- Freezewater
Street ,
they call it. They’ve set up stalls and booths, and are busy selling their
wares. But that is not all. There are jugglers and acrobats to entertain
people, and all manner of open-air coffee shops —’
‘Coffee shops?’
interrupted Rebecca, growing more and more surprised.
‘Yes. People
have to have something hot inside them to keep out the cold,’ Hetty explained.
‘But surely
the ice isn’t strong enough to hold tables and chairs, as well as stalls and
booths and people?’ asked Rebecca.
‘It appears to
be. Apparently, it is solid. And not only tables and chairs have been set out
on it, but braziers, too. There are all manner of meats and pastries for sale,
and roasted chestnuts. In fact, the chestnuts are particularly good, if Mrs
Minshull is to be believed.’
‘Mrs Minshull
is fond of chestnuts?’ asked Rebecca humorously, remembering that lady’s
impressive girth.
Hetty’s eyes
twinkled. ‘She is. But it is not just the stalls of food that sound so interesting,
it is the host of things to do. There are skates to hire, and all kinds of
other entertainments. I thought, if you liked, we could go.’
‘I wouldn’t
miss it for the world,’ said Rebecca, caught by Hetty’s enthusiasm.
‘Then it is
settled. We will go this afternoon.’
After luncheon, wrapped up
well against the cold, Rebecca, Hetty and Charles set out to visit Frost Fair.
A few soft white snowflakes drifted out of the sky as they stepped into the
carriage, but otherwise the day was fine. Once they were settled the carriage
set off at a sedate pace. The roads were very slippery, and Charles had given
his coachman instructions to take matters carefully, as he did not want to risk
any injury to the horses.
London looked very different
under its thick coating of snow and Rebecca barely recognised the streets. They
looked strange compared to the last time she had seen them, in the summer. But
it was the river that was the most startling sight. It had been completely
transformed.
‘It’s
breathtaking,’ gasped Rebecca as she stepped out of the carriage once they
reached the Thames . She marvelled at the
change the bitterly cold weather had brought about. The river, which usually
flowed merrily past, was now frozen solid. Up and down its length, boats and
ships could be seen, caught fast like flies in amber, trapped until the thaw.
‘It is indeed,’
came a voice behind her.
Turning round
she saw Joshua.
She had not
been prepared for his presence, as she had not known he intended to visit the
fair. As he took her hand her heart missed a beat and her wayward imagination
returned to their encounter in the morning-room at Lady Cranston’s ball.
With
difficulty she schooled her thoughts, bringing them determinedly back to the
present.
‘Joshua,’ said
Hetty, greeting him warmly. ‘What a nice surprise to find you here. Isn’t it a
marvellous sight?’
‘It is,’ he
said. But instead of taking in his surroundings, his eyes lingered on Rebecca as
he said it.
‘I can’t
believe all these stalls and booths have been set up on the ice,’ said Hetty as
they began to walk across the frozen river, taking in the varied scene. ‘I know
Mrs Minshull told me all about it, but still, seeing it all is very different
to hearing about it. I have never seen anything quite like it.’
Rebecca was
relieved at the normality of Hetty’s conversation. It drew her thoughts back to
the present, and away from the disturbing aura generated by Joshua. It was an
aura of strength and ruthlessness, and something more. There seemed something
particular about it today, and she was pleased she was not alone with him. If she
had been, she would have been even less at ease. She had the unnerving feeling
there was something he wanted to say to her, and although she had no idea what
it could be she guessed, from the way he was looking at her, it was something
that could not be said in front of Hetty and
Street ,
they call it. They’ve set up stalls and booths, and are busy selling their
wares. But that is not all. There are jugglers and acrobats to entertain
people, and all manner of open-air coffee shops —’
‘Coffee shops?’
interrupted Rebecca, growing more and more surprised.
‘Yes. People
have to have something hot inside them to keep out the cold,’ Hetty explained.
‘But surely
the ice isn’t strong enough to hold tables and chairs, as well as stalls and
booths and people?’ asked Rebecca.
‘It appears to
be. Apparently, it is solid. And not only tables and chairs have been set out
on it, but braziers, too. There are all manner of meats and pastries for sale,
and roasted chestnuts. In fact, the chestnuts are particularly good, if Mrs
Minshull is to be believed.’
‘Mrs Minshull
is fond of chestnuts?’ asked Rebecca humorously, remembering that lady’s
impressive girth.
Hetty’s eyes
twinkled. ‘She is. But it is not just the stalls of food that sound so interesting,
it is the host of things to do. There are skates to hire, and all kinds of
other entertainments. I thought, if you liked, we could go.’
‘I wouldn’t
miss it for the world,’ said Rebecca, caught by Hetty’s enthusiasm.
‘Then it is
settled. We will go this afternoon.’
After luncheon, wrapped up
well against the cold, Rebecca, Hetty and Charles set out to visit Frost Fair.
A few soft white snowflakes drifted out of the sky as they stepped into the
carriage, but otherwise the day was fine. Once they were settled the carriage
set off at a sedate pace. The roads were very slippery, and Charles had given
his coachman instructions to take matters carefully, as he did not want to risk
any injury to the horses.
London looked very different
under its thick coating of snow and Rebecca barely recognised the streets. They
looked strange compared to the last time she had seen them, in the summer. But
it was the river that was the most startling sight. It had been completely
transformed.
‘It’s
breathtaking,’ gasped Rebecca as she stepped out of the carriage once they
reached the Thames . She marvelled at the
change the bitterly cold weather had brought about. The river, which usually
flowed merrily past, was now frozen solid. Up and down its length, boats and
ships could be seen, caught fast like flies in amber, trapped until the thaw.
‘It is indeed,’
came a voice behind her.
Turning round
she saw Joshua.
She had not
been prepared for his presence, as she had not known he intended to visit the
fair. As he took her hand her heart missed a beat and her wayward imagination
returned to their encounter in the morning-room at Lady Cranston’s ball.
With
difficulty she schooled her thoughts, bringing them determinedly back to the
present.
‘Joshua,’ said
Hetty, greeting him warmly. ‘What a nice surprise to find you here. Isn’t it a
marvellous sight?’
‘It is,’ he
said. But instead of taking in his surroundings, his eyes lingered on Rebecca as
he said it.
‘I can’t
believe all these stalls and booths have been set up on the ice,’ said Hetty as
they began to walk across the frozen river, taking in the varied scene. ‘I know
Mrs Minshull told me all about it, but still, seeing it all is very different
to hearing about it. I have never seen anything quite like it.’
Rebecca was
relieved at the normality of Hetty’s conversation. It drew her thoughts back to
the present, and away from the disturbing aura generated by Joshua. It was an
aura of strength and ruthlessness, and something more. There seemed something
particular about it today, and she was pleased she was not alone with him. If she
had been, she would have been even less at ease. She had the unnerving feeling
there was something he wanted to say to her, and although she had no idea what
it could be she guessed, from the way he was looking at her, it was something
that could not be said in front of Hetty and
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