If I perish, at least it will be with a splendid view.
“The path is on a decline.” His voice reached back to her. “And do you hear that?”
She tilted her head, listening. It was faint at first, but then she recognized the sound.
“Waves,” she said with anticipation. “We’re getting closer to the water.”
Within minutes, the tunnel widened into another cavern. It smelled of the sea, and a small rowboat lay near the passage on the opposite end. A quick check of the passage revealed the boat’s function: beneath this cavern was another one, at present submerged by the high tide, but when the water receded in a few hours, they could use the boat to float out.
Meanwhile, the cavern made for a cozy resting place. Sebastian set down the lamp, and Charlie examined the supplies she’d gathered. The bag of foodstuffs included apples, a stack of plum heavies, and two pasties with gathered sides that looked like purses. There was also a bottle of wine. From the bag she’d found inside the passage, she pulled out a blanket…and a small leather pouch tumbled from the folds. Opening the pouch, she found a small glass vial containing a clear liquid. When she tilted it, a few fine white crystals drifted through the solution.
“What is it?” Sebastian came over.
“I am not certain.”
Taking it from her, he uncorked it, and they both sniffed. The odor was faint.
“Sulphur?” she guessed.
“Perhaps.”
When he put his fingertip to the top of the vial, she stopped him.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Taking a taste.”
She stared at him. “What if it is poison?”
“I have a high tolerance to toxins.”
She decided she did not want to know how he’d come to that conclusion.
“As I do not wish to drag your lifeless body from the cave, please refrain from ingesting the mysterious liquid,” she said primly.
“It’s probably harmless…”
He trailed off because the liquid began to smoke and bubble.
Hastily, he shoved the cork back into place. Just in time: half the liquid had vaporized.
“We’ll figure out what this is after we get out of here,” he muttered.
Giving him anI-told-you-solook, she carefully stored the vial back in the pouch. “Could this be the evidence Tony Quinton wanted to give you?”
“Hard to say.”
Evidently, that wasallhe had to say about it. She was not fooled by his noncommittal tone or bland visage. Yet she decided to let him have his way for the moment, mostly because she was hungry and needed food before arguing with him.
She spread the blanket and arranged the provisions, selecting one of the plum heavies. She sat, munching on the scrumptious currant-studded biscuit. Sebastian joined her, stretching out his long legs. He took a pasty, and they ate in companionable silence. Famished, she chased the biscuit with one of the pasties, which had a savory filling of bacon, liver, and cheese. Sebastian uncorked the wine, taking a swig before passing it to her. It was fruity and light, surprisingly delicious.
They passed the bottle back and forth, their fingers brushing. Each time she pressed her lips to the glass, she thought of his lips being there moments before. If his heavy-lidded gaze was any indication, he was entertaining similar thoughts. Tension blossomed, the humidity of the cave swelling. Her shirt clung to her damp skin.
She took a crunchy bite of apple.
“You’re hungry,” Sebastian remarked.
“I was on my feet all evening serving drinks.” She used her sleeve to catch the sweet juice trickling down her chin. “After which I scaled a cliff and fought enemies, managing a narrow escape. Is it any surprise that I have worked up an appetite?”
