Page 94 of The Sisters of Sea View
Leading him into the parlour, she gestured for him to sit and explained gingerly, “Effie is not hurt nor ill. She is ... becoming a woman.”
“A woman... ? Ah...” His mouthO-ed, and he stared off into the distance, his neck reddening above his collar.
After a moment, he shook his head. “That thought never crossed my mind. What a fool you must think me. She seems such a wee girl yet. Though come to think on it, as moody and pettish as an adolescent, to be sure.”
Sarah clasped her hands. “She asked me to tell you. She is too embarrassed to discuss it with you.”
“And no wonder. I’d no doubt make a muddle of such a talk.”
“Well, this is usually left to a female relative, so do not be too severe with yourself.”
He slowly nodded, still looking distracted. “What do I need to do?”
Sarah twisted her fingers together, wondering if a talk of such a nature would make things awkward between them. Well, it couldn’t be helped.
“I have given her what she needs for now. I doubt I can go into details without becoming mortified myself. I will ... write a few things down for her, and you may read the note first, if you like.”
“Good idea. More discreet.” He rose and exhaled with evident relief. “I cannot tell ye how much I appreciate your help. I thank God this happened while we were here. I dread to think how clumsily I might have managed it on my own. Effie would no doubt have stopped speaking to me forever.”
“I doubt that.” Sarah grinned. “Though ... maybe for a year.”
He reached for her hand, and finding them joined, wrapped both of his around them.
“I am forever in your debt.”
———
About two weeks had passed since Dr. Clarke first called, and that morning he returned to see how Mrs. Summers was progressing. Again Mamma asked Sarah to be present during the physician’s visit.
“And have you been making use of the medical baths?” Dr. Clarke asked.
Mamma held up two fingers. “Yes. Twice a week.”
“Any improvement?”
“A ... little.”
Sarah shot her a look. “A very little, Mamma. If any.”
He stroked his chin, considering. “If the warm baths have not proved efficacious, then it is time to try the cold.”
Mamma groaned. “Must I really go into the sea?”
“I think it our best recourse. Sea-bathing is good for one reason, because the seaisa cold bath.”
“Will it truly help?”
He nodded. “Allow me to describe a case from the writings of Dr. Richard Russell. He had a patient who labored under a disease in spite of all the efforts of physic. She was confined to her bed for almost a year together, in an unhappy, languishing condition. There appeared no hope of her recovery. There remained yet one, and only one remedy untried, which was sea water. The patient therefore was removed to the Isle of Wight, in this very channel. She began to bathe in the sea; first twice in the week, then three times, and afterwards every day. Her appetite improved, she grew stronger daily, and gained fresh spirits. After four weeks of bathing, the lady recovered. Upon the restitution of her health, she went abroad every day, mixed in company, and enjoyed the pleasures of life. Her bloom returned, and, if I may be pardoned the expression, she arose like a second Venus from the sea, completely fair and graceful.”
Sarah shifted uneasily. “Good heavens.”
Mamma sighed. “Oh, very well. I will do it.”
“Now, before you begin, I have a few precautions for you. Bathing ought to be postponed till past noon, or at least a few hours after breakfast, to allow for digestion. And some degree of exercise should always be taken prior to entering the water, to produce a sensation of warmth over the whole body. By no means go into the water chilly.”
Sarah frowned. “Mamma can barely walk. I don’t see how she is to take sufficient exercise to warm herself.”
“Even walking up and down the beach first will help, I assure you. And after bathing, you will gain an additional advantage by drinking a glass of sea water as soon as you come out of the sea.”
