As he watched, his expression turned rock hard as a suspended memory broke free and he recalled his lawyer informing him of his cousin’s suicide and the manner of it—of how Charles had ended his life in this place.
‘Oh, my God!’ he whispered. ‘You little fool! You brave, courageous little fool!’
His breath left his body and immediately he vaulted over the end of the bridge and slithered down the bank, more frightened than he’d ever been in his life. In the space of a split second, fear consumed him, fear that both Rosa Ingram and Dhanu would perish in the same pool of water.
* * *
Rosa went down into the endless darkness. The seconds seemed limitless as she felt around for the boy, but she couldn’t see a thing. She came up for more air before disappearing beneath the water once more, hampered by the water swirling around her from the tumbling cascade pushing her down. From somewhere a long way off she could hear her name being called above the roaring in her ears. Unable to breathe, she felt as though her lungs would burst. And then her hands touched an arm and then a small body. Holding on to him, she kicked strongly and they were rising once more, the bright light coming closer, larger, until she burst through its centre and felt the warm sun on her face once more, before being thrust back by the raft of water and hitting her head on the rocks at the bottom of the cascade.
Momentarily stunned, a red haze began to cloud her vision and for a moment she almost lost her hold on the boy. Somehow she managed to hold on to him and when he coughed and spluttered and wriggled against her, her heart swelled and she offered up a prayer of thankfulness. Despite the dizziness inside her head, clutching the small body tightly to her with one arm, she swam desperately towards the bank. Someone was kneeling and holding out a hand and shouting for her to take it.
‘Take the boy first,’ she gasped, having recognised the voice as belonging to Lord Ashurst.
William reached out and took the boy from her, passing him to his nurse before turning his attention to Rosa.
Knowing that the boy was safe, with an ache in her head and the red haze increasing before her eyes, Rosa felt her consciousness begin to recede and a calmness begin to descend on her. Just when she thought she was lost and about to sink beneath the surface of the water once more, strong hands grasped her arms in a paralysing grip.
‘Hold on to me,’ William ordered. ‘We’ll soon have you out.’
Instinctively Rosa obeyed, unable to do anything else as with much slipping and sliding he hoisted her out of the water with what seemed to be superhuman strength. She collapsed, gasping and helpless, onto the grass at his feet, where she lay with her eyes closed, her chest heaving for breath.
‘You’re safe now,’ she heard Lord Ashurst say, but she couldn’t move. Everything seemed so far away and her body felt like lead. The pain in her head, which had momentarily disappeared, returned to torment her with a savage vengeance. When she was able to breathe more easily, her eyes fluttered open to see Lord Ashurst’s darkly handsome face. He was kneeling beside her. His light blue eyes were clear and shone as bright as jewels. Black brows were puckered together in frowning concern.
‘My—my head,’ she managed to whisper. ‘I seem to have bumped my head.’
‘I can see that,’ he murmured, wiping back the veil of wet hair from her pale face and looking down at her in silent contemplation, ‘but you’ll be all right. You’re out of danger. You little fool—jumping in like that. You could have drowned.’
‘No, I wouldn’t. I can swim. Living on an island surrounded by sea, I had every opportunity to learn.’ She wondered what he would say if he knew she often swam naked in the clear blue Caribbean Sea, her hair floating free. ‘I’m sorry if I frightened you. I only went in to retrieve the boy. I wasn’t in any danger until I hit my head on a rock.’
William believed her. He had watched her swim beneath the surface of the water, her figure moving swiftly as if she had been born there. Taking her face gently between his lean fingers, William turned it to one side, brushing back tangles of her hair to reveal a small gash just above her ear, from which a thin trickle of blood oozed. He smiled down at her, making an instant appraisal of the rest of her. Sheathed in her clothes clinging to her body, her blouse moulding the curve of her soft breasts and her legs encased in tight cream-coloured breeches, she was as slender as a wand.
‘The wound is superficial and I don’t think any permanent damage has been done—but no doubt your head will ache for a while.’
‘The boy? Is he conscious?’
‘Yes. Thank the Lord you got here in time—and that you can swim. I, too, was out riding. I saw Dhanu on the bridge and rode hell for leather to get to him. You beat me to it.’
‘I really thought he was going to drown. With the amount of water pouring into the pool from above, I knew the current would drag him down. I was up on the hill overlooking the lake when I saw him.’
Rosa struggled up from her dazed trauma to prop herself up on her elbows, glancing towards the boy, who was weeping and trembling in his nurse’s arms. Deeply affected by the boy’s ordeal and her own distraction which had allowed him to wander off, the woman sobbed over him, clutching so desperately at him that she was in danger of smothering him.
‘Poor woman. She tried so hard to reach him when he ran from her.’
‘I saw,’ William said, glancing at the nurse who was visibly distressed.
Her voice was becoming very high pitched as she said over and over, ‘You are safe, little one, you are safe now. Never run away from me again.’ The ragged note of relief was apparent as she pressed her cheek against his hair, offering strength and comfort to the trembling child.
‘We have got him back to the house. Mishka is very good with him but he is a boisterous child. He is watched all the time.’
