The Governess of Highland Hall (41 page)

Panic pulsed through her. How could the flames have reached the door so quickly? She spun and searched the room. The only other exit was the window.

She dashed across the room and unlatched the window. Cold wind blew in, chilling her face and neck.

Andrew ran to her side. “Maybe we can climb down.”

Julia leaned out, peering into the darkness, searching for footholds, but even with the moonlight, it was difficult to see clearly. “It’s too high.”

Andrew knelt on the window seat and looked down. “It’s not so high.”

“It’s at least thirty feet, if not more.”

Andrew’s eyes widened, and he gripped her arm. “I read about some boys who tied sheets together and used them to climb out a window.”

Julia shook her head. “That’s too dangerous. Millie could never climb down.”

“But I’m strong. I could do it. Then I could wake the others and get help.”

Millie’s cries grew louder. Julia clenched her hands, her mind spinning
as she searched for another answer, but there was none. “All right.” She ran to Millie’s bed, tore off the sheets, and tied the ends together. Andrew jerked the blankets off his bed and brought her his sheets.

Millie’s sobs turned to coughs as the stinging smoke and fumes seeped under the door and a smoky haze began filling the room.

Julia tossed a blanket toward Millie. “Go and lay it in front of the door to keep the smoke out.” Millie picked up the blanket and scampered across the room.

With Andrew’s help, Julia pushed the heavy oak dresser closer to the window and tied the end of one sheet to the leg. She tugged on the fabric, testing the strength of her knots. She would never forgive herself if Andrew fell and was injured. Maybe she should be the one to climb down and take the risk, but she couldn’t leave Millie.

There was no other choice. Andrew must go.

Satisfied that her knots were secure, she tossed the sheets out the window. Andrew joined her on the window seat and gazed down again.

The sheets dangled and swayed several feet above the ground, and Julia’s heart fell. “It’s not long enough.”

She started to pull the sheets up, but Andrew stopped her. “It’s all right. I can jump the last few feet.”

Julia wiped her stinging eyes and checked the distance once more. It looked as though Andrew would have to jump at least six feet. She turned and gripped his shoulders. “Look at me.”

Andrew lifted his face, his gaze intense.

“You must climb down very carefully. Take your time and be sure of each move. When you reach the ground, run to the back door and pound hard. If no one answers, run to the stable and wake the groomsmen sleeping upstairs. Tell them they must wake the rest of the family before they fight the fire. Do you understand?”

“Yes.” His voice came out a choked whisper, and he threw his arms around her neck.

She hugged him tight. “You are a brave boy, Andrew. I know you can do this.” She held him a second more, then kissed the top of his head.
Millie’s chin trembled as she watched Andrew crawl across the window seat, grab the sheet, and lower himself out the window.

Julia held on tightly to the sheet, wanting to send her strength to Andrew as he climbed down. Her eyes burned and her throat tightened.
Oh, Father, please keep him safe and bring help soon
.

Someone grabbed his shoulder. “Sir, sir! You must wake up.”

William blinked, trying to clear the heavy fog of sleep from his head. “What is it?”

Lawrence leaned toward him, his face flushed and his eyes wide. “There’s a fire in the east wing!”

Alarm shot through William. “The children!” He threw back the blankets and jumped from his bed.

“Master Andrew is safe. He climbed down from the window and ran to wake us.”

“He climbed down? Good heavens, how did he do that?” William pulled on a pair of pants.

“I’m not sure, sir.”

“What about Millie, Sarah, and the girls—and Miss Foster?” William shoved on one shoe.

“I woke Nelson and Patrick and sent them up the backstairs.”

A plan of action formed in William’s mind as he jerked on the second shoe. “Go wake my brother and the indoor staff. Get everyone out to the back courtyard for safety. Send someone to wake the grooms and gardeners. Then we’ll organize the men to fight the fire.”

Lawrence gave a grim nod and tightened the belt of his robe. “Very good, sir.”

“I’ll see to the women and Millie.” Stuffing his nightshirt into his pants, William dashed out his bedroom door, with Lawrence running behind him.

The sound of pounding feet and voices in the hallway above reached his ears along with a strange crackling noise. Smoke hung in the air and grew
thicker as he hustled through the gallery toward the east wing. His eyes burned, and he raised the front of his nightshirt to cover his mouth.

As he rounded the corner, a wall of fire halfway down the east wing stopped him cold. Flames leaped and danced up both walls, cutting off his access to the nursery and the rooms beyond. He squinted against the stinging smoke, but he could not see what lay past the flames. He would have to try reaching them from the servants’ stairs.

He raced down the main staircase and through the great hall toward the back of the house. When he reached the rear hallway, someone shouted from above. He stopped and looked up.

His first footman, Nelson, thundered down the stone stairs, with the second footman, Patrick, close behind. “We can’t get through this way.”

Patrick pushed past Nelson. “Let’s try the main staircase.”

William grabbed his arm. “It’s no use. I’ve already tried.”

The panting footmen exchanged anxious glances and then looked back at William. “What shall we do, sir?”

“Go to the rear courtyard. Report to Mr. Lawrence. We’ll gather the men to fight the fire and try to reach them.”

The footmen hurried downstairs, and William followed, his mind swimming through a thick haze of fear. There had to be some way to reach Millie and the women. He rushed out the back door, and a blast of cold wind whipped through his nightshirt. He strode across the cobblestones, searching for Lawrence.

