by Linda West
Sissy turned and looked at me like Linda Blair out of The Exorcist, then spurred her horse on even faster toward the icy stream. With one final dig of her heels, Sissy and her horse sailed over the frigid river like Olympians.
I screamed, and suddenly we were racing through the air right behind them. Gypsy knew how to jump, thankfully, and she leaped effortlessly over the water and landed on the other side of the snowbank.
The only problem was that I wasn't on the back when she landed. I fell off in one horrible slow-motion moment.
Me bouncing out of the seat. Me catapulting through the air. Me landing on my butt, cracking the ice, and then the horrible revelation that I was sinking into the freezing water.
The freezing water sent arrows of pain piercing through my entire body. I flailed and tried to pull myself off the edge with my wet gloves, but the ice broke around me in little fractures that spread like varicose veins.
"Sissy! Sissy!” I screamed. "Help!"
But Sissy was long gone. Gypsy was nowhere to be seen either—not that some horse could fish me out of my current dilemma.
I cried out again into the dark night, but there was no one there to hear. I gasped and struggled to pull myself onto the ice, but it kept breaking. I was so very, very cold, and my limbs felt weighted down. I pushed my arms to tread water, but I was getting tired.
I suddenly had the horrible revelation that I could die alone in this cold, watery death and never be found.
I saw a branch, and I reached for it. I struggled to grasp the thin limb, giving thanks for trees and my life preserver, when I heard an ominous crack.
The branch broke under my pull, and I sank further beneath the cold, dark water. I fought with all my strength to swim back to the surface. I got my head above the water and sucked in a breath, but my arms were weak, and I found it harder to move to keep my head afloat.
I started to panic, and I swallowed some water and spat it out. I cried out again with all my strength. "Help me, please! Help me!"
I slid under the surface again, and blackness enveloped me. I felt myself sinking lower and lower.
When I started losing consciousness, I imagined I heard my name being called. Some inner survival mechanism kicked in and gave me hope. Though my arms were now useless, I fought with my last strength, kicking my legs as hard as I was able to so I could get to the surface.
"Here!" I screamed as I broke through the surface. I struggle to raise my hand up. "I'm here, help!"
"Allie!"
It was Devlin!
He was really there, not a mirage. I harnessed my last breath to call out.
"Devlin!"
Then I was dragged down again into the bitter cold and dark water. I felt myself sinking, and I had no energy left. I couldn't make my arms move, and I descended toward the bottom hopelessly.
And then I felt Devlin's hand grab mine. I numbly felt myself being pulled up and out of the water. I remember gasping for breath and the look of fear in Devlin's eyes, and then everything went black.
Chapter 34
I awoke in delirium. My head was feverish, and the room dim. I felt the bed around me and opened my eyes.
A small group had gathered, and Carol Landers came over and picked up my hand as I fluttered into consciousness.
I focused on her kind face.
"What happened?"
She patted my hand. "It's okay, darling, you're going to be okay."
A man with a stethoscope appeared beside her. "This is my husband, Dr. Archibald." He stepped forward and smiled at me.
"It looks like the patient is better; how are you feeling, dear?"
Horrible, exhausted, and scared.
"I'm so confused."
"You fell in the water, honey. Nearly drowned, and Devlin pulled you out,” said Carol.
“In the nick of time, I might add," clucked the old doctor. "One more minute and I'm not sure we could have gotten you back."
Jeeves, Mr. Somerset, and Alice stood at the back of the room, looking concerned.
I halfheartedly waved. Devlin was asleep on the settee at the end of the bed.
"Is he okay?"
I struggled to sit.
Dr. Archibald urged me back down. "Your fiancé is going to be okay, dear. He is getting some much-needed rest. He had his own battle with the ice before he was able to get you both out."
Mr. Somerset moved to his son's side. "I don't know how he managed to ride them both back to the house in the state we found them."
Carol patted Mr. Somerset on the back. "I think he is your son, with the fortitude to beat just about anything that comes his way."
Mr. Somerset nodded. "You’re sure they don't need to be hospitalized, Dr. Archibald?"
"No, they're both past the worst of it. Just sleep and liquids at this point, and when they’re ready, a good hearty meal.'"
Jeeves hustled to my side with some water and O.J.
"Should I bring food, miss?"
I shook my head. "No, thank you. But thank you all so much." I grabbed Jeeves’s hand at his authentic look of concern.
The realization that I had nearly died was a lot to take along with my fever and shock. Dr. Archibald must have seen the weariness in my eyes, because he shuffled everyone out of the room.
He bent over and whispered, "I'll be back to check on you both. Sweet dreams, child."
Chapter 35
It was a restless night, broken up by nightmares and thirst.
I felt a strong arm around me, and in the dim light, noticed Devlin lying beside me. He was sleeping soundly, and my eyes went wide, but I didn't move. His embrace felt so safe. His full lips parted as he slept.
He had saved me. The doctor said he had put himself in danger to save me. It was hard to hate him.
My head hurt, and figuring out my complicated feelings was too much to balance. How to fit Devlin into the slot of a jerk now?
The man I despised had risked his life for me. My ex-boyfriend wouldn't even give me a lift home during a blizzard.
