The Bridal Quest (29 page)

But at this moment, such worries did not cling to her. She basked in the warmth of his gaze; she remembered his lips upon her mouth and traveling down her skin. Right now, whatever it was he felt for her, it was enough.

She caught Francesca looking at them speculatively once or twice during the meal, and she knew that her friend was not the only one. Gideon's uncle, too, cast more than one glance their way.

After the repast, several people were eager to return to the caves—primarily the duke's scientific friend, who had scarcely paid attention to the delicious food, so intent was he on going over the delights of the cave with Rochford.

Both the Salisbridge girls decided to relax by the river for a while instead of returning to the dark and damp of the caves, which meant that Francesca and Mr. Surton were freed from sitting with Miss Hurley and were able to join the cave party. They all strolled back inside, more at ease this time with the eerie dark interior.

Irene and Gideon chatted and walked about, straying from the tight-knit group. She felt him slip his hand around hers, and she turned toward him, surprised. He inclined his head to the side, then picked up his lantern and led her farther away from the others. She followed him quietly, and, after a last quick glance around, they slipped into one of the other tunnels.

She covered her mouth to suppress a giggle and concentrated on walking quietly, just as eager as he was to escape the crowd. Finally he deemed them to be far enough away, and he turned, pulling her close to him and kissing her.

"I have been wanting to do that all day," he confided, setting down his lantern on the ground so that he could wrap his other arm around her, too.

"Will you think me very bold if I tell you that I wanted it, too?" she asked, looking up at him flirtatiously.

"I will, indeed, and I thank heaven for it," he replied with a smile, and kissed her again, lightly, on the lips.

Then he laid his cheek atop her head, and they stood that way, simply holding each other for a long moment. He nuzzled her hair and murmured in her ear, "Perhaps we could find a secluded little offshoot and ...

Irene giggled, feeling a trifle giddy. "Stop. You will have me sounding like Miss Surton."

"God forbid," Gideon replied in a heartfelt tone. He raised his head and gazed down at her, then took her lips again in a long, deep kiss.

With a sigh, he released her, and, picking up the lantern, they began to stroll through the tunnel, hands clasped, as aware of each other as they were of the cave around them.

"I told my grandmother and Aunt Odelia that you have accepted my proposal," he told her. "They were, needless to say, delighted."

"I am sure that Teresa will be much less so," Irene remarked drily.

He shrugged. "Fortunately she has nothing to say in the matter. Will you mind having her living at the Park? She could move to another house if she makes you uncomfortable."

"Oh, I shall be able to tolerate her," Irene replied easily. "I would not want to uproot Timothy. After all, he is your family, and you are fond of him, I know."

"I am." He smiled at her. "But I am fonder of you."

"That is good to know. I am sure that I shall put that to the test sooner or later," she went on lightly. "I have been told that I am not an easy person to live with."

"You?" He looked at her in mock amazement, eyes dancing. "Who would dare say such a thing?"

She cast him a speaking glance, and he leaned down to kiss her lightly on the mouth, following it with quick kisses to her eyes and cheeks and chin.

"I like you just as you are," he told her. "An easy person to live with would doubtless drive me mad in two weeks."

"Then I shall do my best to keep you sane," she bantered. In a more serious tone, she went on. "Gideon ... there is one thing I would ask of you."

He glanced at her, a little surprised by her tone. "What?"

"I would like my mother to live here, too. She is not happy living with my sister-in-law. She does not say it, but I know it is true, and—"

"Of course," he interrupted her, releasing her hand to put his arm around her shoulders and pull her close. "I assumed that she would live with us. You do not even need to ask."

"Thank you." She smiled up at him.

"I would give you much more than that to have you look at me in that way," he told her, bending down to kiss her again. His hand slid down her back and curved over her buttocks, pressing her against him.

A fiery tongue of desire licked down through her torso, and she trembled, her hands going up to his chest and digging into his shirt. She wondered, with a little thrill of excitement, what it would be like if he did pull her into some secluded part of the cave.

