“I suppose you are right, my dear,” Sir Edward said. “It is an ancient tomb, but I can assure you I have not come across any ghosts here, simply the remains of a woman and the necessities needed to accompany her into the afterlife. Extraordinary well-preserved finds, such as a bronze mirror, an amphora and cups with wine residue, candelabra to light her way, cans of crystallized honey, and a pair of beautiful gold earrings that would indicate she was a young priestess from a wealthy family.”
“Sir Edward, you must join us for our picnic,” Aunt Kitty said. “I have so many questions I want to ask you about the Etruscans and your work.”
“I would be honored to join you and delighted to answer any questions you might have.”
“Shall we—” Jack’s words were cut off by a woman’s scream.
“Gaby? What’s wrong?” Emily cried out. “Please, wake up!”
Jack’s heart leaped to his throat, and he pushed through the group to get to Gaby. “What happened?”
“She fainted,” Emily said in alarm.
Jenee had reached Gaby’s side a moment after Jack did, and, kneeling, she reached for Gaby’s hand and pressed her finger to her wrist to check her pulse.
“Please move back,” Jack barked over his shoulder. “You’re crowding her, and she needs air.”
“I’ll fetch water.” Sir Edward was already halfway up the ladder.
Jenee called to him, “Have you any smelling salts, Sir Edward?”
“Yes, I’ll grab the medical kit I keep on hand for emergencies.”
Jenee’s attention returned to Gabriella. “Her pulse is elevated, perhaps a reaction to something down here; it is quite musty.”
Jack scanned the cavern, and his eyes landed on the baroness. It suddenly occurred to him that he’d noticed the older woman had been standing close to Gabriella and whispering something at one point. Had the baroness said something to upset Gaby?
He didn’t have long to dwell on the mystery because Gaby suddenly began to speak in an odd voice. “It will never be allowed.”
Emily exchanged a look with Jenee. “What won’t be allowed, Gaby?”
“A priestess cannot marry. The gods will never allow it.” Gaby’s eyes remained closed, and whatever she said appeared to be filtering through her unconscious.
“Whatever is she talking about?” the baroness said impatiently. “The girl must be touched in the head. You did say, Kitty, that she has no recollection of where she came from. Perhaps she escaped from a lunatic asylum.”
“No, she seems to be in a trance of some kind,” said Stefano. “I’ve heard of this kind of occurrence before, where a person channels another life. You cannot deny the existence of spirits, especially in a place such as this.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Jack barked. “There is nothing wrong with her mind.”
Gaby finally opened her eyes and looked directly at Jack. “It doesn’t matter whether you love me, or I love you,” she said in that strange voice. “They will never let me break my vows, and they will do whatever it takes to separate us.”
Chapter Twenty
Populonia, Italy
October 200 CE
What’s happening?
One minute Gabriella was in the cave with the others, and the next, their voices had faded away, and she was surrounded by darkness. Had the lantern gone out?
She blinked several times, and her vision cleared, but she was no longer in the cavern. Hearing the roar of the surf, she realized she was standing on a bluff overlooking the sea. Justlike last time.The sun had set, and a fog was rolling in.
Gaby’s heart pumped like she were a runner heading for the finish line. She stumbled back from the edge, hoping to hear hooves pounding turf and a horse and rider barreling toward her. She regained her balance and looked around, but no one was there. No Jack to rescue her this time.
A sob escaped her at the thought of never seeing Jack again. She’d never be able to confess to him that she’d made a mistake. Never tell him the truth about who she was and where she came from. Never be able to tell him how much she loved him.
Xavier’s words repeated in her mind:To find love is difficult enough, and one must never take it for granted.
