Read Online Without a Summer by Mary Robinette Kowal - Free Book Online Page A

never skated. What if I fall? La! Where does one even get skates? Oh! This is the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me.” Her exuberance overran her sense, and she embraced Vincent and then Jane in turn. “Thank you for bringing me to London. I must enter this in my appointment book. How grand that will look. Skating with the Prince Regent! Oh, and I must write to Mama and Aunt Genevieve. Oh. And Miss Marchand.” Clutching the letter, Melody hurried into the drawing room, still listing those whom she must apprise of the coming event.
    Vincent stood in the centre of the hall with his mouth a little agape. Jane slipped her arms around him and nodded to where her sister had vanished. “You have made her very happy.”
    “So it appears.” He hesitated. “It seemed necessary.”
    She leaned her head against his broad chest. “And that is but one example of why I love you.”
    *   *   *
    The day of the skating party dawned bright and clear. It had snowed all day on Easter Sunday and drifts were piled around the city. Melody and Jane were wrapped in their warmest dresses with extra petticoats and shawls to guard against the chill. They carried new skates, procured by the efficient Mrs. Brackett, as the carriage dropped them off in the broad circular drive of Carlton House.
    Jane could not help but notice the picture her sister made as they were escorted through the palace interior and to the grounds behind it. Over her dress, she wore her celestial-blue Hessian pelisse, which fastened with broad ornamental frogs up to her throat in the manner of an officer’s uniform. The regularity of the braids cast the swell of her bosom into graceful contrast. Her gold curls were piled onto her head and peeked becomingly from beneath a high-crowned hat that had been trimmed with blue and white ostrich feathers. She carried before her a muff as white as a cloud against the sky.
    The grounds at Carlton House had been transformed into a wonderland of winter, with nods to the vanished spring. Snow sculptures of deer and fawns shared the pristine white grounds with frozen swans and flowers made of frost. A shallow reflecting pond already featured gentlemen and ladies gliding over the ice. Their habits, in mulberry, pomona green, and primrose yellow, stood out against the severe landscape like flowers on a banquet table.
    The Prince Regent stood in a cluster of men by the pond. His figure, restrained by corsets, had yet another layer of bulk added to it by the heavy fur coat he wore. He noticed them come out of the house and motioned Vincent over.
    “Well, Melody,” Vincent sighed and waved back, “you had wanted to meet His Royal Highness.”
    Melody’s eyes got very round, but she kept her composure admirably. Jane had not seen the Prince Regent since they had removed to Long Parkmead. She recognised a few of his companions. The gentlemen from his set stood in various poses, as if a fashion plate illustrator might wander by and engrave their image at any moment.
    As they walked up, Sir Lumley waved an aromatic handkerchief and beamed with delight upon catching sight of her. His greatcoat hung open to show off his usual dark blue coat with gold buttons and a yellow waistcoat. The white ribbons of his breeches peeked out of his top boots as though he had puffs of snow clinging to his knees. “My dear Lady Vincent. Such a pleasure. You have kept too much away from us. How are you, my dear?”
    “Quite well, thank you.” Jane offered him a curtsy and turned to introduce her sister.
    Before she could begin, the Prince Regent clapped Vincent on the back. “Skiffy is quite right. Who has hired you away from me?”
    “I am always at your Royal Highness’s service.” Vincent bowed as though they did not have an entire ballroom to finish for Lord Stratton.
    “Good. You are lying, but I may hold you to it later in any event. My daughter is getting married in May, you know.”
    Vincent cleared his throat. “I am not in the