Page 7 of A Winter’s Romance
If your target shows or tells you something in which he takes pride, be sure to admire it whether or not it warrants such praise.
—Advice to Young Ladies
M ama came into Kate’s room before breakfast the next morning and waited until Jenny had finished arranging her hair.
“You’re not going to ask me to decline the archery, are you?” Kate asked, turning on the stool to face her mother as Jenny left the room.
Mama sighed as she sat down. “No, dear. It was painful to watch Cecy attempting to talk to Mr Paynton yesterday in the parlour. Rather, him trying to converse with her—it was no better than at dinner on our first evening. The poor man did his best, but Cecy seems to be tongue-tied in his presence. I don’t know what I am to do with her.”
“You did tell her you aren’t expecting her to attach him, didn’t you?” Kate asked, her step-mother’s suddenly arrested expression making her smile. “Even if you did, it might still bear repeating. That expectation may be what is making her so inarticulate.”
“Yes, indeed. I certainly meant to tell her and thought I had done so. However, at the moment, I will be happy if she can leave here able to talk to the other young ladies. Miss Gildthorpe seems a pleasant girl, and is nearly as shy as Cecy. Her mother is congenial, and not over-ambitious, and that connection will help Cecy when she enters society.” Mama fiddled with the fringe on her shawl. “You seem to enjoy Mr Paynton’s company, dear. Is there some hope in that direction? Your papa would be pleased if your fancy settled on such a man.”
Kate felt her cheeks getting warm. “He is pleasant to talk to, Mama. That is all.”
Mama smiled as she stood up. “That is sufficient for two days’ acquaintance.”
Had it really been only two days? Less than that, really, for they had hardly spoken on the day they arrived. But despite her inauspicious beginning—on her back in the snow—she had enjoyed their discussion in the library and his explanations of the collections.
The morning’s archery was enjoyable, as was the indoor croquet in the afternoon, despite neither activity giving Kate the opportunity to talk to Mr Paynton again. But his idea for the following day caught her fancy when he explained after dinner. He accepted his cup of tea and came to sit beside her.
“You must have been frozen after spending all that time outside during the archery, Mr Paynton.”
“It was not too bad. I had the exercise of retrieving the arrows. Were you warm enough while you were outside? ”
“Yes, thank you.”
“Excellent. I am planning another al fresco entertainment for tomorrow.”
Kate nodded, curious as to what it could be.
“I thought to have a fire warming the pavilion from first light, and provide hot soup, roasted chestnuts, and pies.”
“Like the frost fair?”
“I suppose so. I wasn’t in Town at the time, but I read about it in the newspaper. Did you go?”
“Indeed, yes. It was interesting—a novelty—but rather cold to do anything but walk about for a while. Having a warm building to shelter in has much more appeal. I look forward to having a closer look at your design.”
He gave a warm smile that reached his eyes. “I look forward to showing you.”
Ben went down to the stables early the next morning, before anyone else had even come down to breakfast. The path to the pavilion was still covered in snow, but the head gardener assured him that it was hard-packed, and the small pony cart had already taken wood for the fire and two maids to sweep and dust the rooms.
“Housekeeper says she’s makin’ gingerbread, sir,” he added. “And the food’s to be sent down at noon.”
“Plenty of time, then,” Ben said, relieved that his plans appeared to be going smoothly. He headed for the servants’ quarters to check the housekeeper had also gathered cushions and blankets and had made enough food so the servants who had to work in the cold would have something to warm their insides .
By the time the party had breakfasted and donned warm clothing, the gardeners had spread grit on the path. Ben walked down with Miss Farrell on one arm and Miss Ardley on the other. Arthur was not far behind, with Miss Neston, having decided to risk a possible slip despite his still-mending leg injury.
Ben did his best to ignore Miss Farrell’s chatter, being more interested in Miss Ardley’s opinion. “It doesn’t show to best advantage in this weather,” he said as they approached the building. The heaps of snow cleared from the raised terrace distorted the clean lines of his design.
“It must make a lovely contrast against the trees in summer,” Miss Ardley said. “Does it reflect in the lake when viewed from the house?”
“It does,” he said, pleased with her comment. “Take care on the steps,” he added, stopping a few yards from the entrance. Miss Farrell dropped his arm and continued towards the open door and warmth, but Miss Ardley did not move, her gaze following the columns upwards to the base of the domed roof.
“It has a delicate, airy feel,” she said. “We toured Stowe last summer. This has a look of the two pavilions there, but is more practical, I think?”
She liked it! “Yes, the ones at Stowe are little more than a shady place to sit. Shall we go inside?”
The fire had taken the chill off the air in the room, although it could not really be described as warm. Arthur and Miss Neston followed him inside and looked around the interior. Arthur had been in Spain when the pavilion was built, and his injured leg had not permitted him to venture this far from the house until today. Ben awaited his opinion with some trepidation .
