to douse the flames. The place was deserted but he could hear shouting and banging coming from the lofts in which the men slept.
Swearing volubly, he vaulted from the saddle and raced to release them. “Raise the alarm, someone ring the stable bell, bring ladders and as many horse blankets as you can find.”
Not waiting to see if they followed his orders he raced round to the front of the house where the seat of the fire appeared to be. As he arrived the front door opened and three women stumbled out coughing and spluttering, one carrying his daughter in her arms.
Thank the good Lord. Lucinda was safe—now he must pray he could get to Isobel in time. Two black shapes hurtled round the corner to greet him. He paused to scratch their heads glad Isobel’s pets had survived.
“Nanny Cooper, is Lady Lucinda unharmed?
The woman wiped her streaming eyes with one hand. “She is, your grace, but we got out in the nick of time. I fear opening the front door has increased the ferocity of the flames. Her grace was intending to lead the servants down that way but she will have been driven back.”
“Let me see my daughter.” She handed him the sleeping bundle, gently he pulled back the damp shawl which covered the infant and lightly kissed her face. “Sleep on, little one; I must fetch your mama.” He gave his daughter back with a smile of thanks. “Do you know where Mr and Mrs Watkins are living? “
Nanny Cooper was about to answer when two figures ran forward to greet him. “Your grace, we have only just seen the flames or we should have been here sooner. Has her grace not come out yet?”
“No, Watkins, these are the only three. Mrs Watkins, take my daughter and her attendants, back to your cottage and take care of them. I shall bring my wife to you when I rescue her.”
“I shall be waiting, your grace. Come along, Nanny. It’s a mild night, but you’ve had a nasty shock and would be all the better for a hot drink.” Mrs Watkins stopped, turning back asked, “Peggy Simpson, the wet nurse, did she not come out with you?”
“She prefers to sleep in the attic and will be with the other women. Since her man and her own baby died she doesn’t like to be alone at night.”
Damnation! If the baby woke there would be no food for her. He must make sure the Simpson woman was the second one to come out from the fire. “Please don’t worry, Mrs Watkins, I shall have her grace and the wet nurse with you shortly.”
The flames had taken a good hold and the windows on the first floor were as bright as if a thousand candles glowed inside. Where could a hundred souls hide safely with such a furnace burning all around them?
With two dozen men behind him he raced round to the south side. Thank God! Here the windows were black; the fire had not reached these chambers. “Up there. Do you see, Watkins? There’s light in my apartment, they must be in there. Get the ladders up against one set of windows, the rest of you divide yourselves into groups and take hold of the edges of a blanket. The only way we’re going to get everybody out safely is if the ladies jump.”
“I can organise that for you, my lord. Two blankets at a time, the others waiting to replace them when they’re full.”
“Good man. I’m going up a ladder to get things started. I’m hoping the men can come down these quickly leaving the blankets for the women. The wind’s getting up. I fear we don’t have a moment to lose before the whole place is engulfed.”
There was a small forest of lanterns on poles to light his way. A sudden gust of wind almost knocked him off the ladder, and an ominous roar from the front of the house sent him climbing even quicker. There could not be more than a quarter of an hour before the people inside perished.
He tipped headlong over the stone balustrade landing inelegantly on his face on the balcony. As he sprang to his feet the French windows flew open and Isobel fell into his arms.
“Alexander? What are
He crushed her in his arms for a second and then picked her up and placed her on the ladder. “Our daughter is fine, no time to talk, get down the ladder as fast as you can. Leave things to me. I shall send Simpson next. Go to Mrs Watkins’ cottage and wait for me there.”
“Take care, my darling, I could not bear to lose you now.”
Descending the wooden ladder in her slippers and nightgown was difficult but when your life was at stake you managed somehow. No sooner was she off the bottom than someone else was following her. To her astonishment two more windows were flung open and the next thing she saw were women jumping from the other balcony to land in stretched out blankets.
Peggy arrived at her side breathless and red-faced, but smiling. “What a lark! I’ve never seen the like. I hope me milk don’t dry up because of it.”
“Go to Mrs Watkins’ home right away, she’s expecting you. Do you know the way?”
“I do that, it ain’t far and there’s a fine big moon to show me the path.”
By now there were a dozen men and women milling about on the terrace getting in everybody’s way. “Inside staff - listen to me. You must go immediately to the coach house. It’s warm and dry in there. Get a fire going and put water on to boil. I’m sure the stable hands have the makings for tea, you must share cups as there won’t be enough for everyone.”
Two of the outside men offered to lead those rescued away from the fire. Isobel knew she should go with them. But she wanted to be sure everyone got out safely. Very soon there was a constant stream of the rescued heading for the coach house. She greeted each one in turn, congratulating them on their bravery and promising them they would not be dismissed from service because of this.
Heaven knows how they were going to accommodate so many when Newcomb was likely to be razed to the ground. Too soon to fret—as long as all were safe, that was all that mattered. Smoke was billowing from the bed chamber and sitting-room above. How many more were waiting to come down?
“Sam, I’ve not seen Bill, is he still up there?”
“My lady, you should not be out here. Let me take you to Mary where you’ll be safe and warm.”
Alexander appeared on the balcony and shouted down to the men below. “Just a dozen more to come and everyone will be out.”
Four more men scrambled down the ladders, others were jumping into the blankets. Her nails bit into her palms. Why didn’t
There was a scream and a figure fell from the far window his garments on fire. He landed in a blanket and immediately those who’d caught him rolled him up to douse the flames. Bill and Alexander emerged pursued by the fire. They would be too late. They would be swallowed up—consumed by the ferocity of the blaze behind them. Her beloved locked his arms and legs around the wooden ladder and slid down safely. By the time he hit the ground the top of the ladder was burning fiercely.
Bill could only use his arms; his injury prevented him from moving as swiftly as he should. His ladder was on fire before he’d descended more than a few rungs. Frantically a group of men ran towards him with a blanket. Too late—he had no choice. He must drop to the flagstones or be incinerated. He plummeted to the ground and she expected to see him die before her eyes.
A collective gasp rippled round the group as, instead of falling flat, somehow he managed to roll himself into a neat ball and land on his shoulders. Because he was curled up the impact sent him tumbling head over heels onto the grass. He was sitting up rubbing his elbows by the time the first man reached him.
She was transfixed. Everyone had got out unscathed. This was a miracle. Then Alexander was beside her, hugging her fiercely, mumbling incoherently into her hair.
“My darling, you could have been killed. I thought I would be too late, that for the second time I should be bereft.”
“How did you come to be here in the middle of the night? I thought you were not to come until tomorrow?”
“I shall explain it all to you later. You should not be here, sweetheart, but I’m glad you are. I still have things to attend to. Can I trust you to join our daughter at the cottage?”
There was no point in arguing. He was lord of the manor—of course he had to ensure all his dependents were accounted for and make sure they were as comfortable as they could be in the circumstances. A sudden crash of thunder jolted them apart; from nowhere a summer storm had drifted in and the heavens opened.