Their kiss deepened, and he set the lantern down with a clank as he linked his arms around her, pulling her up and into his body, lifting her from her feet. His mouth trailed down her neck and nuzzled into the dark crevice between her breasts, and his breath rasped in his throat.

With a groan, he set her down and took a half step back, sucking in a lungful of air. His eyes burned into her, glittering with passion.

"Sweet bloody hell, but you tempt me!" he grated out. "I have only one stipulation for our marriage—that it be very, very soon!"

"I agree." Irene drew a shaky breath and smoothed her hands down her dress. "Perhaps we should return to the others before we create a scandal."

"Yes, I think you are right."

He picked up the light, and they set off again, but after a few twists and turns, he stopped and cast a look around. "I don't think this is the way we came."

She, too, had been growing uneasy for the last few yards, and she cast a look at him. "We
are
lost?"

"Not very," he said. "But I think we must retrace our steps."

They turned back, following the wide tunnel to where it narrowed. Within a few minutes it opened up into a larger cavern—not as large as the expanse where they had first entered the cave, but nevertheless a high-ceilinged room—one in which Irene was certain they had not been before.

"We are lost!" she exclaimed, a little squiggle of panic rising in her.

He took her cold hand and raised it to his lips. "Don't get anxious. We will find our way back out, I assure you."

He raised the lantern and glanced about the cavern. "It's an interesting place. Look at all the caves opening off this one."

She looked at the darker openings at the edge of the circle of yellow light cast by the lantern. "I hope you don't intend to explore any of them."

"No. But I think I'd like to come back someday and spend more time." He finished turning all around, his light falling on the cave wall closest to them. He paused. "That's odd."

"What's odd?"

He took a step closer to the wall, holding the light nearer to it. "This wall. Look. It isn't like the others."

Irene followed the direction his finger pointed, intrigued despite her uneasiness. "It looks like—well, like rocks piled up."

"Exactly." He set the lantern down at the base of the wall and squatted down. "Not like the solid wall everywhere else. Look."

He reached out and ran a finger down a rock, dislodging moist earth. "These are rocks with earth shoved in between and on top, like a crude wall, but the soil has largely melted away. Look at how much has slid down to the bottom."

Irene frowned, leaning over to brush her fingers over the surface. "You're right. Someone built a wall here. Why?"

He shook his head. "I don't know. But it's odd."

He scooped his hand down the side, dislodging more earth and revealing the stones beneath, then ran his hand up the wall. "It goes up only to here. And it's about two feet wide." He added decisively, "I am going to see what's behind it."

Gideon dug into the wall with both hands, working out a fairly flat rock. It came loose with a scraping sound, and after that the work went much more easily. Irene pulled her riding gloves out of her pocket and put them on, then knelt down to join him. There was an odd feeling in the pit of her stomach, and it grew as they cleared out a larger and larger hole. Behind the rocks lay the deep black of nothingness, and a fetid smell crept out on the air.

There was something very strange about anyone constructing a wall inside a cave. Why would it have been necessary to fill in this hole? She supposed it could lead to something dangerous, a steep drop-off perhaps, but why not just post a sign of warning?

The caves were little used. Clearly, from what Teresa had said, Lord Cecil had thought them dangerous. Irene imagined that others did, as well. She could not help but wonder if that reputation of danger came from something other than physical difficulties. Perhaps criminals used these caves to—to what? Well, she wasn't sure, but it occurred to her that the wall might have been erected to hide some sort of contraband.

Smugglers came to mind. But surely they were too far from the sea here. Thieves, then. People stole things, then hauled them here and hid them—but to what purpose?

She tried to imagine what could be so necessary to hide as to make it worthwhile dragging it all the way up the gorge and through the caves to this out-of-the-way spot. It would have to be something one would want hidden for a long time. But surely most things that one stole were only worth something if one sold them. Thieves did not steal silver and then hide it for years—and how much could one steal, anyway out here in the country?

