He surfaced quickly and pulled in greatlungfuls of air, then dove back under. Before him, Miss Weatherby fought against the pull of the water.
With his hands around her waist, he kicked upward, but she wouldn’t move. A glance down identified the problem.
Colin dove lower and tugged at Miss Weatherby’s skirts caught on a branch. The material ripped and set her free. One arm around her waist, he kicked upward and pulled her limp body above the water’s surface. Her head lolled back, and he tried to support it against his chest as he swam them both to the lake’s edge.
Several of the children had run screaming for help, and people rushed from the terrace. Ellie remained and stood like a sentinel, the puppy clutched in her arms. Her gaze shot to Colin’s, the worry in her dark eyes stabbing at his chest. “Flash didn’t mean to do it, Papa. Really.”
“Here, let me help.” Ashton held out his arms as Colin lifted Miss Weatherby from the water.
“I don’t think she’s breathing,” Colin said, struggling for breath himself.
Ashton laid her flat on the ground, then leaned down toward her face.
Andrew Weatherby crumpled to the ground next to Ashton. Pain contorted his face. “Anne. Anne. What have you done this time?”
Next to Anne’s prostrate body, Honoria bent down across from Ashton and Weatherby, her gaze catching Ashton’s, stoic and calm as always. “Can you revive her as Adalyn did to Miss Fingers when she fell into the Serpentine?”
“I’ll do my best.” Ashton proceeded to clamp Miss Weatherby’s nose with his fingers. When he lowered his mouth to Miss Weatherby’s, a sharp pang of jealousy twinged in Colin’s chest.
Ridiculous!He pushed the notion aside.
But when Ashton placed his hands on Miss Weatherby’s ribcage and moved his hands upward, Colin stepped forward. “I say, Your Grace, is that proper?”
One of Andrew Weatherby’s eyebrows lifted as he glanced up atColin. “As her brother, I can assure you, Lord Manning, I trust Harry with the life of everyone I care for.”
Ashton ignored both of them and proceeded to administer the chest massage.
Unable to remove his gaze, Colin didn’t realize Honoria had risen and taken a place by his side until she touched his arm. “Relax, Colin. It must be done, and Ashton is the only one equipped to do so.”
Please, please. Live.Surely, she hadn’t been submerged that long?
Tension in Colin’s neck released when Miss Weatherby coughed and water spurted from her mouth.
Ashton turned her onto her side and rubbed her back. “That’s it, Anne. Deep breaths.”
“We must get her inside and into some dry clothing,” Honoria said.
When Ashton nodded and moved to lift Miss Weatherby in his arms, Colin stepped forward and tapped his shoulder. “Allow me. I’m already wet.” It was a poor excuse, and Colin was fairly certain Honoria saw right through it.
But as he knelt beside the Nymph of Nuisance, the moniker he’d assigned taking on a new and more affectionate meaning, he found he didn’t care. Let them all think what they would.
“Miss Weatherby,” he said, doing his level best to keep his voice calm although his insides shook from residual fear. “Can you place your arms around my neck?”
Confusion filled those blue eyes as she stared up at him, but she nodded. She lifted her arms, only to have them fall limply back to her body.
“Never mind.” Careful to cradle her head against his chest, he lifted her against his body and rose.
His thighs burned from the climb once again, this time from the added weight of Miss Weatherby. But he didn’t mind. He accepted it as punishment for his callous remarks and taunts.
“Follow me, Colin.” Honoria led the way to Anne’s bedchamber.
A pitiful moan escaped from Anne’s lips as Colinplaced her on the soft mattress, then stepped back, feeling completely helpless and lost.
Burwood stepped next to him. “Don’t,” he whispered.
Colin raised his eyebrows in question.
“Blame yourself,” his brother-in-law clarified. “It was an accident. And Anne will be fine.”
