Lizzy’s curiosity was soon to be satisfied. Their official training session complete, the lifeguards took it upon themselves to organise a riotous game of volleyball, which her younger sisters joined in with gusto. The lifeguards, now off duty, stripped off their yellow shirts to reveal a range of fine torsos. The girls, most already in bikinis, had no further garments to strip off, and the game started immediately. The lifeguards, though clearly the better players, were gentlemen at heart and encouraged the girls to leap and run for the ball, snatching it from them at the last moment, causing many a shriek and a tumble and a fumble in the sands. Meanwhile, Mary was complaining the sun was too hot, despite wearing a bonnet, and so Jane, kindness as always, offered to accompany her to the charming Winking Prawn, where they could enjoy a cool lemonade and recover in the shade.
Lizzy, in thoughtful mood, wandered over to the rocks to explore a little, hoping to catch a common limpet off guard and prize it momentarily off its foundations or to enjoy watching the sea anemones waving in the shallow waters.
“Is that a beadlet?”
An amiable, pleasant-sounding voice made her jump and almost lose her footing. A firm hand grabbed her arm to steady her, and she looked up to find herself staring into the merry eyes of Mr Wickham.
“Oh, Mr Wickham! You made me start! Are you not playing volleyball?”
“No. I would much prefer to seek out treasures over here. I have always loved rock pools since I was a small boy and take every opportunity I can to come to tease out lovely limpets and pretty periwinkles.”
To Lizzy’s surprise, she acknowledged he must be telling the truth for, in his other hand, not the one that still held her arm so charmingly, he held a fishing net and bucket.
The two were soon crouched down over pools, delighting in their finds, when the conversation turned, by Wickham’s initiation, to Darcy. He enquired how long Mr Darcy had been in Salcombe.
“About a week or so. He has a beast of a yacht here—the Pemberley .”
“Yes. He has a fat wallet indeed. In fact, you could not have met with a person more capable of giving you such information—for I have been connected with his family from my Pampers days.”
Lizzy was all astonishment.
“Yes, you may look surprised. It is a sorry tale of events which I will not tire you with. Mr Darcy’s father was the most amiable of men, who, when my fortunes suffered a blow as a child, took me in and brought me up as his own. Darcy, I’m afraid, was horribly jealous. His padre had always wished me to follow into the family business, but when a place became vacant, I am afraid old Mr Darcy had already passed away, and young Darcy gave the position to another. I was left penniless, but I managed to scrimp and save, go to uni’ where… well here I am!”
“But that is outrageous! What disgraceful behaviour of Darcy. I thought ill of him before, but this is too much!”
Lizzy looked so angry and put out that Wickham felt quite sorry for her.
“Don’t be upset on my behalf! A young man these days should have to make his own way. I see it as a great fortune that I have not had too much handed on a plate. Unlike Darcy, I am a free man. The world is my oyster!” And with that, he held up a periwinkle as if an oyster and, looking directly at Lizzy, added, “…and who knows what pearls I might find.”