She sighed. It would not be an act of kindness to introduce alarm into their correspondence, not even at the same moment of alleviating that alarm. She crumpled the stiff, costly paper in her hand and tossed it into the banked flames of the hearth, where it flared briefly before thinning to ghostly grey flakes.

CHAPTER XIX

OVER BREAKFAST THE NEXT MORNING, Lizzy and Herr Rosenstein showed no lessening of solicitude, and Charlotte was closely questioned as to her and her daughters’ well-being. She was able to reassure them that Sarah seemed to have suffered no injurious consequences from her watery mishap. But she was unable to hide the tremble in her voice, and her friends exchanged a glance before Jacob put forward a proposal: ‘Frau Collins, would it make your mind a little easier if I taught the young Fräuleins how to swim? Then we need not fear a repetition of yesterday’s alarm.’

Charlotte demurred at first, imagining all kinds of unforeseen consequences. Would there not be an element of danger? Might not the girls perhaps fall ill as a result of their immersions? But her companions gradually overcame her initial reluctance. The musician assured her that it would be no trouble to him, and indeed a form of healthful exercise and diversion for them all, while Lizzy exclaimed, ‘That is an excellent plan! If we choose fine weather, there can be no danger of chills or rheumatism. Our waters are fresh and clear, and cannot possibly be injurious. You and I can sit by the river and watch as Herr Rosenstein schools your girls to be ducklings.’

Charlotte had to agree, especially once the plan had been broached with the girls, who, far from being daunted by the previous day’s accident, were seized by the notion and its novelty. The housekeeper was dispatched to search trunks for suitable garments and, to the amusement of all, she produced the skeleton suits Mr Darcy had worn as a very small boy, which were admirably suited to the purpose, their high-waisted trews held in place by sashes. At first, however, with the arrival of showers of rain, it seemed that the proposed aquatic adventures would have to be postponed, and the girls shook small fists at the clouded sky as they pressed their noses to the nursery windows. But the sun came out warm and bright in the afternoon, and the project grew more appealing to all.