Page 121 of A Bluestocking for the Wicked Duke

“I do not know ma’am. What I do know is it started in that room upstairs.”

The man pointed to one of the open windows in the house. There was still a strong blowing fire in that room. A window sill, burnt to a crisp, fell down from the top, sending people scattering in different directions.

“Oh gosh,” William said under his breath.

“Is everyone out?” William asked the man.

The man turned around slowly. His eyes ran from head to head. He was counting the workers.

“It looks to be so. I was the closest to the fire when it blew up.”

That explains your burnt look.

“I tried to put it off but it was too strong. I managed to warn everyone. I even woke Mr. Booth who was sleeping in one of the rooms downstairs,” he said.

Joane nodded her head. She looked around again. A crowd had gathered a fair distance away from the spectacle. The heat was still searing even as far as they stood. William took further steps away from the burning house.

“My brothers aren’t at home. Emma hasn’t arrived today, so it leaves papa, I and the stewards,” she said.

William shook his head. Everything seemed alright.

Unless ….

“Father!” Joane screamed.

She drew collar of the steward who was already walking away.

“Where is the Duke?” she asked.

The steward turned back to look at her with eyes incredibly open. Joane shook him with force.

“Did you get him?” she asked.

The steward said nothing; he only looked at a burning room up at a burning window in the building.

That’s the Duke’s room.

Joane screamed.

“No, no, this cannot be happening,” she said.

Joane bent down, her hair falling over her head. William bent down with her, pushing her chin up so he saw her eyes. When she did, they were already red.

“He might still come out,” William said gently.

“Where is his room?” William asked the steward.

“The first room on the right upstairs,” he answered.

Joane looked up at the burning building once again and shook her head. Her face was already a mess. Her eyes were red and puffy, tears were gushing down her cheeks incredibly fast. William felt his heart stutter and stop, then kick start.

I can’t stand her tears.

William removed his shirt to the surprise of the on lookers. He tore off a sleeve and tied it tight around his head, covering his nose. Joane called his name but he didn’t look back as he braved the heat and ran closer to the building, closer than any other person. The heat threatened to overwhelm him, his skin felt like on fire. William waited for an opening, a dip in the flames that burnt around the door and ran into the building. The fire bit his skin. William ran faster, hoping his speed would nullify the penetrating sting. He felt like he could ignite in the heat. Thick fumes of smoke ran into his eyes. William ran up the stairs, the one on the side where the Duke’s room was. He followed his instinct, jumping steps that looked weak. He jumped to his left as an abutment suddenly fell, grazing his hand. William was sure all the hair on his body was singed by now. He got to the top of the stairs. The door of the room was burning. William kicked into it and jumped in the room. He saw the Duke immediately, folded and immobile in the far left corner. William ran and picked him up, placing him on his shoulder. He powered out of the room. He closed his eyes, feeling his way through the smoke, back the way he came.

*******

Joane stirred on the bed. She couldn’t sleep. This was their first night at Wellington. She and the few others in her father’s court had been well taken care of but she still found it difficult to sleep. Joane looked up, her mind drifting to the events of the past few days.