“No.”Susie started gasping for air.
They reached the window and Samantha paused.How the hell was she going to help both women across the roof to the spot where the jumping distance was narrowest?It would have been hard enough if they’d been compliant, but with Susie resisting as much as she was, she’d never manage.
Making a quick decision, Samantha whirled toward Mrs.Parks.“Turner is already out there and ought to be making his way back by now.You’re going to get yourself onto the roof and go meet him.”
At least Mrs.Parks popped her head through the window while Samantha put all her strength toward restraining Susie.Unfortunately, the Cook’s assessment of the situation was not a positive one.
She shook her head.“There’s only a narrow ledge and nothing for me to hold onto.”
“I was able to do it in order to get here,” Samantha informed her.“Just don’t look down and you’ll be fine.It’s not slippery.”
“But—”
“All you have to do is keep moving forward until you reach the roof ladder and see Turner.Now go, or we’ll all end up burning alive.”
Mrs.Parks, to her credit, buried her fear and climbed through the window.Samantha pulled Susie closer, but the young woman bent both knees and dropped her weight, making her near impossible to budge.
“Do you not feel the heat from below?”Samantha asked, whatever patience she might have possessed two minutes ago completely gone.“Do you not smell the smoke?If you don’t come with me this instant I’ll have no choice but to leave you behind.”
Despite what she’d said before, she wouldn’t die for someone who’d not even try to save themself.
Something in Samantha’s voice must have registered, because Susie suddenly nodded and started moving toward the window.She peered out over the roof, then jerked back and pressed herself into the wall.
Whatever relief Samantha had known one second before vanished.
This wouldn’t work.Susie’s terror put Samantha at risk.Had they fallen overboard from a ship, Susie would have tried to climb on top of Samantha, and both would have drowned.This was no different.In a way, it was worse.At sea, Samantha could have knocked her unconscious, then tried to keep her afloat.But there was no way for her to take an unconscious woman across the roof with her.
Even at her own physical peak such a task would have been impossible.Now, after Alexandra’s difficult birth just ten days prior, she could only pray she’d find the strength and endurance required to get herself to safety.
“Oh, God,” Susie murmured, her wide eyes fixed on something behind Samantha.
Samantha turned from the window and spotted the flames that were now spreading over the floor, cutting off all other routes.They’d climb the walls next and engulf the roof.
Hard as it was, Samantha made her decision and climbed through the window and onto the ornamental ledge that encircled the building.
“You can still come with me,” she said to Susie, even though she feared the young woman would make a grab for Samantha and cause her to lose her balance.Nevertheless, she added, “This is the only way in which you survive.”
To Samantha’s dismay, Susie shook her head and retreated, moving away from the window and toward the fire.
It took every ounce of common sense Samantha possessed to squash the instinct compelling her to go back after the foolish woman.She reminded herself of Alexandra and of Adrian.They were of greater importance.She mattered to them in a way that did not justify her sacrificing her life like this.
So she ignored the pain in her chest and the tears that burned in her eyes as she made her way toward the roof ladder.One was attached to each of the walls directly beside the exits located at both ends of the servants’ quarters; doors leading out onto a narrow balcony, intended to offer another means of escape in case of emergency.
She’d almost reached it when the screams started.A claw closed over her heart, squeezing it until she could scarcely breathe.Even though she knew she shouldn’t look back, she did.Just in time to see a human fireball leap from the window.
Stillness followed.Then came the crash as part of the roof caved in.
Swallowing the lump that was lodged in her throat, Samantha returned her attention to her goal — to moving forward and to surviving.She clawed her way across the ledge, grateful not to find Mrs.Parks in her path.It seemed the cook had managed to get to Turner and would hopefully be out of danger by now.
Heat wafted around her, caging her in and making her sweat.Every brick she touched burned her hands and feet, which would surely blister later.
She reached the roof ladder in the next moment and hauled herself onto the first rung, then started to climb.Hand over hand.Up and onto the eave, even as her muscles – weakened from lack of exercise – protested.All that remained for her to do now was cross the roof to the narrowest point between this house and the neighbors.
After that, jump.
Except, the roof was no longer intact.Most of it was gone, and whatever remained fed the hungry flames.Standing at the top of the outer wall, Samantha stared into the pit where her home had once been.Floors and walls were burned away, leaving gaping holes consumed by fire and smoke.
Someone shouted her name.“Samantha.”
