16. Chapter 16

Chapter 16

E velyn's eyes darted frantically across the rain-lashed field, her heart pounding in her chest. Suddenly, she spotted a figure kneeling in the sodden grass, seemingly oblivious to the tempest raging around him. Relief flooded through her, quickly followed by a surge of frustration.

"James!" she cried out, her voice hoarse from exertion and fear. The use of his Christian name startled her, but there was no time for propriety now.

The Baron's head snapped up at the sound, his expression bewildered as he caught sight of Evelyn racing down the hill towards him. He rose to his feet, his forehead creased in confusion.

Evelyn's feet slipped and slid on the muddy slope as she hurtled towards him. Her lungs burned, her skirts were a sodden mess, but none of that mattered. She had to reach him, had to warn him.

"James!" she called again, her voice cracking. "The dam—it's going to burst!"

As she neared him, her foot caught on a hidden root. Evelyn stumbled, careening towards the Baron with alarming speed. She braced herself for impact, but instead felt strong hands grasping her arms, steadying her.

The Baron held her firmly, his grey eyes wide with surprise and concern. "Miss Bane? What on earth—"

"We have to leave, now!" Evelyn gasped, clutching at his coat. "The dam upstream—it's not holding. This field will be underwater any moment!"

Evelyn felt the Baron's grip tighten on her hand as comprehension dawned in his eyes. Without a word, he turned and began pulling her up the steep incline. The urgency of the moment struck her anew as she stumbled after him, her sodden skirts clinging to her legs, her petticoat completely soaked.

The rain lashed at them mercilessly, turning the ground beneath their feet into treacherous mud. Evelyn's heart pounded in her chest, her breath coming in ragged gasps as they struggled against the slope. She slipped, her feet sliding out from under her, but the Baron's firm grip kept her upright.

"Hold on!" he shouted over the howling wind, his voice barely audible above the storm.

Evelyn gritted her teeth, pushing herself to keep pace with his longer strides. The Baron moved with surprising agility, his powerful frame seemingly unhindered by the challenging terrain. She marvelled at his strength as he hauled them both up the slippery bank, his hand never loosening its hold on hers.

A deafening crack rent the air, causing Evelyn to falter. She glanced back instinctively, though the dam was acres away. A strange silence seemed to follow for a moment.

"Don't look back!" he commanded, his voice gruff with exertion. "Keep moving!"

Evelyn turned her attention back to the treacherous climb, her legs burning with the effort. The Baron's steady presence beside her was oddly comforting, despite the dire circumstances. She found herself grateful for his unwavering strength as they scrambled up the muddy slope, the roar of the impending flood growing louder behind them.

Evelyn's lungs burned as she and the Baron finally crested the hill. Her legs gave way beneath her, and she collapsed onto the sodden grass, gasping for air. Beside her, she heard the Baron's laboured breathing as he too sank to the ground.

For a moment, all Evelyn could focus on was the pounding of her heart and the rain pelting her face. Then, a deep rumbling sound caught her attention. She pushed herself up onto her elbows, her eyes widening in disbelief.

A massive wall of murky water came crashing through the field below, obliterating everything in its path. The sheer force of it was terrifying, uprooting trees and sweeping away fences as if they were mere twigs. Evelyn watched, transfixed, as the torrent engulfed the very spot where the Baron had been standing just minutes ago.

The enormity of what they'd just escaped hit her like a physical blow. She turned to look at the Baron, who was staring at the destruction with an unreadable expression. His hair was plastered to his forehead, rivulets of water running down his face and neck.

Evelyn opened her mouth to speak, but found she had no words. The roar of the flood and the pounding rain filled the silence between them. She felt a sudden, overwhelming exhaustion wash over her, and she flopped back onto the grass.

The rain continued to pour down, soaking her to the bone, but Evelyn found she didn't care. They were alive. That was all that mattered. She closed her eyes, letting the rain wash over her face, too drained to even consider moving.

Evelyn lay on the sodden grass, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. The roar of the flood still echoed in her ears, a stark reminder of how close they'd come to disaster. She turned her head, blinking away the raindrops that clung to her lashes, to find the Baron staring at her with an expression she couldn't quite decipher.

"You saved me," he said, his voice barely audible above the storm. There was a note of disbelief in his tone, as if he couldn't quite fathom what had just transpired.

