Page 35 of The Undaunted
“Hmm, I reckon they’re disapprovin’ of you being young. It’s my experience that plenty of ladies past their prime are resentin’ of any who ain’t.”
Caroline did not know if that were true or not, but the sight of the sea dismissed thoughts of the two women and their pursed lips.
“Bemmy!” Caroline cried. “It’s glorious! I have seen it in the distance from a carriage on occasion, but not up close. Look how big it is.”
“Aye, but not big enough. Dieppe is but a hop and a jump and them rogue Frenchmenhavejumped over here from time to time. My pa swears that you can see that blasted land from the beach on a very clear day, but I never did see it. I reckon it’s only on the clear days when he’s had a few too many gulps of gin.”
They hurried down to the beach and Caroline was at once appreciative of Mrs. Belle’s good sense in designing footwear. More delicate slippers would not have done at all as they walked over the stones.
The water was entrancing—a deep blue such as a painter might create by carefully mixing in a hint of green. The waves rolled in, their white tops tumbling over, as if an unseen giant’s hand in the distance pushed them forward. Caroline watched the bathing machines wheeled in and out of that glorious expanse. She must try it someday soon, she really must.
A very stout older woman had just taken hold of a lady coming out of a bathing machine who seemed not very enthusiastic about the operation. The older lady was the dipper and she talked sternly to her charge until the poor thing submitted to getting in the water.
“That’s old Martha Gunn,” Bemmy said. “She’s been dippin’ people as long as I can remember and the Prince does favor her. It’s said that she’s got the run of his kitchens when she likes it. She’s a clever one, only working the warm months and then puttin’ her feet up all cozy-like through the winter.”
“She seems rather fearsome,” Caroline said.
“Aye,” Bemmy said. “She said to me once, when I was lookin’ into the career, she said, Bemmy, you got to be strong in body and strong in mind and overcome all their yipping and yapping ’bout how they’ve decided they won’t go in. Get ’em in and they’ll be grateful for it. Thetondon’t know their own minds half the time.”
“Were you really thinking of taking such employment?” Caroline asked.
“Not for long. For one thing, I ain’t the best swimmer, and for another, I don’t fancy being cold and wet. We ain’t in the tropics, after all.”
Caroline suppressed her laughter over the idea that Bemmy would have for a moment considered the job though she was not a good swimmer.
They turned around and made their way back the way they’d come. Caroline could not help looking at the sea. It was so vast. It seemed incredible that men would board ships and sail out into it. She wondered about those first intrepid souls who’d ventured it. Who was the first to look at the expanse and decide to find out what was out there? Who dared brave sailing out into water that might be leagues deep? Who left their family, not certain they would ever return? Who got out of sight of land, and then kept going?
Bemmy pulled her thoughts from her reverie. “Just ahead,” she whispered, “there’s a gentleman standin’ there staring and he’s been starin’ for a while. I’ll run him off if you like. When I was younger, I was called Bemmy the Basher on account of I would pay back nonsense with a bloody nose.”
Caroline followed Bemmy’s gaze, hoping whatever situation was developing would not actually result in blows and bloody noses.
She laughed as she saw that it was Mr. Landon. “It is all right, Bemmy, I was introduced to the gentleman last evening.”
Bemmy relaxed her balled up fists just as they reached him.
“Miss Upton,” he said bowing. “Charmed to see you again so soon.”
“Good day to you, Mr. Landon,” Caroline said, “Do you often walk along the sea in the mornings?”
“I try to avoid walking anywhere so early in the day,” Mr. Landon said, “but my cousin was up at dawn and making all sorts of noise and I found I must make my escape. Alvanley is determined to shape himself up for the boxing exhibition and apparently those efforts must be very loud and initiated at unconscionable hours.”
“You do not have an interest in the sport yourself?” Caroline asked. She was perfectly aware that Mr. Landon had attended Mr. Jackson, having observed the exercise each day, but she would never admit to the knowledge.
“Oh, I am very interested in boxing, Miss Upton,” he said, turning to walk with them. “But I find I do not like practicing a thing ad nauseum. It’s all very jolly when Mr. Jackson puts us through our paces, but Alvanley is running round the house to increase his wind and lifting statues to increase his strength and the sight of it gives one a headache.”
Mr. Landon made a quick feint to insert himself between Caroline and Bemmy, but Bemmy blocked him with determination. He ended up slipping back and coming to Caroline’s other side. Bemmy seemed suspicious of the arrangement, but the maid could not work out how to be on two sides at once.
“He must be very keen to show himself well,” Caroline said, doing her best to erase the picture of poor Lord Alvanley racing round his house clutching statues.
“Very keen, indeed,” Mr. Landon said. “He never wishes to look the fool as it is his career to make others look foolish.”
“If that is notyourcareer,” Caroline said, “have you settled on what would be?” She thought it had been a rather graceful way of inquiring if he would join the military or the clergy and she very much hoped he was not set on becoming the neighborhood vicar.
“Ah, the second son’s dilemma, what to do with oneself. I have perhaps thought of something out of the usual way. I find, when I look about myself, that my sole interest is in horses. That is what I wish to do, Miss Upton. I wish to breed and race fine horses.”
Caroline was surprised by the idea, but not displeased with it. It was, of course, the only life she’d ever known.
“My father is fairly well known for his horses,” Caroline said. “Baron Dunn?”
