The only thing they could do was to bring the roof down before the blaze took hold.
Edward ran, scanning the crowds and finding Garrett. His normally pristine butler was in his shirt sleeves, his face blackened with soot, and Edward felt a surge of gratitude that his staff didn’t find such an emergency beneath their dignity. Many of Garrett’s position would have allowed to the labourers to deal with it and stood back and watched.
“Garrett!” he shouted over the roar of the flames and the shouts of the men.
“Lord Winterbourne! Thank heavens,” the man cried with obvious relief.
“Garrett, we need to bring that roof down before that barn is blazing, too. I’ll need a sharp saw, a ladder, as much rope as you can find, and two strong horses.”
“Right away, my lord!” Garrett shouted, and ran off to do his bidding.
Edward ran through the crowd towards the blaze, and saw that it was hopeless. The south barn was beyond saving. Thank God it was spring. If this had happened in the winter when the barn was full, they’d have lost a good portion of their winter forage into the bargain. Look on the bright side, Edward, he thought with a grim smile.
Hearing his name called, he saw Garrett returning with saws and a heavy coil of rope, a couple of burly men carrying two long ladders between them, and Ned Callow - he of the ox-like shoulders - bringing two massive shire horses with him.
Edward ran forward and grabbed a saw, gesturing for the men to bring one of the ladders inside the smaller barn. Thankfully, someone had had the foresight to clear it, and Edward placed the lantern down, coughing as the place was already filled with acrid smoke. Gesturing for the men to place the ladder against the main truss, Edward darted back outside, stripping off his cravat and dunking it in a bucket of water before tying it around his face. Taking the rope over one arm, he ran back into the barn, and with the saw in the other, climbed the ladder to the large triangular truss. The old barn might need repair, but the truss was of good English oak, and he wasn’t going to get through this easily.
Edward set to work, sawing through the tie beam on one side of the king post, and then looked around just a moment later as another ladder was placed beside his. Ned Callow climbed and set his impressive shoulders to the work of sawing through the other side of the beam. Edward nodded his thanks, as sawing both sides would have taken time he might not have. The two men worked until the sweat was streaming down their faces, their eyes stinging and burning with the smoke that was getting blacker and thicker with every moment.
Edward coughed, wiping sweat from his eyes. His shoulder and arm were burning with effort, his palm blistering as he struggled to keep his grip on the saw as his hand sweated and grew slick. Both he and Ned cut through at the same moment, an unspoken challenge of strength and skill raging between them, and there was a sickening groan as the roof sagged a little and then settled.
Edward caught his breath, looking up and imagining for a horrifying moment being buried under the weight of that roof. Pushing his fear aside, he pulled down the cravat that covered his face and yelled at Ned.
“Get the horses in position, I’ll tie the king post.”
Ned nodded his understanding and climbed down as Edward untwisted the rope, glad to have the weight it of it from his shoulder. He kept hold of one end and threw the coil down to Ned, who caught it and went to tie it to the horses.
Edward worked as fast as he could. Once he was satisfied the roped was tied good and secure, he began to climb down. He was halfway down when there was an almighty crash that made his heart jump in his chest. Realising the south barn must have finally collapsed in on itself, he looked to the large open doors to see the usually placid shires had been startled by the noise and the billow of fire and smoke that rolled towards them. The rope tightened suddenly, pulling on the king post as the horses moved off, Ned struggling to hold them steady. Fear was a stronger motivator, though, and self-preservation told them to move away from the noise and chaos as fast as they could.
Edward leapt the remaining rungs, falling to the floor and feeling pain lance up his ankle as he landed badly. Staring up, he saw the king post begin to move, the tie beam sagging beneath it.
Oh God.
For the first time since the war, and with startling clarity, Edward realised how desperately he wanted to live.
How much there was in his life to live for.
He wanted to be with Belle, a lifetime with Belle and their children. A big, messy, noisy family who would terrify him and turn his hair grey with worrying for them, but wasn’t that what everyone lived with? It was normal and right, to fear for those you loved, and even if the worst happened, wouldn’t you want to live every day given you like it was a gift, rather than bury yourself in a hole for fear of living at all?
