Conquered by the Commander

by Pippa Greathouse

  Fenwirth didn't wait to see if they were listening, before he ran toward the stairs.

  "He's getting the money out of his office," a little voice spoke up. Lily turned to gaze on Finnian, who continued. "Whenever something happens, that's what he does. And leaves with it." But the smoke was thicker now, and Lily turned toward the women who had stepped in to protect her.

  "Hurry! Out, everyone! All of you! Ashton wouldn't be shouting a warning if it wasn't true—get to safety!" She turned toward the little boys. "Finnian, Bryce, run straight down to the bottom and have Ashton get you outside! Hurry!"

  The women and children from the floor began scurrying toward the stairs, trying to make their way down. Shrieks were coming from the floor below, carried upward through the staircase. The workers were all hurrying as fast as they could. Lily waited, shouting to the men to go down and get the ladies and children out, pleased when they scrambled to do her bidding. The top floor cleared out rapidly, but when they got down to the third, there were still people still trying to get out.

  Lily rushed toward some of the material from the rolls of cotton and began to pull it from the looms, calling out for others to help.

  "Hurry! Help me make knots in this! Those who have strong arms, any of you who can, climb down the rope! Here! Then take some of the sheets and pull them tight for others to land on! Quickly!"

  The women rushed to help, tying the long pieces of cotton end to end. She realized they would need something to attach the other end to, and she looked to the pillars in the middle of the room. Many times, when aboard the Charlotte and then the Arabella, she'd watched the seamen tie the ropes in knots. She'd learned how they did it, thankfully.

  It was ready. The women were climbing out the window now, making their way down. When she looked down a few minutes later, there were ten or twelve ladies down at the ground level, encouraging others to follow. They had rolled up the edges of the material to cling to and pulled it tightly across so the children could land safely. Some of the children were climbing down the rope, as well, into the arms of the women waiting for them.

  Suddenly, on the third floor, Ashton was at her elbow, and she threw her arms around him. "What ere you doing up 'ere?" he bellowed. "Annie said you were 'ere, an' then—"

  "Ashton, make sure the little carders are out from the second floor—they need your guidance!" She shouted as loudly as she could, but the place was full of the screams and terrified cries of the children, and he could barely hear her.

  "But, Lily—"

  "Now, Ashton! Please, they need you! I will be fine. Go!"

  He disappeared downward once again, shouting over his shoulder that many of them were already out, but not all. Lily once again ran toward the window. There were probably thirty women and children there now, but that wasn't enough. She was unable to see out the front. Coughing and choking, she pulled her woolen garment up to her face and tried to filter out the smoke, but it was still hard to breathe.

  The third floor was almost clear, and she ran, untying the end of the cotton rope and dragging it downward to the second. "Who is here?" she shouted out.

  A woman's voice answered, "The ground floor is on fire, the children are up here, huddled in the corners—it won't be long before the fire reaches us."

  "Where? Take me to them! We can't let them perish!"

  In the northwest corner, she located a mass of children, crying and screaming in fear—but little Annie was there, holding tightly to her injured arm.

  "Annie!" She reached out and held the little girl to her. "Come here, we'll get you out! All of you, hold on to each other and follow me!"

  One by one, the children made a chain, holding on to each other when they couldn't see for the smoke. The distance to the ground was only one floor down from here, but it was still, with the height of the windows, twelve or fifteen feet. Lily attached the rope to the column in the middle of the room but noted with dismay that it felt hot to her hands. The ladies outside were at the base—there were men down there, too, now, catching ladies and children who couldn't hold on to the sheets.

  "Catch the children! This little one is injured! Don't let her slip past you!"

  "We'll get her, ma'am." The men were ready, and she watched as little Annie held on with her good arm and literally slid down, to be caught by a man below. Lily turned to the rest of the children, encouraging them.

  "Let's play a game and see who can be the bravest!" When hands went up, she took two of them and had them hold on to each other.

  Two at a time, the children all jumped, encouraged by their peers. Lily clapped from above as each of them was caught in the webs held by the men and women below.

