Gentlemen Prefer Spinsters (Spinsters Club #1)(24)

Bella waved a hand. “Oh stop, you shall make me cry.”

“You never cry,” declared Sophia.

Bella shrugged. “Maybe this will be a first.”

Merry studied her friend. “It’s true. I only just realized it. I have never seen you cry!”

“Well, you are not much of a crier either, Merry,” Bella pointed out.

Merry shook her head. “You are worse I am certain.”

“I think I am physically incapable. I must have no tears in me.” Bella chuckled. “It’s all that growing up with too many men. It’s made me hard and unlovable.”

“Nonsense. We love you. Well, most of the time.” Sophia grinned.

Bella glanced around. “Come on, there is no one here. Let us dip our feet in the sea.”

“It will be freezing,” warned Arabella.

“I’m not scared of a little cold.” Bella stood and slipped off her shoes, hanging them from two fingers. “Who is coming with me?”

Merry sighed and stood with a smile. “I suppose we have little choice.”

The rest of her friends followed suit and they traipsed across the shingled sand until they reached the sea. Merry dipped a toe in and sucked in a breath. Despite it being the height of summer, the water was freezing, but that was always the way here. No matter how warm the days were, the water never warmed, and only the bravest of people swam in it.

“I never took you for a coward, Merry,” Bella teased.

“I fear I shall lose my toes to the cold should I venture further.”

Bella glanced around to check they were still alone and hitched her skirts up, taking a quick run into the sea until it was covering her ankles. Merry heard a muttered curse float in on the wind.

Behind her, Arabella giggled. Merry smiled to herself. Arabella’s situation reminded her of how important their friendship and their newly created Spinsters Club was. Merry had been lucky to suffer little heartbreak in her life, and while her father had not been the best of men, Daniel had shown her what a good man could be.

Not that Merry wanted a good man of her own, of course. But her other friends all knew well of the foolishness and cruelty of men. Bella still suffered at the hands of her vile father and brothers—not that she ever, ever revealed the pain it caused—and Sophia still suffered from the memory of her marriage, Merry was certain of that.

They all waded in up to where Bella was. Cold bit at Merry’s toes and she grimaced. “Why did we let you talk us into this?” she demanded of Bella.

“Because you know I have the best ideas,” Bella declared proudly.

“Oh really? So that time when you stole our father’s brandy and we drank it all until we were sick and could not move was one of your best ideas was it?” challenged Sophia.

Arabella clapped hands to her cheeks. “Oh yes, my head was sore for days.”

Bella lifted her chin. “We had fun doing it, did we not?”

Merry chuckled. They had indeed had some fun times, especially when Bella decided to lead the way. She usually came up with the most scandalous and silly things for them to do and they never failed to have a good time together.

“I cannot feel my toes.” Sophia waded back toward the beach. “I think that’s enough sea for me.”

“Me too,” agreed Arabella.

Merry followed them both, leaving Bella in the sea.

“You are all spoilsports,” Bella shouted to them.

Merry slipped on her shoes and folded her arms. “If you lose your toes to the cold, do not expect me to come and rescue you.”

“Some friend you are.” Bella stuck out her tongue and traipsed back to the sand.

Making their way back over to the spot by the rocks, the four of them sat. Merry plucked up a seashell and admired it. “Of course, now that I am in the dower house, I probably have hundreds of seashells just like this.”

“What will you do with all the things your ancestors collected?” asked Arabella as she plucked off her bonnet and tidied her hair.

Merry lifted a shoulder. “I have no idea. It seems a shame to dispose of these collections that someone worked so hard on, but some of the things are utterly valueless and pointless. I mean, they did not even collect the best or the prettiest seashells.”

“Perhaps you can find a few worth keeping then get rid of the rest,” Sophia suggested.

Merry nodded. “I think I might have to. Harry suggested as much.”

“I imagine it helps that you have Harcourt to help you.” Bella’s eyes twinkled. “I must say you two looked quite cozy, drinking lemonade in the drawing room like an old, married couple.”

Instant heat filled Merry’s cheeks. She glanced at Sophia and Arabella. Why did Bella have to bring up Harry now? The last thing Arabella needed was to think there was some romantic attachment between them. Which there was not. And there never would be.

“We were taking a quick rest.” Merry jutted her nose up. “He had been helping me move things all day.”

“He wasn’t wearing his cravat or his jacket. I do not think I’ve ever seen him cravatless. He really is quite handsome.”

Merry peered out over the sea. “Is he? I never noticed.”

“She said that the other day.” Bella rolled her eyes. “I do not believe her.”