It had been a long night for Minnie, first with Sophia's perceived theatrics about sealmen and then with little Horace needing rocked back to sleep. She had heard what sounded like Sophia sobbing as she rushed up the stairs at one point but Minnie was far too tired and annoyed to care much. She was relieved when Horace finally managed to fall back asleep without the use of medicinal aid. She had returned to the master suite and slept well until breakfast later in the morning.

"Augusta, Albert, and I already ate earlier," William had told her when she came down to the sitting room. All mentioned sat watching the marvelous view of the ocean. "But I knew you had been up late tending to the baby's needs so I told Jane to prepare something quick for you to eat a little later."

Minnie smiled at her husband. He was a generous man, always thinking of her needs as a new mother. "That was very good of you, William," she replied. She pondered a moment what he had just said. "Wait- did Sophia not come to breakfast with you?"

Augusta kept her gaze to the sea as Albert looked down at his feet, almost as if ashamed. William, Minnie noted, suddenly seemed very troubled.

"She did not join us, no..." he answered with a slowness to his voice, "I do not believe she is planning to leave her room any time soon. I asked Jerome to check on her at lunch time if she is has not emerged by then."

Minnie could only sigh. That Sophia! Sure, they were fairly close in age but Minnie tried so hard to be a good step-mother to her. But of course, Sophia had grown up an only child in a well-to-do family, used to always having her way and being the center of attention. That Minnie- a commoner, a working girl- had now entered the picture and become her father's new wife no doubt caused Sophia anxiety but she would just have to learn to live with it. Minnie and William had a son, after all- and that son meant Minnie had just as much authority and right to William and his resources as his grown child did.

"Perhaps after breakfast I'll go for a swim," Minnie said, trying to change the mood. It looked to be a nice sunny day out the window. "Horace seems to be sleeping, I may as well take advantage of the silence. Would any of you like to join?"

She knew full well none would. Short of William, no one else there particularly liked her, and Minnie knew it. Besides, neither William nor Augusta were swimmers. And Albert, oh awkward Albert, he was clearly too much of a 'gentleman' to be on the same beach as a woman in bathing clothes without turning beet red. But an invitation was the friendly thing to do.

As she had expected, all turned her down. William, as he did, suggested that Minnie see if Sophia wanted to go along when she went to change. Minnie said she would ask but passed right by the closed Seal Room door when it came time. It was not worth the effort; Minnie would find more enjoyment alone.

The morning sun was already quite warm as Minnie stepped on to the rocky beach. Phoque King Light was before her but she couldn't see Menelaus Winslow Groat, the lighthouse keeper. It was just as well- he had given her the chills for some unknown reason. His attention had mostly been focused on Sophia, thankfully, but there was still something off-putting about him that made Minnie hope his interactions with the family over the summer be minimal.

As she stuck her foot in the Atlantic water, it was a bit jarring how cold it was. No, she would need to spend a little longer in the sun and get well-warmed before it was a good swimming temperature. The numerous mentions of unexpected riptides from the day before came to mind as she walked along the edge where the sand and waves met- Sophia had made a good point when she inquired about their frequency. Minnie may not have come from a high-class background or had the finest education, but she had been fortunate to grow up by the sea. The types of freak riptides- at least as suggested by Menelaus as something that could be controlled- was absurd. Yet he had said it with such conviction. Did he know something vital about the waters off the island that the family did not? Was he going to use that to make them invite him to visit more often? How terrible a thought.

Minnie had walked a ways down the shore as she started to get hot. The water did seem pretty safe and calm where she stood, but at the same time, she was alone. If anything were to happen to her and she were to get sucked out to sea like those poor interior decorators, what would become of little Horace? Surely Sophia would make sure he was treated as nothing less than a dog if she had her way. No, William was so easily taken by his daughter's wishes, Minnie had to do everything she could to keep him on her side and with her son as his ideal heir. She would have to be certain she could take a quick swim safely and return to the house alive and well, if only for her baby's sake. She looked over her shoulder to the mansion on the cliff. Surely if she could see them, they all could see her- if she went into the water and started to struggle, they'd know and come out to help her, right?

But suddenly, an eerie feeling came over her. It was hard to explain, yet it was like someone was watching her- and close by. Minnie turned her gaze back to Phoque King Light- perhaps Menelaus was outside and looking for a signal to come over. Yet, as ahe observed his island, she saw no sign of movement.

Then, from not far beside her, there was the sound of pebbles moving. Minnie turned, expecting at best to see a seagull. What she saw instead made her freeze.

It was what appeared to be a seal, with gray spotted fur and large black eyes. But it wasn't standing like a seal- no, it stood on what appeared to be two legs, just as a human would, yet with flippers instead of feet. There were other human-esque qualities to the figure's compact build, though it was certainly seal-like in appearance too. It was confusing to look at and slightly hideous to take in but moreso than anything...there was only one thing to call the creature: a sealman.

The sealman stood now before Minnie, most certainly real as far as she could tell. Just as real as Sophia had claimed.

"Arf arf arf," it suddenly bellowed, its voice deep and unnerving as its mouth opened wide.

Minnie slapped both her hands to the sides of her face in terror and screamed as loud as she could.