  One by one, the second floor began to empty out. Ashton appeared, saying the ground floor was empty, and everyone was now up here. He was coughing dreadfully.

  The heat was overwhelming, and it was tempting to climb up to the third. Together, they made rounds to each corner to check. The smoke was so thick, it was difficult to see, and Ashton moved thoroughly through the room from wall to wall, attempting to make sure he didn't miss anyone. It was as they were both about to go back to the window that Lily heard it—the sound of a child weeping.

  "Ashton—"

  "I 'ear it.'" He moved closer. "'Tis me, Ashton. We'll get ye out!"

  The child moved slowly toward his voice. It was Finnian, reaching out desperately in front of him, terrified.

  Ashton picked him up and brought him to the window. "Ketch!" he called out to the men below. Working to disentangle Finnian from his neck, he tried to encourage the little boy, but Finnian refused to let go.

  "Go with him," Lily ordered. "I'll be right behind you!"

  "Cain't. Cain't leave ye up 'ere 'n me down."

  "Oh, Hell's bells, Ashton. Then we'll jump together. On three."

  She counted. But on three, when Ashton jumped with little Finnian in his arms, she didn't. The flames were leaping up the stairs now. When Ashton realized that she was still there, he bellowed with rage. "Jump, Lily!"

  Lily stuck her head out the window as far as she could, but there seemed to be no air present. Nothing but caustic smoke made its way into her lungs. Far off in the distance, she saw a man in a grey suit with a box under his arm, running away from the establishment.

  Fenwirth.

  "Bloody blazes, girl, jump!" Ashton was swearing now.

  Lily's gaze moved to Ashton, but it was not his face she saw. It was Darby's frantic face that called to her. What if she never saw him again? Would he ever forgive her if she died in the fire? Could she forgive herself? The last thing she remembered was the hurt in his voice at her lack of trust as she leaned forward out the window and fell.

  Darby comes running…

  The commotion stirring around the area concerned Jacob. He tapped lightly on the carriage and called out to his mistress. "My lady, I hate to disturb you, but there seems to be smoke coming from the area where the mill is. If it's all right, I'll see if I might assist."

  The silence sent a shiver down his spine. "My lady?"

  Pulling open the door, he found only her fancy gown laying on the leather seat and became alarmed. Where was she? And what was she wearing, if her clothing was here? Holding his hat in his hand, he rushed about the area closer to the mill but could not see Lillianna anywhere. His heart sank. Running back, he jumped to the top of the carriage and headed toward the estate, hoping to gain help before something tragic happened.

  Darby took the stairs, heading back to his bedroom, planning on bringing Lillianna down for some breakfast. Hungry or not, he would insist she at least try to have a few bites.

  The empty bed did not alarm him, at first, but when he stopped at the kitchen and no one had seen her all morning, he moved more earnestly. His lovely Lily seemed to attract trouble. Could she be lost somewhere in the estate?

  His father. Darby moved through the house, stopping at the rooms she usually frequented, refusing to lose hope, even when she was not in the library, study,
or other rooms she generally was found in. If he located his father, in all likelihood, he would find his missing wife. She enjoyed spending time with the earl.

  The frail earl stood by the window in his private bedchamber, studying something outside with concern. Darby rushed forward.

  "Does Mother realize you are up, sir?" he asked as he entered. "Come, let me help you back into bed. You mustn't relapse now that you are finally recovering your strength."

  "Your mother is off with Jacob," the earl responded, a small coughing fit interrupting him. "Lord knows where they are going in such a rush. Where is Lillianna? I was hoping she might join me. Besides having an excellent singing voice, she reads like an angel. I envy you, my boy."

  But Darby's mind was elsewhere. "I have no clue where Lillianna is, at the moment. I rather hoped she was in here with you—" He paused, frowning. "You say Mother left with Jacob?" He knew the coachman had recently taken his wife to town several times, some of them with his consent. Was Lily with them? Or was she in town? He thought of the last time she'd gone in and inhaled sharply.

