She squeezed shut her eyes and tried to force herself not to think of the what ifs. Clara would find Nathan. He would come. She would be saved.
Not that she had any idea how: it was impossible to cross the room. She was stuck on the opposite side, and no ladder was going to be tall enough to reach her from outside the castle.
“Rosalie!” The sound of her name being shouted was still faint, but her eyes snapped open the moment she heard it. “Rosalie, I’m coming!”
There was no mistaking that voice: it was her husband’s. Her heart began to hammer against her chest, and tears pricked her eyes.
He’s coming!
“Nathan!” she shouted back. “I’m in here!”
“We’re coming, Rosalie! Just hold on!”
She could hear footsteps now, the sound of several people approaching, and another sound, as if something was hitting the walls. She didn’t know what that might be, but she could only hope it was her husband’s rescue plan.
Seconds later, Nathan’s face appeared in the doorway across from her, and Rosalie thought she might burst into tears. Never in her life had she been as glad to see someone as she was to see Nathan now.
“Rosalie!” he shouted the moment he saw her, his eyes wide. “Don’t worry, we’re going to get you out of there. How are you doing? Are you holding on all right?”
“I’m starting to s-slip,” she said, and the tears began to leak out of her eyes. Her fingers had begun to sweat which made holding onto the windowsill even harder, and she could feel her feet beginning to slide slowly down the stones. “I don’t think I can hold on much longer.”
“You don’t have to hold on long,” he assured. “Just a few more seconds.” He turned behind him and motioned at someone. “Bring the beams here.”
Several footmen appeared carrying long wooden planks. They looked tired, sweat dripping from their brows, but determined. With Nathan’s help, they began to lift the beams out over the caved-in floor and toward the window where Rosalie was hanging on for dear life.
“Roaslie, if you can, try to take the end of the planks and rest them above the stones below the windowsill,” Nathan instructed. His voice was very calm and steady, and even though Rosalie didn’t want to let go of the windowsill, she did as he said. When the first plank reached her, she released one hand and helped to set it above the stones so that it created a kind of bridge from the door to the window.
“Now the next one,” Nathan said. “You’re doing great, Rosalie. Just wonderful.”
He smiled at her, and she felt a surge of strength go through her. She was still scared out of her wits, but this time, she grabbed the end of the plank with more confidence and set it down next to the first.
“That should be enough,” Nathan said. He removed his jacket, handed it to a footman, and then rolled up his sleeves. Then he set a foot on the planks and pushed down with his weight, testing it.
The plank wobbled a little, but only a little. He took another tentative step, further towards the center, and this time, it seemed secure.
“All right, I’m going across,” he said, and he looked Rosalie straight in the eyes. “I’m coming across to you, Rosalie.”
“No, you can’t!” she gasped, fear once more seizing her. “They can’t be stable! You’ll fall!”
“I’ll be okay,” he said, very calmly. “I’m going to come and get you, and then we are going to cross back together.”
“I d-don’t know if I can,” she stammered, but he just smiled and took another step. “Yes you can. I believe in you, Rosalie. You’re in control of your own life, and you can do this.”
And then, before she could respond, before she could even blink, he had crossed all the way across the planks.
He had done it so quickly and with such balanced assurance that she hadn’t even had time to be afraid for him.
Now, he was standing right next to her, balancing on the planks while also holding onto the windowsill with one hand. With the other, he took hers.
“How are you doing?” he asked, smiling softly.
“I’m s-scared,” she whispered as she looked up into his calm blue eyes. “I don’t think I can make it back across.”
“You can,” he said again, squeezing her hand. “You’re just going to have to go quickly, keep your eyes focused right in front of you on the planks, and don’t look down at the hole.”
“But—”
“I’d carry you, but I think that would make it even more unbalanced.” He leaned forward and rested his forehead against hers; it was surprisingly cool. “Trust me, Rosalie,” he murmured. “You can do this.”