I closed my eyes and snuggled into Devlin's arms.
I slept deeply through the rest of the night, and awoke in a warm haze, still clasped in Devlin's strong embrace. The morning sun had shined through the window and sent slanting shards of light across the room.
I froze when I realized Devlin was awake and stroking my hair. It felt so protective and loving, and I didn't move, not wanting to break the moment. There was a knock on the door. It was Jeeves with the doctor.
I looked over to see Devlin's eyes focused on me. I couldn't read them, but, for once, I dared to stare back into his beautiful gaze. He was stunningly handsome close-up.
"Come in, Jeeves, please," Devlin said in a deep morning voice. He smiled and gave me a quick hug as he gently detangled his arms from my body.
I blushed and felt myself getting heated, but it wasn't a fever.
Chapter 36
Dr. Archibald gave us both a clean bill of health. The Mistletoe Ball was tonight, and we had been cleared to go if we rested all day.
I could hardly believe it was Christmas Eve, and my heart hurt for my own home. I wondered what my father was doing right now.
Devlin and I were alone in the room, and I was glad I didn't have to deal with anyone else. He was bare-chested, clad only in black silk pajama pants. He was pacing, as usual, in front of the fireplace, and it was hard to not stare at his perfect physique.
He had been so concerned and loving, but now he was back in his head.
"Look, Allie, this is a significant event tonight. I think if we get through this, we’re through the woods."
I smiled slowly. Back to the facts, ma’am. We got a job to do. Part of me felt hollow and yearned to have him back in bed next to me. It had been so long since I had someone hug me or stroke my hair. I had thought I was immune to men at this point, but now I wasn't so sure. My single rock status was melting into mush with each move of that muscled chest.
I pulled my eyes away and focused on eat
ing. Devlin seemed to have recovered nicely as he was still pacing, which resembled exercise.
I took a slug of my chocolate milk and watched the show.
"Your only job is to look beautiful and look in love with me. I will announce to everyone that we're getting engaged, and then it will be official."
I gulped. "Okay."
He glanced at me. "Just remember not to say much. We're almost there, and–"
"The snow looks extra white tonight." I smiled dumbly.
He gave me a thumbs-up. "That's perfect."
I felt my heart lurch and brought my hand to my stomach.
"Are you okay?" He looked concerned.
I waved it off. "Just weak – more food." I stuffed a croissant in my mouth to avoid sticking my foot in it.
I was happy this charade was coming to an end.
Devlin observed me as he paced. "Sissy's been oddly quiet. I'm not sure if she has something up her sleeve."
"Maybe she's hiding because she almost killed me," I said, chewing on my pastry.
“She…what?”
“She plotted to get me in that water. She got me on Gypsy and kept going when I fell.”
Devlin froze. His skin paled. But he believed me. "We have to be on guard.”
I took a deep breath and cleared my throat. "Devlin…” His name sounded different in my mouth now. Not like something I wanted to gag up, more like a soft kitten purr. "I think you should talk to your father."
He rolled his eyes. "I've been talking to my father."
"I mean, honestly. Tell him the truth about us– tell him everything."
Devlin's aristocratic dark eyebrows shot up. "Is your temperature up again? There is no way I can tell my father I brought the chauffeur's daughter here to pose as my fiancé so I could trick him into signing over what I wanted." He choked out a rough laugh. "That is exactly what Sissy would love. She'd win. It would be over, and Somerset Industries will be a thing of the past."
I continued to unabashedly stare at Devlin as he moved like a great cat in the zoo, prancing back and forth with his muscular body. That body that was curled up next to me just hours ago.
I bit into my croissant and hoped I didn't have crumbs on my mouth. Then I took a sip of coffee.
"I don't know a lot about life, Devlin, and I'm not super smart. I'm not a successful businessperson like you are, and I haven't been around the world or speak multiple languages like you do—which is very cool, by the way."
Devlin's eyebrows went up.
"But we are the same in some ways. Both of us lost people we love too soon."
He looked at me with a new seriousness.
"There were so many things that I wish I would have said to my mother even though I had time. But once she was gone, I realized there was so much I never said…How much I loved her, how much I appreciated her, how much I looked forward to every day, taking it for granted that she would be there like the sun, every morning shining down on my life—and then she wasn't."
Tears filled my eyes, and Devlin came over and brought me a tissue. He handed me the box.
"Let's not go getting all morose—you're going to swell your eyes up, and you'll never get your makeup to cover that." He patted me awkwardly on the back and then cleared his throat.
"Come, now. Cheer up and look like a future Somerset. We don't cry."
I sob-laughed at him even harder. He sat down on the bed next to me and used his thumb to wipe away a tear gently.
I stared into his eyes. "Your father is almost 90. You still have a chance to fix things with him. Tell him you love him. Tell him what you've gone through to try and prove yourself to him, and how much you need his approval."
Devlin shook his head adamantly.
I got up out of bed and pulled my Zsa Zsa Gabor nightgown around myself, self-consciously. The morning light shone through the ethereal fabric, and I'm pretty sure it was see-through…
I grabbed his hands. "Have no regrets, Devlin."