  "The mill!"

  Suddenly, Darby was on full alert. Something was wrong; he could sense it. Lillianna was in danger. "If that little brat went back to the mill after I forbade her to…" He noticed his father paling and tried to make light of his concern as he rushed to help his father back to bed.

  "Rest, Father. I'll return with them both. I know you are recovering, but I would suggest it is time to take my mother in hand. My patience with her is at an end for the way she treats Lillianna." With that, he left the room at a dead run.

  No sooner had his horse been made ready than Darby leaped astride and rushed toward the mill at a gallop. The flames were visible from far away, and he urged his steed faster. The closer he got, the more his fears were confirmed. Women and children were huddled outside, across from the gate. They were far enough away to keep from being overcome with the noxious fumes, but their faces remained terrified.

  "Dear Lord Almighty, please don't let my Lily be in that building," he prayed as he ran toward the gate. The ground floor sounded as if it was collapsing, and police barred him from getting too close. Turning, he looked for a way in and moved among the people there, out of sight of the police and firemen. None of the women bore even a passing resemblance to his bride. She was definitely not among those here.

  A small child dashed from the back of the building, screaming. Was it possible that Lily was with the survivors there? As he neared the back, he could see the women and children there had fared worse than those in front. Their clothes showed soot and reeked of smoke; some bore scars indicating varying degrees of burns.

  "Has anyone seen my wife, Lady Darby?" he asked, passing between those there, taking off his coat to offer to the trembling little girl who had run out from behind it and handing off a handkerchief to another.

  The child who accepted his coat met his eyes in disbelief. "No, sir. No fine ladies be here." She shook her head at him, and Darby pulled the coat closer about her shoulders, noticing how she seemed to guard one limp arm. She kept her eyes glued on the burning mill. "There's a redheaded angel, though. She came because I prayed for her when I was stuck inside the loom. 'Tis all my fault, sir. I prayed to God to send me help. He sent a beautiful angel, dressed like one of us. She climbed inside the machine and freed me, even when the evil man with the stick ordered her to stop."

  Darby was touched. "Tell me about this angel, sweetheart," he said gently. "Where is she now?" Darby knew of only one redhead who was obsessed with the mill, and she was his own Lily.

  "I think God struck the mill with lightening, because a fire came. The angel ran from floor to floor savin' us all, showin' us the way out. She stayed inside after everyone else left. But God'll keep her safe. She's one of his own."

  "God means for me to protect your angel, sweetheart. Point me to where you saw her last, and I'll find her for you."

  She raised her good hand and pointed toward the window of the burning building. Darby picked her up in his arms and dashed toward the direction where the women were huddled in the front. He saw Rebekah in the front with the others, her face a mask of fear, and started toward her with the little girl. In his haste, he almost knocked over his own mother who was rushing toward the inferno, screaming Lily's name. The sound of crashing walls filled the air, and bricks were falling outward. Darby, with the child, just managed to shove his mother aside before part of the wall collapsed near them. Jacob was nearby, and Darby left them both in his charge.

  "Jacob, keep my mother away from the building, I beg you. And take this little girl to wait with Rebekah, where she'll be safe."

  But his mother grasped his arm as he turned to leave. "You must save her, son," she pleaded.

  Darby stared, wondering at the countess' sudden concern for Lily. Had she changed? But she tugged on his arm again, insistently. "Charlie, listen to me." In the voice he hadn't heard since he'd been a child, she caught his attention. The words she spoke echoed in his ears as he moved away, "She is carrying your child."

  My child…

  He was still hearing his mother's voice, when he ran back toward the burning building. The firemen were not paying attention to him now, and he drew closer. He ran through the women and children fleeing, even turning them to face him so he could look into their faces, asking the question, 'Have you seen Lily?' over and over again. The women stared up at him sadly, shaking their heads.

  A scream and a crash pierced his consciousness, and he turned to run behind the building once again, trying to avoid the bricks and the intense heat that was bearing down on everyone. Ahead, he saw a man, coming out with a little boy on his shoulders and ran toward him.