‘Why? Why does he have to be watched?’
‘It’s no matter,’ he said quickly. ‘Do you feel that you can stand? We’ll get you back to the house where you can be tended to.’
‘No—I mean, no, thank you. I’ll be all right to ride home.’
‘I won’t hear of it. I see you have a groom with you. I’ll send him to your house for a change of clothes. He can take your horse with him. When you are ready I’ll have you sent home in the carriage. Now, let’s get you onto your feet.’
Knowing it was useless to argue, taking his hand she allowed him to pull her to her feet.
In silence, William looked down into her upturned face. ‘You did well just now. Dhanu owes you his life and I owe you my unending gratitude. The lake can be hazardous. Even when the water looks calm there are eddies there. It’s treacherous where the water enters the pool.’ His eyes narrowed on hers and his expression softened. ‘You’re not afraid of anything, are you?’
‘I’m not afraid of water,’ she told him blithely. She was deeply touched by how alarmed he’d seemed. His voice had been hoarse with concern when he’d pulled her from the water, his face ravaged with worry as he had called her a little fool.
‘I’m glad,’ he said. ‘I wouldn’t want you to be.’ He looked down at her dripping clothes, trying to ignore how delectable she looked at that moment. ‘Come. You must get out of those clothes and into dry ones before you catch a chill.’
After instructing Thomas to return to Fountains Lodge with her horse and inform Clarissa of what had happened and to have a change of clothes sent to Ashurst Park, it was a sorry, bedraggled little group who made their way at a steady pace to the house, the child, now quiet, walking slowly beside Mishka.
Chapter Four
Carrying her jacket over her arm and holding her hat, Rosa walked beside Mishka, noting how her full cotton skirts swung rhythmically to her straight-backed graceful stride. Her glistening black hair hung down her back in a long braid tied at the end with colourful cotton tassels. She was clearly upset by what had occurred and to some extent blamed herself for fa
iling to keep hold of Dhanu’s hand on the bridge. Rosa spoke to her, trying to comfort her with soft words of encouragement. She was rewarded with a little smile as Mishka thanked her and told her that she recognised her as being the lady at the inn who had saved Dhanu before. She was most grateful.
‘Saving him from those galloping horses was a great act of bravery done with extreme promptness. I am usually so protective of Dhanu and I only took my eyes off him for a second. It was wrong of me to accuse you. I hope you will forgive me, but I panicked and it was how it seemed to me at the time. I have no words sufficient for my gratitude.’
‘I was glad I was able to help. I hope he suffers no ill effects from falling into the water.’
‘He is a strong boy. He looks unharmed.’
Rosa looked down at Dhanu, feeling most relieved that she had managed to reach him before his fall into the pond had ended in tragedy. ‘Tell me your name?’ she asked the boy. Even though she knew it, she wanted to hear him say it. He was a lovely child, sturdy and big for his age. It was easy to forget he was only five years old. His hair was a lustrous dark brown, his complexion smooth and the eyes that regarded her so seriously were soft and dark. He looked at her for a long moment, as if weighing her up, then said softly, ‘Dhanu. I wanted to go outside to the little building on the hill but I fell into the water.’
‘You must not run from Mishka, Dhanu,’ William remarked softly. ‘We are going back to the house and there you must stay. Do you understand?’
‘Yes,’ Dhanu whispered. This was the limit of their conversation, but he took Rosa’s proffered hand and walked beside her contentedly.
As they walked William turned his thoughts to what had happened. It proved that Miss Ingram’s courage in the face of danger both to herself and others set her apart from her contemporaries. He was filled with admiration for what she had done. Without doubt, her prompt actions had saved Dhanu’s life. How many of the women of his acquaintance would have had the nerve to kick off their shoes and dive into a terrifyingly deep pool to save the life of a child?
He cast a glance at her walking a few steps ahead of him and in fascination watched the swing of her long wet hair which hung down her spine and the sway of her hips as she walked along the road with a lithe, liquid movement—like a dancer to music only she could hear, he thought as his gaze lingered with appreciation on her slim ankles and slender legs enhanced by the clinging breeches.
* * *
On reaching the house they were greeted by the tense, waiting faces of the servants, all worried over the fate of the young boy who had captured their hearts. Lord Ashurst reassured them all that Dhanu seemed to be unhurt, but he would like him to be examined by a doctor. One of the servants immediately left the house to fetch the resident doctor from the village and the child and his nurse were hustled off to the nursery, where he would be given a hot bath. Lord Ashurst cast a disapproving glance at the two footmen to remind them of their duties as their eyes became fixed with frank approval on the young woman who stood beside him. Mrs Hope, the housekeeper, stepped forward to take charge.
‘And you, my dear? Are you all right? That’s a nasty bump you have to your head.’
In appreciation of her thoughtfulness, Rosa gave her a smile that was slightly forced. ‘My head aches a little, but otherwise I am suffering no ill effects from my dip in the lake. Although I would appreciate getting out of my wet things.’
‘Of course you would. Come with me now and we will see to it right away.’
‘I think the doctor should take a look at you all the same,’ Lord Ashurst said. ‘Just to make sure.’
