The Blizzard
The house was old, but very comfortable and snugly situated in a valley not two miles from the sea. The extensive gardens and orchards were decorated with a mantle of soft white. From the drawing room window it was possible to see a small river wend its way down through the town of Old Sanditon, and on.
Charlotte could not see the small fishing village at the river’s mouth, but every time her eyes followed the river she was brought to think of it, and the small boy who used to run down to join the fishermen at their nets when he was supposed to be hard at his studies. The thought always made her smile. Anything about that boy made her smile for he had grown into the entrancingly charming man who had married her not two months before.
And here they now lived. He had brought her in November, straight from her parish church, the wedding performed, and carried her over the doorstep into the house with its newly hung drapes and furniture polished to a mirror finish and smelling of beeswax.
She sighed at the memory of that first day, and blushed slightly when she thought of how nervous she had been that evening. But there had been no need to feel nervous – not with Sidney. He had been so sweet and loving and caring and it was not long before all Charlotte’s silliest maidenly concerns dissipated and she discovered such pleasure in his arms that she had never known existed.
There was no more comfortable place in the world than their home. The November storms which had buffeted Trafalgar House had barely made an impression upon them. And this Christmas Eve, though the outdoor temperature had dropped far below freezing, the drawing room was as warm and cheery a place as anyone could wish for.
Charlotte turned as the door opened, and her soft smile broadened at the sight of her husband.
“I knew I should find you here, all cosy and snug while I have been out in a raging blizzard.”
He crossed the room quickly to stand by her side.
“Blizzard?” she said. “It is not even snowing.”
He gazed out the window and shook his head. “This window always gives every appearance of clement weather outdoors. If you were to come outside with me now you would see how very different the case is. Feel my hands how cold they are.”
“I will warm them for you,” said Charlotte, taking them in her own and stroking them softly. “They do not appear cold to me.”
“Your touch warmed them instantly,” Sidney said, bringing her fingers to his lips.
“I never knew I had such amazing powers.”
“You do over me,” he whispered into her hands as his eyes caught hers and held them.
Charlotte felt that the power she held could be nothing to his own, as the look he gave warmed her right to her toes.
“Come outside with me,” Sidney entreated.
“You have just said that it is very cold.”
“It is insufferable indeed, but with you by my side I feel I could withstand it.”
“Indeed?” Charlotte put her head on one side and gave Sidney a challenging stare.
“I want to show you what I have made,” he said, his voice lively with bottled up excitement.
“Were you not just seeing to the horses?”
“Hillier has the horses all cosy in their stalls. I went outside upon an entirely different matter.”
“I think it is early in our marriage for you to start lying to me.”
“Do you? I thought you would expect it of me.” Sidney’s eyes danced.
“I know you never thought such a thing.”
“You see, that is why I have been driven to lie – you are all too good at reading my thoughts.”
“But if I am able to read your thoughts, how on earth can lying possibly help?” asked Charlotte reasonably.
“It cannot. I will just have to accept that I am a lost man. I shall never be able to surprise you. So let us now go outside, and upon the way you can inform me of what it is I have done out there for I see it is impossible to have secrets from you.”
“You are very much too pleased with yourself. I am tempted to not go out with you at all.”
Sidney caught Charlotte up in his arms and began walking to the door before she knew what he was about.
“Where are you taking me?”
“Outdoors.”
“But . . . but . . . I am not dressed to go outside.”
“I certainly would prefer it if you had on a warm cloak and your half-boots, but desperate times call for desperate measures. As you see I am without my greatcoat as well. We will have to keep each other warm, as we have just proven we are well capable of doing.”
“I will come out with you, only please let me put on my cloak.”
“I am glad to hear you say that,” he said, kissing her nose before he let her down. “I knew I could change your mind.”
“Have I ever told you that you are incorrigible?”
“Countless times, and I never tire of it.”
“No – you just never tire of being incorrigible.”
“But it is only so as to hear you say it. Your nose wrinkles up so sweetly when you do.”
Sidney shrugged himself into his greatcoat and then pulled the hood of Charlotte’s cloak up over her hair and fixed it snugly around her cheeks. “Don’t forget it is a blizzard out there.”
“It will take some remembering,” said Charlotte with asperity. “For there will be no snow falling to remind me.”
“I’m sure I can come up with something,” Sidney said, his eyes twinkling a trifle too merrily.
“I do not believe it is safe to go outside with you.”
“Safe? You know only too well that I am never safe to be around.”
When they were out the door and walking down the steps, Sidney slipped his hand inside Charlotte’s muff and twined his fingers with hers. “This way,” he said, and he led her into the garden, following a trail of footsteps. “Now you must close your eyes.”
Charlotte obediently closed her eyes and he guided her a few paces more and then bid her open them. They were standing under the heavily laden branches of a spreading cedar, and before them was an arbour formed from balls of snow. It was wound around with ribbon holding silk flowers in place. Underneath it were two small figures, also made of snow. The one had a Spanish lace mantilla as a shawl, and the other a linen handkerchief knotted about its neck in the semblance of a stylish cravat.
She drew in her breath and whispered, “It is so lovely. Thank you Sidney – you are the sweetest man I know.” She turned to him and raised her face up to his.
As he lowered his head to kiss Charlotte’s lips, Sidney reached up and pulled at the branch above them sending a shower of snow cascading over them. “I also promised you a blizzard, dearest,” he said, and then he kissed her quite soundly so that she could say nothing in response.