The Rakehell Regency Romance Collection Volume 2(229)

Mr. Greengage sipped some more water weakly. While Blake ministered to him, she decided to take the opportunity to attend to the call of nature.



She returned a short time later with more firewood. Blake stepped out for a moment, presumably upon the same errand. He too returned with more wood, and they stacked it up on the rack as well.



"I'm going back to the cluster of trees to get a bit more. If we have to be here all night, I don't want to have to run out to do it at midnight."



"Be careful."



He smiled and nodded. "Keep it warm in here for me."



She put one of the bottles back on to heat and nestled once more into the spot which she had vacated.



Blake seemed to be gone for ages, but at last she saw him with a huge pile of firewood, which he left outside as he jumped back in the coach to warm up.



"It would f-f-freeze the cannonballs off a b-b-brass m-m-monkey out there," Blake complained, his teeth chattering.



She wrapped him up and warmed him as she had before. Gradually his shivering gave way to a pleasant sense of coziness.



"We're going to need to take turns watching over each other. We can't all sleep. I've heard far too many stories of people freezing to death in stranded coaches for me to be complacent."



She lifted the scalding hot water bottle and put it into his lap. "Your turn to sleep, then. You must be done in."



"Let me have half an hour." He rested his head on the top of hers. In an instant he was breathing deeply and evenly, his slumber dreamless and exhausted.



She gave him an hour in the end, and roused him when she moved to feed fuel into all of the footwarmers.



He checked on Mr. Greengage, who was sleeping peacefully, and James, who complained of pain. Blake gave him a tincture of laudanum, and insisted upon more water for everyone.



"And how are you, my dear?"



"Not too dreadful."



"You're a model patient. Never a word of complaint, and you've helped everyone a great deal. Not many women of your age would be able to remained so calm in the face of such adversity, not to mention pain. Well done, Belle."



He ran one hand down her ribs, and she winced. "If you like, we can have you lie down in the other seat with one of the foot warmers next to you."



"If anyone should do that it's Mr. Greengage, not me."



"Well, it's more appropriate with you being the only woman in the group, but I won't tell if you won't."



"I am no prude, sir. We're sharing our warmth so as not to perish. There's nothing shameful in that."



"I beg your pardon. I was merely concerned for your reputation. Not to mention the fact that your family will be most concerned for your well-being."



"I assure you, none of my family are in any position to object to that has happened here tonight," she said truthfully.



Her double meaning was not lost upon Blake. "I see. I am sorry."



He sat for a time considering. "Perhaps this has all been a mistake, us waiting for help. We do have one remaining horse, if he hasn't yet perished, poor thing. We ought to at the very least try to get closer to civilization.



"We know there's nothing here, and no other vehicles have come past in either direction. The roads could be blocked. Or they could all have simply stayed where they were rather than press on as the mail coach was obliged to do.



"We have fuel and supplies for now, some food, but a storm like this can render the roads impassable for days. I can't risk that. Not with three injured people."



"But we also can't risk being worse off than before, having an accident in this carriage, for example," she pointed out. "Moreover, who's going to risk sitting on the box? It's freezing. There are drifts everywhere. And you and I are the only people reasonably able-bodied."



"I can help drive, if you can get me onto the box," James offered, though he was still white about the mouth from cold and pain.



Blake was torn. It was a difficult situation, no matter how he looked at it. He glanced from one face to the next. The spark of life in Belle's eyes decided for him.



"All right, I'm going to take the chance. Belle, please gather as much wood and anything else you can find from the coach. I'll harness the horse."



Arabella nodded. She clambered out and began to heave with the axe with all her might. Most of the top of the coach was now gone, so she stood on the side and hacked some long strips, then made several trips back to the carriage to load up her supplies.



She searched the boot and found some more shovels, rope, more lamp oil, and some waterproof Macintosh material.



She considered for a moment, and found the middle of it. She made one small cut in the center with the point of her axe.