Read Online Garlands of Gold by Rosalind Laker - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Rosalind Laker
Ads: Link
such time when I’m ready for a change.’ Then she looked up blissfully as the pale winter sunshine broke through the clouds. ‘Let’s hurry! I want to skate before the sun disappears again.’
Rotterdam lacked the many canals that were to be found in Amsterdam where important skating races and other winter sports took place annually on the ice, but there were still some good skating areas and local people took advantage of them. The girls arrived to find the ice quite busy and they gave a wave to those skaters whom they knew. Although there was a man hiring out skates they had their own and tied them on to their shoes with leather thongs. Then, hand in hand, they began to skim across the ice before parting to skate individually. In her enjoyment Saskia did not notice that someone else had joined a little group of spectators and was watching her.
Yet Grinling did not watch for long. Instead, he hired a pair of skates and seconds later swept an arm about her waist to skate on with her.
‘I thought you needed a partner!’ he declared merrily. She laughed with pleasure at the surprise he had given her and felt again that special inner joy at his presence, which was increased still more by his embrace. Anna, passing them, raised her eyebrows in amused surprise.
Grinling and Saskia talked as they skated, laughing helplessly when they both fell after swerving to avoid an unsteady skater. He looked merrily into her eyes as he helped her up and supported her briefly before they skated on again. When it was time for her to return to the Gibbons house Anna had tactfully disappeared, and Saskia was happy to have Grinling to herself as they walked home together. She asked him about his travels and he in his turn wanted to know more about her and how she of French descent had a Dutch name and came to be living in Holland. She answered him truthfully, only keeping back her late father’s name in case the family should be known to him.
Vrouw Gibbons arrived home shortly after their return and as was usual she found Saskia waiting to attend her. The woman never knew of the afternoon her son and her personal maid had spent together.
On the day Grinling and Robert were to sail for England they were in the hall on the point of departure when Saskia gave them each a pomander. Both realized the reason for the gifts and looked at her in understanding as they thanked her. Then she drew back behind the other domestic staff, who had gathered as bidden by Vrouw Gibbons to see the young men leave. All the travelling baggage had already been transported to the ship and only farewells were left to be said. Grinling had a few words for everyone. When he came to Saskia he gave her a warm smile as she bobbed a curtsy to him.
‘I wish you well,’ he said gently.
‘As I do you, mijnheer ,’ she replied evenly, although the parting was tearing her heart to shreds and her voice no more than a choked whisper.
He turned back to his parents for a final farewell. His mother was full of tears, which suggested to Saskia that the woman had given up hope of seeing him again in the near future. Then, just as Robert was leaving, he appeared to change his mind. The servants parted for him as he came over to Saskia.
‘I’ll do my best for Grinling,’ he said in a low voice. ‘Have no fear for him.’
Saskia met his eyes. ‘I thank you, mijnheer .’
Then he swung away and left the house, Grinling following him. Vrouw Gibbons hurried out in their wake to stand on the steps with her husband at her side and wave them on their way.
Saskia, helping Nanny Bobbins back to her room, happened to notice as she glanced down one of the passages that the workshop door had been left open. As soon as the old woman was settled in her chair Saskia left her and hurried to the workshop. Swiftly she opened the cupboard that had held the portrait medallion carved with her image, but it was gone. Grinling had taken it with him! She felt her cheeks colour up with
Rotterdam lacked the many canals that were to be found in Amsterdam where important skating races and other winter sports took place annually on the ice, but there were still some good skating areas and local people took advantage of them. The girls arrived to find the ice quite busy and they gave a wave to those skaters whom they knew. Although there was a man hiring out skates they had their own and tied them on to their shoes with leather thongs. Then, hand in hand, they began to skim across the ice before parting to skate individually. In her enjoyment Saskia did not notice that someone else had joined a little group of spectators and was watching her.
Yet Grinling did not watch for long. Instead, he hired a pair of skates and seconds later swept an arm about her waist to skate on with her.
‘I thought you needed a partner!’ he declared merrily. She laughed with pleasure at the surprise he had given her and felt again that special inner joy at his presence, which was increased still more by his embrace. Anna, passing them, raised her eyebrows in amused surprise.
Grinling and Saskia talked as they skated, laughing helplessly when they both fell after swerving to avoid an unsteady skater. He looked merrily into her eyes as he helped her up and supported her briefly before they skated on again. When it was time for her to return to the Gibbons house Anna had tactfully disappeared, and Saskia was happy to have Grinling to herself as they walked home together. She asked him about his travels and he in his turn wanted to know more about her and how she of French descent had a Dutch name and came to be living in Holland. She answered him truthfully, only keeping back her late father’s name in case the family should be known to him.
Vrouw Gibbons arrived home shortly after their return and as was usual she found Saskia waiting to attend her. The woman never knew of the afternoon her son and her personal maid had spent together.
On the day Grinling and Robert were to sail for England they were in the hall on the point of departure when Saskia gave them each a pomander. Both realized the reason for the gifts and looked at her in understanding as they thanked her. Then she drew back behind the other domestic staff, who had gathered as bidden by Vrouw Gibbons to see the young men leave. All the travelling baggage had already been transported to the ship and only farewells were left to be said. Grinling had a few words for everyone. When he came to Saskia he gave her a warm smile as she bobbed a curtsy to him.
‘I wish you well,’ he said gently.
‘As I do you, mijnheer ,’ she replied evenly, although the parting was tearing her heart to shreds and her voice no more than a choked whisper.
He turned back to his parents for a final farewell. His mother was full of tears, which suggested to Saskia that the woman had given up hope of seeing him again in the near future. Then, just as Robert was leaving, he appeared to change his mind. The servants parted for him as he came over to Saskia.
‘I’ll do my best for Grinling,’ he said in a low voice. ‘Have no fear for him.’
Saskia met his eyes. ‘I thank you, mijnheer .’
Then he swung away and left the house, Grinling following him. Vrouw Gibbons hurried out in their wake to stand on the steps with her husband at her side and wave them on their way.
Saskia, helping Nanny Bobbins back to her room, happened to notice as she glanced down one of the passages that the workshop door had been left open. As soon as the old woman was settled in her chair Saskia left her and hurried to the workshop. Swiftly she opened the cupboard that had held the portrait medallion carved with her image, but it was gone. Grinling had taken it with him! She felt her cheeks colour up with
Similar Books
