Page 47 of His Forsaken Duchess
“Do you mean to keep hold of me all afternoon?” she teased, though she didn’t entirely mind the prospect.
“That depends,” he replied, his lips curling into a slow, teasing smile. “Do you mean to keep flailing like this?”
She laughed, breathless. “Perhaps I enjoy having you so near.”
His dark eyes locked onto hers, and the faint humor in his expression softened into something warmer, more intense. “Perhaps I enjoy it, too.”
Audrey’s heart fluttered, but before she could respond, Cedric released her, stepping back.
“Let’s see what you’ve learned,” he said.
She took a tentative step, then another, gliding forward shakily. Her arms flailed, but she remained upright.
“Look!” she exclaimed, her voice bright with triumph. “I’m skating!”
“Indeed, you are,” Cedric said approvingly as he followed her. “Though I’d advise against celebrating too soon.”
“Oh, ye of little faith,” she shot back, grinning as she attempted a more confident move.
But her newfound confidence proved premature. Her foot hit an uneven patch of ice, and she pitched forward with a yelp. Cedric caught her easily, his arms strong and steady as they pulled her against him.
“Careful, Duchess,” he murmured, his breath warm against her temple. “I’d hate for your first lesson to end with bruises.”
Audrey’s heart raced, her awareness of his closeness more acute than ever. For a moment, she could only stare up at him, her words caught somewhere between her brain and her lips.
“Thank you,” she managed at last, her voice quieter than she had intended.
His expression softened, his gaze lingering on her for a fraction too long. Then, he stepped back. “Shall we try again?”
They continued, their banter light and playful as Cedric guided her through the motions. Audrey found herself laughing more than she had in months, each slip and near-fall an opportunity for teasing and flirtation. She marveled at how easily he moved, his strength and confidence drawing her gaze time and again.
But then came the sound—a sharp, ominous crack that echoed across the lake. Audrey froze, her heart leaping into her throat as the ice beneath her shifted.
“Cedric,” she began, but before she could say more, the ice gave way.
A sudden, sickening plunge stole her breath as she was swallowed by the freezing water.
The cold was merciless, biting and suffocating all at once. Panic clawed at her chest as she flailed, her clothes dragging her down. The surface seemed impossibly far, the light above her growing dimmer with each passing moment.
But then, through the haze of fear and cold, she saw Cedric diving after her with a single-minded determination. His strong arms reached for her, pulling her close, and the sight of him filled her with a fragile, desperate hope.
The water closed in on her, and her strength waned. As darkness crept around the edges of her vision, she clung to the thought of Cedric’s grip, the only anchor in the freezing abyss.
And then there was nothing.
Fifteen
Cedric’s chest constricted as he watched Audrey disappear beneath the ice. The sound of it cracking still echoed in his ears, sharp and unrelenting, but the world around him seemed muted, frozen in the same instant as the lake. Time stopped, leaving him trapped in a moment that felt all too familiar. His mind was flooded with images—his mother’s pale face, the stillness of Cecilia. The memories pressed down upon him, threatening to paralyze him.
But then his body moved of its own accord, instinct overcoming fear. Cedric tore off his greatcoat, the heavy fabric hitting the ice with a dull thud, and lunged toward the jagged opening in the lake. The cold air bit at his skin, but it was nothing compared to the icy shock that enveloped him as he dove into the water.
The frigid lake closed around him, a merciless and numbing force that stole his breath. His muscles screamed in protest, but he forced himself forward, his eyes straining to see through the murky depths. The light was faint and distorted, and his chestburned with the effort of holding his breath. Then, a flicker—a movement.
Audrey.
Her skirts billowed around her, trapping her like a net. Without hesitation, Cedric reached for her, his hands finding her arm. Relief surged through him as he pulled her close, her lifeless form heavy in his grip. He swam upward, his strokes powerful but desperate as he fought against the cold and the pull of the lake.
His shoulder struck the ice, the jarring impact nearly loosening his hold on her. Gritting his teeth, he adjusted his grip and pushed her toward the solid edge of the ice. His lungs burned, his limbs numb and sluggish, but he forced himself to lift her onto the unbroken surface. With a final burst of strength, Cedric hauled himself out of the water, collapsing beside her.
