Two hours later, they were starting to feel the cold. They had walked quite a distance: all along the wood-side path, then out of the grounds themselves and into the open countryside. In the solitude of the fields beyond Winfield Hall they had let themselves go, laughing, throwing snowballs and chasing one another. Harry screamed in abandonment as Dempsey threw her over his shoulder and threatened to deposit her in a snowdrift, letting her go only when she dropped melting snow down his back. Jasper danced around them barking madly, thoroughly enjoying himself.
But by early afternoon the day was more overcast then ever and incredibly, they could sense the beginnings of dusk. There was a dull tinge of purple in the sky and a smell of new snow on the way. They had missed lunch, and both of them suddenly felt tired and hungry.
"I think you and Jasper have had enough exercise to keep you out of trouble for the rest of today," said Harry, pulling her scarf tighter around her neck. "Let's go and get something to eat and spend the rest of the afternoon by the fire with the papers. With any luck, Daddy's overnight guests should have all departed by the time we get back."
"Sure babe" he took her hand again and they began to walk back in the direction of the hall.
"Not sure how I feel being put in the same category as a dog, but Jasper's a pretty cool dog, so I guess I'll let you off this once. Don't count on me being all tired out though," He grinned at her enticingly. She raised an eyebrow.
Back in the grounds, Harry ignored the entrance to the path they had taken earlier. "It's about the same distance if we go around the periphery of the wood, and that way I can show you our lake."
As they approached the edge of the trees, they heard shouting. Instinctively, Dempsey slowed his pace, gripping Harry's hand tighter. In the quiet of the afternoon, the sound of angry voices carried jarringly across the grounds. Sharply, Harry called Jasper to heel.
They advanced to the end of the copse and rounded a corner so the lake came into view below them, at the bottom of a gentle incline.
Giles and Esther were standing on the lakeside path. Facing each other, they were clearly in the midst of a serious argument.
"I'm telling you now Giles" Esther was saying, hands on her hips. Even from a distance, they could see the sharp red blotches on her pale cheeks. Anger pulsed from her body.
"I'm not going to stand for it anymore. You need to sort it out, and sort it out fast."
"You know I'm going to. For God's sake, why don't you just lay off me?"
Giles spoke in a harsh voice Harry had never heard before. He turned his back on his wife and paced back and forth.
"Just leave it to me and keep your nose out."
Esther drew herself up, staring fixedly at him. For a moment Dempsey thought she was going to strike him. At that instant, Giles whirled around and saw the two of them standing by the trees. He froze momentarily, then he turned on his heel and without another word, marched off. Esther was left standing alone. She turned to see the cause of her husband's departure, and looked visibly shocked to see them standing there.
Harry raised a hand. "Hello Aunt Esther."
There seemed to be nothing else to do but to proceed down the bank to meet her. By the time they reached her she appeared dazed, as though completely lost in her own world, which had now been rudely interrupted. Her red lipstick contrasted with the pallor of her face, and her auburn hair and the fur coat she wore gave her a look of Cruella de Ville, Dempsey couldn't help thinking.
"Sorry Harriet," she said, nodding stiffly in Dempsey's direction.
"That you had to see that, I mean. We're fine, honestly. Just a… minor disagreement."
"Of course, it's none of our business at all. I hope everything's alright," said Harry awkwardly. The three of them stood there in a silence for a few seconds and Dempsey managed to refrain from making a crass joke about the possibility of pushing her husband into the frozen water. He knew it was nerves that made him want to make light of the situation, but he could sense it would be ill-advised.
The three of them set off back to the house together. The lovely mood of their walk was just a memory. Esther was subdued and depressed, barely responding to Harry's polite questions about her ponies and charity work. Dempsey was very glad when they entered the warmth of Winfield Hall and went their separate ways.
There was no sign of Lord Winfield and so they sat in the small parlour to eat the soup and smoked salmon sandwiches that Porter set out for them. Then Harry suggested that they retire to the bedroom for a while. She was tired out from the walk, she said. The house seemed very quiet, almost as if everybody had decided to take a siesta.
Snow was falling in thick flakes by the time they returned to Harry's wing. At this rate he thought, staring out of the window, it might be sensible to leave earlier than planned tomorrow. He didn't want to have to explain to Spikings on Monday why both he and Makepeace were absent due to weather conditions. Neither of them was ready to have that conversation.
As if reading his thoughts, she came and stood next to him and they watched the blizzard together for a while. She put her head on his shoulder. "Let's just make the most of this time alone" she said softly. "The morning's been so nice. I don't want to think about leaving just yet. About going back to the real world."
"That makes two of us, princess."
Presently, he felt her hand slide around his back and travel down to cup his buttock.
"Why Lady Makepeace, what on earth are you doing?" he affected a surprisingly accurate upper-class accent.
"I believe, Lieutenant, I'm about to rip your clothes off."
"Really?" He grinned. "Guess I'd better come away from this window then. There's a helluva draft." Even as he said it he berated himself. Quit with the jokes already. Enjoy the seduction.
But she didn't notice his flippancy. If she had been coy outside on the patio, she was anything but now. Her eyes, black with desire, fixed on him. At these times, he thought, she changed into something almost elemental, something animal. He loved her in a different kind of way when she was like this. She put her hands under his sweater and the feel of her nails scraping
against the skin of his back sent an electric shock through him. He pulled it roughly over his head, and they fell onto the bed, grappling together.
Their lovemaking was urgent, not slow or romantic, and was over quickly as they climaxed simultaneously, calling out unheedingly. Afterwards, they lay panting, almost overwhelmed by the intensity. Finally, Harry gave a soft laugh.
"I obviously wasn't as tired as I thought I was," she murmured, stroking the damp hair on his chest. But very soon, he felt her head grow heavier against him, and her body jerked violently in the way it often did as she fell asleep.
He wasn't drowsy, though. His mind was active; for once, their passion appeared to have revitalized, rather than fatigued him. Gently, he lifted her head off his chest and onto the pillow. She didn't stir. Then he got off the bed and went to shower. After dressing, he decided to investigate the small library he knew was situated directly below her wing. Maybe there are some books on Winfield history, he thought to himself. I could use a bit of background knowledge.
He jogged downstairs, humming. Outside the library door however, he stopped short. In the silence of the afternoon was the distinct sound of sobbing from within. Curious, he turned the handle and opened the door.