Chapter 12

The next morning, Marian awoke to a fresh snowfall that completely transformed the world outside her chamber window, making everything look fresh and new, and almost completely irresistible.

Snow! I haven't seen snow like this in years. And how pretty it makes everything look!

She sat up in bed, realizing as she did so that the reason she could even see the snow in the first place was because she had fallen asleep fully dressed, and with the curtains opposite the bed pulled open.

Oh! I must have fallen asleep as soon as I lay down! I had only intended to take a quick nap, but I must have slept all the way through dinner — and longer.

Throwing the covers back, Marian leapt guiltily out of bed, wondering what time it was.

Still early, judging by the sun. I've slept right through the night. I wonder how long he waited for me? Or if he waited at all?

She shivered in the cold morning air, wondering if she should go to the Duke immediately and explain her absence of the previous night but realizing it was still far too early to disturb him.

If he's already angry with me, it wouldn't do to wake him up and make matters worse. I'll go for a walk. The snow on the ground is just begging to be trodden on!

Quickly pulling on her cloak and shoes, she opened the bedroom door, and crept downstairs, looking carefully around her for any signs of life. Alas for Marian, however, the hour was still so early that not even the cook was awake to give her some breakfast — or even a hot drink to help warm her up — so she tiptoed to the door she and Andrew had used yesterday to walk down to the lake, stopping in her tracks when she saw the skates they had worn still piled beside it.

Skating! I could go skating! Wouldn't that be a wonderful way to start the day?

Gathering them in her arms, she pushed at the door, relieved to find it unlocked.

So, I am not quite the prisoner I thought I was, then. How curious. Did he leave the door unlocked by mistake, I wonder, or does he trust me not to run at the first chance I get?

As the thought came to her, Marian paused thoughtfully in the doorway.

She could, indeed, run. Now would be her chance. She could go outside, find Beauty in the stables, and be on her way before the rest of the house even awoke.

But where would I go if I did? I was hopelessly lost when I found this place. How could I hope to find my way home when I don't even know where I am?

Still turning this thought around in her mind, Marian closed the door behind her and walked slowly down to the lake, enjoying the crunch of the snow under her boots. It was perfectly true to say that if she were to attempt to leave now, she would most likely just become lost again, and now that the weather had become even colder, who knew what would become of her, out there alone in the woods.

That much was true. A far deeper truth, however — one that she was afraid to acknowledge even to herself — was that Marian didn't try to run from Andrew's house because she didn't want to. She might complain all she liked about how she was being held here against her will, but if she were to be truly honest with herself, she would be forced to acknowledge that she had fallen asleep thinking about that kiss, the way his lips had felt on hers, and how her body had seemed to come alive in his arms.

She was not ready to give that up. Not yet. So, she would continue to tell herself she would be foolish to try to leave in these conditions when it might snow again at any minute. And in the meantime, she would skate.

From the window of his chamber, overlooking the lake, Andrew smiled to himself as he watched Marian sit down in the snow to pull her skates on.

When she had failed to appear for dinner the night before, he had worried that she might be unwell, having caught a chill from their day spent largely outdoors. He should have guessed, though, that Marian was made of sterner stuff than that, and while he had been disappointed to have been robbed of her company — especially when the cook had gone to so much trouble to prepare a feast fit for a King rather than merely a Duke — he also knew it was probably for the best.

I am getting too close to her. I must be more careful; the last thing I want is for her to end up as damaged by this life as I am.

Down by the lake, Marian had finished putting on the skates and was struggling to her feet, ready to strike out onto the frozen water. Andrew frowned slightly, watching her. Yesterday's snowfall had turned out to be a one-off. This morning, the temperature had risen slightly which meant the ice may not be quite as thick as it had been the day before. He hesitated, wondering what to do.

What I really want to do, of course, is to go and join her. To pull on my skates and once again feel that rush of carefree joy I felt yesterday for the first time in years. But I really should not. I should remember my promise not to let myself get too close to her and just let her be.

Turning away from the window, Andrew started to dress. He would go down to her anyway, he decided. Even if he did not join her on the ice, he still had that niggling fear about her safety on it, and the best way to deal with that would be for him to stay close, so he could make sure she stayed safe.

He dressed quickly and hurried outside, realizing with a start that the reason Marian had made it down to the lake on her own was that the door had been left unlocked.

Blast! I must have forgotten to secure it last night. And yet she opened it and chose to skate, rather than run. How interesting.

Opening the door, the Duke stepped out into the snow and made his way down the hill. As he got close, Marian — who had remained close to the edge of the water, he was relieved to see — turned around and saw him, raising a hand in greeting.

"Are you going to come and join me?" she called merrily, spinning in a pirouette. "It's really quite exhilarating!"

She spun again, and at that moment, the ice beneath her began to crack.

