The Christmas Countess

by Adrienne Basso

  Lily glanced over at the basket, then pulled a face. “I want to tie the bows on the top, but I can‘t tie very well.”

  “You can hand me the fruit,” Rebecca suggested.

  “Or help me count out the candy sticks to make sure everyone has an equal amount,” Lady Charlotte interjected.

  Lily ran her finger over the polished surface of the dining room table and slowly shook her head. “That‘s not much fun.”

  The women concentrated on their tasks and with a mulish expression Lily soon drifted away. Rebecca assumed she might visit the kitchen to beg a treat from Cook or attempt to corner Horace for a cuddle. She thought briefly of the sweet gray kitten at the Braggs‘s farm and smiled. Lily was going to adore her Christmas gift.

  The remainder of the morning passed quickly. While not entirely comfortable, Rebecca did enjoy her time with the other ladies. Lady Marion could always be counted upon to lighten the mood and the dowager countess was gracious, though reserved.

  Everyone went her separate way when the job was finished, many promising to assist in the delivery of the baskets on Christmas Eve. Deciding it was the perfect time for some solitude, Rebecca dressed warmly, put on her sturdy walking books and set off for a walk at a brisk pace.

  Apollo was her uninvited companion, joining her the moment she stepped beyond the stables. He barked a friendly greeting and ran to her side. The large dog seemed thrilled to be out in the snow. He jumped, leapt, then buried his nose in it, rolling blissfully on his back. Rebecca could not help but laugh at his silly antics.

  It was a glorious afternoon. The sky was a brilliant cloudless blue, the shining sun reflecting off the frozen tree branches glistening merrily. Apollo romped happily beside her, occasionally abandoning her to chase after a squirrel or bark at a winter bird nestled in the bushes.

  He uncovered a sizable stick from beneath the snow and brought it to her, dropping it expectantly at her feet. Rebecca laughed and threw it. Though her attempt was a modest effort, Apollo tore off after it, returning quickly to continue the game.

  Rebecca continued to walk and throw until her arm began to ache from the exercise. Deciding it was time to head back to the manor, she turned, then paused as she heard the distinct sound of skate blades cutting against the ice. On impulse she moved toward the noise, expecting to come across a party of skaters.

  Instead she discovered one lone figure on the ice twirling merrily in the center of the pond, the skirt of her red coat billowing out with each spin.

  Lily.

  The little imp. Obviously, she had talked someone into taking her skating. It was not totally surprising, given the child‘s determined nature. When she wanted something, she persisted until she got it. A lesson that perhaps Rebecca could learn from her child?

  Rebecca‘s eyes searched the bank for signs of the earl, but she did not see him. Strange, she assumed he had been the one to finally succumb to Lily‘s fervent pleas and accompany the little girl to the pond. Mayhap it was Mrs. James instead?

  Rebecca continued to look around and soon realized that neither the earl, nor Mrs. James, nor any other adult for that matter was in attendance. Obviously, Lily had come on her own. A willful, foolish and defiant act.

  “Lily!”

  Startled, the little girl turned, then waved enthusiastically. “I‘ve been practicing ever so hard and I can finally spin. Watch me, Miss Rebecca.”

  The scold on Rebecca‘s lips was momentarily silenced as she watched Lily carefully glide forward on the ice, then tuck her arms to her side and spin in a circle. It was a rather impressive feat for a child of her years.

  “Very pretty, Lady Lily. But I insist you come off the ice now. As you well know, you should not have come here on your own.”

  “But I wanted to go ice-skating. Papa said he would take me, but he never did. Neither did you.”

  “I was planning on surprising you after luncheon.”

  Lily clapped her hands together in delight. “Maybe Papa can come too.”

  “We won‘t be coming back to skate this afternoon,” Rebecca answered. “I‘m not sure how your father will feel about our outing after he discovers what you have done this morning.”

  “But Papa doesn‘t know! Can‘t it be our secret?”

  Rebecca gave her a grimace. “No.”

  Lily‘s expression grew troubled. “Please don‘t tattle on me, Miss Rebecca. Papa will be ever so cross.”

  Her answer sealed her fate. There was no question now that the child knew she was doing something wrong. For her own sake, she would have to be punished.

