Sebastian blushed. “It was my fault, I suppose. I lifted her down out of the coach. I was showing off,” he added with a shy grin. “She was a little unsteady on her feet when I set her down, and she fell into the snow. I was so worried,” he confessed, eyes wide. “Her pelisse was soaking wet and I thought that she might die of the cold.”
Rosalyn smiled, seeing the concern in her brother’s eyes, and she took his hand in reassurance. “But she did not. She is alive and well.”
“Alive, certainly. She had a cough for a day or so afterwards, but she is well again.”
“Good,” Rosalyn said softly.
“I hope that she will consent to ride with me in a coach again,” Sebastian said wryly. “It was grand to share the ride with her in the little coach.”
“I imagine so,” Rosalyn agreed. The coach ride with the duke had been magical. She could not think of a time, like Sebastian had just described, when she became aware of her love for Callum. It had crept into her awareness slowly, growing like a seed from the moment that she first saw him, each incident and each new awareness making her love fuller and broader until even she could no longer fail to notice its presence. She beamed, joy filling her heart.
“What a pair we are,” Sebastian said with a laugh. Rosalyn smiled.
“It is a wondrous feeling.”
“It is,” Sebastian agreed. He gazed out of the window onto the snow. Footsteps patterned it, and off to the side was a mass of horse-prints from where she and Callum had led the horses to the coach-house. She frowned, wondering if the roof had been repaired.
“Have you taken a turn about the grounds?” she asked Sebastian conversationally as he slid the book back into the shelf where he had found it. The sun shone down on the snow and it seemed too beautiful a day not to take advantage of it. Besides, she wished to see how the horses were faring.
“I have not,” Sebastian said with a smile. “I had thought to take some tea first. I feel the need for something to eat.”
“We just broke our fast two hours ago!” Rosalyn protested with a grin.
“I see no reason why that precludes a slice of raisin loaf at tea,” Sebastian said primly.
They were both laughing as they stepped out into the hallway. Rosalyn’s laughter faltered as two people walked past on their way to the front door. Lord Winbrook was one of them. He saw her and smiled. He bowed low.
“Miss Rothwell! How delightful to see you.” His dark eyes held her gaze. Rosalyn curtseyed, looking hastily at the tiled floor of the entranceway.
“Lord Winbrook,” she greeted him blandly. “Lady Philippa.”
“Have you been outside?” Lady Philippa asked Rosalyn warmly. “It is a beautiful day.”
“I had...” Rosalyn began awkwardly, thinking of an excuse. She did not want to mention that she had thought to go outside, since Lady Philippa was wearing a pelisse and they might go with them. She did not wish to go with Lord Winbrook.
“We were just planning to take a brisk walk about the garden,” Sebastian interrupted with a smile. Rosalyn winced and gazed up at him, but instantly Lord Winbrook was replying.
“I would suggest that you join us, then,” he said, his gaze holding Rosalyn’s own. She looked away.
“Well, nothing better than company, eh?” Sebastian said brightly. Rosalyn swallowed hard. Sebastian was a bright, sociable sort and he was clearly also unaware of the tension between herself and Lord Winbrook.
“Capital,” Lady Philippa said warmly.
Rosalyn went to the hat stand and retrieved her brown pelisse, shrugging it on in a desultory way. Sebastian shook out a charcoal-coloured greatcoat, wrapped it around his shoulders, and then opened the front door.
“Let us proceed!” he said, grinning.
Rosalyn went outside and waited for Sebastian to step out with her, ignoring Lord Winbrook, who hovered at her elbow as though he expected her to walk with him.
“Is this not fine?” Sebastian asked brightly as they wandered out into the snow. “A fine day.”
“It is rather cold,” Lord Winbrook pointed out tightly.
“It is December,” Sebastian pointed out.
“Quite so,” Lord Winbrook said disapprovingly. He was walking beside Rosalyn, who walked as close to Sebastian as she could. She was determined not to let him distract her or override her will as he had the previous night at the ball. He sounded put out, as though he had expected her to be pleased to see him.
“Is it not beautiful?” Lady Philippa asked Rosalyn, gesturing to the snow-covered landscape around them. The sunshine sparkled on the ice that clung to the hedges and trees, making long, lacy patterns that shimmered in the daylight. The air was crisp and cool, the snow glittering in the bright sunshine.