"Marian!" shouted Andrew, running forward as he saw the surface she stood on starting to bow beneath her. "Marian, quick!"

But it was too late. No sooner were the words out of his mouth than a treacherous looking black hole had opened beneath her feet, and Marian was falling in, a look of horror crossing her face as she realized what was happening.

There wasn't even time for her to scream. She disappeared beneath the icy waters of the lake, reemerging a few moments later, her eyes wide with terror as she tried to reach for the edge of the water.

"Marian, I'm coming," yelled Andrew, who had almost reached her at this point, having run out onto the ice without a thought for his own safety. "Try to stay afloat; I'll get you out, I promise!"

As he reached the hole that had opened up, Andrew dropped to the surface, forced to proceed more cautiously as he approached the weaker ice. The last thing he needed was to fall through himself — for how would he able to help her if they were both under water? — but there was no time to be lost, for even as he approached, he saw Marian vanish again, the water closing above her head.

This time when she emerged, she was screaming — a sound that sent shivers down Andrew's spine.

"I'm here, Marian," he called, trying to keep his tone as reassuring as he could in spite of his mounting panic. "I'm here, my sweet. Just stay afloat, and I'll have you out of there in no time."

Marian nodded weakly, her large, terrified eyes fixed on his. Andrew knew her heavy cloak and gown would be weighing her down and trying to drag her back under while the frigid water would be numbing her body, making it hard for her to remain afloat. He had to get to her as quickly as possible, so disregarding the ice, which creaked ominously under his weight, threatening to collapse at any moment, he crawled forward as fast as the slippery surface would allow.

If I fall to my death, then so be it. I cannot lose her. I was not here to help my mother or my sister, but I am here now. And God help me, I will get her out of here, or I will die trying.

The thought spurred him on, and within seconds, he had reached the jagged edge of the hole Marian had disappeared into and was reaching for her. Her small hands felt like ice when he finally got hold of them, but they held on tight, and he somehow managed to pull her towards him, close enough for him to be able to reach down and put his arms around her, pulling her to safety.

"Come," he said breathlessly when at last they lay panting on the icy surface together. "We must get off the lake as quickly as we can, my love; its not safe. The surface could crack again at any moment, and we don't want to be here when it does."

Marian's eyes widened again in terror. Her skin had a ghostly blue tinge to it, and she was shivering uncontrollably — whether from shock or just from the cold, he did not know — but she nodded to show she understood and allowed Andrew to help her carefully to her feet.

This time, she did not object when he bent at the waist and picked her up, carrying her swiftly off the lake and onto the safety of the bank. Just as they reached it, Andrew heard a loud creak, followed by a splash which told him the ice they had been standing on had, indeed, given way. But by then he was so focused on Marian that he barely even registered it.

"Marian, speak to me," he said urgently, dropping kisses on her pale skin. "Speak to me, darling."

He kissed her again, and her eyes fluttered open.

"Thank you for saving me," she whispered, even managing a weak smile which faded almost as soon as it arrived. "But I'm not sure I can quite manage the hill to the house."

"I would not expect you to," he said, grinning down at her. "It's fortunate for you that I've already had some practice in carrying you."

Marian's eyes had closed again, and she nestled against him as he carried her up the hill and back into the mansion, calling urgently for Ben and Rose as he went. Within minutes, Marian was tucked up safely in bed; Rose had helped her change out of her wet clothes, and Ben had stoked the fire which filled the room with a warm glow.

"I'm sorry I missed dinner last night," Marian apologized as the two servants left the room. "I fell asleep. I promise I won't let that happen tonight, though."

"There's no need to think of that now," Andrew said, taking a seat by the side of the bed. "For now, we just need to concentrate on getting you warmed up. I believe Rose is bringing you some broth which will help."

"I'm perfectly fine," insisted Marian, who still looked anything but. "I'm feeling better already. Why, I can already feel my fingertips again!"

She raised her hands to show him, and Andrew was relieved to see that the blue color had started to fade.

"I am very embarrassed, though," Marian admitted, looking down at the hands in question. "I could have been killed. And, worse, I could have led you to be killed in your attempt to save me."

"That would be worse?" Andrew asked, surprised.

"Oh yes," answered Marian immediately. "It would be far worse to be responsible for someone else's death than to bring about my own." Her face darkened. "That's why I worry so much about my father," she said, under her breath. "If anything should happen to him…"

She shook her head as if to clear it of the thoughts that troubled her.

"In any case," she said firmly, "I am forever in your debt for saving me. I will not forget it."

"It is nothing," replied Andrew gruffly. "It's already forgotten. I wish only to know that you are safe; that's the only thing that matters to me."

Marian smiled weakly, her eyes already closing again. Andrew sat by her bedside, watching as she slept.

Yes, she is safe — for now. But this morning's events only serve to prove that she will not remain so if I continue to keep her here. This cannot continue. And yet, how can I stand to let her go?