The bridge shook again. Beauty shied slightly but remained fairly calm. Even so, Jane sent up a prayer: Please don’t let anything else hit the bridge. Her prayer was not answered. Something smashed against the bridge, an object so big and hard the overhead beams shuddered, and the wooden planks beneath moved as if they were coming apart.
To Jane’s left, on the downstream side, Beauty let out a frightened neigh and reared back, her front legs thrashing the air. “Hold on, Meg!” Jane frantically grasped the lead to try to steady her wild-eyed horse.
“Molly, Molly!” Meg screamed.
Jane watched in horror. The little girl was slipping from her older sister’s grasp. “Oh, no, grab her!” Too late. Before Meg could react, the child flew over the railing, into the deadly swift current of the River Hulm.
Chapter 18
Douglas spied Jane and the Twimby family on the bridge. He and Rennie quickened their horses’ pace. “What was that?”
“Dear God! The little girl ... she just went off the bridge,” Rennie shouted. “There she is.” Rennie pointed to a little blonde head bobbing in the water. “See there? She’s coming toward us. She ... Douglas, what are you doing?”
In a twinkling, Douglas slid off his horse and ran toward the raging current, shucking his jacket as he went.
“Douglas, for God’s sake you cannot,” Rennie shouted. “Come back, you fool, you can’t survive in that.”
Douglas heard Rennie’s frantic plea but did not reply. No time. If he could not catch the girl in the next few seconds, it would be too late. He stopped to yank his boots off, then plunged into the icy coldness of the river. Where was she? Ah yes, the little blonde head was coming toward him, sailing along amidst an assortment of debris. Grab her fast. Do not miss her. He started to swim. Fast strokes, faster than he had ever swum before. Barely in time, he reached her, grabbing her arm as the current carried her by. By the time he got a firm grip, they were both carried downstream. He tried to swim back to shore, but the strong current held him in its grip and he could not break away. He would be forced to float along ... find a spot where he could reach land. The point! That place where the land jutted out and the river curved around it. Yes, he could make it. He must make it. They wouldn’t last long in this icy water. The point was his only chance.
For seconds more, he bobbed along in the debris-clogged river, holding the child tight, making sure her head stayed above the surface. He must get ashore. Quickly. At any moment, they could be struck by a log or other refuse, and that would be the end of them both. Ahead he saw the point. Now! With a powerful thrust, he pushed for the shore, performing a one-armed swim stroke with all his might.
He reached land. Stumbling, fighting for breath, he carried the little girl away from the water and laid her on the ground where she lay limp, her eyes closed. Was she breathing? He pressed his ear to her chest. Yes! She opened her eyes and ... started to cry. “Thank God!” He heard the sound of horses. Rennie arrived, pulling Major up sharply. Thunder followed close behind.
Rennie fairly jumped from his horse. “My word, Douglas, are you all right?”
“We’re fine.” Douglas picked up Molly and stood. “Give me your coat. She’s shivering from the cold.”
“You crazy fool.” Rennie quickly removed his coat and handed it to Douglas.
“She would have drowned. What else would you have had me do?” Douglas wrapped the coat tightly around the shivering child. “Let’s go. I suspect her family is anxious to know if she’s still alive.”
* * * *
Jane would never forget those agonizing moments after Molly was flung from the bridge. She had watched, frozen in horror, as the little blonde head was swept down the river.
From a distance, she saw Douglas dive in after her. Then both disappeared. They must have drowned, Jane thought with increasing despair. No one could survive long in that deadly current.
In an anguished frenzy, they raced as quickly as they could across the rest of the bridge and down the river path.
“It’s my fault,” Meg cried in a broken voice. “I should have held her tighter.”
“It’s not your fault. It just happened.” Icy fear twisted around Jane’s heart. Molly was gone forever. No way in the world could she be saved.
Then ...
In the distance, they saw Lord Rennie on his horse coming toward them. Douglas rode behind him, and sitting in front of him in the saddle ...”Molly!” Jane cried. “Look, Meg, it’s Molly and she’s safe.”