  "I need to know if you've seen my wife?"

  The man lifted the little child down and sent him toward the others. "Down ye go, Finn. I see yer sis. Go and stay with 'er yonder, 'ear?"

  "Yes, Ashton."

  "Excuse me—"

  "I 'eard. Who might yer wife be?"

  "Lillianna—you would perhaps know her as Lily Collingwood. She worked here at one time."

  Ashton's face reflected fury for an instant, almost immediately changing to sorrow. "Aye, she did. And she was 'ere this mornin'—most all us owe our lives t' her bravery this day. But ye—sir! Ye need t' keep a better eye on 'er. Lily, she don't listen t' the rest of us. 'Specially me."

  "Damn, man, I didn't ask for a lecture, did I? Where the bloody hell is she?"

  Ashton glared back. "Wish I knew, I did. Supposed t' jump the same time as me and Finn. She didn't."

  Darby's face blanched. "She didn't jump to safety?"

  "Aye, she fainted and fell. They caught 'er. But don't know where she went aft. She ain't back there now. But I'm swearin', when ye find 'er, give 'er ten licks and tell her it's from Ashton. And then, 'old 'er tight."

  "Trust me. I will." Darby went back toward the huddled groups of women, determined to go through them, one by one. His eyes first lit on Rebekah, with the little boy Ashton had called 'Finn' held tightly in her embrace. As he approached, he saw a woman waving toward him and realized it was his mother.

  Gone was the look of desperation she'd worn earlier. Her face was full of hope and joy. She was pointing to a group of women, with children huddled close to each other, and motioning him to look.

  Darby stopped, staring. There was one young woman, moving about from child to child and woman to woman, encouraging, comforting, seeing to their needs. She tried to pass out water to them, one by one, with a pitcher and dipper, and then moved to another group.

  He watched her closely. Her face and hands were black with soot. Her hair hung down her back, looking thoroughly disheveled and slightly singed, but he thought it might have been red. Her clothes, he didn't recognize. But her movements of grace and tenderness toward the women and children as she ministered to first one, then the next, mesmerized him.

  It was his Lillianna.

  She straightened up and put her hands to her b
ack, as if she was in discomfort. A moment later, she rubbed a hand across her cheek, smearing soot and grime, and blew a lock of curls out of her face.

  She'd never looked more beautiful.

  He moved slowly toward her, refusing to take his eyes from her face. Stopping six feet outside the circle of ladies, he stood patiently, until she looked up and saw him.

  At first, her eyes were round and wary, but as she studied his face, a meek little smile developed.

  "I love you," he mouthed.

  A huge grin crossed her mouth, and she stumbled forward through the group of women and flew into his arms.

  "Oh, Charlie," she whispered.

  "My girl. My darling girl," he said softly into her hair." What am I going to do with you?"

  In broad daylight, she stole a kiss from him, and he laughed. "Is that what you suggest?"

  "Yes?"

  He tilted her chin. "Tell me, sweetheart, what needs to be done here?"

  She glanced at the ladies to the left. Some of them were beginning to walk toward their homes; some still could not make it that far.

  "Right now, they need water to soothe their throats. Many of the children need to be taken home, my lord," she said softly. "Some of them need a doctor. They breathed so much smoke. There is a little girl named Annie, who was injured today—"

  "Yes, I met her. She wishes to see you again, and I promised I'd bring you to her. She's worried. She called you her 'angel' and said God sent you to rescue her from being trapped inside the loom."

  Lily looked thoughtfully up at him. "Perhaps he did," she whispered. A look of sorrow etched her beautiful face suddenly. "And there is Finnian, Rebekah's little brother. We almost missed him. He was with Ashton."

  "Yes, Ashton sent him to find Rebekah, and I just saw her with him. He's all right, Lillianna."

  She breathed a sigh of relief. "Charlie, there is so much that needs to be done here. Their needs are so great—"

  "Then, let's do what we can, Lillianna," a female voice stopped her mid-sentence.