Nothing more could be done to further his investigations. He felt frustrated; he was a man of action and wanted to get on with things, not sit around waiting for the weather to improve. The sound of shouts and laughing outside attracted his attention. His cousin was up to her knees in snow so muffled by garments he scarcely recognized her. She was accompanied by two gardeners holding shovels and was obviously intending to build a snowman. Good grief! The girl had taken leave of her senses. He watched, smiling at her inadequate attempts to construct the torso. She needed an expert to help her. He ran up to his chambers, found his heavy riding coat and gloves, then tying a scarf around his neck he bounded downstairs and went to join the fun. It was years since he had thought of the snow as anything but an inconvenience. By the time four figures were completed he believed his relationship with his cousin had improved somewhat and she no longer considered him an irascible ogre. The physical activity had allowed him to expand his pent-up energy and he returned to the study in a better frame of mind.
