Duke of Disrepute (Dukes of Distinction #3) - Alexa Aston Page 0,27
alive and unharmed. At least coming into contact with the carriage and then heavy rain had all but put out the fire.
“Hello?” he called. “Where are you? We’ve come to help.”
A muffled sound came as he climbed up onto what was left of the coach and then someone called, “We’re here. Please. Help.”
A woman’s voice. Low. Fearful.
“I’m coming.”
Weston moved carefully, peering inside what remained of the vehicle, which now lay on its side. He saw a shape moving and realized a blanket covered the occupants. Pulling it off, he saw it was a young woman, bent protectively over a child, whose foot protruded at an odd angle. Whimpers sounded and he believed the foot might be broken.
“Hand her up to me,” he urged.
The woman’s head turned, looking up at him. Large, violet eyes gazed into his. Eyes in pain. Filled with worry. Ones which stirred something within him, some memory he couldn’t place at the moment. He shoved it aside and reached out.
“Give her to me.”
“I’ll try,” the woman said, her voice steady, which he found remarkable under the circumstances. “My wrist is injured, though.”
She relaxed her arms but the girl clung to her mother.
“It’s all right, Claire. This man has come to help us. I’m going to push you up and he’ll hold fast to you.”
“I’m scared, Mama. My foot hurts.”
“I am a little scared myself but help has come. We must take advantage of it.”
“We aren’t dead, are we, Mama?”
“No, baby.”
“We aren’t going to Heaven with Papa and Grandpapa?”
“Not anytime soon, Claire,” the mother said reassuringly.
He leaned closer. “My name is Weston. I’m going to help you and your mama get out. Then we’ll go to my house and have some warm milk and biscuits. Would you like that?”
The girl nodded through her tears.
“What’s your name?” he asked, though he’d heard the mother call the child Claire.
“C-C-Claire.”
“Well, Claire, you’ll have to hold your hands out to me. I’ll clasp them and bring you out.”
“Will you also get Mama?”
“Of course. I’m sure she’ll want some milk and biscuits, too.” He gave her a smile. “In fact, I shall keep careful watch over her so she won’t steal any of yours.”
Claire giggled. “What if you try to steal some?”
He chuckled. “You’ll have to see if I do. Come on now. There. That’s a girl.”
Claire lifted her arms to him. Weston was able to grab her wrists and pulled. The carriage rocked and he prayed he would keep his balance and not drop the girl, causing her further injury. He glanced down and saw John ready, his hands also stretched high.
“I’m going to lower you to John, Claire. He’s my head groom and a lovely man.” To John, he said, “Watch her leg.”
Weston eased the girl down until the groom’s hands circled her waist and he released her.
John brought her close. “Hello, little lady. Let’s get you inside the carriage where it’s nice and dry.”
“Miss Molly!” the girl cried and squirmed. “I need her. And Mama.”
“I’ll get them both,” Weston promised and stepped back so he could peer inside the broken carriage.
“Miss Molly is her doll. It’s here somewhere,” the woman said. “Here.” She handed the doll up and said, “I need to find my satchel.”
“Forget it,” he said, tossing the doll to his groom. “We need to get you out. The coach is unsteady. It could collapse at any minute.”
He watched her fumble around with one hand. “Found it!” she called and lifted the satchel toward him.
It must have been heavy because she couldn’t hoist it very high. Quickly, he reached as far as he could and grabbed it, bringing it up and tossing it to John, who caught it and set off for the ducal coach.
“Now, you, my lady. Are you hurt anywhere besides your wrist?”
“I bumped my head but I think my wrist is all that’s injured.”
“Push yourself up with your good hand,” he instructed.
The coach tilted as she moved and he prayed he would be able to get her out before it crumbled. She shifted and sucked in a loud breath and then moved again. Somehow, she got herself closer to him. His hands encircled her waist and he pulled her from the interior.
“John!” he cried and the groom came running. “Take her. It’s shifting.”
He handed the woman off and then leaped to the ground just as the vehicle collapsed into itself. His heart beat incredibly fast as he took her healthy wrist and pulled her and his groom away from the accident. Sweeping the woman off