Page 74 of Heartbreaker of the Ton
He shook off her hand. “There’s every need, Miss Fulford. Please unhand me.”
“Well,really!”
Ignoring her, he set off toward Frannie, overtaking Mrs. Gadd, who was already beginning to slow.
“V-vicar!” Frannie cried as Andrew approached her and took her hands.
“What’s the matter?”
“I-it’s L-Loveday,” Frannie said, panting. “It’s all my fault!”
“What is?” Andrew asked. Frannie burst into tears as Mrs. Gadd arrived, wheezing. Shortly after, her husband and son appeared.
“Fran—” Mrs. Gadd broke off, coughing.
“Now then, Peg, you’ll do yerself an injury,” Mr. Gadd said, taking his wife into his arms. “What’s all this about somethin’ being your fault, Frannie, love?”
“I-I’ve killed Loveday!” Frances cried. “Why do I kill everyone?”
“What nonsense is this?” Mr. Gadd said. “Frannie, love, you’ve never killed anyone.”
“I-I killed Freda,” she said. “Y-you all think it—and now I’ve killed Loveday.”
“Freda?” Mrs. Gadd shook her head. “Frannie, love, you never—”
“You never say it, but youthinkit—I know you do!”
“What about Loveday?” Andrew asked. “Frannie, what’s happened to her?”
The distressed girl turned her attention on him. “Sh-she’s drowned in the sea, vicar—and it’s my fault, because I told Mrs. Ward it was safe to swim.”
“Was Mrs. Ward with her?”
“She went in after her, and they’ve disappeared.”
A cold hand clutched at Andrew’s heart. “Etty—in the water?”
“Loveday was swimming, and the bad current came, b-but she tried to swim against it, rather than across, then she disappeared under the water. I wanted to go in after her, but Mrs. Ward told me not to. She said to stay out of the water while she went in. B-but now she’s gone also. I didn’t know what to do!”
“Where’s Gabriel?”
“Florrie’s with him—she’s minding him and baby Anna. It’s all my fault!”
“No,” Andrew said, drawing the trembling girl into his arms. “You did the right thing, coming to get help. Mr. Gadd, come with me. There’s not a moment to lose.”
“Right you are, vicar,” came the reply. “Jimmy, son, go and find Loveday’s husband.”
“Nothim,” Andrew said. “He’s—”
“He’s her husband, vicar, and has more right than you. Jimmy—go, now!”
“Yes, Pa.” The lad sprinted back toward the field.
“Where are they?” Andrew asked.
“Near the headland,” Frannie said, “wh-where you saw us swimming before.”
“Very good,” he said. “You’ve done well. Now, look after your mother—and don’t worry. I’m sure they’ll be fine.”
