Page 86 of The Bridal Quest

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."