“No!”
“Oh yes.”
He led her into the library and gestured out the windows. “See?”
Georgie blinked in wonder at the white fluff slowly falling, floating, from the sky.
“Oooh...” she breathed. “I almost can’t believe it. It’s just as I wished for. Why am I so blessed?”
“Well, you are Saint George, after all.” He winked.
“Hardly a saint. But I’ll take it. It’s lovely.”
“I agree. Now, let’s not stand here gawping. Grab your cloak and let’s get out there.”
“In the snow?”
“Certainly, you ninnyhammer.” He grinned. “We want the whole experience, do we not?”
She grinned back at him. “Indeed we do.”
———
A few minutes later, they had dressed warmly and stepped outside. As if hearing the Sea View door open—or perhaps lying in wait—Chips appeared, tongue lolling, clearly happy to see them. He bounded through the falling snow with undisguised glee, like an excited child.
Colin said, “I wish I had a ball or something to throw to him.”
She reached into her cloak pocket and withdrew a small ball. “I always keep one handy.”
“Of course you do. What a girl.”
She tossed Colin the ball, and he easily caught it. He reeled back and threw the ball, and Chips darted off to fetch it.
For several minutes they played with the dog, who easily found the ball despite the light covering of snow.
Then Georgie leapt onto the veranda, which ran along the house from library to dining room. The sea wind blew in at an angle, covering its floorboards with snow as well. She ran and slid across the snow-slick veranda. In a flash, Colin joined her, sliding past window after window. Soon they were embroiled in a contest to see who could slide the farthest.
Pausing to catch her breath, Georgie stilled.
“Colin, look.” She pointed to the large sash windows. Lit from within by firelight and many candles, each window framed a lighted scene within.
Colin followed her example and looked from one to the next. “It’s like the illuminations in the print-shop windows,” he said.
“You’re right,” she breathed, taking in one tableau, then the next.
In one stood his brother and Viola, talking and laughing. Viola reached up and laid an affectionate hand on Jack’s scarred cheek.
“What shall we call this scene?” he asked.
“Hmm. MaybeTrue Love?”
He nodded. “Or perhaps ...Soul Mates.”
In the next window, Effie and Cora were sitting on the sofa, one on either side of Mamma, each holding one of Mamma’s hands.
“Oh...” Georgiana whispered, her heart aching at the sight. “This one is sad.Two Motherless Girls.”
“Seems like your mother is doing her best to fill that void.”
