Cora and Ethan didn’t talk, but with her cheek against his chest, the steady beat of his heart reassured her. When the rubble was removed to form a passage wide enough to reveal a group of tired men, she sobbed in relief.
“Sir, madam, you may come through.” One of the men waved Cora and Ethan out through the opening.
She breathed in the fresh air, her chest tightening.
“My lady.” Ethan helped her up.
Her legs quivered after the cramped position she’d stayed in for hours, but he steadied her as if he didn’t suffer from her same predicament. She squeezed herself through the passage, helped by a group of strangers with grim faces and caked blood on their hands. Ethan crawled out of the opening after her.
“Thank you.” She sobbed, gazing around at her rescuers. “Thank you.” She sobbed harder when Mrs. Marshall rushed towards her in a flutter of dark clothes.
“Your ladyship.” The older woman held Cora in a strong hug. “We were so worried.”
“David. Where is he?”
“Safe. Not a scratch. Do not fear.” Mrs. Marshall patted Cora’s cheek. “He’s waiting for you with the nuns who organised a camp by the river. Everyone is there. Many houses have been damaged or are unsafe so tents have been pitched. They’re the safest option for now. I came here to see if you were all right.”
Cora shivered from relief, sagging against the governess. “Thank goodness.”
Ethan shook hands with the people of the rescue party, thanking each one of them.
From his calm composure and steady voice, it was hard to believe he’d been trapped with her under the rubble. Only the scratches and the dust belied his ordeal.
Cora accepted a flask of water from Mrs. Marshall and gazed around the town. Goodness. The ground itself had cracked. What once had been houses, now were piles of rubble. An eerie silence lingered. Not even the birds sang.
“My lady,” Ethan said. “Where may I escort you?”
He had to be exhausted. She should refuse his offer of help for his own sake after he’d taken care of her, but she didn’t want to. “The camp, please?”
Cora, Ethan, and Mrs. Marshall walked down to the river through piles of broken bricks, masonry, and disturbing stains of blood.
“We were very lucky,” she said.
“When David and I saw the church collapse, we were distraught.” Mrs. Marshall hid her face in her handkerchief. “I mean, after everything you’ve been through with his lordship, it wouldn’t be fair for you to—” She fell silent as Ethan angled towards her.
Cora held her hand. “It’s all right.” She wasn’t talking about the collapsed church, but the fact Mrs. Marshall had almost spilt Cora’s personal problems.
She sped up when the camp came into view. White tents stretched along the river bank. Some people cried. Others showed blood-stained bandages. Ethan walked next to her, silent and protective. She skidded to a stop at the entrance of the camp, searching for David through the crowd of children.
“This way.” Mrs. Marshall led her to the edge of the camp.
Men with bandaged heads and torn clothes lay on cots in the open tents. The gruesome view didn’t have time to upset her too much because she spotted a familiar mop of auburn hair.
“Mama.” David threw himself in her arms.
“My angel.” She hugged him, inhaling his clean, soapy scent. Tears burned her cheeks as she scattered kisses on his face.
“I thought I lost you,” he whispered, resting his head on her chest.
“Never.” Still holding him, she turned towards Ethan.
He stood at attention, his expression unyielding as he watched her and David. “I had no doubt your son would be safe.”
“Thank you, Captain.” She held David more tightly, wiping her tears.
David stared at Ethan with suspicion.
Ethan bowed. “At your service. Now that you’re safe, I’d better leave and see if my room at the inn is still available. I guess I missed my train to London.”
