The Beautiful Pretender (A Medieval Fairy Tale #2)(45)

She leaned back against the railing.

It suddenly gave way behind her.

Avelina cried out as the night air embraced her. She flailed out both hands and grabbed the part of the railing still attached to the balcony.

Her feet dangled below her. She was going to die.

She opened her mouth to scream but no sound came. O God, help me!

She clung to the railing with all her strength, her hands gripping the broken railing, the only thing keeping her from plunging to her death into the ravine below. She tried to pull herself up. She was not strong enough. Her heart jerked and pounded, her breath came in painful gasps.

She finally forced in enough air and screamed, short and high-pitched.

She held on tight, the muscles in her arms clenching painfully. If she let go, she would fall into the deep ravine below. She would never survive such a fall. She screamed again.

How long could she hold on?

Fronicka hovered over her, staring at Avelina’s hands where they gripped the wooden railing. The cool, assessing look on her face made Avelina’s stomach sink.

Fronicka stood and ran away, saying, “Help! Someone, help!”

Her hands were slipping. The darkness below seemed to be pulling her, sucking her down. She no longer had enough breath to scream. She closed her eyes. What would happen to Jacob and Brigitta and Father? How would they get food without Avelina’s wages? How cruel for her to die now. Would Lord Thornbeck and Lady Magdalen find out she’d lied? Would they hate her?

The sound of footsteps made her open her eyes. The balcony vibrated with the steps, and suddenly Lord Thornbeck was standing over her.

He fell to his knees and grabbed her arms, just above her wrists. “I’ve got you. Let go.”

He was holding her arms with a grip so tight it hurt. Please don’t let go. But she was still dangling. She would have to let go for him to pull her up. How could she? Fear gripped her even tighter than his hands, fear of plunging to the ground below. What if he lost his grip and dropped her? She couldn’t let go.

“Look at me,” Lord Thornbeck demanded, his voice strained and gruff. “Let. Go. Now.”

Avelina squeezed her eyes shut. She let go, her heart pounding.

He pulled her up as she raised her knees, scraping them on the edge of the stone balcony. Then her legs touched the solid, flat surface.

She clung to him without even opening her eyes. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight as he sat back on the floor of the balcony.

Her breath was coming hard. She pressed her cheek against his chest. His heart beat in her ear, thumping nearly as fast as her own.

“You are safe now. I have you. You are safe.” He held her even tighter.

Avelina squeezed her eyes shut and concentrated on his solid warmth to push back the thought that she almost died.

“Are you all right?” Fronicka was behind them. “She leaned against the railing and it gave way. I was so frightened. I ran to get help, but I couldn’t find a guard.”

Avelina shuddered and pressed her face into Lord Thornbeck’s shoulder. He held her tight against him. If only she could stay like this forever, safe and warm and protected, or at least until she stopped shaking.

She forced herself to pull away from the delicious warmth of his chest and sat up, unable to look into his face.

“Are you well?” He still held her with one arm around her back. He reached out and brushed the hair that had come loose out of her face. She finally looked into his eyes.

“What happened?” he asked.

“I leaned against the railing and it broke. I fell.” Her lip quivered and she pressed her hand against her mouth. “I fell, but I grabbed the railing and held on. I was so afraid.”

A violent shudder shook her whole body.

“You are not well,” he said.

“I am well.” She stared down at her feet. “But I lost my shoes. They were my only pair.” Tears dripped from her eyes as her teeth started to chatter uncontrollably.

“I’ll get you new shoes.” Lord Thornbeck caressed her shoulder.

She kept her head down, hoping he would not see that she was crying. “I-I think I-I sh-should lie down.” Her vision was spinning. She didn’t want to faint.

Lord Thornbeck turned to one of the guards. “Carry her to her chamber.”

The guard came over and helped her to her feet, then lifted her in his arms. She felt herself growing even dizzier, and her vision began to blur and darken.

Her head fell back against the man’s shoulder and she kept her eyes closed. She should probably feel very embarrassed, but she was too close to fainting to care how she looked. She could hear Lord Thornbeck’s footsteps and walking stick thumping beside her.

When they reached her chamber, she peeked through her nearly closed lids. Lord Thornbeck opened the door and the guard carried her straight through to her bed and laid her down.

Lady Magdalen’s voice came from near her doorway. “What happened? Is Lady Dorothea sick?”

Someone took her hand. Avelina opened her eyes and Magdalen was standing at her bedside.

“She has had a terrible fright,” Lord Thornbeck said. “I shall send for Frau Schwitzer to see if she needs a doctor.”

She expected Lord Thornbeck to leave the room, but he was still standing there. He stepped toward the bed. “This never should have happened,” he said in a quiet, deep voice. “I had no idea the railing was loose.”