32. Chapter 32
Together, they perched on a rock, watching the water rise. Although the tide brought almost certain death, Kitty’s spirit was light. If she were going to die today, there was no place on earth she would rather be. With William.
They talked as if their whole lives were ahead of them.
He regaled her with stories about his youth.
How he was teased by his sisters for his lack of height until, at sixteen, he suddenly sprouted and grew almost as tall as his father.
The delight of discovering he could capture a likeness with pencil or paint.
Kitty told him about Edward. How she had always looked out for him, rescuing her reckless brother from one madcap adventure after another. How he’d been so restless to follow in their father’s footsteps and become a soldier. And how she’d cried herself to sleep for a week after he left.
William reached out a hand and brushed away the tears that fell as she talked. It hurt to remember—but having someone to share the painful memories with somehow took the sting out of them.
“I haven’t heard from him since coming to Weymouth. He always was an erratic correspondent, but for him to go so long without answering my letters about our grandfather’s death is worrying. Perhaps he couldn’t respond because…”
Her voice trailed off. Even now, with the waves beginning to splash around their feet, she struggled to express her fear that her brother had died. She sniffed hard. “At least we will be reunited in heaven. Tell me about your grandmother, the Duchess of Wessex.”
“As you’ve probably gathered, I’m her only grandson—no, I take that back. My mother’s half-sister Augusta has just had a baby boy.”
William’s family tree sounded complicated. “Your mother has a half-sister—”
“Look. What’s that?” William pointed at a dark shape crossing the cave entrance.
“A boat! Do you think Hugh has reconsidered?”
“Impossible! We’re privy to his treasonous secrets.”
A glimmer of hope stirred up inside her. “Has someone come to rescue us?”
“I’m not sure. Nobody would have a clue where to look—”
The sound of a female voice cut him off. “William? Kitty? Are you there?”
“Hetta!” he yelled back.
What was his sister doing here? Kitty didn’t know, but she was too grateful to care.
“We can’t bring the boat into the cave,” a man shouted. “Can you reach us?”
William pulled off his boots and threw them behind him before clambering down the rock.
He lowered himself into the water, which came up to his waist. Kitty eyed the sea nervously.
How she wished she’d let her brother teach her to swim in the lake when they were children.
Then she wouldn’t have been so afraid of the waves.
“Come down to me, Kitty,” he said, holding out his arms as water swirled around him.
She could do this. Rolling over onto her stomach, she dropped her legs over the side of the rock. With one foot secure, she lowered her other leg until she found a foothold. Gripping the stone as best she could, she inched the first foot downward, but struggled to find anywhere to rest it.
Her grip weakened as her leg dangled in the air. She could feel herself falling. As she fell backward off the rock, powerful arms surrounded her, preventing her head from going under the water.
“Are you all right?” William asked, as she quivered in his embrace, the sea almost up to her armpits.
“Not really.”
“Hold on to me. We need to get to the boat.”
Hand in hand, they moved through the water. An enormous wave came in, crashing over Kitty’s face. If William had not held her firm, she would have been swept off her feet.
“Hurry!” cried Hetta. “The wind is getting up, and we can’t maintain this position much longer without risking us being dragged into the cave by the tide.”
The distance to the vessel seemed interminable. Every step Kitty took, she was pushed back by the waves. The effort required to move forward was as great as if she were pulling a stagecoach.
“I’m so tired, William. I can’t do it any more.”
She tried to let go of his hand, but his grip tightened. “Don’t you dare give up on me. I’m going to save you.”
Another wave washed over her, and she gasped for breath. “I can’t walk any further. It’s too hard.”
“Then we’ll have to swim for it.”
“But I can’t—”
“I know. That’s why I intend to take you. Lie backward and let the sea support you.”
William cradled her head as she leaned back in the water. To her surprise, she didn’t sink. “Now, keep your arms and legs loose while I pull you toward the boat.”
He stretched his arm across her middle, in a compromising position that should have made her blush, but she was too exhausted to care. William was keeping her safe, and she didn’t want him to ever let her go.
After what felt like hours, the view overhead changed. Open sky replaced the roof of the cave. As they reached the boat, there was a flurry of activity as she was hauled on board and, a few moments later, William collapsed onto the deck beside her, gasping for breath.
They would live to see another day.
William lay flat on his back on the deck, staring up at the sky, as the boat sailed away from Cave Hole. His muscles ached, but his heart was singing. God had answered their prayers and rescued them. He and Kitty had a future. Together.
