Arthur planted his feet firmly on the circular marble floor pattern right in the center of the room.
He tracked Lily's movement as she fell through the high open air toward the hard ground below.
His instincts took over completely as he reached his arms wide toward the bright ceiling lights.
He moved half a step to the left to match her path through the empty central space.
The girl cried out in fear as the wind rushed past her brown hair in the air.
Arthur braced his body and bent his knees to absorb the heavy weight of the fall.
He caught Lily securely against his broad chest just inches before she reached the marble tile.
The impact forced Arthur down onto one knee against the cold polished floor with a loud sound.
He wrapped both arms around his daughter tightly to keep her safe from any remaining bounce.
He held her close to his heart while checking her arms and legs for any signs of pain.
Lily wrapped her small arms around his neck and cried softly into his dark navy suit jacket.
Arthur pulled her in close and rested his hand against the back of her small head gently.
He felt her fast heartbeat against his chest and let out a long breath of pure relief.
The mansion felt completely silent for a moment except for the soft sound of Lily's tears.
Arthur stroked her hair and whispered reassuring words into her ear to calm her down completely.
He looked toward the grand marble staircase to see where Eleanor was standing after the fall.
Eleanor stood frozen halfway down the steps with a strange, pale expression across her face.
She clutched her royal blue blouse tightly with one hand while holding her breath in silence.
Arthur stared at his stepmother with deep suspicion rising fast inside his protective mind.
He wondered why she had been standing so close without holding Lily's hand near the ledge.
The dangerous drop could have ended in a tragic loss if he had returned home minutes later.
He stood up slowly while holding Lily securely in his arms like a shield against danger.
He kept his sharp eyes fixed on Eleanor as she took a slow step down the stairs.
The atmosphere in the grand white house felt colder and heavier than it ever had before.