  “I am afraid that you have given me no choice,” Rebecca said gravely. “I will however try to explain—”

  Rebecca‘s words were cut off by a harsh, horrible cracking sound. Lily, who was weaving her way from the middle of the pond toward Rebecca halted suddenly. They glanced simultaneously down at her feet. Water began to run beneath the cracks of the ice, surrounding Lily‘s skates.

  Rebecca did not hesitate. She ran as fast as she could, scrambling down the slight bank to the edge of the pond, heedless of the snow that fell into the top of her boots, ignoring the branches that tore at her coat and scratched her cheek.

  “Don‘t move!” she screamed.

  Lily froze. But it made no difference. Another sound, another crack and the ice splintered further.

  Rebecca tested the surface gingerly with the tip of her boot. Up close, she could see that the water was not entirely frozen. Some sections were thick with several solid inches of ice, while other parts of the pond were nearly translucent, with only a thin glaze covering the surface.

  It was a miracle that Lily had not broken through sooner. Rebecca shuddered to think what might have happened if the little girl had fallen into the water while out here alone.

  “I‘m scared,” Lily wailed. “I don‘t want to be on the ice anymore.”

  The fright in her voice twisted Rebecca‘s stomach. She nearly sobbed at the child‘s fear, knowing all too soon Lily might get her wish. She would not be on the ice, but rather in the freezing water beneath it.

  “You must make your way over to me,” Rebecca said, her voice hitching with emotion. “But you must go very slowly and very carefully. Can you do that for me, sweetheart?”

  Lily‘s brow wrinkled in concentration as she started forward. Head bowed, she stared at her skates. She moved but a few inches and there was another loud snap as the ice beneath her cracked further. Her head flew up, her eyes widened even more. “I can‘t do it! The ice keeps breaking! Please, oh, please, Miss Rebecca, come and get me.”

  Rebecca glanced down at the thinner ice in front of her and nearly screamed in frustration. Her first instinct was to scramble across the pond as fast as she was able and snatch the child away from harm. But she was fearful of putting too much pressure on the thin sheet of ice, knowing in its present state it could easily fracture, tumbling them both into the water.

  “I‘m too heavy to go out on the ice, Lily. If I walk toward you, it will certainly crack.”

  “I want my papa.”

  “So do I,” Rebecca muttered as she tried to remain calm. The last thing they needed was for Lily to panic further.

  Rebecca circled around the side of the pond, searching desperately for a section where the ice appeared firmer, more solid. Some area where she could get herself onto the pond, or failing that, a safer way for Lily to get off the ice. But she found nothing.

  Apollo ran over, happily wagging his tail, eager to be a part of what he thought was another game. He barked a greeting to Lily and set his large paw tentatively on the ice, but quickly pulled it away. Smart dog. With an expression Rebecca could only define as worry, the animal began to pace along the banks of the water‘s edge, as if searching for a way to reach the child.

  Knowing she had little time, Rebecca quickly formulated a plan. “You must slowly get down on your knees and then lie on your tummy, Lily. See, like this!”

  Rebecca knelt in the snow, then laid do
wn, gingerly placing her stomach, upper torso and shoulders on the frozen pond, praying the distribution of her weight would prevent the ice from breaking.

  It held. Encouraged, she cautiously pushed herself away from the edge toward Lily, as far as she dared. Ahead, she could see the cracks in the ice had lengthened and knew it would not hold together much longer. “That‘s right, Lily. On your tummy. Very good.”

  Clearly frightened, the little girl valiantly tried to follow Rebecca‘s instructions. “It‘s cold,” she moaned. “I‘m getting wet.”

  “I know, but you are also getting closer to me.” Rebecca stretched out her arm. “Now wiggle like a worm Lily and reach for my hand.”

  “Wiggle like a worm,” the child repeated in a trembling voice, her eyes glossy wet, her lashes spiked with tears.

  Lily took a deep breath and thrust her arms forward, trying to do as she was told. The ice cracked and shifted beneath her and Lily screamed.

  “Ignore it!” Rebecca shouted. “Just keep moving forward.” The child lay completely still for several long moments, her shoulders heaving as she sobbed.

  “I can‘t.”