Gideon was moving faster as they worked, and the opening widened rapidly. Finally it was large enough that he was able to lift up the lantern and shine it into the hole. They leaned in on either side of the lantern.

The light reached only a few feet, enough to reveal a small denlike cave, not tall enough for a man to stand upright in, that stretched back about six or eight feet. The glow of the lantern bathed the area in a dim light, revealing an object lying about four feet from the opening. It was about five feet long and draped over with a thin white cloth. And it was unmistakably a human form.

Irene stared, no sound issuing from her throat. She sat back on her heels abruptly and turned to look at Gideon.

He let out a low curse.

"Selene."

"Oh, my God." Irene's hands went to her cheeks. She realized that she was shaking.

Gideon had put into words the exact thought that had formed in her head. He tore at the rest of the rocks, clearing out the entrance. She reached out and laid a hand on his arm.

"We don't know that."

He paused and cast a look back at her. "I know. Who else would it be?"

"We must not disturb the ... the body. Someone may be able to—"

"Identify her?" he asked, and nodded, looking a little calmer. "Yes. You're right. I won't touch ... the body. But I have to see."

He pushed the lantern inside and crawled in after it. Irene followed him. Again he turned to her.

"You do not need to do this," he told her. "It will not be a sight fit for a lady."

"I must," she replied. "You are going to look, are you not?"

He nodded and said nothing more to dissuade her. They crept closer, holding the lantern up so that its light fell fully on the body.

The woman's body had been wrapped like a mummy with some dark, now rotting, material. Over her head and shoulders was draped a thin white material, stained with brown and yellowish marks. Irene realized that the white fabric was actually a petticoat.

Beneath the gauzy white cloth were the wizened, nearly fleshless features of a skull, a few strands of dark hair still clinging to it. Irene sucked in her breath, feeling suddenly a little nauseous and faint. She straightened away from the body and closed her eyes.

"Are you all right?" came Gideon's voice close to her, and she opened her eyes to look into his questioning, concerned ones. "You should not see this. Why don't you go back out?"

She shook her head. "No. I am all right." That was a lie, of course; she still felt a bit queasy. She had never seen anything this macabre. But she was not about to leave Gideon here all alone to face what they both felt sure were the decayed remains of his mother.

She drew a breath. "Is it she?"

He shook his head. "I can't be sure. But who else would it be?" He sighed and took her hand, squeezing it gently. "We must go back and get help. Some other men. My uncle is the only one who might be able to identify her."

Irene nodded, then laid a hand on his arm, looking into his eyes, and said, "Yes, we will, but ... are you all right?"

A sad smile curved his lips, and he brought her hand up to his mouth and pressed a gentle kiss against her knuckles. "Yes. It is a long time past. And at least now I know that she did not abandon me."

He leaned his head against hers for a moment, then pulled back. "Come. Let us get the others."

They crawled back out of the oppressive room. It was a relief to stand up in the tunnel. Irene cast a look around.

"Will we be able to find our way back?"

"We will, though it may take a little time. We must leave some things along the way to make sure that we can find our way back."

"I have the ribbons in my hair," she offered. "And my gloves.

"My watch and fobs. Cuff links. We'll find enough to make do."

They started to retrace their steps, leaving an article at every major juncture or turn. They had not gone very far, however, when they heard the faint sound of voices. They stopped, listening, then Gideon cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, his voice echoing around the cavern.

A moment later, a little louder than before, they heard a man's voice calling, "Radbourne?"

Then another, "Gideon?"

"Piers!" Gideon shouted back. "We're here. Keep coming!"

He and the others continued to exchange shouts, the voices at times receding, but then coming closer again, until at last the glimmer of a light appeared, and a moment later three men with lanterns appeared around the curve of the tunnel. Piers and Gideon's uncle were in front, with Rochford bringing up the rear.

Jasper's face was creased with worry, and even Piers looked concerned. Only the duke was as unruffled as ever, slim and straight in his fawn breeches and dark blue jacket, looking for all the world as if he might have been out for a stroll.

