, giving the bathing machines an anxious glance.

There were already people swimming out, enticed by the early warm weather and the lure of improving their health. Or perhaps it was a dare.