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“Are you worried for them, or you?” she said playfully.
He set his tablet down. “You’ll want boots.”
“I have my hiking boots, which should be fine.”
“I don’t know how much they’ll protect you from the snow.”
“That’s okay, I’ll warm up after the walk, and I’ll dry the boots by the fire.”
“You’ve thought of everything.”
She flashed a smile. “I was prepared for resistance. Glad it was a fairly easy battle.”
The corner of his mouth tugged. “I’ll meet you in the mudroom,” he said, rising. “And the dogs will be happy.”
“Me, too.”
*
The snow hadstopped falling, and the wind had died, leaving the world still and white. Very still. The sky, a silvery gray, made Cara think more snow would be coming, but at least they had a little break now. Fortunately, it hadn’t warmed up enough for snow to melt, so there were no patches of ice under the snow. The dogs ran off leash, thrilled to just be free, and Cara walked next to Alec, their footsteps muffled by the soft snow.
They walked down the lane and everything was so quiet that the only sound was the happy bark of the dogs as they ran back and forth, off to explore and then to return, checking in with Alec.
“You said when I first arrived, that the dogs used to live with you in London.” Cara saw her breath cloud on the air. “Why did you bring them back, if you’re not here very often?”
“Lady was my father’s dog, and he couldn’t keep her in his care facility, so I took her. I work long hours, and travel at times, and would feel guilty that Lady, having lost my dad, was now with a stranger—”
“You mean a dog sitter?”
He nodded. “I thought maybe she’d be less lonely if she had company, so I bought a young male from a reputable breeder, brought him home at ten weeks, and Lady and Albert did quite well together.”
“But you have three dogs,” she said, glancing at him.
“Six months after Albert moved in, the breeder called me and asked if I’d be willing to adopt another male pup from Albert’s litter. It seems that Milo’s owner didn’t want him, claiming that Milo was willful and destructive. Milo didn’t bite people, but he liked to bite everything else—tires, furniture, shoes, books. So I said yes, thinking that Milo might behave better once reunited with his littermate, but no, Milo remained just as wild, and willful, even teaching Albert naughty tricks, so after several sessions with a dog trainer, I brought them to Langley where they have room to run, and to continue our obedience sessions.”
Cara watched the dogs running, the two younger males leaping and jumping at each other. “They do seem happy here,” she said.
“When there are no holiday tours and cars around, Milo and Albert follow Trimble everywhere, whereas Lady likes to lay near the fireplace in the kitchen. She tolerates the boys but isn’t a big fan.”
She looked up at Alec who was watching the dogs, affection in his expression. “You don’t miss the dogs’ company in London?”
“I do.” He glanced down at her, jaw firming. “But they’re happier here, and the staff is good with them. Mrs. Booth said she also feels safer with them here, which is important to me. Mrs. Booth is important to me.”
He gestured that they were going to leave the road, and she followed Alec as they cut across part of the park. The snow was even thicker here, and Cara sank into it, the snow reachinghalfway up her shins. They walked across the meadow for quite a distance and then Alec stopped, turned, and as she turned, she saw the house. From where they were standing it looked like something out of a fairy tale. The snow-covered park seemed to surround the house. The roof with the multitude of chimneys was covered in white. The branches on the big trees looked as if they’d been frosted.
It was gorgeous, truly gorgeous.
Cara shook her head, awed. “How beautiful,” she whispered. “How lucky you are to live in such a place.”
They started back, tracing their footsteps, Lady at Alec’s side, and the two younger dogs a little less energetic, but still playful.
“Could we talk about the next few days, and what you’d like as the host, and then I could help you with a plan?”
“Do you think we need a plan?” he answered.
She nodded. “It’s that or let your family run you ragged.” She hesitated. “I saw the notes Mrs. Booth left for you. Your aunt Emma can be… demanding.”
“And Dorothy just follows Aunt Emma’s lead,” he said. “For better or worse.”
