They were in deep water now, and the little boat seemed no closer. Freddy gave up on his efforts to hold on to Isabel and released his grip on her, kicking away from her in his effort to strike out for the boat.
Freddy now became the only thing between Isabel and certain death. She thrashed at him, clawing, struggling to hold on to him, but he pushed her away and already weakened by the day’s headlong events, Isabel’s strength began to wane. Every grab for air rewarded her with a mouthful of water. The water monsters dragged at her skirts, tugging her down into their cold, grey lairs. Fear and panic sapped her strength.
Distantly, she could hear Sebastian calling her name, but he couldn’t reach her now. Instead, she heard the gurgling laugh of a small child, and she smiled, seeing her son William’s golden hairand soft smile. She stopped struggling and reached for him, letting the water monsters claim her for their own.
Chapter Sixty
As Freddy began his headlong plunge towards the boat, Sebastian could do little except watch. He knew Freddy was quite capable of plunging the knife into Isabel’s neck if he or Harry so much as twitched.
He tensed as a wave knocked Freddy and his hostage off their feet. Freddy’s grip on Isabel appeared to loosen. Now was his chance. Sebastian turned Pharaoh’s head, and the horse plunged willingly into the water, his ears pricked. Like most horses, Pharaoh liked water. He capered like a young foal, pulling resentfully against Sebastian’s hand, but Sebastian held him steady.
Glancing behind him, Freddy plunged on, dragging Isabel through the water like a broken doll. They disappeared from view as the waves crashed over them, and next time Sebastian saw Freddy, he appeared to be alone, striking out for the boat with a firm stroke.
‘Isabel!’ Sebastian screamed into the wind, but no answer came.
A wave crashed against the horse’s chest. As it passed, a dark shape floated face down in the calm water between the waves, only ten yards from him.
A cry of pure, physical pain escaped from him, and he forcedthe horse onwards. She couldn’t have drowned, not in so short a time, but as he reached her, the cold fear grabbed his heart. Isabel floated face down, unmoving, her skirts swirling around her, her loosened hair drifting like seaweed, her arms outstretched.
Sebastian seized her by the back of her gown, hauling her across the bow of his saddle. He no longer cared if Freddy reached the boat or not. He had Isabel, and that was all that mattered. Without a backward glance, he turned the horse’s head back to shore.
Harry had already dismounted, and he took Isabel from Sebastian as he slid off the horse. Together, they laid her gently on the sand.
Sebastian’s heart clenched as he smoothed back the wet, tangled hair from her pale face. Her lips were a faint bluish colour, and dark circles ringed her closed eyes. Hardly daring to trust himself, he felt for a pulse but could feel nothing except the frantic beating of his own heart.
He looked at Harry. He needed Harry’s calm right now.
‘You try.’
Harry placed his fingers on the pulse of Isabel’s neck. He frowned and then a slow smile spread across his face.
‘She’s alive.’
Harry rolled her onto her side and thumped her back. Isabel coughed, retching up sea water. She fell back on the sand, her eyes fluttering open.
Sebastian picked up her hand and began to chafe it, trying to restore the circulation to her frozen limbs. She looked up into Sebastian’s eyes and smiled.
‘You’re not dead,’ she whispered.
‘And neither are you.’ His voice gruff with emotion.
News of the excitement on the beach must have spread through the village, and a crowd of strangers surrounded them filling the void with shouts and cheers.
A large, motherly woman elbowed her way through the gawking crowd.
‘You must get her to some warmth. There’s no inn here but ye’re welcome to come to my home.’
‘Thank you.’
Sebastian acknowledged the generous offer and took off his heavy Garrick overcoat. He wrapped Isabel in its damp folds. Even wet, it was some protection from the cold. He rose to his feet with Isabel in his arms, but the distance back to the village was too great for him to carry her, so he set her on her feet, letting Harry support her as he mounted Pharaoh and lifted her in front of him, folding her closely in his arms.
Before they set off, he cast a quick glance out to sea where the sail of the fishing boat bobbed just above the horizon.
‘Did he make it to the boat?’ he asked Harry.
Harry shook his head. ‘I don’t know. Personally, I hope he’s gone to hell.’
Isabel shivered, and Sebastian looked down at her. ‘It doesn’t matter anymore. He’s gone. Come, my lady, let’s get you to a warm bed.’
