A Stranger at Castonbury(69)

He turned around silently and headed out of the shambles of the sitting room.

‘I am coming with you, my lord,’ Everett said, hurrying after him.

‘It is me Webster is after,’ Jamie said. ‘I can’t ask anyone else to go into danger.’

‘You aren’t asking me, my lord—I’m telling you,’ Everett said stubbornly. ‘I have to help her.’

Jamie turned to see the same burning fear and resolve he himself felt reflected in the estate manager’s eyes. ‘You care about Alicia.’

‘I love her. And even if she won’t have me, I have to help her now. To do anything I can for her.’

‘So be it,’ Jamie said with a nod. ‘I am glad to have you with me, then. You are armed?’

Everett showed him the pistol he had tucked inside his coat. They hurried back to the carriage and Jamie urged the horse as fast as it could go back on the road out of town. They drove in grim silence, the evening gathering quickly in on them.

Until suddenly a pale figure darted out from the thick stand of trees by the side of the lane. It was a woman in a light blue dress, and she waved her arms frantically as she screamed his name.

‘Lord Hatherton!’ she cried. ‘Oh, thank heaven you are here.’

‘Alicia,’ Everett shouted. He leapt down from the carriage even before Jamie could draw to a full stop and ran to catch her in his arms. She clung to his neck, sobbing. ‘Are you hurt?’

‘No, no, but—oh, Lord Hatherton, you must go after Catalina,’ Alicia said. ‘She distracted Webster so I could run away, but now she is trapped there.’

‘In the cottage?’ Jamie demanded.

‘Yes,’ Alicia choked out. ‘I don’t know if she is alone, or...’

Jamie didn’t stop to hear any more. He knew he could move quicker now on foot than in the carriage, and he ran towards the pathway. He didn’t even feel his injured leg any longer. He only knew he had to get to Catalina.

‘Wait for me, my lord,’ Everett called.

‘No,’ Jamie shouted back. ‘You see to Alicia. Go to Castonbury for help.’

And he kept running until he glimpsed the cottage just ahead in the clearing. But he saw to his horror that it was in flames....

* * *

Catalina must have fallen asleep, she realised as she suddenly jerked awake. For an instant she felt dizzy and disoriented, as if caught in the sticky web of some dark nightmare. Her throat felt dry and raw, and something sharp and pungent was seeping into her nostrils.

Her eyes flew open, and she saw that the candle had toppled into a pile of blankets and flames were dancing up the wall. Smoke curled around her feet.

She leapt up and ran to the door, frantically trying to pull it open. It was still barred.

‘Let me out!’ she screamed, pounding on the door. She coughed on the smoke and pressed her arm over her face. ‘Dejar yo fuera, let me out!’

Was this the end, then? Had she survived everything in Spain only to die here? So many things flashed through her mind, Lydia and Mr Hale, Lily and Giles’s wedding. The cool green fields and pale walls of Castonbury. Jamie and how very much she loved him. Were they all gone from her now?

‘No,’ she cried. No, she would not give up her life so easily. She had so much to live for. She had found Jamie again. She threw her whole body against the door. Pain shot down her side, but she ignored it and threw herself forward again and again until she sobbed in exhaustion.

Suddenly the door was flung open and she stumbled. She would have fallen if a pair of strong arms hadn’t closed around her and lifted her up.

‘Catalina!’ Jamie shouted. ‘My darling, are you hurt?’

She clung to him as she shook her head. ‘I’m not hurt,’ she managed to choke out just as she heard timbers snapping in the roof.

Jamie spun around and ran with his love in his arms to the edge of the clearing. The night was terribly lit up with smoke and flames. He lowered her carefully to the grass and kissed her hard over and over. His gaze scanned over her as if to assure himself she was truly unhurt.

‘Where is Alicia?’ she asked.

‘She is safe,’ Jamie said. ‘We found her running down the road. She and Everett have gone to fetch more help at Castonbury.’

‘Oh, Jamie,’ Catalina whispered, suddenly realising the enormity of what had almost happened. They had nearly been parted again, for ever this time. She couldn’t quit shaking. ‘I thought I might never see you again.’