“You have behaved recklessly, going off on your own. I hope you realize that.”
Jeremy bowed his head, his shoulders slumped.
“Get into bed,” she ordered when his thick brown locks were dry. “Some hot chocolate and food will make you feel better.”
He climbed in without a murmur, and she tucked in the surrounding blankets. She sat on the edge of the bed. “Can you tell me what happened?”
“I rode over to the ruin, Carrie. It was disappointing, just a stone wall and a pile of rocks.”
“Wasn’t that how Nicholas described it?”
“Yes. But there were steps down to the old dungeons. I thought I might find a skeleton or implements for torture and iron manacles.”
“I doubt Nicholas’s family would torture and imprison people.”
“It’s possible. You don’t read the same books as me.”
Carrie welcomed his flash of spirit and waited, heart thumping, to hear the rest.
“While I was wandering about, a torrent of water burst in and filled the caverns. It caught me unawares. I waded through it, but…” His eyes widened and welled with tears. “I couldn’t find my way out. The freezing cold water rose too fast. It was up to my chest before I knew it. The current swirled around and dragged me under.”
Carrie gasped. “Oh, Jeremy!”
“When I came up again, I climbed onto a nearby pile of rocks, but the water was soon halfway up the cavern walls.” He swallowed. “Then Nicholas called to me. I was never so glad to hear his voice in my life! He swam to reach me, Carrie. The water was over my head. I would have drowned, for certain, but for Nicholas! I’m so sorry, Carrie!”
“You are home safe now,” she murmured.
“We made our way out just in time.” Jeremy gulped. “My legs were so cold they wouldn’t work.” He flushed, and his gaze darted away from her. “So, Nicholas carried me to the horses.” A small, humorless chuckle escaped his pale lips. “We rode the gelding because Nicholas said Prince is too contrary and would have us both on our backsides in the blink of an eye.”
A footman brought in a tray of hot chocolate, sandwiches, and cakes. As he tucked into the food and drink, Bella burst in and threw herself onto the bed.
“Are you all right?” she asked him breathlessly.
“Of course! Why wouldn’t I be?” Jeremy sounded stronger. “Be careful, Bella,” Carrie heard him say as she left the room. “You’ll upset the tray. Not that cake, it’s my favorite!”
Carrie went in search of Nicholas. Giles, the footman, directed her to the library. When Nicholas responded to her knock, she entered, closing the door behind her. Seated at his desk, a brandy decanter and crystal glass at his elbow, he rose to greet her as she crossed the carpet. He had changed into a dark gray coat, light gray patterned waistcoat, and black trouser. His damp hair, brushed back sleekly from his forehead, gleamed in the light from the window. Relief made her giddy.
“Is he all right?”
“Yes, thank you. I have dried his hair. I can dry yours if you wish?” she asked with a smile.
He smiled back at her. “Thank you, but no.” They exchanged a long glance as he came toward her. “Sit down, Carrie. I’ll pour you a drink to soothe your nerves.”
She sank onto the sofa as her eyes filled with tears. “It frightened me when Prince returned without you.”
He sighed. “I’m sorry about that. Prince followed us, but once he got closer to home, he headed for the chaff bag and his warm stall.”
“Jeremy told me what happened. I was fearful that you and Jeremy might have been hurt.” She put her hands to her wet cheeks. “We owe you so much, Nicholas. How wise my father was in choosing you as the children’s guardian.”
When he bent over her and removed her trembling hands from her face, concern darkened his eyes. She waited, half in the hope he would unbend and allow her a glimpse of himself, of what was in his heart.
“You owe me nothing, Carrie. I did what any man would do. It should have occurred to me he’d go off on his own. He wouldn’t have done it if I’d found something to occupy him. Boys of his age are constantly in need of adventure.”
Carrie sniffed and dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief she’d discovered in her pocket. She didn’t have the strength to argue with him. “He must have learned a lesson and will think again when considering another. I’m sure that after he’s eaten, he will fall asleep.”
“Sleep is what he needs.” He gestured to the tray of drinks. “I’m sure you could do with a drink. Madeira?”
“Yes, please.”