The maids stood to one side, huddled together with Mrs. Emmitt. The grooms and under gardeners ran toward him from stables, carrying buckets and an extension ladder.

“Papa!”

William spun around as Andrew dashed toward him. His son leaped into his arms and held on tight. A muffled sob broke from the boy’s throat.

“Andrew.” He wrapped his arms around him, and the first wave of relief flowed through William. “How did you get down?”

Andrew pulled back and wiped his cheek. “Miss Foster helped me tie some sheets together. But she and Millie are still up there.”

William’s heart clenched. “Bring that ladder!” he shouted as he set Andrew down. “Lawrence, take the men and do what you can to put out the fire. But no one must risk his life to save the house. Do you understand?”

“Yes sir.” Lawrence turned and shouted orders, sending some men to gather buckets and others inside to carry water upstairs.

The two young gardeners approached with the ladder.

“Follow me!” William ran around the side of the house to the east wing. Smoke curled out the open window where the rope of sheets hung almost to the ground. But no one looked out at them. Sick dread poured through him.

“I don’t see them.” Fear choked Andrew’s voice. “Millie! Miss Foster!”

William placed his hand on Andrew’s shoulder. “It’s all right.” But his own throat closed, and he could say no more. He directed the men to raise the ladder and lean it against the wall of the house.

“Shall I go up, sir?” The young gardener turned, awaiting his order. He looked strong and able, but William would not trust the lives of those he held most dear to anyone else.

“No. I’ll go. Hold the ladder.” William launched up the wooden rungs.
Please, God. Let me be in time
.

Julia crouched on the floor, trying to stay below the smoky cloud filling the room. Acrid fumes stung her nose and throat as she tried to blink away her stinging tears. She placed her arm around Millie’s shoulder and pulled her closer, wishing she could shield her from the smoke.

Millie coughed. “Where’s Andrew? Isn’t he coming back?”

“Help is coming, Millie. Don’t worry.”
Please Lord, let that be true
. She glanced toward the door. How much time did they have before the fire burned through?

She could climb down the sheets and jump to the ground, but she could not leave Millie to face the fire alone.
Please, God, have mercy on us for Millie’s sake and for William’s. He could not bear the loss of his daughter after all the other losses he has endured
.

A shout sounded below the window.

Julia gasped and stood up. Millie sprang up beside her, coughing and waving the smoke away from her face.

“Millie! Miss Foster!” William’s head rose into view, his frantic eyes searching for them through the haze.

“Papa!” Millie scrambled onto the window seat and jumped toward him.

“Whoa, my darling.” He clutched the windowsill.

Julia grabbed hold of Millie’s waist to stop her from pushing her father backward off the ladder.

William took hold of his daughter’s shoulders. “Can you climb down the ladder with me?”

Millie’s face crumpled. “Oh, Papa, I can’t. It’s too high.”

He shot a silent question at Julia.

An idea flashed through her mind. “Can you carry her on your back?”

He sent her a grateful nod, then climbed a step higher and braced his hands on the window seat. “Help her on.”

Julia boosted Millie onto her father’s back, and the little girl wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist.

William shifted her a bit, trying to balance her weight. It was a risky decision, but they had no other choice. “You must hold on tight, Millie.”

“I’m afraid, Papa!”

“It’s all right.” Julia touched Millie’s arm. “Just close your eyes—trust your father.”

William focused his intense gaze on Julia. “I’ll be back for you.”

Julia glanced over her shoulder at the smoky room, her throat burning. “There’s no time. I’ll follow you down.”

He shot her a desperate look. “All right. But be careful.”

“I will.” She gave William a few seconds head start, then knelt on the window seat and backed out.

Gripping the sides of the ladder, she slowly lowered her foot, searching for the rung. The cold wind whipped around her, numbing her cheeks and hands. She glanced toward the ground, and her stomach plunged.

Please, Lord, help me
.

She forced herself to look up and took the next step. Smoke swirled around her, stinging her nose and eyes. She pressed her lips together and slid her trembling hands down the sides of the ladder, taking one step and then another.

A cheer rose from the crowd below as William and Millie reached the ground.

Thank You, Lord
.

A sudden explosion blasted from the open window above. Julia gasped. The ladder swayed. The maids screamed.

“Hold tight!” someone shouted from below.

Julia squeezed her eyes closed and clung to the ladder. A second passed, then someone gripped her ankle, guiding it to the next rung.

“That’s the way.” William’s strong, deep voice sent a comforting wave through her, but her knees felt like jelly. He leaned in, pressing his shoulder against her legs, steadying her.

“Oh, William.” Her voice trembled.

“It’s all right. Just keep going.”

She looked over her shoulder at him. He nodded and urged her on. She refocused and continued down. William reached the ground, then placed his hands around her waist and lifted her down beside him. Another cheer rose from the maids as they rushed forward to surround them. She looked up at William, her throat tight and her heart flooded with gratitude.

He pulled her into his embrace, crushing her to his chest. “Thank You, God,” he whispered in a choked voice. She melted against him, her own heart echoing the prayer.

Andrew and Millie wrapped their arms around them both.

“Help us!” Katherine shouted, leaning out her open bedroom window. Penelope stood next to her, frantically waving her arms.