overconfident man does that “I am Colonel Birch, late of the 1st Regiment of the Life Guards.” He paused, looking back and forth between us, then settled his attention on Mary “And you must be the remarkable Mary Anning who has found several ichthyosaurus specimens, is that right?” Mary nodded, unable to stop staring at him Of course, anyone who knew of Mary would also know that she was young and of a low background, and there could be no mistaking me for her, with my twenty extra years etched onto my face and my finer clothes and bearing Yet I felt the sharp dart of jealousy pierce me, that a handsome man was not striding along the beach for me It made me more prickly than I’d intended “I suppose you’ll be wanting her to find you one, rather like commissioning a print dealer to find you a print to hang on a particular wall.” Mary shot me an annoyed look, for such rudeness was unlike me, but Colonel Birch laughed “As it happens, I want Mary to help me find an ichthyosaurus, if she is willing.” “Of course, sir!” “You will have to ask her mother and brother for permission,” I said “It wouldn’t be appropriate otherwise.” I couldn’t hold back barbed comments “Oh, that don’t matter—they’ll say yes,” Mary put in “Of course I will speak to your family,” Colonel Birch said “You have nothing to fear from me, Mary—nor you, Miss—” “Philpot.” Of course he assumed I was a spinster Would a married lady be out on the beach, far from home, hunting for fossils? I stooped to pick up something from the sand It was just a bit of beef shaped like one of the paddle bones of an ichthyosaurus, but I paid it more attention than it was due so that I wouldn’t have to look at Colonel Birch “Let’s go back and ask Mam now,” Mary suggested “Mary, we were going to Seatown, don’t you remember?” I reminded her “To look for brittle stars and sea lilies If you go back to Lyme we’ll have to give up the day.” Colonel Birch cut in “I could accompany you to Seatown That’s rather a long way for ladies to go on their own, isn’t it?” “Seven miles,” I snapped “We’re certainly capable of walking that far We do it all the time We’ll get the coach back at the end.” “I shall see you to the coach,” Colonel Birch declared “I would not want it on my conscience to leave you two ladies undefended.” “We don’t need—”