JAMES
While Wren and my sister laugh heartily as Cyril resurfaces and splashes us with water, I look at Ruby, who has become a dark and blurry spot beneath the water's surface. Initially, she thrashed about wildly, but now she doesn't move anymore.
Something is wrong.
"If she knew we already know the trick of playing dead, she wouldn't put on this act," Wren comments, reaching out to help Cyril climb out of the pool.
Ruby doesn't come up to the surface. Inside, I sense that something is amiss.
My heart races, and I gather momentum.
"James, I really don't think she needs..."
I don't hear the rest of Lydia's sentence because I dive headfirst into the water. I swim toward Ruby, taking long strokes, wrap my arm around her torso, and pull her up.
She doesn't move. "Ruby," I gasp as we both resurface. I shake her. "Ruby!"
Suddenly, she flails her arms around. She coughs and tries to catch her breath, and I hold her tightly against me to prevent her from sinking again. She's completely disoriented.
"Get me out," she pleads, shouting. "I need to get out of here!"
l nod and swim with her to the edge of the pool. Then I lift her by the waist and help her sit. She coughs forcefully, expelling the water she swallowed in those brief minutes. I push off to position myself next to her at the pool's edge. Standing up, I assist her. She lowers her head, but I can see tears mixing with the water droplets on her face. When she's on her feet, she sways to one side. I bend down slightly to scoop her into my arms. She doesn't protest; instead, she buries her face in my neck, hiding her tears from view.
Turning indignantly toward Cyril, whose smile has vanished, I mutter, "You jerk."
I'd love to shout it in his face, but I don't want to scare Ruby.
With her in my arms, I pivot and exit through the back door of the winter garden.
Percy takes a while to arrive, but he brings towels and spare clothes in return. Ruby avoids my gaze as I wrap her in several towels and dry her off. Her whole body is still trembling. Without a word, Percy hands me another towel, which I unfold and place on her head, pressing to absorb the water from her hair. Maybe I'm overdoing it, but I won't stop rubbing her until the trembling subsides-even if it takes all night.
Suddenly, her body wracks with a silent sob. I freeze. It's surprisingly painful to see someone as strong as her cry, and I don't know what to do. All I can do is dry her, stroke her back in gentle circles, and ask Percy for a Maxton Hall's sweatshirt, which he's also brought.
"Can you unbutton your blouse?" I ask cautiously."
Ruby doesn't show any signs of having heard me. Since I doubt she can manage it with her trembling fingers, I swiftly pull the sweatshirt over her head. I stretch the fabric down over her waist and begin blindly unbuttoning her blouse. Once it's open, I pull it off her back and help her slide her arms into the sweatshirt sleeves. I'm about to put the hood on her, but she raises her hands and grabs my forearms. Her fingers are still icy.
Next, she tilts her head forward, resting it against my chest, and takes a deep breath. Her breathing is as shaky as her entire body. It's heartbreaking to see her like this.
"It's all my fault," I murmur.
Ruby lifts her head from my chest and looks at me. Her eyes are still moist, but I think she's doing better. She's back to being Ruby-the stubborn, resilient Ruby who won't take lessons from anyone. I relax, feeling a mixture of lightness and weight spread across my torso.
I step away from her and unbutton my shirt to put on the other sweater Percy brought.
"Come on. We'll take you home," I announce, opening the door of the Rolls-Royce for her.
She gets in, and I slide into the seat next to her. As Percy starts the car, I rest my head against the backrest. Suddenly, the alcohol hits me, and the world spins faster than it should.
Ruby shifts beside me, and I glance at her briefly. She's hidden her hands under the sleeves of my blue sweatshirt. The urge to hold her overwhelms me. I quickly avert my gaze.
"I have a terrible fear of water," Ruby whispers, breaking the silence.
I have to control myself from staring at her. I think she feels safer if I keep looking out the window rather than at her.
"And why is that?" I ask after a moment.
Ruby's trembling body beside me stiffens as she delves into a painful memory. I reach for her hand, wrapping my fingers around the fabric covering it. Despite her small and fragile appearance, I know Ruby is anything but fragile.
"What happened?" I ask, giving her hand a brief squeeze.
"A larger boat didn't see us and collided with ours," she explains hurriedly. "Our boat was completely wrecked, and my father took a severe blow. His head suffered intense trauma, and he fractured a vertebra." I pause, gripping her hand. "Since then, he's been in a wheelchair. And I've been terrified of water," she concludes.
There seems to be more to this story, but I don't press her. What she's shared is enough for me to imagine what must have happened when Cyril dragged her into the pool.
"I'm sorry," I say, feeling utterly inadequate. She's just revealed one of the most traumatic experiences of her life, and all I can muster is a vague apology.
"It's okay. You're not like your friends," Ruby responds.
Her hand emerges from the sweatshirt, cautiously seeking mine. Our fingers entwine, and I hesitantly stroke the back of her hand with my thumb.
"That's not true," I murmur, shaking my head. "I'm exactly like them. Maybe even worse."
She barely nods. "Not right now," she whispers.
The rest of the journey passes in silence as I mull over what she's confided in me. At one point, Ruby falls asleep, her head sliding onto my shoulder.
She doesn't let go of my hand for a second, and I continue thoughtfully caressing her skin with my thumb, which is now, fortunately, warm again.
After twenty minutes, we arrive at Ruby's house. There lights inside are still on, and I should wake her up. But I don't dare to do it yet, not when she seems to be sleeping so peacefully.
"She's a charming girl, Mr. Beaufort," suddenly Percy's voice resonates from the speaker above my head. I look forward to it even though the partition screen is up- "don't ruin this."
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
But I can't seem to let go of Ruby's hand.