Wesley couldn’t bear to see her unhappy, so he hastened to change the subject. “Mother, did you finish writing your letters?”
“No, and if I don’t get them written and posted, we may arrive in England before they do,” Lady Frederic said. “I’m going to be quite busy tomorrow.”
“And you, Papa? His Grace and I discussed a visit to Central Park. Are you free?” Belle asked.
“I’m afraid not. After I visit the employment agency in the morning to complete our arrangements with Mrs. Neal, I’m heading to the steamship ticket office to reserve our deck chairs. Then I’m lunching with an old friend of mine who teaches international law at Columbia.”
Wesley and Belle exchanged a glance.
“I suppose we’re on our own again,” he said.
She stifled a smile. “We’ll just have to make the best of it.”
The next morning after breakfast, Lady Frederic returned to her room to finish her letters, Mr. Oakhurst set off for the employment agency, and Wesley hired a cab to take him and Belle through Central Park. The cab entered the park through Scholars’ Gate at Fifth Avenue and East 59th Street, and headed north. Belle gasped at the beauty of the large bodies of water, the landscaping, and the monuments. There was even a riding path around Croton reservoir.
When the cab reached the northern end of the park, the drive meandered in a looping pattern until the carriage faced south once more. Belle gasped as she spotted a castle. “Does someone live there?”
“That’s Belvedere Castle. It’s an observatory.”
“I’d like to see it up close.”
“We can walk there, if you don’t mind the exercise.”
“I adore exercise.”
“After we make a tour of the park, we’ll find a place to stop.”
A few minutes later, Belle spied a flock of black and white sheep grazing on the lawn. “Why, there are sheep in the middle of the city!”
“Yes, and that red brick complex with the peaked gables is the Sheepfold.”
“How absolutely charming!”
Belle’s hazel green eyes were sparkling, and her smile revealed even, white teeth. She’s really very pretty—when she’s not scolding me or being a prig . The pink and white dress Belle wore had puffy sleeves with small pleats, an elaborate ruffled front, and a high collar with a large bow at the back of the neck. Her curly, nutmeg-colored hair was tucked under a white straw sailor’s hat, the brim of which was bound with a wide, pink grosgrain ribbon. The whole effect was one of dainty femininity, and Wesley found himself watching her rather than the scenery. Unfortunately, she noticed his stare.
“Is something wrong?”
“Oh…not at all.” Wesley waved to get the driver’s attention. “Drop us off at the carriage concourse at Cherry Hill, won’t you?”
“Yes, sir.”
The carriage circled past the pond, and a short while later, the driver brought the cab to a halt next to Central Park Lake. With Wesley in close pursuit, Belle scampered down a path toward the water. Swans and ducks were clustered near the edge, hoping for breadcrumbs from passersby. Further out, rowboats sliced through the water, propelled by young gentlemen attempting to impress their female companions with their athletic prowess.
“Are we crossing that enchanting bridge?” she asked.
“Yes. It’s the only way to Belvedere Castle from here.”
She danced up the path. “Come on!”
Wesley chuckled as he hastened after her. He’d been at this spot with his parents before, but it had never seemed as magical as it did right now, through Belle’s eyes.
At the center of Bow Bridge, Belle and Wesley leaned out over against the cast-iron railing to watch the water rippling on the surface of the lake.
“I’m so glad you brought me here,” she said. “Do you suppose those men in the rowboats brought their lady friends here to propose?”
“It’s entirely possible. Let’s watch to see which boat tips over when the gentleman gets down on one knee.”
She
“No, and if I don’t get them written and posted, we may arrive in England before they do,” Lady Frederic said. “I’m going to be quite busy tomorrow.”
“And you, Papa? His Grace and I discussed a visit to Central Park. Are you free?” Belle asked.
“I’m afraid not. After I visit the employment agency in the morning to complete our arrangements with Mrs. Neal, I’m heading to the steamship ticket office to reserve our deck chairs. Then I’m lunching with an old friend of mine who teaches international law at Columbia.”
Wesley and Belle exchanged a glance.
“I suppose we’re on our own again,” he said.
She stifled a smile. “We’ll just have to make the best of it.”
The next morning after breakfast, Lady Frederic returned to her room to finish her letters, Mr. Oakhurst set off for the employment agency, and Wesley hired a cab to take him and Belle through Central Park. The cab entered the park through Scholars’ Gate at Fifth Avenue and East 59th Street, and headed north. Belle gasped at the beauty of the large bodies of water, the landscaping, and the monuments. There was even a riding path around Croton reservoir.
When the cab reached the northern end of the park, the drive meandered in a looping pattern until the carriage faced south once more. Belle gasped as she spotted a castle. “Does someone live there?”
“That’s Belvedere Castle. It’s an observatory.”
“I’d like to see it up close.”
“We can walk there, if you don’t mind the exercise.”
“I adore exercise.”
“After we make a tour of the park, we’ll find a place to stop.”
A few minutes later, Belle spied a flock of black and white sheep grazing on the lawn. “Why, there are sheep in the middle of the city!”
“Yes, and that red brick complex with the peaked gables is the Sheepfold.”
“How absolutely charming!”
Belle’s hazel green eyes were sparkling, and her smile revealed even, white teeth. She’s really very pretty—when she’s not scolding me or being a prig . The pink and white dress Belle wore had puffy sleeves with small pleats, an elaborate ruffled front, and a high collar with a large bow at the back of the neck. Her curly, nutmeg-colored hair was tucked under a white straw sailor’s hat, the brim of which was bound with a wide, pink grosgrain ribbon. The whole effect was one of dainty femininity, and Wesley found himself watching her rather than the scenery. Unfortunately, she noticed his stare.
“Is something wrong?”
“Oh…not at all.” Wesley waved to get the driver’s attention. “Drop us off at the carriage concourse at Cherry Hill, won’t you?”
“Yes, sir.”
The carriage circled past the pond, and a short while later, the driver brought the cab to a halt next to Central Park Lake. With Wesley in close pursuit, Belle scampered down a path toward the water. Swans and ducks were clustered near the edge, hoping for breadcrumbs from passersby. Further out, rowboats sliced through the water, propelled by young gentlemen attempting to impress their female companions with their athletic prowess.
“Are we crossing that enchanting bridge?” she asked.
“Yes. It’s the only way to Belvedere Castle from here.”
She danced up the path. “Come on!”
Wesley chuckled as he hastened after her. He’d been at this spot with his parents before, but it had never seemed as magical as it did right now, through Belle’s eyes.
At the center of Bow Bridge, Belle and Wesley leaned out over against the cast-iron railing to watch the water rippling on the surface of the lake.
“I’m so glad you brought me here,” she said. “Do you suppose those men in the rowboats brought their lady friends here to propose?”
“It’s entirely possible. Let’s watch to see which boat tips over when the gentleman gets down on one knee.”
She
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