Carousel of Hearts by Mary Jo Putney Page A

blended well. Usually mornings were spent on personal activities. Antonia took care of her estate responsibilities, Judith conferred with the housekeeper or worked on her drawings, Simon read scholarly texts that he had purchased on his return to England, and Adam dealt with formidable quantities of papers sent to him by his London commercial agent.
    In the afternoons, they usually did things as couples. Evenings were spent with the four of them talking and laughing from dinner until bedtime.
    The day after Simon and Judith had talked in the library was an exception. Since the weather was fine, the four of them decided it was time to make an all-day excursion to the upland village of Castleton.
    The road wound upward through a wildly romantic gorge called Windgates because of the stream of air that constantly swept down it. Dramatic views of precipices or the Vale of Castleton met the eye at every turn of the road.
    At the top of the gorge, the village clustered at the foot of a peak topped by the looming ruins of a Norman castle. Peak Castle had been very nearly impregnable in its time.  Even now, without facing arrows and boiling oil, Antonia knew from experience that the climb up was a taxing one.
    The special lure of Castleton was its caves. There were several in the area, but the best was Peak Cavern in the mountain beneath the castle. The cave was a well-known local landmark, and Simon had been interested in visiting as soon as he learned of it.
    Antonia was less enthused. Though she’d lived in the district all her life, she had never been seized by a desire to go underground. But doubtless it would be interesting, and she was eager to participate in anything that would please Simon.
    After a pleasant lunch at the village inn, they engaged a local guide to take them into the bowels of the earth. At the cavern, where a fast-flowing stream led into the dark gaping mouth, Simon surveyed the opening happily. “The action of water on limestone is what cuts the cavern from living rock,” he informed his companions. “The stone slowly melts away.”
    “Fascinating,” Judith said with a happy smile of anticipation. “I’ve always wanted to visit a cave, but have never had the chance. Have you been in many?”
    Before Simon could answer, the wiry guide decided it was time to assert his authority. The cavern, he informed them portentously, went more than half a mile into the mountain. Many and wonderful were the galleries and chambers within, but the tour was not without danger. They must stay near the guide; the ladies in particular must be careful of their footing.
    After speaking, he lit three torches, giving two to Adam and Simon and keeping the last for himself.
    Antonia eyed the entrance to the cave with distaste, reluctant to leave the sunshine. It could not be too dangerous, or there would not be so many visitors. Nonetheless, she had to force herself to enter.
    The guide led, followed by Judith, Simon, and Antonia, with Adam bringing up the rear. After crossing a wide area that had once been used as a workshop by rope makers, they squeezed through a tight passage that emerged in an enormous chamber.
    The ceiling arched high above their heads, blackened by the soot of centuries of torches.  The lights they carried were a feeble defense against the smothering dark. “Welcome to the Devil’s Cavern,” the guide said, his voice pitched to echo hollowly from the stone walls.
    Judith turned in a slow circle, her dark head tilted back as she examined her surroundings with awe. “What a remarkable sight!”
    “In India, they would have put a temple here,” Adam said, his deep voice behind Antonia.
    “This is a splendid cave,” Simon agreed as he lifted his torch and explored the chamber, kneeling to peer into the water, his long fingers testing the damp texture of the walls. In the flickering light, he looked even more handsome and romantic than usual as he spoke learnedly of stalactites and stalagmites.
    While