If that was unavailable, cuddling a baby goat would be an excellent consolation prize.
“You’re right, Ophelia,” Justine said with a groan. “I suppose we will set up in the dining room, if it is available?” It would be so much more fun to stand out here with Karl, watching his expression as he mentally translated her teasing words. Plus, he didn’t wear a waistcoat or formal English clothing, and she enjoyed seeing his broad shoulders move and flex in his woolen shirt, kept tight against him by his braces.
In fact, men’s fashion here embraced tighter trousers as well, and combined with the boots Karl wore, Justine found herself admiring more than just his shoulders. But Ophelia. Maps. Routes. Gear. Yes. She needed to get Karl Vogel out of her brain and the practicalities of this expedition in.
“If I may, I can outline the routes I myself have climbed,” Karl offered.
“I thought you had chores to do,” Justine teased, even though she did hope he would spend the day with them.
“I do,” he admitted. “But this afternoon, during the coffee time, I could come.”
“Tea time,” Justine corrected.
Karl rolled his eyes dramatically, but he had the underpinnings of a smile on his face as he did so. “Coffee. Tea. Hot beverage time with a piece of cake.”
“Very well put, Mr. Vogel.” Ophelia gave him a short, competent nod. Then she looked to Justine, and there was almost a visible realization in her expression as Ophelia finally caught up to the relationship between Justine and Karl. “I will meet you inside, Justine.”
It put a smile on Justine’s face to watch Ophelia go, her steps as uncertain as Ophelia’s ever were, knowing that she had blundered into a flirtation and completely ruined it.
“I should go,” Justine said. “I’ll see you this afternoon, though, when you can correct everything we’ve done and I can throw cake at you for it.”
Karl’s brow furrowed. “Why would you waste good cake?”
Justine smiled. “Throwing a hot beverage at you would be much worse.”
Karl nodded thoughtfully. “Perhaps no throwing, then?”
“Don’t be an arse, and I won’t.” Justine turned and flounced away, her heart absolutely light and singing, as if she were meant to be right here, in this place, doing this very thing. She’d never in her life felt so free and at home. If only this expedition could last forever.
**
The weather turned much sooner than Karl anticipated. They only had a few days of the temperate melt before the hard frost slammed into the mountains, capturing all the moisture in the air and freezing it.
They put the goats and the cows in the same pens to keep them warm, and the birthing goats came into the storage closets on the ground floor, the farthest away from the dining hall as they could get. Karl worked hard every day, making sure the cows and the goats were warm and watered, cleaning up the new interior goat shed so that the smells didn’t disturb the guests.
They hadn’t gone on any hikes once the cold snap hit only because Karl was too busy. He’d hoped the Englishwomen would go out of their own accord—perhaps they did—but he had other work to hold his attention. He often missed dinner, which was a shame, because he enjoyed seeing Fräulein Brewer in her evening dress. He knew it was nothing compared to the beautiful silk and lace confections she must have at home, but he loved seeing her in the bright colors and gowns dotted with small flowers.
She was unlike anyone he’d ever met before, and he could admit he was infatuated. But it was nothing he couldn’t push under the surface so that when she left, he wouldn't be useless. He was still a mountain guide, and if there was anything mountaineers knew, it was discomfort.
Onkel Peter pulled him aside. “Karl. You are working too hard. I go to change the hay for the goats, it is already done. I go to check on the cows, they are toasty and warm from the lit brazier. You must let me earn my keep, or your Tante Greta will turn me out before she lets go of Elke.”
Karl shook his head. “Onkel, this is why you asked me here. To be of use. I am of use, what is wrong with that?”
His Onkel gave him a pitying look. “You are young, Karl. And you have clients here. Spend time with them. With the pretty one who watches you when she thinks no one will notice.”
Karl shrugged to feign indifference. “They are all pretty.”
His Onkel did not seem convinced of his apathy. “Your shadow, Karl. She is a pretty one, and very capable. Like your Tante.” He winked, patted Karl on the arm and took the water pail he was carrying to the goats.
He could only blink as he watched his Onkel take over his chores. What should he be doing if he was not buried under the heavy workload of running an inn? His immediate urge was the same as always:outside.
The small windows let in the cold, but he could see the gray crispness outside. At least that would be warmer than when the skies were clear and clean. He went through the dining room where the guests were strewn about the tables, lingering over coffee and tea. The married couples were playing some kind of card game that he didn’t recognize. The women were teamed up against the men, and the teasing seemed merciless.
It reminded him of Justine, and he wondered if that was something that he had missed out on in his younger years, sincehe’d started coming up to Zermatt when he was only seventeen to climb and then later, to guide. He’d not gone to churches and dances, learning how young people were meant to flirt and to court one another. But he’d supposed that Justine’s gentle teasing was akin to pulling his braids in school. Not that Karl had braids. He frowned.
“Don’t tell me that frown is for me,” Justine said, looking up from where she and Lord and Lady Rascomb and Fräulein Bridewell had maps spread all over the longest dining table. “You only just got here. How can I have already earned your disapproval?”
He tried not to smile, because he was beginning to understand that she did like him as much as he liked her. While he'd had relations with women before, it had been easily won barmaids, and neither of them believed in a longer-term attachment. This was different. It felt different, anyhow. “No disapproval. But I have been relieved of my afternoon chores. I can take you outside.”
