Gentleman's Guide 02 - His Contrary Bride) (34 page)

“Lady Sabrina?”

She tilted her head up. Had someone said her
name?

“My lady? Are you alright?”

Yes, someone was talking to her from the
other side. “Yes. Who is there? Where are you?”

“It’s me, Tommy Ginnis. There is a small
hole at the top here.”

Sabrina strained to look up, trying to
locate the source of the light and his voice. Finally she saw it
close to the wall, not far from where Simone lay. She could barely
reach the opening and knew it would be impossible to get through. “
Tommy, can you go get some help?”

“Right away ma’am. I just wanted to make
sure you were still alive before I got your husband.”

“Thank you, but we will need a doctor for my
friend and my uncle is dead.”

“I’ll be back before you know it.”

*

Marius and Richard had been winding their
way through the mine when they heard the echo of the gun followed
by the rumble from the cave-in. Without hesitation they took off
running toward the sound only to be run into by a young boy running
equally fast. The boy stared up at him wide eyed. “Mr. Parker, Lord
Lavins, sirs, I was just coming to get you.”

“Were you at the cave-in?”

“It was Lord Chesterfield. He is dead
now.”

“What about our wives?” Marius resisted the
urge to shake the boy for answers.

“Her ladyship and her friend are stuck on
the other side. Lady Sabrina is fine but says her friend needs a
doctor.”

The two men exchanged a worried look before
Marius turned back to the boy. “I want you to get every available
man down here. Tell them what has happened. Some men are searching
the woods.”

“Yes, sir.” The boy ran off and Marius and
Richard proceeded into the mine with caution. At least their wives
were alive and Chesterfield dead. They weren’t about to risk
another cave-in due to recklessness. Soon they came to the pile of
rubble. “Sabrina?” Marius called out, afraid to speak too
loudly.

“Marius?” her voice asked from the other
side. She sounded far away.

“How can you hear me?” he asked walking
toward the blockage.

“Through this small hole.”

Marius searched until he saw a part of her
hand. Neither man commented on the fact it was covered in blood.
Marius could see Richard clench his jaw as he paled. “Are you
hurt?”

“I’m fine.”

“And Simone?” Richard finally asked.

“She is unconscious. None of her body was
covered in the dirt and rocks but she must have been struck on the
head because she is bleeding. Her pulse is strong.” Sabrina offered
after a moment in an attempt to calm Richard.

“The boy has gone for help. We will get you
out of here shortly.”

“I knew you would save me,” Sabrina stated.
“I am going to sit down now with Simone. I don’t want her to be
frightened when she wakes.”

Richard and Marius shared a concerned look.
Sabrina didn’t sound right. Too calm and a bit distant.

“Should we begin digging?” Marius asked.

“As much as I would like to get Simone out
of there, it is too dangerous.”

“What do we do?” Marius asked.

“When the others get here, they will want to
brace the rest of the walls and ceiling first to prevent any
further cave-ins before they dig.”

“So we just sit here and wait?” Marius asked
angrily.

Richard turned on him. “It isn’t any easier
for me. At least your wife is conscious and talking, but I will not
put either of them at further risk.”

Marius calmed slightly. Richard was right of
course. He had to be just as worried, if not more. Still Marius
found it difficult to only wait.

In a matter of minutes the mine began to
fill with men and women. The more experienced men stepped forward
to assess the situation and began discussing how to reinforce the
mine before they dug.

*

Sabrina could hear more voices coming from
the other side. She almost wished she couldn’t hear as clearly as
she did. She and Simone were far from out of danger. Again, she
placed a hand in the center of Simone’s chest. The heart was still
strong.

“Sabrina, love, how are you holding up?”
Marius asked through the opening.

“I’m not sure how to answer that.” Her voice
cracked.

“We will have you and Simone out of there
soon.” Marius said with confidence.

“What is happening on your side?” She asked
after a few moments. Returning her hand to Simone’s head, she found
it was still bleeding and bit her lip, and once again feeling for
her heartbeat.

“Some of the men have arrived and are
beginning to work on getting you out.”

