Chapter 24
Samantha climbed through the open window and entered the women’s side of the servants’ quarters. Ward was already making his way across the roof together with Sarah, but according to her, Mrs. Parks, the cook, and Susie, the scullery maid, were still in their rooms.
Samantha’s nightgown fell against her legs, gently swaying with every movement. It was most impractical for this endeavor. If only she’d had time to put on a pair of breeches. A jacket would be welcome as well, but since she had neither on hand, she’d have to make do.
She set her cold feet on the raw wood flooring. Heat seeped through the soles while the smell of smoke wafted around her. Not good. It meant that the fire was eating its way through the downstairs rooms and would soon reach this level.
Time was of the essence.
She hurried to the first door she found and flung it wide.
Empty.
Onward to the next and then the one after that.
Until she found the women she sought.
They sat on a narrow bed, Mrs. Parks with her arm around Susie. Both of their faces were marked by dread – the paralyzing fear of being trapped – the knowledge that death could not be avoided.
Registering Samatha’s presence, they raised their stricken expressions toward her. Incredulity mingled with hope.
“Mrs. Croft.” A bare whisper from Mrs. Parks.
“Time to go,” Samantha told the pair, electing to keep her manner firm and decisive. “Come on. We can cross the roof and jump to the neighboring house.”
Susie gave her head a violent shake. “I’ll fall to my death.”
Possibly. However…
“You’ll die as surely as I’m standing here unless you leave this instant.”
“She’s terrified of heights,” Mrs. Parks said. “We both are.”
“More so than of fire?” Samantha asked, exasperated by their unwillingness to see reason.
When neither responded, she said, “If you’re lucky, the smoke will render you unconscious before the flames reach you, but if the flames get to you first, your flesh will melt from your bones.
The agony you will know cannot be imagined. ”
“But to jump is…inconceivable.” Susie clung to Mrs. Parks as though the plump woman could keep her safe.
“Also,” Samantha said, crossing her arms, “I’ve no intention of abandoning either of you. So if you choose to die here, then so shall I.”
“You cannot mean that,” said Mrs. Parks. “You’ve a daughter to raise.”
“Which is why I would very much like for the two of you to get off that bed and come with me.” The ghastly sound of collapsing wood followed this statement. Samantha’s heart leapt in warning, but she forced her rising panic behind a calm exterior.
When the women looked like they needed time to consider, Samantha stepped forward and grabbed Susie by the arm. “Trust that I will protect you.”
Susie dug in her heels but Mrs. Parks, the older and wiser of the two, stood and pushed the scullery maid in the direction Samantha was trying to steer her. Through the door and toward the window.
“I can’t,” Susie wailed while resisting Samantha and Mrs. Parks. “Please don’t make me.”
“We can’t let Mrs. Croft die on account of us,” said Mrs. Parks. “Come on, Susie. If I can do this then so can you.”
“No.” Susie started gasping for air.
They reached the window and Samantha paused. How the hell was she going to help both women across the roof to the spot where the jumping distance was narrowest? It would have been hard enough if they’d been compliant, but with Susie resisting as much as she was, she’d never manage.
Making a quick decision, Samantha whirled toward Mrs. Parks. “Turner is already out there and ought to be making his way back by now. You’re going to get yourself onto the roof and go meet him.”
At least Mrs. Parks popped her head through the window while Samantha put all her strength toward restraining Susie. Unfortunately, the Cook’s assessment of the situation was not a positive one.
She shook her head. “There’s only a narrow ledge and nothing for me to hold onto.”
“I was able to do it in order to get here,” Samantha informed her. “Just don’t look down and you’ll be fine. It’s not slippery.”
“But—”
“All you have to do is keep moving forward until you reach the roof ladder and see Turner. Now go, or we’ll all end up burning alive.”
Mrs. Parks, to her credit, buried her fear and climbed through the window. Samantha pulled Susie closer, but the young woman bent both knees and dropped her weight, making her near impossible to budge.
“Do you not feel the heat from below?” Samantha asked, whatever patience she might have possessed two minutes ago completely gone. “Do you not smell the smoke? If you don’t come with me this instant I’ll have no choice but to leave you behind.”
