10 July 1800 Margate, Kent Along the North Sea @tenderstarved
“Oh and is there lemonade?” Lucy called over her shoulder, nimbly dislodging Isla’s hands as they untied her over-dress. A maid, white-capped, nodded. Lucy beamed and glanced over at her companion. “It seems only fitting that we drink lemonade today.”
The sunshine had lifted the princess’ spirits, and the color in her cheeks. Sebastian’s exit had been a quiet thing, private only to them, but she felt his absence with every passing moment. Even then, a whitecap off the coast made her think of whales, and her thoughts flinched to point it out to him.
But she was not alone, and that gave her hope. Shrugging off the pale blue over-dress, Lucy lifted onto her toes so Isla, her maid, could tie up the hem of her white muslin gown, exposing a London-scandalous length of calf. Feet into the sand, she turned behind her to Kate, a scrunch in her nose. “Race you to the water’s edge.”