Estelle sighed raggedly, her body hurting, the vicious bump on her head hurting. She tried again to flutter open her eyes as she felt the warm blankets being drawn from her, making her begin to shiver.
“If we’re fortunate, my lord, the Duke of Arundale and his family are away at church as all good folk on Christmas Day. I heard the bells chiming for service only fifteen minutes past. Thank Godthe poor girl told you who she was before she lost consciousness…but she’s rousing even now.”
Estelle groaned as she felt herself dressed hurriedly though she remained as limp as a child’s rag doll. Dimly she could see two figures now through her slitted eyes, one broad of shoulder with dark hair, and the other, leaner, with thick hair that shone like gold in the crackling firelight. Yet hisface appeared blurry to her, and though she blinked several times, groaning again, she could not make out his features.
“Very good, Robert. We’ll leave her at the front door, and tether her horse there, too. You follow on the gelding and we’ll ride back together, but only after we watch at a distance to make sure someone answers the door. Now let us go!”
Estelle cried out in pain as she waslifted into strong arms, a low voice gently soothing her in English.
“Forgive me, Estelle. You’re terribly bruised from the rocks, but you’ll be home soon.”
Her mouth was so dry that she couldn’t utter a word, a dark hood drawn over her face as the younger man held her tightly while she heard a door kicked open.
Then the pelting of cold rain upon them and a vehement curse that her dry clothesshould become wet again. She felt herself deposited with the other man for a moment and then she was lifted up into those same strong arms, Estelle so weak that she could do nothing but rest her head against his chest.
She heard horses neighing and snorting, hooves stamping in the mud, then a fierce command as they set off across the sodden heather.
Was it the thunderous galloping that drewthe muddled pieces of the puzzle in her head into a more cohesive whole? She bit her lower lip against the pain as memories assailed her.
She’d tethered her mare and had been running along the beach and threw a stick into the surf for Luther.
Only too late she realized her mistake.
A huge wave broke over him and swept him out into deeper water though he tried with his little legs to swim toshore.
Screaming his name, she’d gone after him into the frigid sea, desperately attempting to reach him though Luther was carried further and further away.
Then a wave had crashed over her and she’d gone under, hitting her head upon a rock…oh God, where was Luther?
She’d clawed her way to the surface, gasping for air, crying out his name, and then someone caught her and dragged her back toshore.
Dragged her back though she kicked and fought him like a wild thing while the world swirled around her and she went in and out of darkness.
Oh, no, oh, no.
“Luther!”
She’d screamed, but the man holding her tightly against him only rode all the harder.
Shivering now, the hood sodden against her face, she felt nothing but burning tears as she began to weep inconsolably.
Her dear sweetlittle dog was gone.
***
“What do you mean, the footman said he found Estelle lying outside the front door?”
Linette gaped in stunned disbelief at Donovan as Corie’s incredulous question echoed in the foyer, while Paloma’s dark eyes filled with tears. They had only just returned from church and rushed inside to escape the mounting wind and rain to find Donovan waiting to meet them. Henodded grimly.
“I rode to the house first to see if she’d come home. Moments before I arrived, the footman heard a thunderous knock and came running, only to find Estelle huddled outside. No one was there with her. She was weeping uncontrollably, and told the footman Luther had drowned and someone had saved her life, though she couldn’t say who. She’s bruised with a nasty bump on her head. Thehousekeeper’s been tending to her and I’ve sent a carriage for Dr. Philcup—Corie?”
Linette stared, rooted to the floor as her eldest sister, without another word, threw her cloak onto a chair and lifted her skirt to run up the staircase.
“Oh, Papa!” Weeping now, too, Paloma fell into Donovan’s arms, and he picked her up at once to soothe her. Whatever Christmas spirit had filled the house earlierwas all but gone, as maidservants bustled down the stairs with damp towels and basins of water.
The air of urgency roused Linette and she flung off her cloak, too, and hastened after Corie up the stairs.
Thank God the younger children must be in the nursery with their nanny so as not to see the calamity that had befallen Estelle, Linette thought gratefully after catching no sight of them. Tearsstung her eyes at the thought of her beloved younger sister near drowned and injured.