Once his breathing came under control, he sat up and took stock of his surroundings.
His eyes warmed as they rested on the brave woman who had agreed to become his wife.
Huddled against the side of the boat, wrapped in a blanket, she appeared so fragile.
What trials she had faced in the last few days.
No doubt there would be more ahead. But at least she wouldn’t have to face them on her own.
“Welcome back from the dead,” Anthony said, sitting down on the deck beside him. “You had us worried there for a while before we found you. I was afraid you might have tried to swim for it and—”
He choked on his words and had to clear his throat before he could continue. “How would I ever have broken it to Lotta if we were too late?”
“Don’t dwell on it. Thank God you arrived in time.
Kitty can’t swim, so we were forced to wait and hope.
Fortunately, Mr Barrington was so set on making my death look like an accident that he had me tossed in the sea with all my bones intact.
Otherwise, I might not have had the strength to pull my future wife to safety. ”
“How romantic!” said Hetta. “Faced with probable death, you finally asked her.” She wrapped a blanket around his shoulders before perching on a nearby crate. “I’m so happy for you both.”
Kitty gave a weak smile. His poor darling was exhausted. He shuffled over to her side and took her hand in his. It was so cold, he rubbed it gently as he talked.
“How did you guess where to find us, Ant?”
“Divine Providence. A maid came down with a letter some fifteen minutes after you’d left.
I was directed to take it to Major Ross at the Radipole encampment.
Mr Jenkin was confident his friend would know how to act.
I returned to Rufus House to look for you and discovered Hetta was there before me. ”
William stared at his youngest sister. “What took you to Portland again?”
“Charlotte went into hysterics after you and Anthony left. She was convinced you were in trouble. Something about being a twin. She refused to calm down until I promised to go after you. She was right, wasn’t she?”
He couldn’t deny it, but William didn’t like the sound of his sister putting herself at risk for him. “You came after us alone, Hetta?”
She rolled her eyes. “I have a high opinion of women’s abilities, but I value my own skin. Charlotte insisted Rowson accompany me, which suited me fine. One can’t take chances when there are traitors about.”
A sensible precaution, but it didn’t exactly answer his question. “That still doesn’t explain how you knew where to find us, Hetta.”
“Sending Rowson with me to Rufus House was a stroke of genius on Charlotte’s behalf. He went below stairs and within minutes had elicited the information that the master had gone down to the beach with you, but later he had come back alone.”
“One of Mr Jenkin’s men was down in the cove,” said Anthony.
“A man named Kellaway. When Rowson threatened him with transportation for aiding a French officer to escape, the fellow broke down. Declared he wanted no part in murder.” He nodded toward the front of the boat.
“That’s him, next to the captain. He’s the person who led us to Cave Hole. ”
Kellaway? That name sounded familiar. “I believe I have him to thank for giving me a sore head the night Mr Jenkin was attacked. I suppose I shall have to forgive him, as his information has resulted in our rescue. Wouldn’t you agree, Kitty?”
Her only response was chattering teeth.
“Kitty?”
“I’m so c-c-cold.” Shivers wracked her body. Was she just cold and exhausted from the day’s adventures, or was she ill?
Hetta pulled the blanket from around his shoulders and threw it over Kitty’s middle. “William, get out of the way. You are too cold and wet to be of any use. Ant, you sit on that side and take her hands in yours. Give her your warmth. I’ll snuggle up to her from this side and do the same.”
William shifted his position as ordered, and gazed helplessly at the woman he loved as Hetta took control.
Charlotte was waiting on the dockside with a carriage at the ready. Kitty was asleep and had to be carried off the boat—a task he was forced to relinquish to Anthony, because he was too worn out from the day’s exertions.
Within minutes, they arrived outside his grandmother’s house, and he faced a moment’s indecision.
The rescue had come upon them so fast that they had not discussed whether Kitty would stay here or somewhere else.
She had been so set against it before. Would it distress her to wake up and find herself trespassing on his grandmother’s hospitality?
It couldn’t be helped. Kitty needed to be looked after, and as her future husband, it was both his duty and his desire to ensure her wellbeing.
He could trust his sisters to take care of her.
William was not ashamed of the woman he was going to marry.
On the contrary. He was so proud of her and how brave she’d been.
He refused to apologise for his choice of bride.
His grandmother would just have to get used to it.