The next day, the festivities continued, though the spirit at Hollydell wasn’t exactly joyful. But the skating party had been planned, and canceling it was not an option. Several young people from the neighboring homes and the village were coming to the house, and then the whole group would walk through the snowy woods to a pond about a mile away.
The issue of the missing documents had little effect on the guests who meant to enjoy their holiday, most of whom weren’t even present when the loss was revealed. Only Caroline felt uneasy about leaving the house to go gallivanting in the winter woods. Estelle seemed confident that the whole situation was an accident and the notes would soon be found in some odd location. According to her, the previous evening Mr Stockan had admitted he was troubled by the fact that they were missing, but added, “After all, Mr Garland has all the information in his head, and he can re-create the notes if need be.”
Caroline was reassured by this fact, so she tried to put the matter aside for the day. She dressed warmly for the party. She wore a gown of bright red wool over her white cotton shift, with sturdy stockings to keep her legs warm while out in the snowy woods. Her black leather boots were quite waterproof, thanks to beeswax. She’d tie on her metal skate blades when she reached the pond.
Estelle knocked and came in. She was also dressed snugly in a brown-and-white-striped wool, with her evergreen cloak over the top, and a mink fur hat (which had once belonged to Caroline). “Are you ready?” Estelle asked.
“Almost.” On impulse, she reached for the rubies and put them on.
“Caroline!” Estelle whispered, sounding shocked. “Are you wearing the necklace? To go skating?”
“I know it’s silly,” she admitted. “No one will even see them, not with my scarf and the cloak over my outfit. But, Estelle, it feels so grand to wear them! To have this weight of gold and ruby and to know they’re mine…I’m sure I’ll grow used to them and I’ll be proper about it. But I’ve just got them, and it means I’m…” She paused, trying to put the emotion into words. “It’s means I’m a woman. Not a child, not a little girl playing at being grown up. I’m really grown up now, and I can do what I like!”
“A grown up woman would leave such jewels under lock and key when she wasn’t putting them on for an evening,” Estelle pointed out.
“You’re no fun,” Caroline said with a false pout. “Tell you what. You will wear them tomorrow for dinner.”
Estelle looked appalled at the thought. “I wouldn’t dream of it!”
“You should dream of it. Dream tonight! And tomorrow you’ll know the reality of it, and we can compare notes. Oh, I don’t mean to be shallow, but honestly jewels are great fun!”
Estelle just shook her head. “Come along. We should meet the others or we’ll be late.”
They went down, and Caroline encountered Lord Snowdon in the foyer. He was wearing the same pale blue jacket as from the first day he arrived, over a snowy white linen shirt—however, he was not wearing anything for the out of doors.
“My lord, you are not coming to the skating party?” she asked, hoping that a simple conversation would not prove utterly awkward…considering she’d all but accused him of robbery the evening before.
“I have something to attend to,” he said coldly.
“Oh.” Caroline didn’t know why his dismissal should hurt her so, but it stung.
He seemed to realized that his tone was unduly harsh, because he added, “Perhaps I can join the group later. I assume someone in the household can direct me to the pond.”
“Any of the family or the servants will tell you how to get there. The path will be well trampled too. There’s a dozen people coming so far.”
“Then you will hardly miss me.”
“Everyone is invited,” she said stiffly. “But of course, it is your choice.”
“Caroline! Come along!” Francis called from the front walk, where the main group had gathered, everyone chattering like a herd of geese.
“Goodbye,” she said.
His only response was a bow.
She went outside, and was soon swept into the middle of the crowd as they made their merry way down the path. A few footmen proceeded them with a load of blankets and folding chairs to be placed at the pond, and a few maids followed them, bearing hampers of food and bottles of various beverages.
Caroline had been looking forward to the skating party, though Snowdon’s absence made the whole woodland a little dimmer. Was she so dazzled by the man, even with all her doubts about him? Catching Estelle’s questioning gaze, Caroline put on a smile and tried to summon all her holiday cheer. After all, she was more or less the hostess here.
“Come along, everyone!” she said, catching sight of the pond at last. “Let’s put the hampers down on the rocks there. Cook’s sent far more than we need, and I know all the food will be delicious. Just the thing after skating.” She had no fear of the food getting cold. The maids always slid slabs of clay that had been heated in the oven into the bottom of all the baskets. They’d keep the food toasty warm for some time.
Those in the group who had skates tied them onto their feet. A few ladies chose to sit delicately on chairs, unwilling to risk a torn hem in the pursuit of frivolity. Estelle tottered on the ice, testing out her skates.
“Our hostess ought to go first,” Francis said with a florid bow.
Caroline skated forward, spinning around after a few paces. “Welcome to the ice, one and all!” she cried, to general shouts and laughter.
Francis followed and swept her around half the pond. He kept an arm firmly about her waist, “to steady you,” he assured her, though Caroline had been skating her whole life and felt quite confident on her blades.
