Pansy trudged across the courtyard, lifting her skirts clear of the snow that covered her ankles. She’d wrapped her shoulders with a shawl, but the icy wind stung her nose and ears, and she drew the soft woolen cloth over her head.

Snow was pretty, as long as you could look at it through the window of a warm kitchen. Walking through the stuff was not much fun. Her stockings were soaked, as was the hem of her navy blue skirt. Mrs. Chubb wouldn’t be happy about that.

Reaching the door of the stables, she wrinkled her nose as the smell of horses invaded her nostrils. Samuel always said he didn’t notice it anymore, which was just as well, seeing as how he worked in there most of the day.

He was somewhere at the other end. She could hear his voice, the soothing tones he always used while grooming one of the horses.

As always, her heart beat faster at the sound. Ever since Samuel had declared her to be “his girl,” her world had grown bright with promise. Even though he’d impressed upon her that she was still too young for marriage, she was confident that one day she’d stand by his side as his bride, and she was content to wait for that day. No matter how long it took.

Samuel looked up as she drew close, his face splitting into a wide grin. “Hello, beautiful. What brings you in here?”

Pansy caught her breath. “I came to see you, didn’t I.”

“Well, that’s always a pleasure.” Samuel gave the horse a final pat and stepped away, rubbing his hands on his breeches. “Got time for a hug?”

“Always.” She ran into his arms with a blissful smile. After a moment of pure pleasure, she murmured, “Actually, Mrs. Chubb sent me. Mr. Baxter wants to see you in the library.”

Samuel let out a mournful sigh. “And here I thought you came just to be with me.”

She tilted her head back to look at him. “I always want to be with you, Samuel.”

He answered her with a quick kiss and let her go. “I’d better get over there. Mr. Baxter don’t like to be kept waiting.” He gently pushed stray hairs out of her eyes with his thumb, and then dashed off, leaving her to follow more slowly.