With a cry of gladness, Meg slid from Beauty’s back and ran to Douglas, Jane close behind. She grabbed her little sister from the saddle and cradled the child in her arms. “How can I ever thank you, sir?”
“No need to thank me.” Douglas frowned with concern. “We need to get her warm.”
“We shall take her to Chatfield Court,” Jane said. Words of gratitude rushed to her lips. “Douglas, I—”
“I said, no need to thank me.” Hastily Douglas asked Rennie, “Can we take them to Lancaster Hall?”
“Of course.”
Douglas turned to Jane. As he began to speak, the rain fell harder from the leaden sky. “A flood is coming. Chatfield Court isn’t safe.”
Jane shook her head in disbelief. “Whatever do you mean? My home is like a fortress. I can’t believe it’s not safe.”
Douglas swung from his horse and gripped her shoulders. “Listen to me. There’s a good chance Chatfield Court is about to be hit by a wall of water such as we haven’t seen since the fourteenth century. I hope I’m wrong, but a feeling in my gut says I’m not. Go home. Tell your family, the servants, everyone to get out now. Don’t wait.”
Rennie spoke up. “I say, old man, are you sure? The countess could be right, you know. Everyone is welcome to come to Lancaster Hall, of course, but is it really necessary?”
“It’s necessary.” Douglas had not removed his gaze from Jane’s face. He spoke again, his voice softened. “Would I lie to you?”
So much had happened. How could she grasp it all? She needed time to catch her breath, think things through. She must gather her wits and do what was right. “Chatfield Court has never been touched by a flood. I cannot imagine that happening when it has managed to survive for centuries. I shall have to think about it, Mister Cartland.”
“Think about it?” he repeated, anger in his voice. “Well, you just do that, Countess, but you’d better come to the right decision, and soon.”
Amelia Hart gazed at her daughter with incredulous eyes. “I cannot believe you would risk your life for a servant.”
Jane had arrived home drenched and shivering from cold. Now, warm and dry, she faced her family in the drawing room. She had related in detail Douglas Cartland’s courageous rescue of the little Twimby girl and relayed his forecast concerning the coming wall of water. Although Granny and Millicent had applauded her efforts to save the Twimbys, as expected, her mother was horrified. “Meg needed my help, Mama. My actions had nothing to do with her station in life.”
“That was so very brave of you,” said Millicent.
“Not really,” Jane answered. “Douglas Cartland was the brave one. If he hadn’t plunged into the river and rescued little Molly—”
“How magnificent he is!” Millicent gushed. “How brave! Such a hero! You should marry the man.”
In all the excitement of the day, Jane had momentarily forgotten her last quarrel with Douglas and the angry way they had parted. Now that she remembered, her spirits plunged. Millicent was absolutely right. Douglas was all she said he was: magnificent, brave, a hero. Even more, not the kind of conceited London fop Jane detested but a man full of compassion who cared more for others than himself. “I won’t be marrying Douglas Cartland, Millicent. There’s nothing between us, nor will there ever be.” Her heart ached, just hearing her own words.
Granny lifted an eyebrow. “You should never say never, missy.”
“It’s over, Granny.”
“What is this business about some
wall of water descending upon us?”
Jane elaborated on Douglas’ prediction concerning the impending flood. Before she finished, Mama started shaking her head. “What nonsense! And where, pray, are we supposed to go?”
“To Lancaster Hall. Lord Rennie will take us in.”
“There could be no place on earth safer than Chatfield Court,” Mama responded. “A wall of water? The whole idea is absolutely ludicrous.”
Jane kept her mouth shut. She knew there was no use arguing when Mama crossed her arms and clenched her jaw in defiance.
* * * *
In Rennie’s library, Douglas sat relaxed with his boots stretched out toward the inviting fire in the fireplace.
“Feel better?” Rennie asked.
“Quite.” Coming out of that river, he had never been so cold in his life, but with dry clothes and a cup of Mrs. Groton’s hot mulled wine at hand, he knew he would survive. “All I have to worry about now is a disastrous flood that will effectively wipe out this valley.”