  “You must trust me, Lily. Move! Now!”

  Whimpering, Lily moved another foot. Just a few more pushes and she would be close enough to grab. Rebecca stretched her body forward, her muscles screaming in protest. She could see the largest crack begin to widen, like a deadly snake poised to strike.

  Hurry, please, oh please, hurry. Wild with fear, Rebecca carefully slid across the frozen pond, desperate to get closer. Encouraged, Lily reached for her with both hands, but they were still too far away. Clearly frustrated, Lily tried to pull herself forward by planting her hands on the ice and the horrible snapping began as the ice broke beneath her palms.

  “Help!” Lily yelled.

  The panic inside Rebecca was so complete she tried to scream, yet lost her voice. Heedless of her own safety, she propelled herself forward and grabbed Lily‘s wrist. “I‘ve got you.”

  Her relief lasted a fraction of a second. Lily‘s wrist was wet, Rebecca‘s hold tenuous at best. Within moments Rebecca could feel her grip slipping, could feel the child start to slide from her fingers. This time she did scream, powerless in her fear to prevent it.

  Suddenly, there was an immense crack as the ice gave way beneath the child. Her legs and upper body fell into the frozen water; the rupture widening as Lily thrashed, shrieking in shock and fear.

  Rebecca put both her hands on Lily‘s wrist and yanked with all her might, but it was useless. The water had soaked the child‘s clothes and was pulling her under.

  Letting out a grunting yell, Rebecca wrenched her shoulder back, throwing all her weight and strength into the motion. But all she succeeded in doing was to slide herself forward.

  Then suddenly her wet grip faltered and Lily was cruelly wrenched from her grasp.

  In utter horror, Rebecca saw the child move away, saw water close over the little girl‘s head. Lily‘s face was pale, her mouth open in a soundless scream. A cry escaped Rebecca‘s lips as she lunged forward, ignoring the freezing wet water engulfing the front of her body. She frantically plunged her hand beneath the broken ice into the freezing water, but found nothing.

  Terrified, Rebecca put both arms, up to the elbows into the water, doubling her efforts. Twice more she reached down, each time coming up empty. Her hands were soon numb, her strength quickly ebbing, yet she would not quit. Frantic, she continued until finally she touched the soggy material of Lily‘s cloak.

  Nearly sobbing with relief, Rebecca curled her fingers tightly around it and pulled. With a strength she never knew she possessed, she continued tugging, even as she heard the ice beneath her legs begin to crack. All that mattered was freeing Lily from the deadly water.

  “Miss Rebecca!”

  Lily‘s sputtering, coughing, gasping cry was the sweetest sound she had ever heard. Rolling onto her back, Rebecca lifted the child from the water, hugging her close. Lily wrapped her arms around Rebecca‘s neck, squeezing tightly.

  It was a good sign. Though cold, wet and scared, at least Lily was alert, breathing heavily, but breathing. A large section of ice floated by and Rebecca realized they were laying on a chuck of ice that had broken free and were bobbing toward the center of the pond.

  Throwing her right arm into the freezing water, Rebecca paddled toward the shore. She soon reached a solid section of frozen water. Hoisting them both off their ice raft, Rebecca dragged herself and Lily several feet over the fragile ice. Thankfully, there were no additional cracks, or breaks.

  With one final heave, Rebecca threw their bodies forward and they tumbled into the snowy bank. Ground! Solid, firm earth. They were both gasping and shivering. Lily‘s teeth were chattering, her lips blue. But they were alive. Safe.

  Removing her cloak, which miraculously had one dry section, Rebecca wrapped it around Lily and drew the child tightly into her arms. Apollo was immediately at their side, licking their faces, nuzzling them with his nose, whimpering in sympathy.

  He pushed his nose between them, anxiously pressing it against Lily‘s cheek, then Rebecca‘s. It was nearly as cold and wet as they were. Lily ceased her sobbing and started giggling and Rebecca joined her. Soon they were crying and laughing, as the dog continued his ministrations.

  Apollo looked up suddenly. His ears pricked forward, as though he heard someone call him.

  “Have you no sense, woman! How could you have allowed her to skate on this ice when clearly it is unsafe?”

