“No,” Tulip said, more firmly.
Gad, why did she feel so compelled to stop him?
He seemed quite fidgety and not at all happy, but she was the duchess and he had no choice but to obey her command if he wished to retain his coveted position as head butler.
Tulip could not blame him, she supposed.
It was quite frustrating to be held back when one wanted to help.
Did she not feel this same frustration?
“Oh, look!”she cried a moment later, for Ernfield had remained on the terrace with her and was now pacing like an agitated lion.She felt bad about forbidding him to join the search when she had wanted to do the same.But she had accepted Alex’s instructions while Ernfield appeared ready to leap off the terrace…or leap at her in frustration.
She was glad Carver’s two men had their eyes on her.
“I see them!They’ve found her!”she called down to her two guards.
They all hurried to the garden’s edge, Ernfield loping along beside her, and watched eagerly as Alex and Mr.Carver slogged their way toward them while waist deep through the quickly rising water.“Come on,” she whispered.“Don’t stray off the path.”
She let out a breath as Alex, who was holding an unconscious Mrs.Granger in his arms, closely followed Mr.Carver’s guiding steps onto dry land.
Several of Mr.Carver’s men dropped their ropes and hurried forward.Others who had been in the midst of hauling out rowboats from the shed now set them down and also raced forward while cheering.
Both Alex and Mr.Carver were breathing heavily by the time they reached the garden and everyone surrounded them to offer their congratulations.
Alex managed a special smile for her.
Tulip smiled back.
She wanted to tell him that she was so very proud of him, and was ready to tell him that she loved him.But he still carried Mrs.Granger and was obviously eager to make his way back into the house.Also, they were surrounded by their workers, so nothing of a romantic nature could be said just now.
Ernfield reached out his arms.“You must be exhausted, Your Grace.Let me carry Mrs.Granger into the staff quarters for you.”
Alex drew back.“No, Ernfield.I have her.”
“But your clothes, Your Grace.You and Mr.Carver are soaking wet.May I not relieve you while you change into dry garments?”
“Not necessary,” Alex insisted and started toward the house.
Everyone followed him.
“Your Grace, may I ask…what happened?”Ernfield’s eyes were wide and his mouth tensely pinched as he studied the dark-gowned bundle lying limp in Alex’s arms.
“She must have tripped and hit her head on something,” Mr.Carver replied.“Good thing we found her or the tide would have swallowed her up and washed her out to sea within minutes.It was a very close call.”He then turned to his workers.“Put the ropes and boats back where they belong.”
“Aye, Mr.Carver,” one of them said.“But will you let us know if Mrs.Granger is all right?”
“Of course, Dougal,” he said to the man who had asked.“His Grace and I will let everyone know as soon as we ourselves learn what happened.”
Ernfield trailed after them as Alex carried the poor woman into the servants wing of the house through the kitchen entrance since everyone’s boots were wet and possibly muddy.As they squished along the flooring, Tulip realized what had felt off about Ernfield.
He’d squished, too.
His boots had been wet.
But how was it possible while indoors supervising the staff’s party preparations?
Alex stopped abruptly and turned to their head butler in obvious exasperation, for the man was practically breathing down Alex’s neck.“Ernfield, if you insist on being useful, then ride into town and summon the doctor.”