“It does look well, Ben,” Arthur said, clapping him on the shoulder. “What is Father’s opinion?”
“Grudging acceptance,” Ben said.
“Well, I think it is splendid,” Arthur responded. “Don’t you think so, Miss Neston?”
“Indeed. Do I take it this was your project, Mr Paynton?”
Kate watched Mr Paynton’s face as he answered Jane. The twist of his lips when he mentioned his father’s opinion of the pavilion soon gave way to a happier expression as Jane admired its appearance. While they talked, Kate moved over to the glass doors that opened onto the terrace, trying to imagine this view in summer. Sunlight would shimmer on the water, and the curve of the shoreline would no longer be concealed by snow. A few swans would glide across the still water beneath a sky of a deeper blue, with puffy white clouds drifting lazily above. It would be cool in here, even on the hottest day.
The pony cart carrying the older ladies arrived, with the other young women, Lord Farrell, and Sir James walking behind it. Kate stepped aside to give them room to enter the building.
“What is your verdict, Miss Ardley?”
Kate managed not to jump this time, even though she hadn’t heard Mr Paynton approach amidst the chatter of the arriving guests. “I like it very well. It is an ideal place for entertaining in summer, but also sitting quietly admiring the lake, or reading.”
He shook his head, although his lips curved in a warm smile.
“Have I misspoken, sir?”
“No, not at all. I was surprised that your taste for tranquillity matches my own. It has another feature, outside, that I did not tell you about, although it is of little use at this time of year.”
“Oh? Will you show me?”
He hesitated, glancing at the other guests.
“It is too bad of you, Mr Paynton, to raise my curiosity by telling me there is something to be seen, but not to show it! You could at least tell me what it is.” She raised a brow.
“Hmm, now I think about it, it might be a trifle… indelicate.” He tried to keep a straight face, but Kate could see the corners of his mouth twitching. He was teasing her.
“Ah, well,” she said, trying not to laugh herself. “Never mind then. If you prefer talking to your suitoresses…” She shrugged and turned towards the table. “I shall console myself with a cup of chocolate.”
“Touché, Miss Ardley.” He offered his arm and they stepped outside, walking around the curve of the building to the side hidden from the main house. Although this part of the terrace had not been cleared of snow, Kate’s half-boots sank into it far enough to give her confidence that she would not slip. They came to a door in the wall with a set of steps opposite that led down into an expanse of snow. A very flat expanse of snow.
“Is that an extension of the lake?” Kate asked.
“Yes, and hidden from view from most directions.”
“Is there a jetty?”
He smiled. “A good guess, but no. This is a pool for ladies to bathe, should they wish to. They may remove their outer garments indoors and go straight into the water without being… That is…”
“Without becoming a spectacle for the curious?” Kate hid a smile; that men— some men—would ogle women in a state of undress wasn’t a surprise to her. “Was that the indelicate matter?”
“One does not normally discuss members of the fairer sex removing their garments, Miss Ardley.”
“Not in front of females, at least.” Kate closed her eyes for a moment. She really should take more care what she said to him. But he was so easy to talk to.
He laughed. “Indeed. But I would never admit to a young lady that such a thing was discussed over the port. Or anywhere else.”
“Hmm. So I’m not young, or not a lady?” She tapped a finger on her chin in pretended thought.
He gazed at her with an unreadable expression, until she began to think she’d offended him. But he spoke before she could apologise.
“You are—” He stopped and cleared his throat. “I meant neither of those things.” His eyes narrowed as she laughed. “As you very well know!”
“The teaser teased,” was all she said. “I do like your design, Mr Paynton.” She recalled the other drawings she had glimpsed in the library. “Do you have the inclination to do more? I think the park here is big enough for several more buildings of this nature.”
He turned away to look out over the bathing pool, but not before she saw his frown. “Not if my father can help it. It took me some time to persuade him to allow this. He finally said I could—and I quote—‘build the damned thing, as long as I don’t have to hear any more about it’.”
“Oh. Would you… would you wish to design buildings for others, if your father permitted?”
“I should have liked the opportunity to try. It’s not a matter of Father’s permission, although I would not like to cause a family upset. But everyone who knows that this is my design regards it as a mere hobby. And in my position, it isn’t really possible to become an apprentice to learn—or to show that I have learned and can be trusted with a commission.”
“I can see how that would be awkward.”
“Miss Ardley, I do understand your frustration with the restrictions you face because you are female.” He returned his gaze to her. “Shall we go back inside?”
“Something hot to drink would be welcome.” She set off, walking again in the undisturbed snow. She had not gone far when her foot encountered something solid beneath the surface. Her weight was on it before she realised, and her foot slid, tumbling her into the snow but, thankfully, not off the edge of the terrace.
She could almost have cried with mortification; this was the second time she’d been so clumsy. He wasn’t laughing at her this time, but when he helped her up, a pain shot through her ankle and her breath hissed between her teeth.