Page 157 of Ironvine

Sucking in a breath, he dove immediately, his hands on her legs guiding him to the ground where her one foot was stuck. The boot. He slid his hand against her calf and pulled her foot out of the boot. Her leg slid free and he broke the surface of the water, his arm sliding around her middle and lifting her up. “Let’s go.”

Her cold lips found his. “Charles.”

“Come on! Let’s go!” shouted Joss.

They swam toward the door, the waters pushing them that way. Charles pushed Georgie through the opening into Joss’s arms. A swell grew behind him, and as he moved it took him with it. “No!” With all his might he dove under the waters, under the wave. But he couldn’t escape the power of the waters. He was bashed into the stone wall, water filled his mouth, and everything was dark. The muscle of his wounded arm wouldn’t cooperate, and blazed with pain, yet he pushed through. He had to.

Hands grabbed at his arms, his shirt. He slid into an embrace. “Charles!”

He was heaved up. “This way.” Joss led them through the waist-high water, to where he’d left the torch on a hook on the wall along with Georgina’s satchel. In the torchlight they found the tiny stone steps that led to the open door. All three of them gulped in the fresh air, the moat glistening and swelling before them.

“Thank you both,” gasped Georgina in between breaths. “And thank you to my father who insisted I learn how to swim.” The three of them carefully crossed the barely visible bridge and got to the horses.

Holding Georgina’s hand tightly, Charles embraced Joss. “Thank you, my friend. I never thanked you properly that first time, and I’m very sorry for that. You deserved much better from me.”

“My lord—”

“Let me finish. You’ve always shown me kindness and friendship, and it meant the world to me. Especially tonight. I thank you.”

Joss’s hand went to Charle’s shoulder. “I am glad I could help. Now we must go.”

Georgina swept her wet hair from her face. “Thank you, Joss.”

“My lady.”

Charles helped Georgina up on his horse. “Take that boot off me, Charles.”

“With pleasure.” He slid off her remaining boot from her leg and threw it in the flooded moat. Mounting his horse, he embraced his wife tightly as he adjusted her in the saddle before him.

His face sank into her neck, and he inhaled her, he inhaled this glorious moment. Her cold skin, the salty taste of it, her body still heaving for air, the moonlight gleaming over his snorting horse, the tower and the ruins gaping at them. The clomping of Joss’s horse through the muddy grasses up the hill.

Yes, he would remember this moment forever.

No more voices from the past.

“I love you, Georgie.” He bit that spot of flesh where her shoulder began and her throat ended, and she let out a sigh, her body trembling in his hold.

“Charles, I–”

“And don’t you dare ever come here again without me. Day or night.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Gripping the reins, he urged his horse forward, and they galloped home.

ChapterSixty-Nine

Georgina

With Georgina in his arms,Charles swept into the house and darted up the stairs to the dressing room where the bathtub awaited. Gently, he put her down on her feet. She swayed, and his hands went to her waist, steadying her.

“Thank you all. Leave us now,” he said to the servants who attended them.

“It’s good to be home,” she murmured, clinging to him as he began working on the buttons of her chemise.

“I am glad that you are wearing men’s clothes as taking them off you is exceedingly simple, which is good because I am still in something of a frenzy with this evening’s events.” His voice was piqued but not so very angry.

“Frenzy?” she breathed as he peeled the wet chemise from her cold body.

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