Page 24 of Lady in Ruby
Snowdon had already dismounted and now rushed to her side. He took one look and picked her sodden figure up in his arms. He said nothing as he strode to the horse. He lifted her onto the saddle and mounted up behind her, holding her tightly against him. Estelle ran up to them, pushing Timothy’s greatcoat into Snowdon’s hand.
He nodded as he took it and settled it over Caroline, tucking it around her head—her hair was sopping wet and already starting to freeze solid at the ends.
“Hurry!” Estelle said. “She needs warmth above all. Let her father know the moment you get to the house. He’ll know what to do. We’ll follow!”
Snowdon kicked his heels into the horse’s flanks, setting off at a gallop. In his arms, Caroline shivered and shook uncontrollably.
“Not far,” he told her, cradling her head to his chest. “You’ll be warm soon.”
But despite his easy words, she sensed a tension in his voice that was far more dire. The shock of falling into the water might stop her heart if she wasn’t treated in time. She couldn’t stop the violent shivers from racking her body. She tried to grasp the edge of the coat covering her, and couldn’t even feel her fingers.
“I’m sorry,” she got out. “Ruined-d-d-d your c-c-c-coat.”
“I don’t care about the coat. Are you comfortable?”
“I d-d-don’t know. I c-c-c-can’t feel anything,” she whispered.
“Hush,” he ordered harshly. “As my superior officer would say, you’re not allowed to die.”
He pushed the horse even faster.
As unconsciousness swept over Caroline, she wondered when Snowdon had ever been in the army.
Then Snowdon squeezed her to him, saying urgently, “Stay awake, Caroline. You mustn’t fall asleep when you’re cold like this, it’s dangerous.”
“I know, that’s why we made the formula,” she answered, her voice slurring.
“Tell me more,” he said. “Talk and stay awake.”
“It’s meant to warm a person up. Papa got the idea after all those soldiers died on the Russian campaign. Didn’t want more soldiers to die…the army…I mean our army…the War Department…can’t remember who…”
“Never mind who, just keep talking. How does it work?”
“It’s a chemical compound that keeps the blood moving, and stimulates nerves so one doesn’t go numb. The pigs who we tested it on stay more active in the cold, when the…con…control…”
“The control group, yes,” he said. “They didn’t remain active in the cold, but the group that got the formula did?”
“Yes,” she said, nodding. Lord, she was tired. “But one of the pigs who got the formula died, and Papa said it wasn’t ready. We have to make sure it’s safe…my lord, why are your eyes so blue?” Caroline was having trouble focusing. Only his eyes seemed to be clear and easy to look at.
“I was born that way,” he said, glancing down at her.
“When were you born?”
“I’ll be twenty-eight in February. Why?”
“I just wanted to make sure you weren’t born…yesterday. Not yesterday. The day you came to the house.”
“I assure you I’m not too young for you,” he said, laughing.
“Thought…I might have made you. From snow. Your name is Snow.”
“Snowdon,” he corrected, looking worried. “Caroline. You’re drifting. Please stay with me.”
“I built the snowman, you see. And I made him perfect. A Cor-Corinthin-thian. And then you showed up and the snowman was gone.”
He inhaled, as if to speak, but then he just held her tighter, kissing her forehead. “We’re almost there,” he said.
But Caroline’s eyes were closing, and the world was going dark.
