A Dreadful Splendor (104)

Audra took my shivering hands in hers. “The ghosts of Somerset are girls, like you and me, and they will not release their claim until we give them what they ask for. They want us to join them in death. This will be my last act of love for my dear home. Tonight, we will become part of Somerset’s history.”

The last of my energy surrendered in that moment. Hadn’t I already accepted this as my fate since I heard the fortune-teller? This was my punishment for causing Maman’s death, for not seeing the sacrifices she was making for us, and for not realizing that without her, I was nothing.

A heavy calmness enveloped me.

I didn’t deserve a second chance. Fate kept putting me on this road to the ocean, despite the choices I made. Gareth was wrong. Destiny was not malleable by the choices you made. It was set in stone, and mine would never alter to a course that led to Paris, and family laughter, and riding horses. It had always ended here.

“All right, my sweet?” Audra nodded encouragingly. “We’ll do it together.”

I dropped my chin, defeated.

I watched as she ducked under, the matted blond hair sinking beneath the surface. Then she pulled on my chains, taking me with her. I felt her arms wrap around me tightly. I pictured our bodies locked in an eternal embrace.

Darkness crept in from the edges. My lungs burned, but I ignored the impulse to take a breath. There was almost a sense of relief. Death had been courting me all my life; I was ready to accept him with open arms. I didn’t know how to waltz, but I would dance with death tonight.

There was a violent jolt from somewhere deep inside me. Maman’s voice was angry. You were meant to live, ma petite chérie.

She spoke again, louder this time. It was coming from my heart. You were meant to live!

Maman taught me to be independent so I could be strong. But being strong included trusting my heart too.

The heart sees.

Images of Gareth, and long summer afternoons with the wind in my hair and his lips on mine, played behind my eyelids.

I pushed Audra away and stood tall, my mouth cresting above the water for a gulp of air. She grabbed my hair and dragged me down again. Bubbles exploded from my mouth as her entire weight pushed me to the bottom. Pain streaked across my hand. A piece of glass from the lamp had cut into my palm. I clutched it and blindly stabbed at her grip.

Even beneath the waves, I heard her shriek. Her weight shifted enough that I could push myself back up to stand. I searched for another mouthful of air.

Audra’s face rose to meet me above the water, distorted with pure anger. “No!” she screamed, coming at me again. I thought of the bruises and cuts Mr. Lockhart claimed were the result of clumsiness and old age. She wouldn’t let me go; this would be a fight to the death.

My iron cuff grazed her jaw. She cried out, then made another grab for my hair. I swung at her with the other hand, and this time the contact was heavy. Her head whipped back and hit the rock wall with a sickening thud. Her eyes went still. Then her limbs went slack.

Her body eased into the water, the dirty nightgown billowing around her like the petals of a Helleborus orientalis.

I tilted back my head and screamed, “Help me!” The next wave pushed me off my feet. Water smoothed over my face as my boots scrambled for another inch, but the chains were already stretched their full length.

“Help me!” My voice echoed in the empty dungeon. “Help me!”

Those two words were destined to chase me to the grave. Maybe it was my own screams for help I’d been hearing all along. I pictured Flora as an old woman in Auntie Lil’s rocking chair, telling the tale of how my ghost haunts the dungeon. Would anyone find us at all?

I called out, knowing his name would be the last thing from my lips. “Gareth!”

Water filled my mouth. The waves came again, but this time the water level didn’t recede. I kept screaming, prepared to use my dying breath as proof I wanted to live.

I want to live, I thought. I want to live.

I was meant to live. I deserve to live.

There was a massive splash beside me. I thought Audra had come back to life and was ready to kill me for good.

Strong hands were under my arms, tugging roughly. Then a mouth was pressed over mine, blowing air into my lungs. I accepted the breath gratefully. The next wave rolled over us, and the hold on me loosened. I tried to call out for them not to leave me, but only a stream of bubbles left my lips.

I glanced up at the water’s surface above me and could just make out the distorted silhouette of his face. Then he dipped beneath the water again and his mouth pressed against mine a second time, giving me air, keeping me alive.

I felt the water stir as someone else jumped into the surf beside me. There was a shuddering clang of steel followed by the sudden release of the heavy chain from one wrist. To my other cuff, the same sensation of tremendous vibration, and then I was free.

Together we rose. I took in a desperate lungful of air, clinging to him. My stomach heaved as I brought up seawater. I dared not look behind me, where I knew the bodies must be floating. The moment felt too large to grasp or even try to understand. I could only react. Tears came next as I started to violently shake.

Joseph clambered out of the water. The stable hatchet was in his grip, dripping.

Gareth helped me up the stairs until we were completely out of the water. We collapsed into each other’s arms, shivering.

“Miss Timmons,” he finally said, breathless. “You missed the stables entirely.”