A sudden wave of relief washed over Evelyn, bringing with it an unexpected bout of giddiness. She felt laughter bubbling up in her chest, born of sheer joy at being alive. Before she could stop herself, a small chuckle escaped her lips.

"Well, I could hardly let anything happen to you, could I?" she said, her voice light despite her exhaustion. "I'd have to find a new job otherwise."

For a moment, the Baron simply stared at her, his grey eyes wide with surprise. Then, to Evelyn's astonishment, a huff of laughter escaped him. It was a short, gruff sound, but it transformed his face entirely. The usual stern set of his jaw softened, and the lines around his eyes crinkled in a way she'd never seen before.

"I suppose you would," he replied, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Evelyn felt a warmth bloom in her chest at the sight of his lightened expression. It occurred to her that she'd never heard him laugh before, and the effect was rather striking. The scar on his face seemed less pronounced, his features softer and more approachable.

For a moment, they simply lay there, gazing at each other in delighted relief. The rain continued to pour down, soaking them to the bone, but Evelyn found she didn't mind. There was something surprisingly intimate about this shared moment of survival, their usual barriers washed away by the storm.

The Baron's grey eyes locked onto hers, and Evelyn inhaled sharply, unable to breathe for a moment. His gaze was intense, filled with an emotion she'd never seen in him before. He tilted slightly towards her, eyes fixed on her lips, which she licked reflexively. He followed the motion and his pupils dilated slightly. For a heart-stopping moment, she thought he might kiss her. More alarming still was the realisation that she wanted him to.

Her heart pounded, a heady mixture of lingering danger and sudden excitement coursing through her veins. A wild, inappropriate thought flashed through her mind—if he were to kiss her, she knew she would grasp him by the collar, pulling him closer. The very idea sent a shiver down her spine that had nothing to do with her drenched clothes.

The moment stretched, taut with possibility. Evelyn was holding her breath, caught between propriety and desire. But then, as quickly as it had come, the moment passed. The Baron blinked, seeming to come back to himself. He cleared his throat, the sound barely audible over the pounding rain.

Instead of the kiss that Evelyn had half-feared, half-hoped for, the Baron pushed himself to his feet. He extended a hand to her, his expression once again unreadable.

"We should get back to the house," he said, his voice gruff. "The girls will be worried."

Evelyn nodded, trying to ignore the twinge of disappointment that tugged at her heart. She placed her hand in his, allowing him to help her to her feet. As she stood, she found herself mere inches from him, close enough to see the droplets of rain clinging to his eyelashes.

The Baron's dark hair curled slightly in the rain, falling just over his collar in a way that was utterly charming to Evelyn. Beneath his sharp nose, his lips curved perfectly, sharp as if they'd been cut with a sculptor's knife.

Swallowing hard, Evelyn pulled back, her heart still racing from the intensity of the moment. She averted her gaze, focusing on the sodden grass beneath her feet as they began to turn towards the manor. The adrenaline that had propelled her down the hill seemed to have deserted her entirely, leaving her limbs feeling like lead.

As they took their first steps, Evelyn's legs gave a little wobble. She gritted her teeth, determined not to show any further weakness. The Baron, however, noticed her unsteadiness immediately. Without a word, he offered his arm, his grey eyes watching her with an expression that bordered on concern.

Evelyn stared at the proffered arm dubiously. Part of her bristled at the idea of being seen as some delicate flower in need of assistance. She was no wilting violet, after all, but as she gazed up at the long trek back to the house, practicality won out over pride. With a small nod of acquiescence, she placed her hand on his elbow.

The Baron seemed pleased by her acceptance, a ghost of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. To Evelyn's surprise, he gently covered her hand on his elbow with one of his own. The warmth of his palm seeped through her rain-soaked glove, sending an unexpected shiver down her spine.

As they began their slow ascent, Evelyn was hyper-aware of every point of contact between them. The solid strength of his arm beneath her hand, the gentle pressure of his palm atop hers, the occasional brush of his coat against her side as they walked. It was a curiously intimate arrangement, one that left her feeling both comforted and slightly flustered.

As they trudged up the muddy path, the rain slowly easing to a gentle patter, the Baron broke the silence. "I must say, Miss Bane, I'm rather astonished," he said, his voice a low rumble. "I never imagined you'd come all that way to save me. I didn't think you had it in you."