His answer was evasive. She could hear the
worry in his voice even if he did try to hide it.

“Marius.” She began hesitantly.

Even though the others were working
silently, he knew Sabrina could hear every word. “Yes.” he finally
answered her.

“I heard them talking. I know this could
still collapse on us at any moment.”

Marius didn’t respond immediately. “That is
true, love.”

“Then tell me what they are doing to solve
the problem.”

“First they need to add support all around
us before they can begin to dig.”

“You are not helping,” Sabrina half
accused.

“They have sent me to this corner, out of
their way because I don’t know what to do. I think I am more of a
liability and I’d rather trust your life to these experts at the
moment.”

Sabrina smiled in the darkness. It had to be
killing him to not be working on the rescue.

“You own this mine now. Perhaps you should
learn how to work in it.”

“Actually, you own the mine, dear. Perhaps
you should be the one to work in here. You wouldn’t be the first
woman to do so.”

Sabrina shivered at the thought. “We own the
mine.” She corrected him. “And once I am out I am not setting foot
in here again.” Pausing she examined Simone with her hands again.
“In fact, Marius, after being here myself I think these men and
women need a larger raise than you originally planned.”

Marius grinned. “What of all those profits
you would lose?”

“To hell with them. Close the place and find
these men and women better jobs.”

Marius chuckled. “Then we would be denying
England of her resources.”

“I could give a fig.” Sabrina mumbled, once
again examining Simone. She knew she was repeating herself each
minute by checking the wrist, heart, and head but she couldn’t help
herself. Why wouldn’t she stop bleeding?

“Why won’t she wake?” Sabrina asked out
loud.

“She will in time Sabrina.”

“Her head is still bleeding.”

“Does she still breathe?” Richard asked.

His anguished tone tore at her and she
wanted to kick herself. She had forgotten about Richard. “Her pulse
and heartbeat are strong. I keep checking.”

“Sometimes it takes some time to awake from
a blow to the head. I am sure Simone will be fine.” Marius offered
the comforting words.

Neither said a word for some moments.
Finally, Sabrina spoke. “I suppose you are right. I have no idea
how long I was unconscious.”

Marius stiffened. “When was this?”

“When they took me from the house.”

“How many?”

“Two I think. All I remember is stepping
into the parlor and seeing Simone blindfolded and tied. The next
thing I recall was waking up here with a raging headache.”

“Alone?” Marius asked.

“Only Simone and I.”

*

Marius was beginning to get worried. Sabrina
was losing the life in her voice and was speaking in a hollowed
tone.

“Tell me what happened next?” Marius urged,
looking at Richard, who shared his worry. “We were much deeper in
the tunnel. It was pitch black and I couldn’t see a thing. Simone
had laughed.”

“When I said I couldn’t see. I apologized of
course. It was really thoughtless of me to complain about the
darkness.”

“I don’t believe Simone was angry with you.”
Richard offered.

“No, she wasn’t. She laughed.”

When Sabrina remained silent, Marius
prompted her to speak again. “Go on, love.”

“How horrible it must have been.” Sabrina’s
voice trailed off.

“Keep talking to me Sabrina. Then what did
you do?”

She didn’t answer right away. “I’m glad you
are here Marius. Simone will be glad Richard’s here as well when
she wakes.”

“You know I don’t like to be far away from
you, love.”

“I’m frightened, Marius.” Her voice trembled
and he wanted more than anything to be there with her, offering
comfort and protection.

“I am too.” Marius openly admitted.

When Sabrina didn’t speak, Marius forced her
to continue. The men were close to finishing the support work and
would begin to dig soon. Still they were far from danger. “What
happened next?”

Silence followed. Marius wasn’t nearly as
worried when Sabrina was talking, even if she did sound strange. He
hoped if he could keep the communication ongoing and she wouldn’t
slip away. “You never told me why Simone laughed.”

“She found it entertaining that they had
blindfolded her so she couldn’t identify them.”

Richard and Marius shared a strained smile.
“What happened next?” Marius prompted, moving slightly to be out of
the workers way.