She caught him looking at her sidelong. “What is it?” she asked.
“Just saw a flash of red by your neck,” he said.
“Oh!” She looked down and saw that the ruby necklace was now partially visible after she’d flipped some of the cloak over her shoulders. “Just my jewelry.”
“Queen Caro, indeed. Rubies for ice skating!” he chuckled and looked to the shoreline.
As they passed the main group again, Caroline saw Timothy bow to Estelle. “Miss Clement, may I take you for a turn about the pond?”
Estelle smiled in delight, and said, “Why, that would be wonderful.”
The pair of them pushed off on their skates, going very slowly around the edge of ice nearest the shore. Timothy held lightly on to Estelle’s elbow as they went, and his face was turned toward hers, while she focused on the challenge of skating without tripping.
Caroline smiled to herself—there was hope for Estelle yet.
Francis noticed her gaze, and asked, “What’s going on over there? Miss Clement needs a minder to go out on the ice?”
“I think Mr Stockan is happy to take on the role, whether it’s needed or not,” she replied.
Francis chuckled. “So that’s how it is! Well, let’s give the novices their space. Come on! We’ve got a whole pond to conquer.”
“Keep from the far edge. There’s a warm spring there and it sometimes takes longer to fully freeze,” she warned.
“I know the pond,” he countered. “Didn’t I grow up here too?”
The party dispersed over the area of the pond, some couples splitting off, and a few brave individuals attempting tricks like skating backward or with closed eyes. As time went on, Caroline began to relax and enjoy herself. She coaxed some of her neighbors into at least stepping onto the ice, and cheered when Estelle lay down in the snow at the side of the pond to make a snow angel.
Francis swept her along, pushing their pace. A few curls had slipped loose from under her bonnet, and now they hit her cheeks as the wind whipped across her face. She laughed out loud, enjoying the sheer joy of gliding over the ice. It was probably as close as she’d ever get to flying!
Francis moved to one side, away from her. He looked intent, and said, “Race you to the far edge.”
“I’ll wait for you there!” she replied cheekily. Digging into the ice with one blade, she shot off across the pond. Caroline was naturally athletic, and she soon found a rhythm, but Francis’s slight head start and long legs made it difficult to catch up. She just came abreast of him as they approached the other end, where the wind had blown the snow into ridges and left some the ice clear, the surface almost black in the dull light of the cloudy day.
“I’m going to pass you!” she called.
Francis looked back, and suddenly veered to the right, as if he meant to avoid her colliding into him. He reached out his left arm as he shouted, “Caroline!” at the same time she heard a sickening crack.
The ice was breaking.
* * * *
It happened so quickly that Caroline didn’t even have a chance to scream before she plunged into dark, icy water. Her limbs went numb instantly, and her lungs seemed to compress as the fearful cold surrounded her, denying her precious air. She thrashed her legs and arms, which felt like wielding wooden sticks on a puppet—she knew the body parts were moving, but she felt nothing. And something was dragging her down…her cloak, suddenly dangerously heavy.
She tugged frantically at the ties, finally loosening the garment to drift down in the water. Finally, she broke the surface and inhaled the sweet but frigid air. Which way was she even facing? All she saw was white. The shouts of others made her look over, and oh, no, why were they all so far away and so much higher up?
Swim, you fool! she told herself. She tried to move toward the jagged ledge of ice in front of her, but the moment she reached out and seized it, a chunk of it cracked and collapsed into the water.
Caroline was alone in the icy water…but where was Francis? Had he fallen in too? No, she’d see him…hear him splashing…God in Heaven, it was so cold…
Near the other shore, Timothy Stockan shouted at the others to keep off the ice. “Everyone stay on land. The ice can’t support all the weight anymore!”
“But we have to get her out!” Estelle cried, looking around for some way to reach Caroline. She seized upon a long branch that had fallen and been pushed up near the shore of the pond. Timothy helped her yank it free of the ice, though Estelle refused to relinquish it to him. Together, Timothy and Estelle skated over, moving gingerly at every sharp crack.
“Stop!” Caroline cried, terrified for her friend.
“She’s right. Lie down on the ice,” Timothy added. “Spread your weight over as much area as you can.” He also dropped to the surface, demonstrating. The couple managed to stretch out enough to get close to the hole, with Timothy holding Estelle’s ankle as she stretched forward and held the branch out to Caroline.
She grabbed at it, unsure if her frozen fingers even grasped it. Black spots appeared before her eyes, and she could hear her heart thudding ever more slowly in her ears. But then Estelle’s hand clamped over her own. Somehow, the others had pulled her out of the water.
“Where’s Francis?” she mumbled.
“Shh, I don’t know. He must have gone for help. Never mind him,” Estelle said. Timothy reached over to Caroline and helped pull her upright, apologizing for taking the liberty of touching her.
