Chapter 30

Chapter Thirty

A s Eliza sat trapped beneath the fallen branches, her body soaked to the bone and shaking from the cold, she cried out into the storm, her voice filled with all the anguish she had held inside.

But no one could hear her. She was alone, just as she had always feared she would be.

Eliza heard her name echo through the trees, carried on the wind.

Anthony?

Her heart skipped a beat as hope surged through her.

Could it really be him?

She wiped her tears hastily, her hand trembling as she cupped her mouth and shouted back, "Anthony! Over here!"

The rain continued to pour down in relentless sheets, soaking her to the bone, but she did not care. All that mattered was that he had heard her, that he was coming. The wind howled around her, the storm showing no signs of abating, but in the distance, she caught sight of a figure moving through the trees.

It was Anthony on his horse. Relief flooded through her, almost overwhelming in its intensity, and she started sobbing again. She watched as he navigated the fallen branches and slick ground.

"Eliza!" he called again, urgency lacing his voice as he finally reached her side. He dropped to his knees beside her, reaching out to stroke her face

"Thank God, you are all right," he breathed though his eyes told her he was far from convinced.

"I… I did not think anyone would find me," she managed, her voice shaking from cold, fear, and pain.

"Please, get me out of here," she begged, pushing against the branch again. "I am trapped."

Anthony quickly worked to free her, easily lifting the branch off her ankle. Eliza whimpered as the movement caused her ankle to jostle. His touch was gentle, almost reverent, as though he feared causing her more pain.

When he finally freed her from the tangled mess, his fingers brushed her ankle, and she winced.

"Let me see," he said softly, his eyes filled with concern as he examined the swollen joint.

The cold rain had numbed some of the pain, but now that the pressure was off, she could feel the throbbing intensity of the injury.

"It's just a sprain," she insisted, trying to keep her voice steady. "I can walk."

Anthony gave her a doubtful look but did not argue. "All right, but lean on me."

He slipped an arm around her waist, supporting her as she tried to stand. For a moment, she thought she might be able to manage it, but as soon as they took a step, pain shot through her ankle like a hot knife. She cried out, unable to suppress the sound, and stumbled against him.

"Eliza, you are not walking on that," he said firmly, tightening his grip on her as she clung to him for support.

"I am fine," she protested weakly though her voice betrayed the truth. She wasn't fine. The pain was excruciating, and the idea of trying to walk all the way back to the castle in this condition was overwhelming.

"No, you are not," he replied, his tone brooking no argument. "I am carrying you."

Before she could protest further, Anthony scooped her up in his arms as if she weighed nothing at all.

"Anthony, you do not have to—" she began, but he silenced her with a look.

Eliza gasped, startled by the suddenness of the movement, but the strength of his hold reassured her.

"Anthony, I can manage," Eliza insisted, though her voice lacked conviction, and she winced as a fresh wave of pain shot through her ankle.

"You are in no condition to walk," he replied, his tone brooking no argument. "I am not letting you hurt yourself further."

Anthony ignored Eliza's weak protests and placed her on his horse. Eliza was surprised by how easily he lifted her, as if she weighed nothing at all.

Anthony removed his coat, which was only marginally drier than her soaked clothes, and draped it over her shoulders. The gesture was so unexpected, so unlike the cold and distant man she had come to know, that Eliza found herself momentarily speechless.

He made sure the coat was wrapped around her snugly, his hands lingering for a moment as if to reassure himself that she was as protected as possible from the elements.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the roar of the storm.

Anthony did not respond, but the way he looked at her, a fleeting moment of softness in his eyes, spoke volumes. He mounted the horse behind her, his strong arms encircling her as he took hold of the reins. The closeness of his body against hers, combined with the exhaustion and pain she was feeling, left her feeling strangely vulnerable yet secure.

"Just hold on to me," he murmured in her ear, his breath warm against her chilled skin.

Eliza nodded weakly, leaning back against him as he urged the horse into motion. The steady rhythm of the horse's gait, combined with the warmth of Anthony's body against her back, began to lull her into a state of half-consciousness.

The pain in her ankle throbbed, but it was a distant sensation now, overtaken by the overwhelming fatigue that weighed down her eyelids.

As they rode through the rain-soaked landscape, Eliza's thoughts began to blur, the exhaustion finally catching up with her. The last thing she remembered was the steady beat of Anthony's heart against her back, the way his arms tightened around her protectively as if he could shield her from all the pain and fear that had plagued her.

And then, darkness claimed her, and she slipped into unconsciousness, trusting Anthony to carry her safely through the storm.