A brisk wind fluttered the ribbons of Merry’s bonnet. It blew in off the sea, bringing with it the fresh scent of salt. Bella looped her arm through Merry’s as they made their way along the beach, not far from where the sea was slowly retreating in waves tipped with white.

Bella glanced back at Arabella who walked alongside Sophia and leaned in. “She is still terribly melancholy.”

Merry nodded. Arabella had never been the most gregarious of them, but she was never miserable either. The recent news had affected her badly. Somehow, they would have to cheer her up.

The four of them strode up toward the end of the cove, where huge rocks jutted up and marked the end of the crescent-shaped beach and offered shelter from the breeze. Merry settled on the sand and peered out at the ocean. Guilt jabbed at her. While she had been contemplating Harry’s handsomeness and getting herself tangled into an odd twist of emotions, Arabella had been hurting from the news. She would have to rectify that somehow, and certainly avoid any more thinking of Harry’s strong arms or how he looked with his cravat undone.

A laugh threatened to bubble from her and she clamped down on it. To think he had said he loved her. How preposterous. He was either mad or teasing her. Whatever game he was playing, she was not falling for it.

Merry eyed Arabella, who had been wearing this odd strained smile for days. Already pale, her skin had taken on an ashen cast and it was clear she had not been sleeping.

“Stop looking at me like that, Merry.” Arabella shook her head. “I know what you are thinking.”

“I’m concerned for you, we all are,” Merry said.

Bella nodded. “You have not been the same since you heard that snake’s brother is returning to Lulworth.”

Arabella’s throat worked. “It is hardly his fault that his brother is a cad.”

Sophia snorted. “He’s more than a cad. He took advantage of you. He promised you marriage, knowing full well he would never return from America, he—”

A shiver visibly wracked Arabella. Merry put a hand to Sophia’s arm. Out of all of the injuries her friends had suffered at the hands of men, Arabella’s was the worst in many ways. The man who had stolen her innocence had sworn he would return for her once he had made his fortune, but he never did. No word ever came and Arabella was left waiting for many years.

And given her young age of sixteen, it had been a rude awakening to the folly and arrogance of men. Arabella was only lucky that no one had discovered her ruination, or she might have been sent off to Ireland or some godforsaken place like Miss Lucy Gable had.

“He is coming to look after his sick mother,” Arabella said softly. “I cannot begrudge him that.”

Bella frowned. “I do not remember the brother, do you, Merry?”

Shaking her head, Merry sifted grains of sand through her fingers. “He is older than us and he studied away for most of the time I believe.”

Sophia nodded. “I believe so. And Mrs. Bryce said he has been in Scotland for some time and fears he will be all rough manners now.”

“Well, wherever he has been, I will treat him courteously. He has done me no wrong.” Arabella lifted her chin but Merry could not miss the slight quiver of her lips.

The brother might be completely innocent and for all they knew, could be a good man, but the family connection was still a sore reminder of what Arabella had given up to a man who had lied to her and used her in the most horrible way.

“I think we should all ignore him,” determined Sophia. “After all, he shall be caring for his mother. I doubt he will have time to socialize with the people of Lulworth. We can pass him by quite easily should we see him.”

“And if we do, we shall all be there for you, Arabella.” Merry reached over and gave her hand a squeeze.

Arabella smiled. “I know you will. How I would have survived these years without you all, I do not know.”

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.”

“You must be blind, Merry,” Sophia said. “He is one of the most handsome men around here.”

Merry looked at Sophia. “He has been friends with Daniel for a long time. It is hard to think of him as anything other than...a...a brother.”

Bella giggled. “A handsome brother. A handsome, gentlemanly brother. How lucky you are to have him help you. I swear he is a much better man than most.”

“He is a rake,” pointed out Merry.

“He was a rake,” Arabella corrected. Everyone peered at her. “What? I do listen to gossip occasionally. Mama says he is practically reformed, and that he has not taken any...lovers for some time.”

Sophia nodded. “It’s true, and you know Mama is never wrong in her gossip.”

Merry drew in a breath. She preferred not to think of Harry’s lovers. She’d known for some time—since she’d been old enough to understand really—that women adored Harry and he liked them too. But he never liked the same one more than once. His string of liaisons was as long as her bonnet ribbon. simply because Sophia and Arabella’s mother said he was changed, did not mean anything.

Did it?

“Once a rake, always a rake,” Merry declared, unsure if she was announcing it to her friends or herself. “We must guard ourselves, ladies. Despite all we know to be true about men, we are still too trusting. Remember our vows.”

And she would remember them too. Especially next time she was around Harry.