By Winter's Light: A Cynster Novel (Cynster Special Book 2) by Stephanie Laurens

looked and stepped back, she murmured, “It’s going to be hard to beat that.”
    “Indeed.” Daniel glanced at Melinda. “Has anything been said of getting Carter art lessons?”
    Melinda nodded. “They’re going to send him to Mrs. Patience’s brother—the one who’s the famous portrait artist—over this coming summer. He’ll still have to go on to Eton, of course, but if the arrangement suits, he might be spending his holidays—or at least some of them—in London, learning more about art.” She paused, then went on, “Mind you, I’m not sure how well Carter will take to that arrangement.”
    Daniel frowned. “I’ve met the Debbingtons—they’re a nice family. We occasionally see them when they travel down to their house in Cornwall. It’s a fabulous place, too, with incredible gardens and views over the Channel. I would think Carter would enjoy it immensely.”
    Melinda shrugged. “Perhaps. But if you get a chance, ask to see his portfolio.” When Daniel arched a brow, clearly asking why, Melinda said, “It’s full of landscapes of hills and mountains and”—she waved her arm in an all-encompassing sweep—“the wide skies hereabouts. I suspect he’ll miss this—and for someone who has spent most of his life here, it’s the sort of place that leaves a mark on your soul.”
    Daniel inclined his head. “I imagine that’s true.”
    They all turned to view the next sled in the procession. Henry’s sled had reached the front porch and was being unloaded by several footmen and older men under Polby’s direction.
    The cheers and calls of encouragement were getting louder as all six sleds were now somewhere along the path. The carpenter, his crew, and the other men who had been helping in the rear yard were following the last sled, collecting those watching on the sidelines as they came, the extended household swelling into a crowd, all laughing and talking. The noise welled in a pleasant cacophony and washed over the scene.
    Just then, Calvin, pulling the fourth sled, drew level with their position; he grinned at the girls and paused while they duly examined his handiwork and that of the stable lad grinning alongside him. Then both boys leaned into the ropes they had drawn over their shoulders—
    Calvin’s boot slipped on a patch of re-freezing ice. The stable boy slipped, too, and started to topple.
    Claire blinked, and Daniel—who had been standing alongside her—was at Calvin’s side. He caught Calvin’s elbow and held him upright, and all but simultaneously reached across and anchored the rope the stable lad was clinging to—and hauled the stable lad back to his feet, too.
    Both boys were embarrassed and also a little shaken. They stammered their thanks.
    “Just ice,” Daniel said. “No harm done.”
    Melinda waved to one of the older men standing on the other side of the path, closer to the house. “We need some extra gravel here—there’s ice on the path.”
    The man nodded, stepped back, and hefted a bucket left ready, then ambled over. “Get along now, boys, and let me tend to this patch.”
    Daniel released both boys and put a hand on the top logs on the loaded sled. “Go on—we’ll give you a push to get you started.”
    Several men joined in and helped ease the sled back into motion; with gradually returning confidence—gradually returning smiles as people on both sides called encouragement—the boys continued up the path.
    When Daniel came back to stand by Claire’s side, she was tempted to compliment him—only, between governesses and tutors, it wasn’t customary to compliment each other on doing their jobs. Yet he’d been amazingly quick, and he’d rescued both boys without making them feel foolish or childish—and boys of that age were prone to being sensitive.
    Indeed, she doubted either Raven or Morris, kind and caring souls though they were, would have acted so swiftly, or so tactfully.
    The festive atmosphere increased as the fifth sled went by, and