Page 26 of Lady in Ruby
She was also waking up, her mind becoming alert and supple once more. She remembered the few moments before crashing into the ice, when she was flying along the surface of the pond, and Francis was just ahead of her, until he veered to the right…
“Where’s Francis?” she asked. “Did he come to tell you what happened? To get help?”
Her parents looked at each other, puzzled.
“I don’t believe so,” her mother said at last. “The first we knew of the accident was when Snowdon rode up on his horse, carrying you. My heavens, Caroline. I thought you had died! You were so limp and lifeless in his arms. But he said it wasn’t too late…”
“And he was right,” her father added. “Caroline, how do you feel now? Any changes?”
“Very warm now,” she said, pushing the blanket down. “And as awake as if I’d had fresh coffee. The numbness is all gone, and the burning of the skin too. Except around my neck…”
“Your cloak ties were probably pulling there,” her father said. “Wool resists water for a while, but when it does penetrate, the fabric becomes fearsomely heavy. Strong men have been known to drown simply because their clothes weigh them down.”
“I shall not go swimming in armor, then,” Caroline quipped.
Her father beamed at her. “Aha, that’s my girl! Able to joke—always a good sign.”
With the danger apparently past, Caroline was instructed to rest in bed for the rest of the day and evening. Various attendants, including Mittens, made sure she was never unsupervised. Maggie sat with her, then her mother, then her father. One of the maids brought up her supper: beef broth and warm crusty bread, with a little dish of warmed, spiced applesauce. And of course a pot of herbal tea.
“Everything hot!” Caroline said in mock surprise.
“Your parents are taking no chances,” the maid informed her.
After eating, Caroline sat in the armchair in front of the small fireplace in her bedroom. She wore a large wool blanket wrapped around her like a cape. She closed her eyes, enjoying the sensation of heat seeping into her very bones. In normal circumstances, her mother would be horrified that Caroline wasn’t making use of the fire screen standing nearby. She always worried about heat marring Caroline’s complexion. But tonight Caroline was coddled and cared for, and there would be no suggestion that she could possibly be too warm. Mittens lay curled on her lap, purring with contentment.
Estelle came in with a tray. “I thought I would come sit with you,” she said. “Do you need more tea?”
“No thank you, I could launch a ship upon all the tea I’ve had today,” she replied with a chuckle.
Estelle poured a cup for herself before sitting down in the other chair. “I’ve never been so scared in all my life,” she confessed. “Lord Snowdon was a hero, riding up at just the right moment and then racing back to the house with you. He saved your life.”
“You saved my life,” Caroline retorted, petting Mittens gently as they talked. “As if I will ever forget how you pulled me out of the pond before Snowdon even arrived.”
Estelle looked downward. “I could never have done it alone. Timothy—I mean, Mr Stockan—was the one who made sure I didn’t also fall in.”
“All thanks to Timothy’s—I mean, Mr Stockan’s—strong arms?”
“Goodness, Caroline, that dark icy water must have been terrifying.”
“It was, but don’t think that mentioning it will distract me from your blush. You’re quite taken with Mr Stockan, aren’t you?”
Estelle’s blush deepened to beet. “I’ve never met anyone like him. He’s so very kind. And clever. And his eyes are very beautiful….” She trailed off then, not used to confessions of this nature.
But her few words revealed more than enough to Caroline, who felt a childlike delight in knowing her friend truly had been struck by Cupid’s arrow.
“I knew it!” she said, not knowing that as she spoke, her face and attitude became as vibrant and animated as her old self for the first time since the accident at the pond. “Oh, Estelle, how romantic! Has he said anything of his…future plans?”
“No, not beyond the fact that he intends to return to America at some point after he’s learned what he can of business.” Estelle sounded so sad at that.
“Then he may be here for some time,” Caroline said.
Estelle gave a sigh, though a sadness lingered in her eyes. “Then we shall talk no more about it. I am well aware of my likely future and marriage is not part of it.” She suddenly busied herself with pouring more tea, despite having a nearly full cup.
Caroline held her tongue, staring into the fire as she pretended not to notice Estelle wiping her eyes. Caroline’s lips curved upward just a touch. She wasn’t a matchmaker by nature, but she had a vested interest in her friend’s happiness.
Estelle remained with her for a while, and the girls talked of lighter matters: local gatherings for the holiday, what gifts remained to be made or purchased, and whether Cook might be persuaded to make another batch of her special current scones in time for Christmas Eve.
Caroline kept rubbing at her neck. Estelle noticed, and then gasped.