Despite what she’d said before, she wouldn’t die for someone who’d not even try to save themself.
Something in Samantha’s voice must have registered, because Susie suddenly nodded and started moving toward the window. She peered out over the roof, then jerked back and pressed herself into the wall.
Whatever relief Samantha had known one second before vanished.
This wouldn’t work. Susie’s terror put Samantha at risk.
Had they fallen overboard from a ship, Susie would have tried to climb on top of Samantha, and both would have drowned.
This was no different. In a way, it was worse.
At sea, Samantha could have knocked her unconscious, then tried to keep her afloat.
But there was no way for her to take an unconscious woman across the roof with her.
Even at her own physical peak such a task would have been impossible. Now, after Alexandra’s difficult birth just ten days prior, she could only pray she’d find the strength and endurance required to get herself to safety.
“Oh, God,” Susie murmured, her wide eyes fixed on something behind Samantha.
Samantha turned from the window and spotted the flames that were now spreading over the floor, cutting off all other routes. They’d climb the walls next and engulf the roof.
Hard as it was, Samantha made her decision and climbed through the window and onto the ornamental ledge that encircled the building.
“You can still come with me,” she said to Susie, even though she feared the young woman would make a grab for Samantha and cause her to lose her balance. Nevertheless, she added, “This is the only way in which you survive.”
To Samantha’s dismay, Susie shook her head and retreated, moving away from the window and toward the fire.
It took every ounce of common sense Samantha possessed to squash the instinct compelling her to go back after the foolish woman. She reminded herself of Alexandra and of Adrian. They were of greater importance. She mattered to them in a way that did not justify her sacrificing her life like this.
So she ignored the pain in her chest and the tears that burned in her eyes as she made her way toward the roof ladder.
One was attached to each of the walls directly beside the exits located at both ends of the servants’ quarters; doors leading out onto a narrow balcony, intended to offer another means of escape in case of emergency.
She’d almost reached it when the screams started. A claw closed over her heart, squeezing it until she could scarcely breathe. Even though she knew she shouldn’t look back, she did. Just in time to see a human fireball leap from the window.
Stillness followed. Then came the crash as part of the roof caved in.
Swallowing the lump that was lodged in her throat, Samantha returned her attention to her goal — to moving forward and to surviving.
She clawed her way across the ledge, grateful not to find Mrs. Parks in her path.
It seemed the cook had managed to get to Turner and would hopefully be out of danger by now.
Heat wafted around her, caging her in and making her sweat. Every brick she touched burned her hands and feet, which would surely blister later.
She reached the roof ladder in the next moment and hauled herself onto the first rung, then started to climb.
Hand over hand. Up and onto the eave, even as her muscles – weakened from lack of exercise – protested.
All that remained for her to do now was cross the roof to the narrowest point between this house and the neighbors.
After that, jump.
Except, the roof was no longer intact. Most of it was gone, and whatever remained fed the hungry flames. Standing at the top of the outer wall, Samantha stared into the pit where her home had once been. Floors and walls were burned away, leaving gaping holes consumed by fire and smoke.
Someone shouted her name. “Samantha.”
Her heart tripped in response to that voice. She’d have recognized it anywhere.
Adrian.
He stood on the neighboring rooftop together with four other people. Marsdale, Turner, Susan, and Mrs. Parker. All were visible in the light from the blaze. All were safe and that alone filled her with joy.
“Move,” Adrian shouted. An order that sent her pulse racing.
She blocked him out, allowed herself a second in which to assess her options. A few beams of roofing were still intact and would make for the shortest route, but if they collapsed…
Alternatively, there were the walls. She could run the length of them, as long as they held. But with most of the interior flooring gone, the structure would be compromised, and the walls might crumble.
Either way, it was a gamble between two uncertain options.
A third presented itself.
She could leap away from the building and maybe sustain a few broken bones. From a height of roughly forty feet, she’d have to be unbelievably lucky not to get injured or worse.
With no time to waste, she calculated her odds, forced her brain to ignore every pain and discomfort, and started to run. Along the exterior wall and toward her husband. The wall would hold as long as it did. If it started to buckle, she’d risk the leap.
Until then, this was her best option.
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