  Wearily, Rebecca turned and saw the earl sprinting toward them. He was alone and on foot, the thunderous expression on his face a mere hint of his temper.

  Rebecca waited until he drew closer before shouting back, “Damn it, my lord, help us!”

  His step faltered for an instant, but then he continued to run toward the pair at breakneck speed. Kneeling, he ripped the greatcoat off his shoulders and wrapped it around both of them.

  “I swear I lost ten years off my life when I saw you pull her from the water,” he declared.

  Lily snuggled against her father, her body trembling. The earl scooped Lily up in his arms and held her against his chest. Then he reached out with his other arm and tugged at Rebecca, pulling her close.

  “Well, ‘tis not how I usually like to go skating,” Rebecca replied sourly.

  Then telling herself it was merely her overwrought nerves, Rebecca turned her face into the earl‘s shoulder and tightly hugged him back.

  A heavy feeling constricted Cameron‘s chest. He was angry and scared but the predominate feeling of protectiveness for these two females surged strongest within him. He tightened his grip, squeezing them both harder as he clasped them to his chest.

  He kissed Lily‘s brow, worried to feel the chill on it.

  “We need to get you both back to the house. Quickly.”

  “Take her,” Rebecca answered, her teeth chattering. “My legs feel too weak to hold me. I‘ll only slow you down.”

  For a second he was tempted to rush Lily back to the house and leave Rebecca behind, shivering. She certainly deserved the treatment, a fitting punishment for her lack of sense. For putting Lily‘s life so callously in danger.

  “I can manage you both,” he grumbled.

  He removed his jacket and handed it to Rebecca. Wordlessly she relinquished her section of his greatcoat and donned the jacket. He peeled off Lily‘s wet overgarments, then carefully wrapped her in the woolen coat, leaving only a small portion of her face exposed to the elements.

  Standing, he shifted the child to his stronger right arm, then reached down for Rebecca with his left. Grunting with the effort, he helped her to her feet. With his arm solidly around her waist, they started walking.

  It took two tries to make it up the sloping pond embankment, but once on flat ground they moved at a steady pace. Rebecca made a move to pull away from him, but the earl would not allow it. They went a few more feet before Cameron realized he was grinding his teeth.

&
nbsp; “You certainly have a devil of a temper,” Rebecca observed.

  “It is a recently acquired vice,” he bristled. “Prevalent only since our acquaintance.”

  “Don‘t be mean to Miss Rebecca, Papa,” Lily said as she shivered in his arms. “She saved me.”

  Lily turned to Rebecca, her eyes wide with hero worship. Rebecca reached over and rubbed her hand over the little girl‘s cheek. Cameron drew in a sharp breath.

  “Miss Rebecca‘s rescue of you would not have been necessary if she had acted as a proper adult and forbade you to skate on the pond in the first place. Obviously, the ice was not thick enough if it could not even carry your slight weight.” He exhaled and scowled at Rebecca, his temper still simmering. “I thought she had more sense.”

  Rebecca let out a snort and muttered something under her breath. A word that sounded suspiciously like a curse. A word that should not have been known, much less uttered, by a lady. Cameron blinked.

  “Miss Rebecca was scolding me when the ice broke and I fell in the water.”

  He raised his brows in question. “Why?”

  “Because I was a naughty girl and went ice-skating without telling anyone.”

  Shocked, he turned to glance down at Rebecca. She gave him a slight, nonchalant shrug.

  “You see, my lord. I did not bring Lily out here. Yet I thank the good Lord that I was the one who found her before she had her accident and fell through the ice.”

  The guilt for his hasty and unfair accusation was a sharp pain inside him. “My apologies,” he said, hoping he sounded as contrite as he felt. “I had not realized.”

  “Perhaps next time you will wait to ascertain the facts before you start yelling, my lord.” Her scowl softened.

  His face paled with more guilt. “Rebecca—”

  “Hush, Cameron,” she murmured. “We are safe. You had no way of knowing the circumstances. It was cruel of me to tease you.”

  The throbbing panic in his chest eased. She lifted her head. Her lips were a hair‘s breath away from his own. Heedless of the little girl he held in his arms, Cameron lowered his chin and brushed his lips softly, briefly against Rebecca‘s.