"Thank God, man!" Piers burst out, striding forward. "You had us dead worried. Where have you been?"

"We, um, got a trifle lost, and then ... we stumbled upon something."

Something of what Gideon felt must have shown on his face, for whatever the other men had been about to say died on their lips. Rochford's gaze flickered over Gideon, then Irene, and she was suddenly aware of how dirty and disheveled they must appear after digging away the rocks and crawling on their hands and knees into the low cave.

"Show us," was all Rochford said.

They started back, picking up their markers as they went, until they were at the tomb once more. Irene watched as the other men squatted down at the entrance and peered inside. Piers drew in his breath with a gasp, and Jasper went pale and still as death. He cast one quick questioning glance at his nephew.

Gideon shook his head. "I do not know. You are the only one who could tell for sure."

Jasper turned to look back into the cave, and there was such pain on his face that Irene had to turn away from it. He nodded and began to crawl forward, Gideon by his side. Piers watched the two men in shocked fascination, and Rochford turned to Irene.

"Selene?" he asked.

"We fear so."

Piers glanced at them curiously, but obviously realized that this was not the time for a lengthy explanation. Gideon and Jasper had reached the wrapped skeleton.

They heard a muffled exclamation from Jasper, then he said in a quiet voice, "It is a dressing gown. It—
She
is wrapped in a dressing gown. I—I do not know if it was hers. Help me."

He reached out toward the material, and Gideon moved to help him try to peel it away. It shredded beneath their fingers, some of it falling into pieces and some simply crumbling away into dust.

"Oh, God." Jasper's voice broke, and he reached down. "Her ring. Here is her wedding ring. And this—this pin. I gave it to her. Sweet Jesus. It is Selene.
Selene."

Rochford stood up. "Lady Irene, allow me to escort you back to the other ladies. Mr. Aldenham, if you will remain here with the others, I will send the groom back to the Park immediately to bring a cart. Francesca and Irene will take the others back to the house, and I shall return to help you as soon as I have seen everyone off."

Piers nodded. "I'll wait."

"Are you all right?" the duke asked Irene as he led her away from the burial cave.

She nodded. "Yes. I— It was a gruesome sight, to be sure, but ..." She shrugged and gave him a half smile. "Anyone will tell you that I am not a very delicate female."

"Thank God for that," Rochford replied easily. "It would be a bit daunting to have to carry an unconscious woman back through all these tunnels. Or one engaged in hysterics."

He smiled at her, and she was surprised at the way his smile lit up his handsome face, lending him a warmth that was usually missing.

"Yes, I imagine that would be somewhat difficult," she agreed, then sighed. "I fear that Gideon will take it hard. He was trying to adjust to the news that his mother had run away, and now to find out that she was murdered ..." Irene paused, then continued. "I don't suppose that it could be anything other than murder?"

"I cannot see how," Rochford replied. "Aunt Odelia has told me about Aunt Pansy's story—that Lady Selene ran away with a man. I suppose Lady Selene could have written a note pretending to run away, then come here to kill herself, though I cannot understand her reason for making everyone believe she had left. However, I do not believe that she could have killed herself and afterward draped gauze over her face."

"No. I— It looked as though one side of her head had been ... smashed in."

"Devil of a business. At least Cecil's dead. There won't be the agony of a trial."

"You think it was Gideon's father who killed her?"

"He is the one who read the note. The only one, if I understand my great-aunts correctly. I think it must have been he—or his valet. I suppose he could have had his man do it. Owenby was devoted to him."

"But why was Gideon taken?" Irene asked.

"That surpasses my understanding," Rochford admitted. "Ah, there is the main cave up ahead."

"Are you familiar with these caves?" Irene asked.

He glanced at her, surprised. "No. I have never been here before."

"How did you know the way back so well?"

