Page 47 of Persuasions of an Earl's Daughter

A curse escaped August and Lilly nodded her agreement when she peered into the room to spy the elderly couple huddled together, barely standing against the force of the water which swirled about the room, carrying furnishings with it.

Curling her fingers around the edge of the window, Lilly eyed the narrow opening. “I can climb in.”

“Like hell.”

She looked to August. “We can hardly leave them, and you cannot fit through here. Perhaps if I push the door from the other side, we can create enough of an escape for you to pull these people through.”

He glanced around and though shouts could be heard not far from them, it was clear for now they were reliant on only themselves. He gave a slight nod, grabbed her arm, and pulled her to him for a quick, firm kiss. “Do not get hurt,” he warned her.

“I’ll be fine.” With August’s aid, she clambered awkwardly into the window, hauled her soaking skirts with her, and splashed inelegantly into the shadows of the building. She looked to the frail elderly couple. “We’ll get you out of here,” she vowed. “Come and help me,” she told the young woman.

The woman gripped the door handle while Lilly inched her fingers around the gap between the door and the building. No wonder the cottage had filled up so quickly. The old door offered little protection against the water. She just made out August’s command to push on the other side of the door and together they pulled as he pushed.

Her fingers hurt and her frozen toes were in agony. She wasn’t certain she could feel the rest of her body at this point. Nevertheless, she pulled with all the strength she had left, and a flurry of triumph burst through her when they forced a gap.

“Can you find something to put in there,” August said, grunting with effort.

Lilly glanced around and spied some floating wood. With one hand still curled around the door, she snatched it with her other, and shoved it into the gap. When she pushed upon it, she was able to create more of a gap and she motioned to the couple to come near.

“They need to go under the wood,” she explained to the lady.

“Under the water,” she said—a grim statement rather than a question.

“You go through first,” Lilly said. “Then you can take their hands and guide them through.”

Nodding, the woman’s throat bobbed as she eyed the gap and the swirling dark water.

“I’m here,” called August through the gap. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Taking a breath, the woman slipped under the water. She vanished and Lilly held her breath and prayed the woman didn’t get swept away as soon as she escaped the building. She heard a splash and August’s reassuring tones.

“We’re both here, Lil. Send the other two through.”

She motioned to the elderly couple. “Quickly now.”

“You first, Mary.” The old man hustled his wife forward, who peered at the door then her husband.

“I can’t swim,” she muttered. “You know I can’t swim.”

“You do not have to swim,” Lilly assured her. “Just duck your head under and my friend and your daughter will grab you.”

“Come on, Mary. You’ve never been a coward before.”

She glared at her husband and Lilly might have laughed had it not been for her chattering teeth and the rising water.

“If I die, I’m coming back to haunt you, Edgar Newman.” She gripped the door and quickly ducked down.

Moments later, Lilly spied her emerging into August’s arms. He vanished from sight for a moment then returned.

“She’s safe,” he assured them, and Lilly turned to the last man.

“After you, sir.”

“Forty years living here, and this is the first flood we’ve had that’s gone higher than my ankles.” He shook his head. “Never thought I needed to learn to swim.” With that, he dropped under the water and Lilly held her breath until she saw him emerge on the other side.

“Now you, Lil,” August said, reaching for her.

She nodded, inhaled deeply and clamped her mouth shut. Just as she went to duck under the water, a crack resounded through the house. She twisted her head to spy the open window slam against the wall and shatter into pieces as a fresh wave of water poured into the house. The sudden surge shoved her hard against the door. Her head struck something, pain jolting through her skull. Sparks danced in front of her eyes and a sudden weakness swept through her as water washed over her head. The last thing she saw before her vision turned into a pinprick of light was August’s panicked expression.

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