Page 22 of The Long Road Back to Yesterday

“Shall we feel embarrassed to appear in a bathing dress?”

“Not at all, my dear. The bathing machine Smithers hired provides a dark blue wool bathing gown with matching drawers, a bathing cap, and bathing slippers. We shall be dressed with perfect modesty. The dipper is a woman, so you need not fear the attendance of a gentleman. Smithers assured me this bathing master keeps his machines apart from those serving gentlemen and attends exclusively to ladies. No gentleman will come anywhere near us.”

“That relieves my mind, Mrs. Younge. I feared gentlemen might stand about staring at the ladies. I am certain the bathing gown must cling to one's figure after leaving the sea and climbing back into the bathing machine.”

“No. Smithers assured me the excursion would prove most agreeable. He guarantees our safety and privacy in the care of this particular bathing master.”

* * *

The female attendant stood in the sea at the foot of the steps and raised her hand to Georgiana.

“Miss, you may come down now. I shall see that you are quite safe.”

Mrs. Younge said, “Go on, Miss Darcy. You have nothing to fear.”

Georgiana descended the steps into the sea. The cold water took her breath, and she gasped. The attendant led her farther out until the water reached her breast. The gentle swell of the waves exhilarated her, and once she had grown accustomed to the temperature, she surrendered herself to the experience.

Mrs. Younge entered the water and stood only a few feet away with her own attendant.

After about twenty minutes, Mrs. Younge said, “Georgiana, we must return to the bathing machine. Your lips have taken on a bluish tinge.”

“So have yours, Mrs. Younge.”

* * *

Georgiana enjoyed the outing so much that they began each morning with a brisk stroll along the East Cliff promenade to the beach, where they spent an hour sea bathing. They returned to the house for a light luncheon. In the afternoons, they took walks of discovery, choosing a different street each day. They found a well-stocked haberdasher's shop and a charming bookseller who also sold music and maintained a circulating library. They also stopped to enjoy tea and cakes in the open air of the promenade.

* * *

One week after meeting Mr. Wickham at the musicale, they encountered him again in the assembly room of the Albion Hotel. Georgiana stood near the edge of the room, looking about her with self-consciousness.

“Mrs. Younge, I do not feel entirely comfortable. Fitzwilliam would not approve of my attending a dance, even in so modest a place as Ramsgate. I have not yet come out.”

“Never mind, Georgiana. Your brother charged me with helping you become more at ease in society. You know, my dear, that you are unusually reserved in company. Mixing in this little community will help you acquire confidence before moving among members of the ton. Look around you. Most of the company is forty years of age or older. There are very few young gentlemen. I very much doubt you shall ever meet any of these people when your aunt brings you out in London.”

Georgiana looked unconvinced, but she offered no further objection.

Just then, Mr. Wickham approached.

“Miss Darcy, may I have the honor of the first set?”

She glowed with pleasure. “I should be pleased to stand up with you, sir.”

When he stepped aside to speak with Mrs. Younge, the master of ceremonies approached.

“Madam, may I introduce these two gentlemen to Miss Darcy?”

Mrs. Younge agreed.

Georgiana danced throughout the evening with gentlemen ranging in age from fourteen to forty. Mr. Wickham claimed her dinner set. He escorted the two ladies to supper and entertained them with amusing stories from his days at Cambridge. When the evening drew to a close, he escorted them to their villa before taking his leave.

As Mr. Smithers accepted their cloaks and bonnets, Mrs. Younge asked, “Would you care for some tea, my dear?”

“Yes, please. I could not possibly sleep now. I wish to tell you about all my partners.”

The two ladies settled before the fire in the drawing room, and Georgiana spoke of each gentleman with whom she had danced, though her conversation frequently returned to one young man in particular, Mr. Sinclair. He was twenty years old, and they had discovered many shared interests, all of which Georgiana happily recounted to Mrs. Younge.

After retiring for the night, Mrs. Younge wrote a brief note to Mr. Wickham.