“No!” he cried, scrambling to his feet as the beam began to give. “No!”
Chapter 31
“Wherein fears burn white hot.”
“Have you seen Lord Winterbourne?” Belle asked another man, once again receiving a shake of the head from a weary, soot-smudged face.
“He’s in the barn,” someone called back as Belle span around in horror.
“What?” she exclaimed as the lad, one from the boxing club, she thought, pointed thankfully at the smaller barn and not the one that was blazing like an inferno.
Belle’s heart gave an uneven thud in her chest. She felt sick.
“Why?” she cried, moving forwards. “What’s he doing?” Fear curled around her heart and held it captive. She needed Edward here. Now. She had to know he was safe. The whole bloody castle could burn to the ground, for all she cared, but she wanted Edward.
She felt a hand on her arm and looked around to find Garrett looking extraordinarily dishevelled.
“He’s sawing through the truss, my lady. They’re going to use the horses to pull the roof down so the fire can’t take hold. Ned Cowell is with him,” he added, though his grasp on her arm tightened. “Now you stay here or his lordship will worry, and I’ll be dismissed if I let you go another inch,” he added, his tone brooking no argument.
“But Garrett!” Belle pleaded, staring at the smoke billowing from the smaller barn with horror. She couldn’t breathe, fear immobilised her lungs, making it impossible to draw a breath. She was screaming inside, screaming for Edward, though she didn’t make a sound, only trembled. She began to move forwards.
“No, my lady,” Garrett said, his voice firm and his grip upon her arm even firmer. “It’s not just you to worry about now.”
She looked around in alarm, seeing a fatherly light in the butler’s eyes. Good Lord, did everyone know? She swallowed the idea that Edward might never know, might never even realise she carried his child, let alone live to see it. No. No.
Before she could pray or beg God to keep him safe, there was roar that hurt her ears, and a blast of heat so intense that her skin prickled and grew tight. The south barn collapsed in on itself, throwing flames and sparks and debris high into the sky. The horses screamed in horror, surging forward as Ned was carried along, digging his heels in and pulling with all his strength. But the mighty shires were too strong, even for one build like an ox himself, and they lumbered forwards, ears flat back and eyes rolling with fear.
“Edward! Edward!”
Garrett could not hold her as terror gave her strength, and she ripped her arm from his grasp, running forwards as a sickening crack split the air like a gunshot. A plume of dust and smoke and splinters exploded through the open doors of the barn as the roof caved in - and in the midst of it a figure emerged through the doors, scrambling on the wet cobbles to get clear as the roof crashed to the ground.
“Edward!”
Belle launched herself into his arms, almost knocking him flat against the cobbles as he fell to his knees. He was breathing hard, coughing and choking. But all she could see were his eyes, bright and alive, alive, glittering like emeralds against his filthy skin. Every inch of him was covered in dust and grime, and Belle
thought she had never seen a more wonderful sight in her entire life.
“Belle,” he said, grinning at her as though he’d won some kind of prize. “Belle.”
He pulled her close, rocking the two of them together as Belle sobbed into his shoulder, one minute scolding him and pounding at his chest with fury for putting himself in danger, and the next running her hands over him, begging him to assure her he was unhurt.
“I’m fine,” he said, grinning at her like a fool. “A bit toasty, and I think I sprained my ankle, but nothing that won’t mend, I promise you. You don’t get rid of me that easily, you know.”
Belle gave a hiccupy laugh and fell upon his neck again, clinging to him as hard as she could. “If you ever frighten me like that again, Edward Greyston I’ll ... I’ll ...”
“Now you know how I feel,” he said, his tone half-amused, half-serious. “So, you’ll never climb another ladder as long as you live,” he said, his voice firm. “And I promise to stay out of collapsing barns.”
“Deal,” Belle said with a sigh, oblivious to the men still slinging buckets of water around her.
