Page 85 of The Bridal Quest

"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.