Edith wasn’t familiar enough with Perry to understand if he was pulling a prank or not. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, it’sBywell Castle. She always sails down the river at this time. She’s going to ram into us.” He raised his voice, his chest heaving. “People, everyone, you must abandon ship.”
No one paid him the slightest bit of attention.
“Abandon ship!” he yelled, trying to weave through the crowd, but he didn’t move an inch.
“Stop pushing, lad!” a man complained, shoving Perry in turn.
“You might be mistaken,” Edith said.
Although someone else shouted ‘abandon ship’ from somewhere.
He breathed harder. “Too many people, and too little time. Edith, Mrs. Winkworth, Miss Winkworth, listen to me. You must untie your petticoats.”
Edith gasped, Mother touched her neck, and Marianne covered her mouth with a hand.
“Lord Peregrine,” Edith said, her face burning, “please, I beg you, don’t play silly tricks on us.”
He took her shoulders. In the dim light, his sapphire eyes glowed with a maniacal glint.
“I swear on my soul. It’s not a joke.Princess Aliceis going to be speared byBywell Castlein a matter of minutes. We’ll sink faster than you can realise what’s happening, and your heavy petticoats will drag you down into the water. You must get lighter and jump now.”
“My lord,” Mother said. “This is absurd.”
“Trust me, please. Your lives depend on that.” He sounded honest, but that wasn’t the point. He genuinely believedPrincess Alicewould sink, but he might be wrong. “Look for yourself.”
Without preamble, he took Edith by the waist and moved her closer to the rail.
After the initial shock of being grabbed and dragged, she stared ahead. A large, tall ship with a pointed hull aimed straight at them. The ship’s lights were getting closer. Edith wasn’t an expert in sailing, but even she could tell there was no chance either of the ships could swerve in time.
“Good lord. Perry is right.” She panted. “We’re going to sink.”
“Edith, please,” Mother said.
“He’s right.” Edith unfastened her petticoats or tried to. The book impeded her movements. Dropping it pained her, but she had to. “We’re about to sink,” she yelled. “Abandon ship!”
Her hysterical scream had no effect on the crowd. Someone laughed; the vast majority ignored her.
“The water is a problem.” Perry helped her untie her petticoats with efficiency. “The river has strong currents, and the water is filthy with the streams from the sewers. But we’ll have a chance of surviving. If we stay here, we’ll die.” He yanked her petticoats off.
“What are you doing?” Mother said.
“Mother, please.” Edith’s plea was covered by the shouts and the piercing peal of the sirens, either fromPrincess AliceorBywell Castle.
The ship rocked, likely trying to change course at the last moment.
“Jump, jump.” Perry ignored Mother and Marianne’s protests and yanked their petticoats down none too gently, ripping the fabric.
The sirens rang louder.Princess Aliceswung hard, causing her passengers to be tossed and jolted.
“Mother, listen to him.” Edith squeezed her mother’s hand and climbed over the rail.
The inky water was a dark abyss, ready to swallow her. She wasn’t sure she could jump. Marianne shook her head, muttering something Edith didn’t understand.
“Go!” Perry shoved Marianne towards the rail right when a thundering, splintering noise boomed.
The ship swayed right and left like a giant crib. Screams filled the night as Edith was pulled and pushed from every side. Marianne cried out next to her. Mother screamed. They jumped,holding each other’s hands. Edith hit the water, and its rotting smell nearly made her pass out.
Then it was chaos.