“It won’t reach this high up?”
“Lancaster Hall is safe.”
“Are you sure, Douglas?” Rennie spoke in a thoughtful tone. “About this disastrous flood, I mean. Not to sound skeptical, but you do sound like the voice of impending doom.”
A flash of lightning lit the room, closely followed by a large clap of thunder and the sound of pelting rain. Douglas glanced toward the window. “Do you hear that?”
“It appears a thunderstorm has arrived.” Rennie took an uneasy sip of his mulled wine. “So you’re saying if it keeps up—?”
“If the downpour continues, we’re in trouble. I couldn’t be more serious.”
“Hmm, then we will have to wait and see, won’t we?” Rennie remained silent a moment. “I wonder if you have considered the momentous change in your life that occurred today.”
“Change in my life? Other than my saving little Molly—of which I’m proud and grateful, of course—I don’t know what you mean.”
“Then I shall explain it.” Rennie set down his cup and regarded Douglas with thoughtful eyes. “For years you’ve been a tortured soul, ever since you ran over that little girl.”
A half smile crossed Douglas’ face. “I never considered myself a tortured soul, but perhaps you’re right.”
“Of course I’m right. Ever since then, you have not allowed yourself to be happy because of the terrible thing you did.”
“That, too.”
“Well then, can’t you see how what happened today has changed all that?” At Douglas’ puzzled frown, Rennie continued, “Today you saved a little girl’s life. Does that not make up for the other little girl whose life you took? Tit for tat, to put it lightly. In other words, God gave you a chance to redeem yourself. You took up his challenge—quite heroically, I might add—so as far as I can see, you’re even.”
A long silence followed, during which Douglas let his friend’s words sink in. Could he be right? It had not occurred to him, but yes, he had saved Molly’s life at the risk of his own. Yes, the child would surely have drowned if he, Douglas Cartland, former rake and ne’er-do-well, had not dived into the river to save her. Slowly, a joyful realization washed over him. “Rennie, I never thought of that, but I believe you’re right. In a way, my saving Molly does make up for the other.”
“Of course, it does.” Rennie appeared delighted that his friend agreed. “So tell me, what is in the way of your marrying the countess now?”
Another long silence. Douglas was deep in thought. “I agree I have redeemed myself, but it still wouldn’t work.”
“Why ever not?”
“She’s a countess, for God’s sake, whereas I am only a lowly fifth son.”
“Surely not penniless.”
“Not quite penniless, but close. Think about it, Rennie. Jane has lived in luxury for most of her life. The money, the title ... How could I begin to compete?”
“She loves you, Douglas, I know she does.”
“It wouldn’t work. I’m looking beyond that first bloom of love when she gradually realizes nobody’s bowing and scraping to her anymore, waiting on her hand and foot.”
“Really?” I don’t think she’s that kind of woman. She doesn’t appear to be shallow and vain at all.”
Douglas shut his eyes. “I agree, she’s not shallow and vain, it just ... I could never come up to her standards. Now can we change the subject?”
“Of course. We can always talk about the weather.”
Douglas’ expression remained solemn. “If this rain doesn’t let up, that’s all we’ll be talking about. I’m worried, Rennie.”
“I know, but let’s not be too hasty.”
The deluge continued, accompanied by more thunder and lightning. Douglas sat listening, his concern growing by the minute.
“One more hour,” he told Rennie. “If the storm doesn’t let up, it will be time to send out the alarm.”
Another hour passed, during which giant streaks of lightning lit the sky and deafening peals of thunder shook the ground. The rain never ceased. Finally, a particularly heavy deluge struck, sounding like rocks hurled against the windows. Douglas sprang from his chair. “That’s it. We have waited long enough. It’s time to go.”
Douglas started for the door, but Rennie cried, “Wait!” and grabbed his arm. “Think what you’re doing before you go off half-cocked like this. You could be wrong.”
“I’m not wrong.”