“Come now, love, we can’t sit here all night, these cobbles are wet and you’re freezing.”
Belle got to her feet, refusing to let go of Edward’s arm and supporting him as he was hobbling a little.
“Eddie!” They both turned to see that it was Charlie who’d shouted, running out through the smoke, waving his hat and rushing up to his master, his narrow chest heaving. “Damn me,” he said, gasping for air and bracing his arms against his legs to catch his breath. “When ... when I saw that building collapse and they said ye was still inside ... Lawd, ye gave me a bleedin’ fright.”
Edward reached out a hand and squeezed Charlie’s arm. “Shut up, you daft devil, anyone would think you cared.”
Charlie chuckled and shook his head. “I care that you still owe me that twenty quid, ye great lobcock,” he threw back, but with such affection in his eyes that Belle’s frail hold on her emotions threatened to leave her for good.
“Away with you, scoundrel!” Edward exclaimed, though he was still grinning. “I’ve never known a ruder valet in all my days. Damned if I know why I keep you.”
Belle looked around as Crecy ran over and grabbed her arm, looking up at Edward with admiration. “How brave you are, Edward,” she said, smiling broadly.
With amusement, Belle noticed Edward looking awkward under her praise. He cleared this throat to avoid answering.
“Yes, well, that’s enough of my husband’s heroics for one lifetime,” Belle replied, her voice firm, and was relieved that she no longer sounded like she was going to burst into tears. “So, enjoy it while you may,” she added, glaring at Edward, who simply grinned at her.
“Any ideas how it started?” Crecy asked, as they all turned to look at the devastation, relieved to see that at least the blaze was under control now.
“Probably someone smoking around the barn, though, damn me, I’ve told them until I’m blue in the face,” Edward muttered, looking irritated now. “I thought I’d got the point across, but perhaps not.”
“You sure about that, my lord?” Charlie asked, a dark look in his eyes. “It was a close-run thing the castle didn’t catch, eh? If we ‘adn’t a noticed it so quick, an’ you ‘adn’t thought to bring that roof in… Well ... could a been a sight worse, is all I’m sayin’.” The man’s voice was so ominous that Belle shivered.
“Do you mean to suggest someone did this on purpose?” she exclaimed, horrified by the idea.
Charlie gave Edward a significant look and Belle saw him frown. “He means my cousin Gabriel, Viscount Demorte.”
Belle felt a chill, remembering what Edward had told her about the man’s obsessive hatred for him, the previous attempts on his life.
“Why do people always do that?”
Belle, Edward, and Charlie looked around in alarm at Crecy, who sounded utterly furious.
Her lovely grey eyes were alight with rage. “Once someone has a bad reputation, no matter if they deserve it or not, it’s a stick to beat them with, isn’t it?”
Belle gaped at Crecy, astonished by her outburst.
“But Crecy,” she said, staring at her sister as though she’d never seen her before. “Demorte tried to kill Edward, he almost killed poor Aubrey when he stepped in to save him.”
“And you have proof of that?” Crecy demanded, letting go of Belle’s hand and staring at Edward, who looked every bit as alarmed as Belle was feeling. “Did you see him pull the trigger?”
“No,” Edward said, frowning at Crecy. “In fact, it wasn’t him who pulled the trigger. But Aubrey saw Demorte speak to the man who did then shoot at me right before he left Almack’s. Whoever he was, he was waiting for me outside.”
“So now a man is guilty of attempted murder because he’s spoken to a man who did attempt it?” she flung back. Belle took a breath, astonished and appalled by Crecy’s outburst.
“There is a little more to it than that,” Edward said, his tone careful, and Belle could only marvel at his calm demeanour when all she wanted to do was shake some sense into her sister. What on earth had come over her?
“Why do you defend him so, Crecy?” Belle demanded. “What is there between you and Viscount Demorte?”
Crecy blushed, her lovely face suffused with a combination of guilt and indignation.
