Read Online Sharon Sobel by Lady Larkspur Declines (v5.0) (epub) - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lady Larkspur Declines (v5.0) (epub)
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Janet, just look at it! And here we shall spend the next months? It is heaven compared to the city!”
Indeed, the grandeur of the sea stretched out before them. The day was so clear Lark imagined she could see the cliffs of a distant shore. The blue water, dotted with the occasional fishing boat, looked calm and peaceful, harboring none of the dangers of which Lark professed great concern. Gulls flew gracefully about, several showing the courage to come very close to their moving carriage.
“You look a little too healthy, my dear,” Janet reminded her.
“Have no fear, for I have sufficient time to compose myselfproperly,” Lark said with confidence. After all, in recent weeks, she had become very expert at it.
“Perhaps not. Do you not think those turrets are the towers of the Royal Pavilion? I have read they resemble nothing so much as turnips, and yonder bulbs certainly match the description.”
Lark followed Janet’s gaze out the opposite window to what likely was the building popularly called the King’s Folly, built at great cost, and still not completed. There were many who considered it an architectural nightmare. Lark rather thought it looked a sultan’s dream.
“We are very close to our destination,” Lark whispered, the great burden of her role restored to her. The last several hours, in no one’s company but Janet’s, she had allowed herself to imagine them young girls on holiday, with no cares but to keep their faces out of the sun and dress warmly enough for the chill of the evening. But her life was not destined to be so simple and pleasurable, for she now faced a whole new audience who needed to be convinced of her failing health.
And the renewal of one old association, who was not disposed to be generous in his feelings towards her.
“Goodness! Could this be Mr. Queensman himself?” Janet cried. Lark opened her eyes. She knew to expect the beast, but must he insist on showing up at the very gate of hell? “He is very solicitous and kind to greet us. It could not be his official place to do so.”
“Perhaps he owns no official place, relying entirely on his association with others. What do we know of him, after all?”
Janet smiled, and Lark bristled to see her so cheerful.
“Nothing, I suppose. And yet I can report he is very handsome and I doubt he relies on any padding in his costume. I believe what we see is genuinely Mr. Queensman. Such honesty speaks well for his demeanor in other things. Which is more than I can say for you, my dear friend.”
Lark leaned forward, preparing a riposte. But when the carriage jolted to a stop, she knew she could ill afford the time to put her companion in her place. Instead, she slumped back against the cushions and closed her eyes, just as the coachman opened the latch upon the door.
“Mr. Queensman! What a lovely surprise!” Janet cried, and the carriage shifted to one side.
“Miss Tavish, is it you?” came a deep voice, all too familiar. “Welcome to Brighton! It is most kind of you to accompany your friend on this journey, for the presence of one so close to her can only be beneficial to her health. I trust you had an uneventful journey?”
Janet sighed. “The roads were good, and nothing impeded our progress. But I fear my friend suffered greatly at every bump and turn on the road. She sleeps now, though fitfully.”
“I see,” Mr. Queensman drawled. He seemed so close that Lark could feel the warmth of his body. Even through closed lids, she sensed he blocked the sun from the doorway of the carriage as he helped Janet down the wooden steps. “I have made certain that her room is prepared for her and a wheeled chair is available. Unfortunately, the one Knighton offered did not meet my qualifications, and so I am having another delivered for her.”
“I am sure it is no problem, sir,” Janet said agreeably. Lark wished herself closer so she could pinch her. “In town, Lady Larkspur grew quite accustomed to one of the
Indeed, the grandeur of the sea stretched out before them. The day was so clear Lark imagined she could see the cliffs of a distant shore. The blue water, dotted with the occasional fishing boat, looked calm and peaceful, harboring none of the dangers of which Lark professed great concern. Gulls flew gracefully about, several showing the courage to come very close to their moving carriage.
“You look a little too healthy, my dear,” Janet reminded her.
“Have no fear, for I have sufficient time to compose myselfproperly,” Lark said with confidence. After all, in recent weeks, she had become very expert at it.
“Perhaps not. Do you not think those turrets are the towers of the Royal Pavilion? I have read they resemble nothing so much as turnips, and yonder bulbs certainly match the description.”
Lark followed Janet’s gaze out the opposite window to what likely was the building popularly called the King’s Folly, built at great cost, and still not completed. There were many who considered it an architectural nightmare. Lark rather thought it looked a sultan’s dream.
“We are very close to our destination,” Lark whispered, the great burden of her role restored to her. The last several hours, in no one’s company but Janet’s, she had allowed herself to imagine them young girls on holiday, with no cares but to keep their faces out of the sun and dress warmly enough for the chill of the evening. But her life was not destined to be so simple and pleasurable, for she now faced a whole new audience who needed to be convinced of her failing health.
And the renewal of one old association, who was not disposed to be generous in his feelings towards her.
“Goodness! Could this be Mr. Queensman himself?” Janet cried. Lark opened her eyes. She knew to expect the beast, but must he insist on showing up at the very gate of hell? “He is very solicitous and kind to greet us. It could not be his official place to do so.”
“Perhaps he owns no official place, relying entirely on his association with others. What do we know of him, after all?”
Janet smiled, and Lark bristled to see her so cheerful.
“Nothing, I suppose. And yet I can report he is very handsome and I doubt he relies on any padding in his costume. I believe what we see is genuinely Mr. Queensman. Such honesty speaks well for his demeanor in other things. Which is more than I can say for you, my dear friend.”
Lark leaned forward, preparing a riposte. But when the carriage jolted to a stop, she knew she could ill afford the time to put her companion in her place. Instead, she slumped back against the cushions and closed her eyes, just as the coachman opened the latch upon the door.
“Mr. Queensman! What a lovely surprise!” Janet cried, and the carriage shifted to one side.
“Miss Tavish, is it you?” came a deep voice, all too familiar. “Welcome to Brighton! It is most kind of you to accompany your friend on this journey, for the presence of one so close to her can only be beneficial to her health. I trust you had an uneventful journey?”
Janet sighed. “The roads were good, and nothing impeded our progress. But I fear my friend suffered greatly at every bump and turn on the road. She sleeps now, though fitfully.”
“I see,” Mr. Queensman drawled. He seemed so close that Lark could feel the warmth of his body. Even through closed lids, she sensed he blocked the sun from the doorway of the carriage as he helped Janet down the wooden steps. “I have made certain that her room is prepared for her and a wheeled chair is available. Unfortunately, the one Knighton offered did not meet my qualifications, and so I am having another delivered for her.”
“I am sure it is no problem, sir,” Janet said agreeably. Lark wished herself closer so she could pinch her. “In town, Lady Larkspur grew quite accustomed to one of the
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