Another wave crashed, submerging him, and he lunged for the surface, felt a clout to his shin. Wood from the shattered boat or–
He plunged deep, lungs seizing, searching blindly with his hands in the Stygian pitch. A tangle of fingers caught in his and he snatched them, held them as a hand scrabbled at his legs, tugging him down. He fought for the surface, never letting go until he gasped air and a sodden walnut crown emerged, choking, spluttering.
Arms looped around his neck to hang limp in the savage sea.
The walnut crown tipped, eyelids lifted. “Jack.”
His terror-stricken heart surged, arms grasped, mouths met despite the turbulence all around.
Water crashed them apart once more and gasping, Jack lashed one arm tight about her waist, another cleaving through the sea. Tamsyn’s legs kicked out in tandem with his own, but the never-ending waves robbed all headway and stupor crept its fingers upon them.
Ahead, endless black greeted his eyes, no shore visible beyond the next towering wave, and stamina ebbed in its wake.
Yet he would not finally have Tamsyn in his embrace only to lose her due to his own failing body, and he forced his feet to thrash, compelled his arm to lunge onward, calling upon every last remnant of his strength.
Still the savage sea craved a prize this night and exhaustion welled, the water’s grip tightening, whispering its sweet siren’s song. He kicked out but to no avail, dipped beneath the waves, would never let Tamsyn go, never be separated.
A sudden wrench and air rushed his lungs.
A strong arm held firm.
“Hold on, brother.” Rope tightened around them. “I’ve got you.”
Chapter Twenty-six
“Eat, drink, and love; the rest’s not worth a fillip.”
(Byron)
The turbulent dusk turned to deepest night within a blink for their bedraggled slog over the headland, but they were met on the bridleway by Penrose stable lads, who encased them in blankets and led their horses through the beating rain.
Jack’s heart refused to steady on the interminable ride back. It thudded, seized and then pounded in his ears until he felt deaf with the noise, louder than any thunder, more blinding than any lightning.
As the wind relentlessly swirled, he tightened his hold on Tamsyn, felt shivers course through her as cold inveigled their blankets, rain drenched their heads and slipping hooves jarred their bodies.
Never had stately gates appeared so welcome, looming high, boding of safety and…home.
Warmth and relief met them at the manor door as he slid from his mount, gathering Tamsyn into his arms. Never to let her go.
A pale and soaked Benjamin seized Jowlik’s reins, a thick bandage tied around his head. Tamsyn dragged a hand from beneath the blanket, clutched his arm. “Ben, I’m so thankful to see you.”
“Take better than some Frenchie to do me harm, Miss.” He grinned wide and then grimaced, clutching his nape.
Jack would have hugged the boy but with arms full, all he could do was wink his own gladness. “How’s the head, my lad?”
“Pain’s all on one side like a crab goin’ to gaol, so as long as I don’t laugh, it don’t hurt.”
Smiling, Jack strode from the howling night, to where a throng awaited them in the hall, faces creased with both worry and jubilation.
“I can walk,” Tamsyn protested, but he took absolutely no notice, only tightening his grip.
Within an instant, they were surrounded: Miss Treherne patted at Tamsyn’s pale face, hugging and crying, the butler flung orders around like Wellington, the professor handed out glasses of brandy, and a rheumy-eyed Mrs Mildern sat quiet and…knowing.
“Miss Treherne, please look after Oliver,” Jack requested, voice hoarse. “He saved our lives tonight.”
His brother lurched, exhaustion etched in every movement. Oliver’s strength had not faltered for one moment in that ravaging sea, and Jack noticed his brother’s palms were raw, skin ripped from clutching that rope.
Miss Treherne kissed Tamsyn’s cheek and then dashed to Oliver, gently grasping his battered hands and dabbing the blood that seeped from shallow scratches to his arms. Servants bundled blankets around both him and a weary Mason who’d hauled the rope from ashore.
