She stood at the window watching
the snow fall in thick white sheets
on the streets below. It had been
like this all morning. What was
it going to end?
All night she had looked forward
to seeing Rupert. When they had
last seen each other which was a
fortnight ago, he had promised to
visit her today.
When she woke up this morning
all cheerful, she was appalled at
the wintry scene outside her bedroom
window. The snow fell relentlessly
with no promise of that it will taper
off any time soon.
Skipping breakfast, she came straight into
the library to occupy herself with a book
but it was no use. She couldn’t concentrate
on anything. She got up from the armchair
by the fire and walked over to the window.
She drew aside the curtain and watched
the snow which she now regarded as her
enemy. It blanketed everything in its path.
The streets were deserted. No one
dared to venture out in such blizzard-like
weather. Why, of all days, did it have
to snow today? There was no reason to
believe that Rupert would even attempt
to brave the weather just to see her.
Yet, an irrational part of her hoped
to see a carriage pull up in front
and a tall and slender figure alight.
She remembered how handsome he
looked in his officer coat when she
she first saw him. It was at the ball
thrown by her Aunt in honor of her
husband, a retired officer. Her eyes
scarcely left him and she urged her
aunt to introduce them. Which she
did with relish.
Rupert was friendly and gracious and
she was immediately put at ease.
They spent most of the evening talking and
she was fortunate to have a couple of
dances with him. It vexed her when she
saw him dance with other young women
but always, he returned to her side.
It was with deep regret that she bid him
farewell that night but her constitution
brightened considerably when he
promised that he would visit her in a
fortnight.
And here she was, watching her hopes
diminish with each falling snowflake.
Even if it were to taper off, the roads
were now impassable. She might as
well face the inevitable. She was not
going to see Rupert today. And she
wasn’t even sure about tomorrow.
She turned away in distress. Just then
the door opened and Rupert stood in
its opening. I must be dreaming, she
thought. I want to see him so desperately
that I am conjuring his image now. Perhaps,
I need to go and lie down. She felt a bit faint.
Perhaps not having a morsel to eat for
breakfast was taking its toll on her now.
As she started forward, the image
moved towards her. Her eyes widened
in shock. It was Rupert. He was there–
but how? He came forward, smiling and
took her hands in his. His dark brown eyes
steady on her upturned face. “I came by
very early this morning,” he explained.
“When the snow was just starting to fall.”
She still couldn’t believe that this was
real. He was here. “But, no one told me
that you were here.”
“When I arrived you were still in bed. I asked
her aunt not to disturb you. Your Uncle invited
me to join him in the drawing-room where I
was quite content to bide my time until you
were available. Your Aunt had been to your
room to check on you but found that you had
vacated it. On her way to the drawing-room,
she popped her head in the library and saw
you standing at the window. She came and
informed me. And, so without further delay,
I quit your Uncle’s company and came straightaway
here.”
“I thought—with the weather being so bad
that I wouldn’t see you today.”
“Hannah, you will soon learn that I am a
man of my word. I promised that I would
visit you and here I am. Besides, I have been
thinking of little else. Come, let us go
and sit by the fire. Your hands are cold.”
She glanced back at the falling snow. A
smile touched her lips. She no longer
felt resentment toward it but was thankful.
It meant that Rupert was going to be here
for a while. Yes, it was to be an extended
visit after all.
Source: Military Heritage
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