He quirked a brow. "Once we began to suspect that you and Gideon had gone astray—at least longer than one would have expected for a newly engaged couple—" he allowed a small smile "—I marked the way we took to make certain we did not all become lost."

"Of course." Irene smiled to herself. She understood much better now Francesca's remarks about the duke.

"My lady!" The groom was waiting in the main cave, along with Mr. Surton, and he sprang up as he spoke. "Your Grace."

"Lady Irene is quite all right," Rochford assured the men. "I am afraid that she and Lord Radbourne had become rather disoriented, but we found them. I will need your help, Barnes, if you will wait just a moment. Mr. Surton, may I rely on you to see that the young ladies get back to the house safely? I think that Lady Irene should return right away. She is, as you see, somewhat overset by her ordeal."

The duke turned to Irene, murmuring, "You might try to look overset."

Irene raised a hand weakly to her chest. "Mr. Surton, I cannot thank you enough. I fear I feel a trifle faint."

Surton hastened to assure her of his help, and gave her his arm to take her out. The duke turned to the groom and spoke to him in a low voice. The groom looked amazed, but nodded his head without protest and hurried to do as the duke bade.

As soon as Irene and Surton stepped outside, Francesca came forward. "Irene! Are you all right? Is something amiss? Where are the others?"

"I fear I must cut your outing short," the duke said, striding out of the cave after them. "Lady Irene is fine, though a trifle tired. Lady Haughston, if I may speak with you?"

Irene watched as the duke took her friend aside, bending over to talk to her earnestly. Irene saw Francesca raise her hand to her throat in distress, and Rochford reached out as though to touch her arm, then hastily drew his hand back.

He bowed to Francesca instead, and turned, going back into the cave.

Francesca hurried over to Irene. "Oh, my, such a ... well. I do not even know what to call it. Are you all right, my dear?"

Irene nodded. "Yes, but we need to get everyone back to the house and then find a way to occupy all the others, so that you and I can explain what has transpired to Gideon's family."

"I shall think of something, never fear."

Francesca swept everyone along, flattering Mr. Surton's helpfulness and fluttering over Irene's wretchedly disordered nerves. They would, she promised, find some other treat for the guests for the rest of the afternoon—perhaps croquet on the wide front lawn?

This idea seemed to please everyone well enough, and they set a good pace back to the house. There was not really much of the afternoon left to arrange for croquet, much less play it, but Francesca set everyone to it anyway, further playing on Mr. Surton's pride by putting him in charge of the whole affair. Then, with a quick word to the butler, Francesca and Irene went into the library to await the women of the family. Lady Odelia and her sister came in a few moments later, looking puzzled, followed by Lady Teresa, who seemed merely disgruntled.

"Francesca?" Lady Odelia began. "What is the meaning of this? Why did you send Horroughs to fetch us?" Her expression changed. "Did something happen to Gideon?"

"No, Lord Radbourne is fine," Francesca hastened to assure the others, and cast a glance at Irene.

Irene nodded. "The thing is, we found something in the caves today. It is— Forgive me, Lady Radbourne," she said to Pansy. "I can think of no easy way to put this. Your son, Lord Jasper, identified it as the body of Lady Selene."

Even Lady Odelia had no words to offer after that statement. After a stunned moment, the women began to ask questions, but Irene was unable to answer them. So they waited, an anxious, quiet little group, for the men to return with the body.

Irene jumped up when at last there was the clatter of riding boots in the hallway outside. A moment later the door opened, and Jasper, Rochford and Gideon strode inside. Irene looked to Gideon. His face was set, his eyes shadowed, and he carried something wrapped in cloth in his hand.

"Jasper?" Pansy rose, looking every bit her age. Her hands trembled, and she clasped them together to stop the shaking. "Is it—is it really Selene?"

Her son nodded grimly. "Yes. I am certain. There was a pin that she often wore, and her wedding ring."

"What happened?" Pansy wailed, looking lost. "How can this be?"

"Did she wander off?" Lady Odelia asked, grasping at straws. "Did she fall or—"