“After finding the lamp and lighting it, we
made it this far at a much quicker pace.”

“Is this where you encountered your
uncle?”

“Yes. It was very strange. I believe he is,
or was,” correcting herself, “quite mad.”

“What did he say?”

“He was ruined because I was married and
would lose his title if I had a son. None of it made any sense to
me. He said something about a legacy.”

Marius recalled hearing the same thing from
Mr. Jacobs but hadn’t bothered to find out what exactly the legacy
was. He would make a point to, once free from here.

“He meant to kill me.” Her voice was
sounding haunted now, as if she wasn’t really with them. “He would
have shot me if Tommy hadn’t hit him with the shovel.”

“Tommy?” Marius asked.

“The little boy I sent to get you.”

The young man they had run into. “I’m sorry.
I didn’t think to ask his name.”

“Why isn’t she waking?” Sabrina
despaired.

Marius hoped that as long as Sabrina was
worried about Simone she would stay with them mentally.

“I’m sure she will be fine.” Marius assured
her.

“She saved me, you know.”

“Simone? Yes, she led you out?”

“The cave-in. Simone felt or heard it before
I realized what was happening and pulled me back. I never got a
chance to ask her how she knew.”

“She can sense things better than the rest
of us,” Richard answered.

“It’s my fault this happened to her.”
Sabrina’s voice caught. “She would have been further away if she
hadn’t been pulling on me. Uncle had a hold of my other hand.”

Marius hadn’t realized how close Sabrina had
come to being buried alive until then. Glancing down, he noted
Chesterfield’s foot peeking out from the rubble.

“I wish Phoebe were here.” Sabrina stated
after some moments. “Are the men digging?”

“Yes, they are. It shouldn’t be long. Why do
you want Phoebe?” Marius asked. Richard had begun digging. When
Marius had reached for a shovel, they had gestured for him to
remain where he was. They must all think she is teetering on the
edge as he did.

“She told me once that even the most minor
head wounds bleed profusely, though she didn’t know why. With her
experience she would know if I should be worried.”

“That she would,” another voice agreed.

“Lord Sandlin?” Sabrina asked in an odd
voice. She was now beginning to doubt her own mind. Had this entire
conversation been unreal, a figment of her imagination? Why would
Lord Sandlin appear here when he was clearly in London, unless her
mind conjured him at the thought of Phoebe.

“It is I, Sabrina. Phoebe is waiting at the
house with Janine.”

“What are you doing here?” Was she really
speaking to Phoebe’s husband?

“As soon as we learned Chesterfield had left
London we hurried to catch up and warn you.”

“Who all is with you?” She asked
hesitantly.

“Everyone, Martin, Dillon, and Noah are
right beside me digging. Janine and Phoebe, as I said, are waiting
at the house.”

“This seems very strange,” Sabrina stated to
herself out loud.

“Not really.” Taylor continued. “We arrived
this evening and intended on staying the night at the inn since it
was late. Dillon was the only one who was going to ride and warn
you. He was just getting ready to leave when the news reached us.
I’ve never seen a town clean out so quickly. Everyone who lives
here is outside.”

“I’m glad Phoebe is here. She’ll know what
to do.”

“She will probably tell you that you are
worrying for nothing,” Marius offered.

The timbers cracked above. Sabrina looked up
and held her breath, her arms instinctively moved to cover Simone.
There was complete silence from the other side. Had they abandoned
her, or were they really there to begin with. Everything was so
muddled and all she wanted to do was lay down and sleep, so
tired.

A moment later axes and shovels could be
heard and Sabrina was assured she and Simone were not alone. Her
hands once again checked Simone’s pulse, heart beat and breathing
before she touched her head. She could no longer tell if the
bleeding had stopped because her hands and Simone’s head were
sticky with blood.

She swallowed hard and forced the panic
down. She must think of something else. Something that would help
keep her alert. She couldn’t go to sleep now. Not with Simone still
unconscious. “If we have all these guests, do you know what that
means Marius?”

“No, what?”

“It’ll be our first house party. Or, country
party, whatever you call them.”