Free Sharon Sobel by Lady Larkspur Declines (v5.0) (epub) Page A

of you and always made to play a masculine role when we danced. On occasion, I still forget myself at an assembly and stand on the wrong side of the line.”
    Janet laughed and turned the corner on an imaginary gentleman. “Your mistake might not be noticed, for you are still quite tall and must often look over your partner’s head.”
    Lark smiled ruefully and seized the moment to do a little twistingmovement, which felt uncommonly gratifying. She sighed.
    “You are right. It is always a pleasure for me to stand up with a gentleman of an uncompromising height.” She recalled, a little uncomfortably, how Hindley Moore’s small stature had proven prophetic. And how, on the evening of his defection, she reluctantly accepted another’s invitation and was momentarily rewarded with an excellent partner. Well, she did not expect to ever dance with Mr. Benedict Queensman again.
    Lark stopped suddenly, and an unsuspecting Janet nearly sidestepped right into her.
    “Are you tired?” Janet asked breathlessly.
    Lark laughed. “You, of all people, know I can scarcely be tired when I have had so little occasion to exert myself. No, I am only concerned we might be overheard by someone walking down the hall, and my deception would be rudely uncovered.”
    “And yet you must exercise, Lark. Your legs will be in a sorry state if—”
    “Of course, Janet,” Lark interrupted her impatiently. “I know it only too well. But perhaps we ought to refrain from our improvised musical accompaniment. Or come up with a better scheme.”
    Janet said nothing, and Lark knew she would not make a suggestion until Lark ventured forth herself. The invalid stretched her arms silently as she studied her friend’s bemused face, realizing again how grateful she ought to be for years of devotion and loyalty. She doubted anyone else would remain a party to her deception and agree to seclude herself so far from popular society. When this business concluded, and they could return to all they had abandoned, she ought to reward Janet handsomely for her sacrifice.
    But for now, Lark turned her back on her companion and walked to the wide window overlooking the expansive Brighton beach and the azure sea. The day was glorious, another in a string of sunlit days gracing them since their arrival. As a result, they could expect to spend the afternoon on the wide veranda of the sanatorium, reading or playing cards with some of the other guests.
    But the others would not awaken for several hours, and the beach and gardens looked nearly deserted.
    “You are—you cannot be thinking of a walk upon the beach, dear Lark!” Janet said nervously and stepped up beside her.
    “I am sorely tempted, to be sure,” Lark admitted. “But we cannot afford such luxuries. In any case, it is possible we will have access to the beach soon enough, for a bright caravan seems to have arrived.”
    Janet peered over her shoulder. “What is it, Lark? I have never seen such things.”
    “Nor have I,” Lark said thoughtfully. The little wooden sheds, large enough for one or two occupants, were lined up perfectly along the shore and were all adorned with red-and-white ballooned awnings. “But I am quite certain they are bathing machines, designed to take swimmers out into the waves and protect their modesty with those rather large hoods. Do you see the little tracks of wood laid out upon the sand? I believe they are needed to help the horses guide the machines over the sand pebbles. It is a very cunning invention, is it not?”
    “Yes,” Janet said doubtfully. “But surely there is too much husbandry in their design. How little room we must have in a little box such as that to change into proper garments and store our discarded robes!”
    “You are right. It looks very cramped. But then our reward must be our unfettered freedom upon the waves! Will it not be glorious?”
    “Indeed,” Janet grumbled. “But how much more glorious it would be if you could play the part of the