“How do you know for sure? Telling people to run for their lives? Leave their homes and possessions behind? You are about to cause total panic up and down this valley and you had better think twice. What if you’re wrong and there is no flood? There goes your reputation. If you aren’t judged insane, at the very least you will be declared a laughingstock.”
Douglas gazed at his friend with the utmost calm. “I shall take that risk. Don’t you understand? Chatfield Court, the whole valley, are about to be wiped out. I must warn them. I could not live with myself if I didn’t.”
Hearing the urgency in his friend’s voice, Rennie visibly paled. “I’m beginning to believe you, and if what you say is true, then Millicent is in danger.”
“Millicent and many other poor souls. Come on, Rennie. Tons of water are about to burst from the canyon. There’s no time to lose.”
Rennie nodded decisively, as if Douglas’ stark words had finally sunk in. “Tell me what to do.”
“Grab your coat. You’re going to get very wet and very cold.”
“I’ll order the horses saddled and brought around.”
“We don’t have time for that. Let’s go.”
They rushed to the stables, where they found both Thunder and Major in their stalls. “Just slip on a harness,” Douglas said. “There’s no time for saddles.”
“You mean ride bareback?” Rennie asked. “I haven’t done that since I was a boy.”
Douglas slipped a harness over Thunder’s head and thrust a bit in his mouth. “You want to save Millicent, don’t you?”
“Confound it! Of course I do.”
“Then forget the saddle.”
Douglas led his horse outside. With an effortless leap, he mounted Thunder, took up the reins, and peered around. “Well, are you coming?”
Rennie immediately appeared, leading his horse, sans saddle. With a run and leap not nearly as graceful as his friend’s, he seated himself on Major’s back. “Let’s go. I must save Millicent.”
And Jane. Douglas touched his heels to Thunder’s flank. The horse leaped forward, followed by Rennie on Major. Through the pouring rain they raced down the hill to Chatfield Court. Thank God, it is still daylight. Douglas urged Thunder into his fastest gallop. He would hate to think of the chaos if people had to escape in total darkness.
They galloped the whole way down the hill, coming to an abrupt halt only when they reached the front portico at Chatfield Court. Both fairly leapt from their mounts, not bothering to tether them. Both horses were well trained. They would not wande
r far.
Griggs met them at the front entrance. “Is there something wrong, sir?”
“Order the coach brought around immediately,” Douglas replied without preamble. “It’s urgent. Then join us inside.” He hurried into the entry hall. Over his shoulder he called to Rennie, “All we have to do now is convince everyone to leave.”
* * * *
In the dim light of a rainy late afternoon, Jane, Granny, and Millicent had gathered in Jane’s bedchamber, playing a three-handed game of loo. After the day’s ordeal, Jane could almost enjoy the sound of the fierce storm outside, knowing she was safe with her family, warmed by the cozy fire in the fireplace. Douglas’ warning hung over her, but each time she thought of it, she convinced herself he must be wrong. She could not imagine a huge wall of water hurtling down the valley, high enough to drown them all.
Griggs interrupted their game. “You have visitors, m’lady. Mister Cartland and Lord Rennie request everyone’s presence in the drawing room immediately.”
Jane asked, “Do you know what he wants?”
“He did not say, madam. He has ordered the coach brought around, but I do not know why. I must say, whatever the reason, it appears most urgent.”
Jane threw down her cards. “We shall be down at once, Griggs. Granny, Millicent, come on. I’ll get Mama.”
When they reached the drawing room, they discovered Douglas and Rennie soaking wet, warming themselves in front of the cavernous fireplace, water dripping from their clothing onto the hearth. After greeting them, Jane asked Douglas, “Are you here for the reason I think, Mister Cartland?”
“I am. There is not a minute to lose.”
The Eltons arrived, James and Percy wearing looks of puzzlement. Beatrice maintained her saintly smile but with an eyebrow raised in amused contempt. Clearly whatever her visitors had to say, she would not take seriously. “Good evening, Lord Rennie, Mister Cartland. To what do we owe the pleasure of this visit?” She exchanged an amused glance with her son. “It must be vastly important to bring you out on a day like this.”
The Last of Lady Lansdown Page 25
