A Christmas Escape (14 page)

“We've got to keep going,” Bretherton warned him. “The lava's still moving. We're on a sort of cart track and I think it's coming this way. We've no time to waste.”

As if to confirm what he had said, the ground shook again and they were aware of the roar of fire higher up, and the wind carried a wall of heat.

“We'd better go as quickly as we can.” Bretherton waved. “Do you need a hand?”

“No,” Charles said quickly. “Nothing's broken. I'll be fine.” He moved his weight gingerly. His body ached, but it was only pain, not damage. “Come on! We should go that way.” He pointed with his right arm. “Climb up a bit, out of the channel the lava will take.”

No one mentioned that the lava would bury Quinn, if it came that way. Charles hesitated once, wondering if they should try to move him.

“No!” Bretherton told him decisively. “It would take ten minutes to get him up that slope, if we could. And I don't think we have ten minutes to get out of the way ourselves.”

As if to validate his words, the mountain hurled more fire into the air, and more thick streams of lava boiled up out of a new vent, closer to them.

They moved quickly, all four together, Bretherton helping Isla, Charles and Candace helping each other.

They moved in near silence.

Charles thought about Quinn. Had the proof of his plagiarism been with Bailey? Could he have gotten the diary somehow? It was of far more use to him to keep it and blackmail Quinn than it would be to hand it over to anyone.

But Quinn could not pay out forever. With Bailey dead, Quinn might have been able to retrieve it, or at least see that it was destroyed. Perhaps Isla would have been next? That was a sickening thought.

But he did not need to fear it. It would not happen.

And Candace could grow up one day and be like her grandmother, passionately alive.

It was another two full hours before at last they staggered into one of the little fishing villages right near the water's edge. The mountain was a beacon in the distance, still sending scarlet and orange and gold fire up into the night.

Strangers came up to them and asked them, in Italian, if they were all right. They were offered cakes and wine. Perhaps in the light of hundreds of candles they looked a lot better than they would by day.

Then bells started to ring, and like a shaft of light out of darkness, Charles knew what day it was. This was Christmas, the stroke of midnight, the beginning of a million new, wonderful possibilities. He remembered Stefano's words: “Time of hope, for everyone.”

He looked at Candace and she smiled at him, calm and beautiful and full of courage.

“Happy Christmas, Charles,” she said.

T
o those who believe in starting again

A Christmas Journey

A Christmas Visitor

A Christmas Guest

A Christmas Secret

A Christmas Beginning

A Christmas Grace

A Christmas Promise

A Christmas Odyssey

A Christmas Homecoming

A Christmas Garland

A Christmas Hope

A New York Christmas

A Christmas Escape

A
NNE
P
ERRY
is the bestselling author of twelve earlier holiday novels, as well as the bestselling William Monk series, the bestselling Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series, five World War I novels, and a work of historical fiction,
The Sheen on the Silk.
Anne Perry lives in Scotland and Los Angeles.

anneperry.co.uk

@AnnePerryWriter

Anne Perry is available for select readings and lectures. To inquire about a possible appearance, please contact the Penguin Random House Speakers Bureau at 212-572-2013 or
[email protected]
.