“Is my daughter still breathing?” It was her father’s ragged voice. She heard other male voices, frantically issuing orders and saying her name. She wanted to answer but could not.
“Yes, thank God. She still breathes.”
“We moved Barney on to the grass beyond the yard and have sent for the doctor.”
Warm teardrops fell on her face, and she fluttered her eyes. “My dog, my horse…?”
“They saved your life, my dearest one. They are safe. Thank God we got to you in time.” Harlow pulled her close against him.
Her nostrils burned from the acrid smoke, yet she could still smell his pleasing scent. His heartbeat thumped powerfully against her ear.
“I am safe,” she muttered hoarsely, and closed her eyes.
Chapter 16
Harlow and Max had gathered necessary supplies for the day and were heading out of the door to collect their horses. Lord Avalon had generously asked Cook to provide some sandwiches, fruits, and cheeses for the three men, while they waited for the operation to take place. Winston opened the door for them, and Lilian’s dog shot through his legs and ran to Harlow, barking madly. The small dog repeatedly jumped up against his leg and then ran a short distance in front of him until the men realized the puppy wanted them to follow. As soon as they were clear of the doorway, Harlow smelled acrid smoke of a fire.
“The stables are on fire!” Max pointed towards a plume of grey-black smoke.
“Get Lord Avalon,” Harlow turned and shouted to Winston before running behind Max down the brick path. The two men hastened after the dog, which had calmed a little and was racing ahead. The back of the stables was burning, the roof ablaze with orange flame and thick smoke, and with no back door to the stables, the black smoke was bellowing forth. Cooper had been alone, and Lilian was nowhere to be seen. In sudden horror, Harlow realized that Lilian was probably in there. Panting more from fear than exertion, they charged into the stable yard and met a young groom who had moved as many horses as possible out into the paddocks.
They found Barney unconscious, and his body pulled behind a blanket chest in the harness room. The large lantern was still hanging in the entrance, but he had already suspected the cause was one of the ones along the passage fronting the stalls. As if of one mind, both men took off their shirts, soaked them in a nearby trough and held them over their heads. Lord Avalon and Yarstone arrived as they began to fight their way through the acrid smoke and at once did the same.
Harlow recalled that Danby’s stall was closer to the feed room and away from the fire. As he and the other men ventured into the burning structure, they met a groom shooing his and Max’s horses from the back of the stable and breathed a sigh of relief. Several male servants from the house had also run in to help with the horses, and Max called a servant to run for the veterinarian.
“Have you seen Lady Lilian?” Harlow asked loudly. The groom shook his head.
“I ’asn’t seen Barney, neither. Had to get these ’orses out afore I looked, sir. There are still two more horses in ’ere. I started at the far end, see, nearest the fire.” The man pointed toward the stalls at the other end of the row, where Danby was housed.
A ginger-coloured mare ran past them, followed by sounds of a horse still in distress. The men ran towards the sound of stamping. Then they heard a woman scream. The piercing sound came from the direction of Danby’s stall. Harlow chased along the passage as though he had wings. He found Lilian on the ground, her horse alternately nudging her and tugging at her skirts, clearly trying to drag her towards the door. In her right hand she clutched a wooden cane.
Thinking her dead, Harlow picked her up and pulled her close to his heart, begging her not to leave him. The sight of her hair hanging dirty and limp around her shoulders caused his heart to sink. He ripped off the wet rag covering her nose and mouth and willed her to breathe. He could see the rise and fall of her chest, albeit slightly; it gave him hope. She tried to open her eyes but could only mouth his name. Rogue tears escaped unchecked down his face.
“Is my daughter still breathing?” her father cried out, grasping her face and begging her to open her eyes.
“My dog, my horse?” she muttered.
Harlow wanted to get down on his knees and give thanks. If he had not been holding her, he would have done so. Slowly, he turned and carried her out into the fresh air. Only then did he realize his state of undress. Feeling a surge of embarrassment, he looked away over the paddock fences, where the horses were grazing, rolling and kicking up their heels in happy freedom. Miraculously, all the animals had survived the blaze, because of the quick thinking of the groom and the strength and will of this beautiful woman in his arms.
Max brought up Lilian’s chair, also largely unscathed, and with great reluctance, Harlow lowered her into it. A few moments later, a large crash sounded as part of the roof towards the back of the stable fell. He shielded her body as sparks leaped into the air.
Viscount Yarstone had organized two bucket brigades to douse the flames from two directions and wetting the ground surrounding the stable. A fire engine finally arrived from the village and directed its efforts on the centre of the blaze, fuelled by unspent ceiling timbers. It took several more hours before the estate workers could get the blaze under control, to a point where they finally felt it could burn itself out.
The doctor, who had arrived earlier, said, “Keep her propped up with
