Page 30 of The Tempting of a Devilish Lord

“Whatever are you two doing down there?” she called.

“Do not lean too far over,” Lucy warned.

“We fell and are stuck,” Alex said. “Did you see the buggy? Not far from the foot of the hill?”

“Yes,” said Mary-Anne. “I came up here because I thought it was yours.”

“Go to it and fetch the rope from it. There’s usually some stored under the seat. You’ll have to find something to tie it to then send it down. We need to get your sister out of here.”

“How on earth did this happen?” Mary-Anne asked.

“Mary-Anne,” he said tightly.

“Oh, yes, get the rope, I know. I’m going.” She vanished and then peered back over briefly. “Do not enjoy being with the marquis too much, Lucinda!”

“I might well strangle her,” Lucy bit out through chattering teeth.

∞∞∞

THE WORST PART of this whole ordeal was not when Lucinda had plunged into the water or realized they were trapped. No, it had to be when she was alone. After Alex bound the rope tightly about her waist, he began his climb.

She watched his progress, clinging to the rough rope with numb fingers while her breaths came in stuttering puffs. She forced her attention to remain on Alex. If she focused on the gloom surrounding her and the deep, black water, she was not certain she would be able to take her next breath.

Though the rope kept her from sinking into the endless depths, she missed his arms about her, his chest against her back, offering a safety that she had known could not last forever but reassured her regardless.

He moved swiftly, as though he had not spent what she imagined must have been nearly an hour in the frigid water. She supposed if one must fall down a well it was no bad thing for one to be stuck with someone who climbed mountains on a regular basis.

When he vanished briefly over the top the ridiculous thought that maybe he and her sister would leave her struck. However, he had vowed he would get her to safety and goodness knew, she believed him. He had taken her face in his hands and offered her endless promises before climbing, though she could not quite recall what they were now. Either way, she did not doubt he would rescue her.

He looked over the edge again, and she eased out a breath.

“I’m going to pull you up now, Lucy. Use your feet to stop yourself bumping into the side if you can.”

Unable to form any words, she nodded, even though there was no chance he saw the movement. The rope squeezed about her waist and she held on tight. The numbness in her body almost masked the pain of the rope pulling at her arms, but she could not bring herself to care if she would end up with bruises, regardless.

Focusing on Alex, she tried not to think about what would happen if she plunged to the bottom again. Bile rose in the back of her throat at the image, so she forced her attention to Alex’s determined expression. Daylight grew closer. The scent of the air changed. He moved fast and latched his hands under her arms to haul her out and away from the well.

“Goodness, Lucy, you are practically gray!” Mary-Anne exclaimed.

“We need to get her warm. “Alex rubbed his hands up and down her arms.

“What of you?” she managed to murmur.

“I’m practically dry.”

Alex swept a hand under her legs, making her squeak in surprise, and picked his way down the hill before she could so much as summon a response to his obvious lie. She felt the damp of his shirt under her fingertips.

He had to be cold and exhausted, but he moved swiftly, lifting her onto the buggy, and flinging a blanket about her shoulders. When Alex sat next to her and wrapped an arm about her shoulders, she swore she felt him shudder.

Mary-Anne squeezed onto the seat next to her, removed her gloves and hat and awkwardly put them on Lucinda. Her sister burrowed close and Lucinda could not help but sink into the warmth the blanket and the two bodies offered.

“Do not fall asleep, Lucy,” Mary-Anne said. “You still need to scold me.”

“Where did you go anyway?”

“To the stone circle. It’s only a mile from here.”

“Stone circle?” Lucinda repeated, aware of the breathy quality of her voice.

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