She waded out farther until the waves smacked her knees. The current was strong, pulling her out toward the horizon, and she shook with fear. Robert was fighting that same current. She could see him more closely now; his strokes were still strong, but they were growing uneven. He was getting tired.
She yelled his name yet again, and this time he stopped and looked up while treading water. His mouth moved, and in her heart Victoria knew that he had said her name.
He put his head back down and swam forward. It might have been Victoria's imagination, but it looked as if he was moving a little faster now. She reached her arms out and took another step forward. Only ten yards or so separated them now. “You're almost there!” she shouted. “You can do it, Robert!”
The water was at her waist and then suddenly it was over her head, a giant wave crashing above her. She tumbled into a somersault, and for a moment she had no idea which way was up. And then, miraculously, her feet touched the ground, and her face found the air. She blinked, realized that she was now facing the shore, and turned around just in time to see Robert staggering into her. His chest was bare, and his breeches were plastered to his thighs.
He practically fell against her. “My God, Victoria,” he gasped. “When I saw you go down…” Clearly unable to finish his sentence, he bent at the waist, gasping for air.
Victoria grabbed his arm and began to pull. “We've got to get to the shore,” she pleaded.
“Are you—are you all right?”
She gaped at him through the driving rain. “You're asking that of me? Robert, you were miles from shore! I couldn't see you. I was terrified. I—” She stopped. “Why am I discussing this now?”
They stumbled to shore. Victoria was cold and weak, but she knew that he was weaker, so she forced her legs to pull them along. He clung to her, and she could feel his legs wobbling beneath him.
“Victoria,” he gasped.
“Don't say anything.” She concentrated on the shore, and when she reached it she concentrated on the path.
He ground to a halt, though, forcing her to stop. He took her face into his hands, ignoring the rain and the wind, and looked into her eyes. “Are you all right?” he repeated.
Victoria stared at him, unable to believe that he would pause in the middle of the storm to ask her that. She covered one of his hands with her own and said, “Robert, I'm fine. I'm cold, but I'm fine. We have to get you inside.”
How they made it up the steep path, Victoria would never know. The wind and rain had loosened the earth, and more than once one of them stumbled and slipped, only to be pulled back upright by the other. Finally, her hands raw and scraped, Victoria pulled herself over the edge of the hill and landed on the green grass of the cottage's lawn. A second later Robert joined her.
The rain was torrential now, and the wind howled like a hundred furies. Together they staggered to the cottage's front door. Robert grabbed the knob and ripped the door open, shoving Victoria into the warmth of the interior. Once they were both inside, they stood stock still, momentarily paralyzed with relief.
Robert was the first to recover, and he reached out and grabbed Victoria, crushing her to him. His arms were shaking uncontrollably, but they held her firm. “I thought I'd lost you,” he whispered, pressing his lips to her temple. “I thought I'd lost you.”
“Don't be silly, I—”
“I thought I'd lost you,” he repeated, his grip on her remaining strong. “First I thought I was going to—that I wouldn't make it back, and I didn't want to—God, I didn't want to die, not when we were so close to—” His hands moved to her face, holding her still while he memorized every feature, every freckle, and every eyelash. “Then when you went under—”
“Robert, it was only for a moment.”
“I didn't know if you could swim. You never told me if you could swim.”
“I can swim. Not as well as you, but I can—It doesn't matter. I'm fine.” She pried his hands from her face and tried to pull him toward the staircase. “We must get you into bed. You'll catch the death of you if we don't get you dry.”
“You, too,” he mumbled, letting her lead the way.
“I wasn't submerged in the Strait of Dover for God only knows how long. Once we take care of you, I promise I will change into dry garments.” She practically pushed him up the stairs. He stumbled repeatedly, never seeming to lift his leg high enough to reach the next step. Once they reached the second story, she nudged him forward.
“I assume this is your room,” she said, leading him inside.
He nodded briefly.
“Take off your clothes,” she ordered.
Robert had just enough strength to laugh. “If you knew how many times I have dreamed of you saying that…” He looked down at his hands, which were shaking violently from the cold. His fingernails were purplish blue.
“Don't be silly,” Victoria said sternly, running around the room to light the candles. It was only early evening, but the storm had taken away much of the sunlight. She turned around and saw that he hadn't made much headway on his clothing. “What is wrong with you?” she scolded. “I told you to undress.”
He shrugged helplessly. “I can't. My fingers…”
Victoria's eyes fell to his hands, which were fumbling over the fastenings to his breeches. His fingers were shaking violently, and he couldn't seem to make them close around his buttons. With brisk determination reminiscent of her not so distant days as a governess, she closed the space between them and unfastened his breeches, trying not to look when she pulled them down.