I shook his hands up and down to capture his attention. He looked me in the eye.
"You never know in life if you'll see someone again. There are no guarantees. You didn't get that chance with your mother, and you're still hurt by that…"
He opened his mouth to disagree, but I put my finger to his luscious lips and stopped him. "You're lying to your dad. You don't have to. Talk to him; tell him you love him, and how much you want to save his legacy. Just tell him the truth, Devlin. No regrets."
Devlin took a deep inhalation as if he’d sucked in my meaning, and he moved to the window and opened the curtains to stare out at the mountains. When he turned back to me, his eyes were clouded over, our moment of closeness gone.
"I'm going to take my father early to get his tux tailored. Are you going to be okay meeting me at the ball? Jeeves will escort you over, of course."
I nodded. "I'll be ready."
"Okay." He slipped out of his pajama pants in one fluid movement and stood naked except for his form-fitting underwear.
I blushed. But kept looking.
He didn't notice my red flaming face, thankfully.
"I don't want to put any undue pressure on you, but some of the wealthiest and titled people from all over the world will be in attendance tonight. Especially now that the planes are cleared to fly again." He slipped on a pair of grey fitted slacks that melted around his body like butter. He followed it with a light blue shirt and ran his hand through his hair. He looked better than my croissant, which was saying a lot.
I stuttered. "What should I wear?"
Devlin adjusted his tie in the mirror.
"I bought you a dress, so you’ll look like a queen– as befitting my fiancé." He strode toward the door with a determined look, and then stopped.
"We just have to get through tonight, Allie, and we'll both get what we want."
He winked at me and shut the door.
Chapter 37
It was nearing time for the ball, and I was ready, but nervous. I touched my hair, which I had styled with soft beach waves. My long locks now hung down in spiral mermaid curls to my waist, and for the first time, I thought maybe the blonde worked on me after all. That said, I couldn't wait to strip hair back to its natural color as soon as I got home.
Tonight’s Mistletoe Ball rang through my head, bringing fairytale images to mind.
I was excited for Devlin to see me all dressed up. He had picked out a beautiful cherry red dress and had sent a wrist corsage in matching red roses.
I looked down at the pretty flowers I wore as a bracelet. Roses. I inhaled the lovely fragrance. Maybe Devlin did listen to some of the things I said? Most likely not. I still yearned for his approval for some reason, but I told myself I just wanted to fulfill my side of the deal successfully.
My makeup and hair were done; I wrapped my silk robe around me and came out of the powder room humming. I stopped short when I saw Sissy in my room, casually going through my closet as if she owned it.
I inhaled deeply and scanned the room, hoping Devlin was there for support and protection, but I knew he was with his father and had planned to meet me at the ball.
That meant I was alone with Satan.
Sissy looked me over. "I am sorry about last night. In all fairness, you didn't have to ride if you didn't know how to keep your seat." She shrugged her shoulders. "Crazy to get on a mount like Gypsy if you weren't an advanced rider."
I wanted her out of my room. Our room. Now.
Sissy pulled out my red ballgown with one of her claws. My shoulders tensed. I didn't like seeing it in her demon grasp.
"My, my, this looks like a Halston." She fingered the stunning red gown with the plunging neckline. I took in how low it went and gulped. I hoped ribs were attractive, because I certainly didn't have any cleavage to fill that.
She was running her hands through it and turning it back and forth. I wanted to snatch it away from her, but with my luck, it would have ripped.
"St. Lauren? Chanel?" She examined the tag.
I willed her to return it to the closet, and reluctantly she gave in to my Spock mental demands. .
"Devlin bought it,” I said, when it was safely back in the wardrobe. “He's got better taste than I do."
Sissy laughed. "He's got better taste than most of us."
I glanced at my closet and wondered why she had been going through my things. That's when I noticed my chauffeur outfit, peaking out of my backpack that I had shoved in the corner.
I froze, and slowly moved over and positioned myself in front of the revealing evidence. Sissy continued rifling through my dresses as if she were buying something.
"So, the big Ball–you'll be introduced to everyone that is anyone. Your engagement news will be official."
I looked down at Sofia's enormous ring on my finger. Official. Last act. I had to get her out of here.
"Just so I can tell all our friends, or should I say my brother's ex's…."
I half shut the French door of the closet..
"Exactly how did you get my commitment-phobic brother to agree to marry you when every other girlfriend he's ever had never succeeded?"
I smiled uncomfortably.
"Lucky, I guess."
She squinted at me with her freaky contact eyes.
"I still feel like I've seen you somewhere before," she said.
I shrugged uncomfortably under her scrutiny and started flapping my hands in a shooing motion. As if I was herding some cattle out of the field.
"Well, you better get along, Sissy. I need to finish getting ready. Wash my pits, you know?"
She made a face.
I went for the gross-out, which actually works well in getting people to leave.
She looked suspiciously at me and then back at the closet, as if she knew she was missing something.
Jeeves broke the tension when he knocked, and he let himself in through the cracked door with an ice bucket and champagne.
Sissy plopped her skinny butt down on the bed and motioned for Jeeves to bring a glass to her at her new post.
