Long minutes pass, and neither of us speaks. There is nothing to say any more. We continue our ministrations in silence. A couple of times Karl collects additional buckets of water from just outside the tent and pours them into the cooling bath. At last, Natalia’s skin begins to pinken, losing that ghastly blue tinge. Her limbs seem less relaxed under my fingers, as though her frozen muscles are once again regaining their function.
She draws in a long, ragged breath. Her eyelids flutter.
“She’s coming round.” Karl releases his hold on her leg and stands. He grabs her cloak, which we had discarded on my bed, and folds it into a rough wad. “Here. Prop this behind her head.”
We arrange the makeshift pillow, and at last I dare to let go of her.
“I will leave a blanket warming by the stove. If you need me I will be just outside.” He has reached the door before I find my voice.
“Thank you, Karl.”
He nods, and is gone. I am alone with Lady Natalia. And her eyes are open.
I smile at her, cup her face in the palm of my hand. Her expression is confused, though this gives way to fear.
“My lord…?” Her voice is thin, a soft whisper.
“You are safe now. Just relax, and come back to me slowly.”
“I… I… Where am I?”
“In my tent. Where I told you to stay, you might recall. I believe my instructions were sufficiently clear.”
“I was… It was dark. So cold.”
Time enough for remonstrations later. At this moment she needs comfort. “I know, love. But you are safe now. And warm again, yes?”
She nods, her eyelids drooping again. She looks exhausted, but just for a moment. Her eyes are suddenly open again, and this time her expression is one of alarm. And urgency.
“Eberhard. He was there, in the tunnel. I saw him. He, he… attacked me.”
This I had not expected. I pause. “Eberhard? Are you certain? It was dark in there, as you say…”
“I knew his voice. It was him. I know it. You must hurry, you might yet apprehend him.”
“He is still in there?”
She shakes her head. “No. He ran away. I believe he was making for the forest. He is on foot, you might be able to catch him.”
I have no intention of hurrying anywhere this night and will trust others to run the desperate Eberhard to earth. Right now it is time to get my wife out of the bath and tucked up in bed.
I stand and strip off my tunic, glad of Karl’s efforts to heat the tent. I pick up the blanket he has spread out close to the stove and lay that on my bed. Then I crouch beside the tub and slide my arms under Natalia’s body. I lift her from the water.
She gives a soft mew of protest as the cooler air caresses her body, but is soon content again as I lie her on the warm blanket and wrap her in it.
“What about Lord Eberhard? You should be…”
“I will send Karl to report the sighting to Gerhard. We will have him, fear not, Natalia. For now though, it is enough that I have you still.”
Propping myself up in my bed, I lift her swaddled form and position her on my lap, her cheek resting against my chest. Her hair is dripping wet so I reach for another blanket to wrap around her head and thus prevent our good work being undone.
“I am naked.” Her voice is still weak, but improving.
I grin down at the top of her head. “Not any more, strictly speaking.”
“You undressed me.”
“Yes. We needed to get you warmed up, and a hot bath was the best way.”
