There was such a cold challenge in that fleeting look, such an unfeeling, inhuman hint of mockery, and it made something inside her flinch and curl up. For a moment she could have cried out protestingly.
“It will be nice for me,” Haversham said, also looking at Valentine. And once again he smiled at her with the warmth that was always a part of his smile ... for her. “I only hope Miss Brown agrees it will be nice for us both!”
When they set off the following morning it was with the intention of remaining away for at least a couple of days and nights. The Baron had assured Lou that his house was in a sufficiently habitable condition for them to be his guests for that length of time, but as to the standard of comfort he could offer them ... Well, it would not be up to that of the Hotel Grand Imperial, but, such as it was, she had insisted on being given an opportunity to sample it.
“So it’s on your own head, my dear,” he said grimly before they started off in a couple of horse-drawn sleighs. He was looking unusually grim, Valentine thought, as his manservant stacked the luggage in one of the sleighs. They seemed ridiculously tiny affairs by comparison with the horses with their sweeping tails and unusual harness, and the high box seats on which the coachmen sat. There were quantities of rugs beneath which the passengers made themselves comfortable, and as the horses started off there was a pleasant jingling of bells.
But before they started off Lou remembered a special make-up box which she had left behind, and Valentine was sent rushing back into the hotel for it. Lou, who was in a very good humour, said she would forgive Valentine for being so careless as to leave it behind when she got back with the small cream case with its gold initials and clasp in her hand, but the Baron’s brow grew unexpectedly dark, and he snapped impatiently:
“Do you always have to be waited on hand and foot, Lou? Can’t you ever remember anything yourself?”
Lou was so surprised that her mouth fell open a little, and her large blue eyes looked hurt and astonished. Then she recovered herself quickly and laughed softly.
“Darling, isn’t that rather like the pot calling the kettle black? Do you ever do anything for yourself?” As he did not answer — merely looked a trifle more grim — she patted his arm and spoke soothingly. “But I know what it is! You’re anxious in case I won’t like your old schloss, and the thought of acting host is getting you down! But don’t worry, poppet ... I’ve made up my mind I’m going to like it however dreadful it is! I’m going to thoroughly enjoy the next two days and nights!”
The Baron tightened his lips, and issued an order to his servant, who passed it on to the leading coachman.
“We’ll be off now,” he said, “if you’re quite sure you haven’t forgotten anything else ? ” His eyes dwelt coldly on Lou. “You must forgive me, but I dislike to see horses kept standing.”
“Of course, darling,” she cooed back understandingly, as she snuggled down under the rugs. “But they’re not your horses, so why worry ? ”
The Baron glanced back at Valentine, sitting beside Haversham in the rear sleigh.
“All right ? ” he asked curtly.
She didn’t answer, but the Englishman spoke for her.
“We’re perfectly all right,” he said, with somewhat unnecessary emphasis.
It was a sparkling morning — an indescribably beautiful mountain morning — and Valentine knew she should have enjoyed every moment of that drive. It was not a lengthy drive — not long enough for any of them to become chilled, that is — and the scenery through which they passed was a wonderland of white and gold loveliness. And always there were the dark shapes of the pines and the forests of larch and juniper into which they constantly tunnelled, against the bewildering purity of the snow, and the guardian range of mountains across the valley like an impressive fortification between them
“It will be nice for me,” Haversham said, also looking at Valentine. And once again he smiled at her with the warmth that was always a part of his smile ... for her. “I only hope Miss Brown agrees it will be nice for us both!”
When they set off the following morning it was with the intention of remaining away for at least a couple of days and nights. The Baron had assured Lou that his house was in a sufficiently habitable condition for them to be his guests for that length of time, but as to the standard of comfort he could offer them ... Well, it would not be up to that of the Hotel Grand Imperial, but, such as it was, she had insisted on being given an opportunity to sample it.
“So it’s on your own head, my dear,” he said grimly before they started off in a couple of horse-drawn sleighs. He was looking unusually grim, Valentine thought, as his manservant stacked the luggage in one of the sleighs. They seemed ridiculously tiny affairs by comparison with the horses with their sweeping tails and unusual harness, and the high box seats on which the coachmen sat. There were quantities of rugs beneath which the passengers made themselves comfortable, and as the horses started off there was a pleasant jingling of bells.
But before they started off Lou remembered a special make-up box which she had left behind, and Valentine was sent rushing back into the hotel for it. Lou, who was in a very good humour, said she would forgive Valentine for being so careless as to leave it behind when she got back with the small cream case with its gold initials and clasp in her hand, but the Baron’s brow grew unexpectedly dark, and he snapped impatiently:
“Do you always have to be waited on hand and foot, Lou? Can’t you ever remember anything yourself?”
Lou was so surprised that her mouth fell open a little, and her large blue eyes looked hurt and astonished. Then she recovered herself quickly and laughed softly.
“Darling, isn’t that rather like the pot calling the kettle black? Do you ever do anything for yourself?” As he did not answer — merely looked a trifle more grim — she patted his arm and spoke soothingly. “But I know what it is! You’re anxious in case I won’t like your old schloss, and the thought of acting host is getting you down! But don’t worry, poppet ... I’ve made up my mind I’m going to like it however dreadful it is! I’m going to thoroughly enjoy the next two days and nights!”
The Baron tightened his lips, and issued an order to his servant, who passed it on to the leading coachman.
“We’ll be off now,” he said, “if you’re quite sure you haven’t forgotten anything else ? ” His eyes dwelt coldly on Lou. “You must forgive me, but I dislike to see horses kept standing.”
“Of course, darling,” she cooed back understandingly, as she snuggled down under the rugs. “But they’re not your horses, so why worry ? ”
The Baron glanced back at Valentine, sitting beside Haversham in the rear sleigh.
“All right ? ” he asked curtly.
She didn’t answer, but the Englishman spoke for her.
“We’re perfectly all right,” he said, with somewhat unnecessary emphasis.
It was a sparkling morning — an indescribably beautiful mountain morning — and Valentine knew she should have enjoyed every moment of that drive. It was not a lengthy drive — not long enough for any of them to become chilled, that is — and the scenery through which they passed was a wonderland of white and gold loveliness. And always there were the dark shapes of the pines and the forests of larch and juniper into which they constantly tunnelled, against the bewildering purity of the snow, and the guardian range of mountains across the valley like an impressive fortification between them
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