Page 31 of Much Ado about a Widow

He twisted toward what he hoped was the correct direction. With no land as point of reference, he could be swimming anywhere. The choppy water continued to push him up and down as he scanned the surface. Where was she? The waves shifted, and Rob caught sight of the little head, scarcely above the water, yet paddling furiously toward him.

“I’m coming, Lulu.” He stretched out and began to swim toward her, all the while praying they had got the boat in the water by now. If the current didn’t cooperate—and if they didn’t have a great deal of luck—he and Lulu would freeze to death before Lady Georgina’s eyes.

* * *

Georgie screamed again when Lord St. Just plunged off the railing of the ship into the murky, freezing water. Dear Lord, the fall alone should kill him.

Holding her breath, she peered at the spot where he had gone in, willing him to surface. Nothing. Nothing for so long. Her lungs ready to explode, she glanced over the waves, trying to catch a glimpse of Lulu. And there she was, doggedly paddling toward the Justine. Good girl. Although she wasn’t swimming as swiftly as previously. Was she beginning to falter? Had Lord St. Just’s heroic action been for naught?

Lungs aching, Georgie swung her attention back to where the marquess had dove in and praise God, there he was. His sleek, dark head had broken the surface. She gasped in a thankful breath. He lived—at least for now.

The figure in the water looked up at her. “Where is she?”

“There!” Georgie pointed behind him, to the small, struggling Lulu. Dear Lord, she looked so tiny in the vastness of the Channel. Even Lord St. Just looked insignificant against the stark, endless sea. Would he make it to Lulu in time?

As if in answer, St. Just stretched out on top of the water and began swimming vigorously toward Lulu. Powerful muscles in play as he crawled across the choppy waves, effortlessly. At least he made it look effortless. The poor man must be freezing. As was Lulu.

“Do something.” She snagged one of the mates scurrying past her. “We have to help him.”

“Aye, m’lady. We’re putting the boat in now. Cartwright, you’re the fastest on the oars. In you go. Pardon me.” The man sprinted past her toward the small boat that had brought them to the Justine as the youngest of the sailors was climbing into it. “Pull with all your might, Mr. Cartwright.”

“Aye, Mr. Ayers.” The sailor’s eyes were fixed ahead of him, and he gripped the oars. “Lower away.”

Wiping tears from her eyes, Georgie ran back to the right side and peered over. St. Just’s head was the only thing she could see. He turned around, as if searching for something.

Lulu. He couldn’t see her because of the waves. She could see the dog not many yards away from him, but he suddenly started swimming in the opposite direction.

“No!” She screeched, climbing onto the rail, holding onto a rope for dear life. “That way.” She pointed frantically at Lulu. “Behind you.”

He didn’t hear her, for he continued on his same path, away from the little dog who had almost stopped paddling. No, no, no. “Lulu!”

Her shout must have carried all the way to the dog, because a muffled “yip” carried back to Georgie, and Lulu began paddling toward her voice once more. Even more miraculously, St. Just had seemed to hear that “yip” as well, for he reversed course and headed straight for Lulu.

“Lady Georgina!”

Clara’s shocked voice startled Georgie so badly she almost toppled over into the water. Now that would have been a hobble. She clutched at the rope and turned toward the maid, blinking in the sunlight.

“What are you doing up there, my lady?” The maid’s indignant voice sounded almost comical. “And where is Lulu?”

* * *

The small but distinct “yip” coming from behind him brought Rob’s head up. He spun around and caught a glimpse of the struggling animal. There she was, thank heaven. “Hold on, Lulu.” He spat water and wearily struck out toward her once more.

Lulu must have seen him as well, for she paddled toward him faster, with frantic strokes, whimpering constantly.

Poor thing was likely almost done in.

He was almost done in if it came to that. Despite his vigorous swimming, the cold had penetrated his skin, sucking the heat from his body at an alarming rate. He could no longer feel his fingers or feet, though the latter kept pumping of their own accord, despite the fact that his boots now seemed made of lead. If the crew hadn’t gotten the boat in the water by now, neither he nor Lulu would live to tell the tale.

The rough waters parted, and Lulu slammed into his face, whimpering and shivering. He stopped swimming and gathered her into his arms, relief and joy unexpectedly coursing through him. “I’ve got you. You’re going to be all right.”

Lulu licked his face, the warmth of her tongue heating his frigid skin for only an instant, but that spark spread throughout him. “Thank you. And you’re welcome. Now let’s get back to my ship.”

Glancing all about, he finally located the Justine, stopped in the water, thank God. Even better, the boat was in the water as well, coming toward them at a fair clip, but much too far away for his liking. It would be a close thing. Lethargy had already begun to steal over him. He wanted nothing more than to simply stop struggling and let the boat come to them. Shivering uncontrollably, he clutched Lulu to his chest. She was so cold and wet she could give him no spark of warmth to help him along. God, but he was cold. Closing his eyes he tried to imagine a blazing fire with toasty blankets all around him, a hot grog in his hand.

“Yip.”

A splash brought him out of his dangerous daydream to find Lulu had leaped out of his slack arms into the water again, and was swimming briskly for the boat that suddenly loomed much closer. Shaking his head to dispel the deadly vision that had tried to lull him into a stupor and possibly death, Rob forced himself to follow the animal and struck out again.