“I amnota horse,” she muttered as she straightened up and put pillows between her back and the headboard.
“Donovan seems a little unclear on that. He warned me that you’re a restless filly and gave stern orders that you aren’t to get out of this bed today.” Ramsay smiled. “I told him that I wasn’t a strong enough man to enforce that prescription.”
“Wise words,” she said, unable to resist a smile. It faded quickly. “How much damage was there across Thorsay?”
“I received a few reports this morning. It looks like there will be a fair amount of cleanup, and in some places chunks of the bluffs fell into the sea, but so far I haven’t heard of anything catastrophic.”
“Since the devil storm, most Thorsayians have taken extra precautions to reduce storm damage. I’m glad they seem to be working.” She braced herself before asking the next question, afraid to hear the answer. “What about my house? How badly is it damaged?”
“I haven’t been out this morning, so I’m not sure,” he said, his gaze level. “It was a dark and chaotic night. The front window was smashed and part of the roof caved in, but I couldn’t see much more.”
She frowned, trying to remember what had happened. “The breaking glass woke me up. It looked as if the waves slammed a tree trunk through the window. When I saw how much water was pouring in, I turned to escape through the back door. That’s when the roof fell in.” She touched her sore head and felt a small bandage above her temple.
He nodded. “When the beam came down, you were trapped in the kitchen between your table and the work counter. Fortunately, you were held in place with your head fairly high.” He paused, his expression darkening. “If you’d fallen on the floor, you would have drowned in the rising water. Thank God Fiona found me!”
Signy’s hand tightened around the dog’s neck. So Fiona was her savior. Her fur was dry, so someone must have toweled her off the night before. “Did she bark under your window?”
“No, I was outside enjoying the storm when she galloped up and told me in no uncertain terms that help was neededright now!” He drew a deep breath. “It was very close. Five minutes more and you would have drowned.”
She winced at the pain in his voice. “Sorry. I’ve always felt safe in Sea Cottage. There was no major damage from the devil storm, and I thought last night would be the same. I didn’t expect the waves to be so fierce or for the water to rise so quickly.”
“No need to apologize,” he said wryly. “I owed you a sea rescue.”
She shrugged. “You didn’t owe me anything. Thorsayians help each other. But I do think this demonstrates that it’s a good thing to have animals around us.” She petted Fiona again. “Especially rescue dogs!”
A soft knock announced the arrival of a kitchen maid with a tray holding covered dishes, toast, preserves, and more tea. “Here’s your breakfast, sir, and enough for both of you. Would you like some nice eggs and toast, Miss Signy?”
“That would be lovely, Janet.” Signy pushed herself as upright as she could manage against the pillows. “Ramsay, what would you have done with all this food if I hadn’t woken up?”
“Eaten most of it myself. Shared some with Fiona. Luckily there’s enough for all three of us.”
“That’s good, because I’m hungry.” Signy accepted a refill on her tea. “And after breakfast, I’m going to see if there’s anything left of my house.”
“Stubborn filly,” Ramsay said without surprise. “There is the question of how you’ll get there. You shouldn’t walk that far. I suppose that one of the grooms and I could carry you over in a litter.”
Like a blasted invalid.No.“I’ll ride. There’s a sweet old pony in the stables, Puff. She’s patiently carried every child who grew up near here. She has a very broad back. I can ride her sideways.”
He considered. “That sounds slow but possible.”
“Slow is the only speed Puff has. I’ll take a cane to help on the ground. Mrs. Donovan has canes and crutches of various sizes.”
She glanced down at the unfamiliar nightgown she was wearing and wondered who had removed what she’d had on and dressed her in this. Not Ramsay, she hoped. The idea of him undressing her was . . . unnerving. She bit into her toast and ordered herself to change the direction of her thoughts.
She’d think of Fiona, who was gazing at the toast with deep hope. Signy tossed the dog a piece, which was snapped out of the air.
Dogs were more reliable than men.
* * *
Signy was right about the suitability of Puff, who was more of a pony-shaped sofa than a serious riding horse. Donovan produced a wide old saddle with a horn that could be used for extra security and saddlebags to bring back some of her clothing if possible. It was easy for Signy to perch sideways on the old saddle, though she winced whenever her ankle was jostled.
For simplicity’s sake, Ramsay led the pony and carried the knotted wood cane while Fiona trotted along next to him. As they set off along the cliff path, he said, “I feel like Joseph leading Mary to Bethlehem.”
Signy chuckled. “I’m feeling a great deal of sympathy for Mary at having to ride a long way like this. And in her condition!”
Puff’s main and possibly only gait was a gentle ambling walk, which gave Ramsay time to survey the shoreline below. The storm had thrown up masses of seaweed and branches, shells and dead fish. About halfway to Sea Cottage, a stretch of the path had disappeared, and they pioneered a new path around the cliff edge.
Even so, it didn’t take long to reach their destination. Ramsay halted the pony on the bluff above, and they both stared down at the damaged cottage that had been such a bright and welcoming little home. Signy’s face was like granite.