“Nothing,” she said, a little too fast, perhaps, and in any case, Belle could no longer believe her. Crecy had been keeping secrets for too long. Oh God, was this it? Did Demorte have some kind of hold on her? But how? How was it possible when she hardly ever left the estate? Had she met him in London? Is that why she was so anxious to get away?
Questions circled Belle’s head until she was dizzy. She clutched at Edward’s arm as exhaustion swept over her.
“Belle?” Edward said, his arm going around her. “Come along. Let us all get out of the cold and this dreadful smoke. I think there has been enough excitement for one day.” He turned his attention to Crecy, who looked like she might cry. “We can talk about this later,” he said, not unkindly, but with a tone that suggested Crecy would have questions to answer.
Belle nodded, too ragged to ask anything else, and too afraid to hear the answers.
Chapter 32
“Wherein life is ever complicated, but love wins the day, and the future is full of promise.”
Back in the peace and calm of Belle’s room, Edward had a bath prepared for them. Once it was filled and infusing the room with its sweet, steamy scents, he insisted that Belle get in first.
“Come love, I’m so filthy the bath will have to be scrubbed before it can be used again,” he said, washing at the basin to rid himself of the worst of it, and gestured at the dirty water.
Belle acquiesced, too tired to argue, and sank into the warm water with a sigh. Once he was a little less filthy, Edward came and stoked the fire to ensure the room was warm enough, and then knelt beside the bath.
“Better?” he asked, his voice soft.
“Mmmm,” Belle said, as Edward reached for the soap and began to wash her shoulders. His strong hands caressed her, bringing heat of another kind as she leaned forwards and closed her eyes with a blissful sigh.
“You’re worried about Crecy,” he said, as Belle leaned her head on her knees and looked at him.
“I’m always worried about Crecy,” she said with a rueful smile. “It’s what I do.”
He returned a smile and nodded. “You think she is ... interested in my cousin?” he asked, his voice careful.
Belle pulled a face. “I know she’s interested in him,” she replied, feeling anxiety tug at her heart. “Crecy has always been drawn to danger, to things that are too damaged, too beyond her help or her kindness. But she can never see that,” she added, sitting up as Edward switched his attention to her arms, smoothing his warm, soapy hands over her skin. “She thinks she can save everyone, everything, if she only tries hard enough. She never sees the danger
to herself.” Belle drew in a breath, hoping that it was just an interest and nothing more. “Your cousin would be just the kind of man to fascinate her. It’s just the kind of thing I have always feared, that she would ruin herself by not considering the consequences.”
“Come now, love, you’re running ahead a little too quickly, aren’t you?”
Belle smiled and gave a shrug. “I hope so. I believe it is simply a fascination at this point. She saw him here once when he came to visit, and it was clear he didn’t know her. But he is a striking man, in a rather terrifying way. She was clearly intrigued.”
Edward lifted one of her feet from the water, soaping her toes as Belle squirmed, torn between bliss and the need to squeal and tell him to stop tickling.
“Still,” she added, in the reprieve while Edward reached for her other foot. “There is no way she could have seen him since, as she’s never left the estate.”
Edward paused, a frown tugging at his brow.
“What?” Belle asked.
He looked up at her, appearing hesitant to reply. “Gabriel’s estate borders my own.”
“What?” Belle exclaimed, sitting up so fast that the water slopped over the sides of the bath.
“Hush, love,” Edward chided, pushing her gently back into the water. “It would be a hard ride to get even to the border of his land and back in a day, let alone anywhere near the house, and that’s with little or no time there at all. It’s hardly a recipe for romantic encounters, is it?”
“But what if he rode out to meet her?” Belle demanded, feeling sick with anxiety now.
Edward was silent for a moment but then shook his head. “Not my cousin’s style. He puts himself out for no one, not even a beauty like Crecy. And certainly not in the dead of winter. I’ll say one thing in his favour, he’s never had an interest in ruining innocents. His love for whores is well known, I’m afraid.”
Belle allowed herself to be a little soothed by the idea, but her fears remained.
One Wicked Winter Page 25