‘I’ll take him to her as soon as he’s checked the boy over.’
‘Thank you, Mrs Hope. I am sure you will look after Miss Ingram.’ William turned to Rosa. ‘For the time you are here please make yourself comfortable. Mrs Hope will see that you have a hot bath and refreshment.’
The housekeeper walked a little ahead of Rosa up the stairs. They reached a landing which opened out on to a long gallery. Huge portrait paintings of stern-faced Barringtons dressed in outdated costumes lined the walls. If she hadn’t felt so uncomfortable, Rosa would have taken time to study them, but her body was cold beneath the wet garments clinging to her and she couldn’t wait to discard them. Halfway along the gallery they entered another landing, walking past closed doors until Mrs Hope stopped in front of one and pushed it open.
‘Here we are. I am sure you will be comfortable in here while you wait for your sister to send your clothes. I’ll have some water sent up for your bath right away. You will feel better for it after your ordeal and a maid will come and attend you. If you would like to make a start there’s a dressing robe on the bed.’
‘Thank you, Mrs Hope,’ Rosa said, her eyes doing a quick sweep of the comfortable sunny room with its large four-poster bed hung with rich green and gold brocade curtains. ‘You are most kind, but I don’t want to put you to any trouble.’
‘You’re no trouble at all, Miss Ingram. It’s the least we can do after you jumped into the lake to save that young boy—poor little mite. Ever since he arrived he’s been fascinated by the water. No matter how vigilant we all are to make sure he doesn’t leave the house, it was only a matter of time before he slipped the net. He’s a mischievous little boy. After what happened to his lordship’s cousin, we can only thank the Lord that he didn’t suffer the same fate.’
Rosa glanced at her sharply. ‘Why, Mrs Hope? What did happen to him?’
‘Goodness me! Didn’t your grandmother tell you? He drowned—in the pool where the water from above flows into the lake.’ She shook her head, her expression becoming solemn. ‘Terrible business it was, just terrible. Such a nice man, too.’
Rosa stared at her. The words branded themselves into her memory and she felt a lump of constricting sorrow in her chest, knowing the deceased Earl had drowned in the same pool that she had dived into to save the child earlier.
* * *
Rosa quickly stripped away her clothes and wrapped herself in the warm robe. Going to the window, she stared out, feeling suddenly weary. Her head ached and she longed to rest, yet she would wait until she was home. Thinking of Lord Ashurst, she was disquieted. Her situation had become confusing—she should not be feeling anything towards him, but he was causing her usual calm to disappear. She remembered the moment when he had pulled her from the water and the concerned expression on his face when she had opened her eyes and found him leaning over her. Despite her sorry state, she had been almost smothered by his nearness, by the heady smell of him, a clean masculine scent of sandalwood that had shot like tiny darts through her senses. In all truthfulness, of stature and face and features she had seen no match and he could be the stuff of any girl’s dreams.
Rosa mentally shook herself as she realised where her mind was wandering. In some embarrassment she moved away from the window, relieved when at that moment the door opened and a maid came in carrying the first jug of hot water for her bath.
By the time she had bathed and taken some light refreshment her clothes had arrived along with the doctor. After examining her face and declaring her fit enough to go home, she went in search of Lord Ashurst.
She found him in his study—a solitary brooding man standing with his shoulder propped against the window, staring out over the gardens, but seeing nothing. Compassion swelled in her heart as she realised that although he appeared cold and unemotional in front of her, he had come in here to worry in lonely privacy.
Suppressing the urge to go to him, she quietly said, ‘Lord Ashurst?’ He turned and looked at her, his face impassive. He looked tired and Rosa could just make out the fine lines beginning to form at the corners of his eyes. ‘How is Dhanu?’
‘He is settled and has the whole household fussing over him.’ Sighing deeply he pushed himself away from the window, running his fingers through his hair. ‘He’s had an awful time of it—losing
his mother and being removed from his home—from India and all that was familiar. God knows what harm the upheaval and now this latest trauma has done him.’
‘Possibly not much. I have had little to do with children but from what I do know they are very resilient. All they need at Dhanu’s age is nourishment, warmth—and love.’
‘I hope you are right. Dhanu has been placed in my care and I feel a profound need to protect him. Unfortunately I have to be away from the house for long periods—I am trying to familiarise myself with my tenants and assess their needs. Mishka finds the house daunting and having to keep a constant eye on Dhanu difficult. Like Dhanu she is easily distracted and my mischievous charge takes advantage of that.’
Rosa watched him, her throat tight with emotion. She could see that Dhanu’s escapade that had almost resulted in his death had affected William deeply. She had not given a thought to his relationship with the child, but now, struck by the various emotions playing over his features, the love he felt for his young charge reflected in his eyes could not be concealed.
‘Tell me about Dhanu. Why is he here with you—and the woman Mishka?’
He became thoughtful, his expression unreadable. ‘Dhanu is the nephew of a dear friend of mine in India. His name is Tipu. The boy’s father is a very important man—a rajah. Dhanu is his heir.’
A Vow for an Heiress Page 8
