Page 10 of What a Widow Wants

“I daresay he will. He seemed very eager to renew our friendship last evening.” Fanny couldn’t suppress the chuckle that escaped her, remembering Matthew’s body pressed to hers. “In fact, he has issued an invitation of his own.”

“He did? What kind of invitation?” Her friend seemed to hang on every word. Good.

“It seems he is removing to Brighton at the end of the week.” Fanny squeezed Elizabeth’s hand and forced gaiety into her voice. “He has asked me to visit there as well.”

“With him?” Drawing back, Elizabeth sent her hand to her chest once more. How could the woman be so easily flustered?

“He had expected I would accompany him as his wife. But now, he hopes we will meet and enjoy the delights of the seaside as friends.”

“He does seem to wish to woo you properly, Fanny.” Elizabeth had settled back into her cocoon of propriety. She, of course, had not seen the fire in Matthew’s eyes last evening. Proper wooing had no place in his plans, Fanny would wager.

Still, she would seize the perfect opportunity. “And of course I will need a companion to accompany me, for propriety’s sake. Will you come with me?”

“Me?” Elizabeth squeaked. “I’d have thought Charlotte or Jane would be better suited to such a journey.”

“Not necessarily. Besides, they have to begin the move to Lyttlefield Park, so they will not be available in July at all.” Fanny smiled and patted Elizabeth’s arm. “The sea air and sea bathing will do wonders for your spirits and your health.”

“Oh, no.” Elizabeth pushed back in her seat until her head dug into the upholstery. “I refuse to sea bathe. I have never done it and I will not try now.”

Fanny frowned, but shrugged. “Very well, only the sea air for you, then. I’m not certain why you’ve taken bathing in dislike, but if you prefer to sit on the esplanade and watch, I have no objection to it.”

At that assurance, Elizabeth relaxed a trifle. “Have you sea bathed before?”

“Of course. Mama and Papa used to take us to Weymouth each year and insisted we take the waters and bathe.” Fond memories of her family, now gone, were always bittersweet. “I believe I was ten when I was first dipped.”

Glancing about the carriage, Elizabeth leaned forward and dropped her voice to a whisper. “Do ladies really take off all their clothes to do it?”

Laughing, Fanny nodded. “Some do, but they don’t have to. There are bathing dresses that cover one completely.”

“Did you wear . . . ?” Elizabeth’s cheeks turned fiery red.

“When I was a child I did.” Fanny grinned at her blushing friend. “Once I married, Stephen didn’t care if I wore one or not. So I didn’t.”

“Gracious.” Elizabeth glanced all around the carriage, not wanting to meet Fanny’s gaze.

“The water is quite invigorating and your bathing machine assures you of absolute privacy.” Fanny doubted any amount of privacy could induce Elizabeth to bathe naked. Not even if she were the only woman on the beach. That had often been her own daydream. To be able to walk the beach at Weymouth or Brighton totally naked and free, running into and out of the water at will. Some nights she’d even imagined it with a tall, dark-haired male companion.

“Isn’t the water rather cold?”

Her current companion’s words startled Fanny back from her musings. “That’s supposed to be why it’s healthful to do it. I suspect the waters might be even warmer in July. My family always went in October.”

“I somehow doubt it this year.” Elizabeth shivered and pulled her cloak more securely around her shoulders. “The weather has been much colder than usual. I don’t remember it ever being this cold in June.”

“Nor do I. But that won’t deter me in Brighton.” Fanny cocked her head and fixed Elizabeth with a keen eye. “So you will be my companion in July? I hope to stay for at least three weeks. That will give me time to become truly reacquainted with Matthew and make up my mind about marrying him. Then we will have a little rest before Charlotte’s house party.” She grasped Elizabeth’s clasped hands. “Please say you’ll come with me.”

“If you truly need me, Fanny . . .”

“I do. Most passionately. You can be my advisor and lay out all the reasons why I should marry again.” It would take extremely good ones to overcome the lack of trust she felt for men after her husband’s grave infidelities. But perhaps Elizabeth could find a way to persuade her to have faith in men again.

“Then yes, I will accompany you to Brighton.” Elizabeth nodded, the frown lines in her face smoothed out. “When do you wish to leave? I will have to consult with my mother about the children, although she seems to enjoy raising them when I go away.”

“Excellent. We will set the first of July for our departure and our return on the twenty-second, which is a full three weeks.” The prospect of being wooed by Lord Lathbury for three weeks seemed better each time she thought of it. “And you will have plenty of time to make your own acquaintances while we are there. We needn’t live in one another’s pockets. You deserve some time to yourself as well.”

“Hmm.” Elizabeth’s smile had a knowing look to it. “That will depend on how much chaperoning you need, Fanny. You don’t want to cause talk about you and Lord Lathbury, do you?”

“There is always some talk about any couple seen in company overmuch.” Elizabeth might prove harder to evade than she’d originally thought. “We shall see once we meet with Lord Lathbury and see what he’s about.”

“I am certain you will do that with the swiftness of Mercury, Fanny.” Elizabeth laughed as the carriage stopped before Worth House.