“Oh my!” Arabella exclaimed, causing Grace to glance up. “It’s the largest glass house I’ve ever seen!”
There behind the tree line stood a partially finished building made of metal and glass. The top of the structure was pitched, with most of the iron set in place, but only half of the glass panes had been set.
“It will take another few months to be completed, if the snow doesn’t stop us.”
“Grace?” Aunt Belle called, turning around. “Mr. Milton has asked if you might join him for a tour of the greenhouse? He says he’s something important to show you.”
“Of course,” Grace answered as she walked at a faster pace.
All four of them reached the open glass doors of the structure in just a few short minutes. Arabella seemed particularly excited.
“This must be six times larger than my greenhouse at home,” she said upon entering. Twirling around slightly, her eyes widened. “I can only imagine the sort of plants that will be able to grow in here.”
“We’re hoping to have samples from all over the world,” Mr. Milton said as he waved to a few men who were standing in front of an empty pond made of rocks. “Mr. Dalton?”
The man in the center excused himself from the others and came forward. He was a tall, somewhat gangly man, with a handsome face and honey colored hair and a smattering of freckles across the bridge of his nose, giving him a youthful appearance. Upon reaching their company, he bowed his head politely until his attention fell on Arabella. He stared for a moment, blinked as if awakening from an enchantment.
“Yes?”
“Mr. Dalton, may I introduce you to Lady Belle Smyth, Miss Sharpe, and Miss Scott,” he said. “Ladies, this is Mr. Dalton. He is our lead naturalist.”
“A pleasure to meet you,” Arabella said, entranced herself as she lifted her hand for him to take, which he did instantly. “A naturalist?”
“Aye,” he said as he kissed the back of her knuckles.
Aunt Belle leaned slightly back to make eye contact with Grace, who couldn’t help but grin.
“And what does a naturalist do?” Aunt Belle asked. “I fear I’ve heard a similar word before, but I’m almost certain it isn’t what you do here.”
Grace coughed into her fist, trying to hide a laugh. Mr. Milton twisted back and winked at her.
“A naturalist is an expert in natural history. They would study the biology and environment of all matter of things, from plants to animals and the like,” Arabella said. “Isn’t that correct, Mr. Dalton?”
“Quite right, Miss Scott,” the young man said excitedly. “Although, I am more of the study of plants than animals. Particularly for this project.”
“I’m something of a botanist myself, amateur as it were, but still, fascinated by the science of plants.”
The young man’s eyes widened.
“Truly?” Arabella bobbed her head emphatically. “Then perhaps, you might like to take a tour with me? I’d love to show you how we plan to arrange our findings once collected.”
“Yes, please.”
“Then take my arm. The ground can be uneven.”
Arabella took the man’s arm and they glided away, seemingly unaware of everyone else.
“Excuse me,” Aunt Belle said, following after them. “I’m afraid my duty as a chaperone will finally be useful.”
“Be careful,” Grace said, though the old woman just waved her hand in the air as she went. Mr. Milton chuckled as Belle followed after the couple, leaving him alone with Grace. She swallowed as he offered his arm to her.
“May I?” he asked.
Grace took his arm as gingerly as possible.
They walked around the empty pond, out toward the part of the building that wasn’t finished. Piles of metal beams, some thick and some thin, lined the paths. Flowerbeds were partially installed, with piles of black dirt nearly every few feet. Some native plants had already been planted, it seemed. One particularly large Scotch Broom bush, that towered over them,had been planted at the corner of a plot and as they rounded the bend, they were hidden from everyone else.
“It will be a jewel of a building once completed,” Mr. Milton said. “In fact, I believe it will be the most beautiful building in all of Glasgow. Although I’m sure its beauty will not compare to yours.”