Evelyn felt a flash of indignation at his words. She turned her head to look at him, narrowing her eyes. "Oh, really? And why is that, my lord? Because I'm some delicate flower from London who can't handle a bit of mud?"

The Baron's eyebrows rose, clearly taken aback by her sharp retort. Evelyn pressed on, unable to contain herself. "You always act as if I'm some damsel in distress, incapable of handling the slightest difficulty. But if I recall correctly, it was you who was the damsel in distress today, not I."

For a moment, the Baron stared at her, his grey eyes wide with surprise. Then, to Evelyn's astonishment, a deep chuckle rumbled from his chest. It was a rich, warm sound that sent an unexpected thrill through her.

"I suppose you're right," he admitted, a hint of amusement in his voice. "I was indeed the damsel in this particular scenario. And you, Miss Bane, were my most unlikely knight in shining armour."

Evelyn felt a surge of triumph at his words, along with a peculiar warmth in her chest. She lifted her chin, unable to suppress a small smile. "Well," she allowed, magnanimous in her triumph, "a knight in sodden cotton at any rate."

Evelyn's legs felt like lead as she trudged alongside the Baron, their pace slowed to accommodate her exhaustion. Despite her earlier bravado, the adrenaline had long since faded, leaving her drained and aching. She was grateful for the Baron's consideration, though she'd never admit it aloud.

The rain had eased to a light drizzle, but the air remained heavy with moisture. Thunder rumbled ominously in the distance, a reminder that their reprieve might be short-lived. Dark clouds loomed overhead, threatening to unleash another deluge at any moment.

For a while, they walked in companionable silence. Evelyn felt oddly comforted by the Baron's steady presence beside her. His arm remained a solid support under her hand, his grip on her fingers firm but gentle. She stole a glance at his profile, noting the set of his jaw and the distant look in his eyes. He seemed lost in thought, perhaps contemplating the near-disaster they'd just escaped.

Evelyn shivered suddenly, a chill running through her despite the warm spring day. Her sodden clothes clung to her skin, making her feel clammy and uncomfortable. She tried to suppress the tremor, not wanting to appear weak or fragile in front of the Baron.

But James noticed. Without a word, he stopped walking and began to shrug off his jacket. Evelyn's eyes widened in surprise.

"My lord, what are you doing? You needn't—"

He ignored her protests, draping the garment around her shoulders. The jacket was massive on her petite frame, enveloping her in warmth. It was a light wool with a satin lining, mercifully dry on the inside. More importantly, it radiated heat from the Baron's body, instantly chasing away the chill that had settled in her bones.

Despite her initial objections, Evelyn found herself snuggling into the jacket gratefully. The scent of sandalwood and something uniquely James surrounded her, oddly comforting. She pulled it tighter around herself, relishing the warmth.

When she glanced up at the Baron, she found him watching her with a decidedly smug expression. His grey eyes sparkled with amusement, a small smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. Evelyn felt her cheeks warm, and she wasn't entirely sure it was just from the jacket.

Evelyn tried to keep her gaze fixed on the muddy path ahead, but her eyes seemed to have a mind of their own. They kept darting towards the Baron, now clad only in his waistcoat and shirtsleeves. She chided herself for her impropriety, yet found it increasingly difficult to look away.

The residual rain had begun to dampen his linen shirt, causing it to cling to his broad shoulders and well-muscled arms. Evelyn caught herself admiring the way the fabric draped over his arms, showing the solid muscles beneath as he walked, revealing hints of the strength that lay beneath. She quickly averted her eyes, heat rising to her cheeks.

But her resolve was weak, and soon enough, she found herself stealing another glance. The Baron's dark hair was tousled by the wind and rain, giving him a roguish appearance that was quite at odds with his usual stern demeanour. A droplet of water traced a path down his neck, disappearing beneath his collar, and Evelyn found herself following its journey with far too much interest.

She bit her lip, suppressing a smile at her own audacity. Who would have thought that the countryside could offer such... admirable scenery? The thought nearly made her laugh out loud, and she had to disguise the sound as a cough.

The Baron turned to her, concern etched on his features. "Are you all right, Miss Bane?"

Evelyn nodded quickly, not trusting herself to speak. She pulled his jacket tighter around herself, partly for warmth, but mostly to hide her flushed cheeks. As they continued their trek back to the house, Evelyn couldn't help but think that perhaps country life had its merits after all.