Cold air hit her then, and she started to shiver violently. Estelle flung herself over Caroline, holding her close in an attempt to warm her. Estelle’s own thin cape fluttered about them like a great green bird.
“I need a dry cloak,” Estelle cried. “Hers is gone!”
Gone? Caroline had a hazy memory of the heavy wool dragging her down, the ties at the neck yanking hard against her throat as she fell…she must have managed to undo the ribbon and free herself, or else she’d surely have drowned.
Timothy laid his greatcoat over the two women and said, “Here, it will be all right.” But Caroline saw only worry in his face. He looked around, and then said, “The food baskets! There are hot rocks in them, aren’t there?”
“Yes, go get them!” Estelle said.
“I’ll b-b-b-b—” She tried to speak, but her teeth were chattering and her whole body was starting to convulse.
Estelle gave a cry of alarm. “The rocks won’t be enough, I’m afraid. She needs to get home!”
But home was a mile away, and Caroline couldn’t walk. The mere idea of standing up and rising into that awful, ice-strewn air made her faint.
“S-S-S-Stelle, I can’t,” she gasped out.
“We’ll get you home,” Estelle said. “Where did Mr Foster go? He could have carried you. There must be some way to get you—wait!”
Caroline couldn’t turn her head, and there was a pounding in her ears…but no, there was another counterpoint…horse’s hooves.
From her vantage point lying on the snow, Caroline saw a huge white horse trot up. Snowdon, dressed in that white greatcoat, looked like the soul of winter.
Estelle wasted no time. She turned and called, “My Lord Snowdon! Caroline fell into the water! She needs help! Can you get her back to the manor before…”
Before it’s too late. Caroline heard the words her friend couldn’t say.
Snowdon had already dismounted and now rushed to her side. He took one look and picked her sodden figure up in his arms. He said nothing as he strode to the horse. He lifted her onto the saddle and mounted up behind her, holding her tightly against him. Estelle ran up to them, pushing Timothy’s greatcoat into Snowdon’s hand.
He nodded as he took it and settled it over Caroline, tucking it around her head—her hair was sopping wet and already starting to freeze solid at the ends.
“Hurry!” Estelle said. “She needs warmth above all. Let her father know the moment you get to the house. He’ll know what to do. We’ll follow!”
Snowdon kicked his heels into the horse’s flanks, setting off at a gallop. In his arms, Caroline shivered and shook uncontrollably.
“Not far,” he told her, cradling her head to his chest. “You’ll be warm soon.”
But despite his easy words, she sensed a tension in his voice that was far more dire. The shock of falling into the water might stop her heart if she wasn’t treated in time. She couldn’t stop the violent shivers from racking her body. She tried to grasp the edge of the coat covering her, and couldn’t even feel her fingers.
“I’m sorry,” she got out. “Ruined-d-d-d your c-c-c-coat.”
“I don’t care about the coat. Are you comfortable?”
“I d-d-don’t know. I c-c-c-can’t feel anything,” she whispered.
“Hush,” he ordered harshly. “As my superior officer would say, you’re not allowed to die.”
He pushed the horse even faster.
As unconsciousness swept over Caroline, she wondered when Snowdon had ever been in the army.
Then Snowdon squeezed her to him, saying urgently, “Stay awake, Caroline. You mustn’t fall asleep when you’re cold like this, it’s dangerous.”
“I know, that’s why we made the formula,” she answered, her voice slurring.
“Tell me more,” he said. “Talk and stay awake.”
“It’s meant to warm a person up. Papa got the idea after all those soldiers died on the Russian campaign. Didn’t want more soldiers to die…the army…I mean our army…the War Department…can’t remember who…”
“Never mind who, just keep talking. How does it work?”
“It’s a chemical compound that keeps the blood moving, and stimulates nerves so one doesn’t go numb. The pigs who we tested it on stay more active in the cold, when the…con…control…”
“The control group, yes,” he said. “They didn’t remain active in the cold, but the group that got the formula did?”
“Yes,” she said, nodding. Lord, she was tired. “But one of the pigs who got the formula died, and Papa said it wasn’t ready. We have to make sure it’s safe…my lord, why are your eyes so blue?” Caroline was having trouble focusing. Only his eyes seemed to be clear and easy to look at.
“I was born that way,” he said, glancing down at her.
“When were you born?”
“I’ll be twenty-eight in February. Why?”
“I just wanted to make sure you weren’t born…yesterday. Not yesterday. The day you came to the house.”
“I assure you I’m not too young for you,” he said, laughing.
“Thought…I might have made you. From snow. Your name is Snow.”
“Snowdon,” he corrected, looking worried. “Caroline. You’re drifting. Please stay with me.”
“I built the snowman, you see. And I made him perfect. A Cor-Corinthin-thian. And then you showed up and the snowman was gone.”
He inhaled, as if to speak, but then he just held her tighter, kissing her forehead. “We’re almost there,” he said.
But Caroline’s eyes were closing, and the world was going dark.