Abby released Daniel as he dived under to grab Mary. When he surfaced, he held the spluttering woman in his arms.
“Abby!”
“Mary, I am here!” The girl lunged at her and took them both under. She was hauled up again spluttering.
“Stop!” Daniel bellowed at Mary. “You must allow us to help you, but we cannot if you panic.”
Mary gulped back a sob as she relaxed the grip she had on Abby.
A loud splash heralded the arrival of Zach.
“Can your brother swim, Abby?”
“Yes.”
Zach surfaced.
“Let’s go, the boats are all taken,” Daniel said, handing Mary to Zach. He then took hold of Abby and began to swim for the bank. The distance wasn’t huge, but it was cold, and they were hampered by their chemises.
Shutting out the cries of distress, she swam with Daniel’s arm around her waist. Beside them, Zach did the same for Mary.
As they approached, she saw a mass of people. Searching the crowds, she found her brothers. Gabe was lowering himself into the water beside Michael. Nathan was above them.
“Daniel!” The roared words came from Oliver Dillinger, who was waving his arms. Others ran with him along the bank. She found Lord William and Lady Althea.
“Nearly there, Abby, just a bit further.”
She kicked her feet, and they reached the bank moments later. Hands grabbed her, and she was lifted to Nathan, who held her close.
“Little sister, I cannot tell you how glad I am you are safe.”
She was too cold to speak, so she burrowed into him. Beside them, Oliver Dillinger was hauling his brother from the water.
“I am well,” she heard him say. “But we must go back in. There are many who cannot swim.”
“No!” Abby grabbed his arm. “You cannot!”
“We must,” Zach answered for him. “They will drown if we do not, Abby.”
In seconds, the men around her who could swim had taken off their boots.
“Please don’t.” She grabbed Nathan’s arm as he released her. “Gabe, Michael, stay here with me. Please, Daniel, Zach!” Desperation had panic clawing at her.
“It must be done, Abby.” Daniel grabbed her shoulders. “Would you have those people drown because of your fear?”
“N-no. Let me come with you.”
“No. If you did, we would spend the entire time watching you and save no one.”
“He’s right,” Gabe added.
“Very well.”
“Good girl. Now, you need to get warm.” Daniel looked over his shoulder. “Thea, can you and Primrose help Lady Abigail and her friend?”
The two ladies rushed forward, and soon she was wrapped in a coat that felt blissful. Beside her, Mary wept as she watched the water for any sign of her family. Abby wanted to weep as she watched her men get back into the black murky depths.
She found the back of Daniel’s head. Please stay safe.
“How is it you swim, Lady Abigail?” Lady Althea asked. She was attempting to warm Abby by rubbing her arms.
“My brothers swam in the l-lake at my father’s estate, so I learned also.”
Her eyes tried to find each of the Deville men.
“They are there.” A large hand pointed to a group of men. The owner of that hand was Oliver Dillinger.
“My strength offers little in this situation. I will learn to swim after this,” he gritted out. “My brother has always loved the water. I do not.”
“H-he saved me.”
“I think you could have saved yourself, Lady Abigail.”
“I cannot see any of my family!” Mary cried from beside her.
They stood there gathered together and watched as the men brought people to the banks. She joined the others to help care for them.
“Philippa!” Mary’s cry had Abby hurrying to her side where she had dropped down beside the limp form of her sister. Joining Mary, she looked down, helpless as to what to do now.
“Turn her head to one side!” The words came from a woman who was pressing on a man’s chest. “You need to breathe for her!”
“That’s Essex Sinclair,” Primrose Hetherington said. She was beside Abby, helping another woman. “Listen to her, she knows what she’s about.”
“Hold her nose. Place your mouth over hers, breathe in.” Primrose relayed the instructions as Abby lowered her head.
Gripping the nose, she inhaled. Lowering her head, she pressed her lips to Philippa’s and exhaled.
“Continue on,” Primrose counselled her.
While Mary wept, Abby focused on her sister, hopefully giving life to her through her breath. She had no idea how this helped, had never heard of it, and indeed rebelled at what she did, but Primrose’s steady assurance kept her there.
Beneath her, Phillipa coughed.
“Now we turn her to her side,” Primrose said, moving Mary to assist. Together they rolled her.
“Mary, you must watch your sister now, as there are more people who are in need of help,” Abby said. With Primrose’s help, she staggered to her feet, hoping her shaking legs would hold her weight.
“Can you see them, Primrose? The men, can you see them?” Abby scanned the water, trying to find people in the chaos. “I need to know they are all right.”
“Benjamin is with Daniel, Alex, and Will. Your brothers are there.” Abby searched and found them. “Now come, we must help others.”
They tended those who had been saved. She breathed life into three more people. Two died. Abby swallowed down the sobs as around them the guests from Vauxhall Gardens did what they could too. Every time she raised her head, she found more bodies lying on the banks.
She didn’t know how long she moved between people. How many hands she clenched and how many times she searched the dark waters for her family and Daniel.
“Abby.” She turned to find Gabe behind her with Nathan, Zach, and Michael. Exhausted, their shoulders were slumped. All in shirt sleeves and trousers that clung to them. She ran to them, trying to hug them all. Their arms closed around her.
“We’re all safe,” Gabe whispered into her hair.
“Daniel?”
“Safe also. And now we leave before you catch a chill.”
“I am warm, you are not. And a chill is nothing to how these people are suffering.” Abby
