Page 23 of Lady in Ruby
“I’ll wait for you there!” she replied cheekily. Digging into the ice with one blade, she shot off across the pond. Caroline was naturally athletic, and she soon found a rhythm, but Francis’s slight head start and long legs made it difficult to catch up. She just came abreast of him as they approached the other end, where the wind had blown the snow into ridges and left some the ice clear, the surface almost black in the dull light of the cloudy day.
“I’m going to pass you!” she called.
Francis looked back, and suddenly veered to the right, as if he meant to avoid her colliding into him. He reached out his left arm as he shouted, “Caroline!” at the same time she heard a sickening crack.
The ice was breaking.
* * * *
It happened so quickly that Caroline didn’t even have a chance to scream before she plunged into dark, icy water. Her limbs went numb instantly, and her lungs seemed to compress as the fearful cold surrounded her, denying her precious air. She thrashed her legs and arms, which felt like wielding wooden sticks on a puppet—she knew the body parts were moving, but she felt nothing. And something was dragging her down…her cloak, suddenly dangerously heavy.
She tugged frantically at the ties, finally loosening the garment to drift down in the water. Finally, she broke the surface and inhaled the sweet but frigid air. Which way was she even facing? All she saw was white. The shouts of others made her look over, and oh, no, why were they all so far away and so much higher up?
Swim, you fool! she told herself. She tried to move toward the jagged ledge of ice in front of her, but the moment she reached out and seized it, a chunk of it cracked and collapsed into the water.
Caroline was alone in the icy water…but where was Francis? Had he fallen in too? No, she’d see him…hear him splashing…God in Heaven, it was so cold…
Near the other shore, Timothy Stockan shouted at the others to keep off the ice. “Everyone stay on land. The ice can’t support all the weight anymore!”
“But we have to get her out!” Estelle cried, looking around for some way to reach Caroline. She seized upon a long branch that had fallen and been pushed up near the shore of the pond. Timothy helped her yank it free of the ice, though Estelle refused to relinquish it to him. Together, Timothy and Estelle skated over, moving gingerly at every sharp crack.
“Stop!” Caroline cried, terrified for her friend.
“She’s right. Lie down on the ice,” Timothy added. “Spread your weight over as much area as you can.” He also dropped to the surface, demonstrating. The couple managed to stretch out enough to get close to the hole, with Timothy holding Estelle’s ankle as she stretched forward and held the branch out to Caroline.
She grabbed at it, unsure if her frozen fingers even grasped it. Black spots appeared before her eyes, and she could hear her heart thudding ever more slowly in her ears. But then Estelle’s hand clamped over her own. Somehow, the others had pulled her out of the water.
“Where’s Francis?” she mumbled.
“Shh, I don’t know. He must have gone for help. Never mind him,” Estelle said. Timothy reached over to Caroline and helped pull her upright, apologizing for taking the liberty of touching her.
Cold air hit her then, and she started to shiver violently. Estelle flung herself over Caroline, holding her close in an attempt to warm her. Estelle’s own thin cape fluttered about them like a great green bird.
“I need a dry cloak,” Estelle cried. “Hers is gone!”
Gone? Caroline had a hazy memory of the heavy wool dragging her down, the ties at the neck yanking hard against her throat as she fell…she must have managed to undo the ribbon and free herself, or else she’d surely have drowned.
Timothy laid his greatcoat over the two women and said, “Here, it will be all right.” But Caroline saw only worry in his face. He looked around, and then said, “The food baskets! There are hot rocks in them, aren’t there?”
“Yes, go get them!” Estelle said.
“I’ll b-b-b-b—” She tried to speak, but her teeth were chattering and her whole body was starting to convulse.
Estelle gave a cry of alarm. “The rocks won’t be enough, I’m afraid. She needs to get home!”
But home was a mile away, and Caroline couldn’t walk. The mere idea of standing up and rising into that awful, ice-strewn air made her faint.
“S-S-S-Stelle, I can’t,” she gasped out.
“We’ll get you home,” Estelle said. “Where did Mr Foster go? He could have carried you. There must be some way to get you—wait!”
Caroline couldn’t turn her head, and there was a pounding in her ears…but no, there was another counterpoint…horse’s hooves.
From her vantage point lying on the snow, Caroline saw a huge white horse trot up. Snowdon, dressed in that white greatcoat, looked like the soul of winter.
Estelle wasted no time. She turned and called, “My Lord Snowdon! Caroline fell into the water! She needs help! Can you get her back to the manor before…”
Before it’s too late. Caroline heard the words her friend couldn’t say.
