Carousel of Hearts by Mary Jo Putney Page B

Adam and Judith discussed their surroundings, Antonia tried to focus on how handsome Simon looked and what a lucky woman she was. But the farther they penetrated into the depths, the more distressed she became. She felt the dead weight of countless tons of stone hanging above her, a nearly tangible pressure that constricted her lungs like a band of iron.
    They continued single file along a narrow path by the stream. The air was damp and very cold.
    Antonia shivered, chilled even through her heavy riding habit. The wet rock beneath her feet was slippery so she picked her way carefully over the treacherous surface, the skirts of her habit clenched in her rigid fingers. The pulse pounding in her temples threatened to drown out the sounds of footsteps and trickling water.
    In the chamber called Roger’s Rain House, water flowed continuously down the walls in a glimmering sheet. Antonia tried to join the other members of the party in appreciation, but fear was mounting in her, choking her breath.
    This is ridiculous, she told herself fiercely. People have been coming down here for centuries. It’s perfectly safe.
    The guide warned in a sepulchral voice, “Mind your heads. It’s a low passage to the Orchestral Chamber.” A faintly accusing note was heard. “If your lordship had given more notice, a choir could have been procured to sing in the chamber. The sound is most remarkable.”
    Simon chuckled as he ducked down to follow the guide to the next chamber.
    As he disappeared, Antonia stared at the narrow opening and knew that not for love, nor money, nor eternal life could she make herself enter that passage. Her heart pounded as if trying to escape her breast, and she felt perspiration on her face and hands even as she shivered with the cold.
    About to enter the aperture, Judith glanced back at her employer with concern. “Are you coming?”
    Antonia tried to answer but could not make her voice work. On the verge of hysteria, she raised one hand to her mouth, knowing that if she were capable of speech she would begin screaming.
    Asharp question from Adam penetrated her rising panic. “Tony, is something wrong?”
    Instinctively she turned to her cousin. Recognizing the mute appeal on her face, Adam closed the distance between them and wrapped his free arm around her.
    Antonia clung to him.  Her breathing was still fast and shallow but she knew she had found a secure haven in a precarious world.
    “Don’t worry, Tony, we’ll go outside now.” Adam’s deep voice was infinitely soothing. “You’ll be fine as soon as we leave the cave.”
    She swallowed and tried to speak evenly. “Don’t let my foolishness spoil this for you.” Her voice cracked on the last words. She slid her arms around Adam’s muscular body, hoping his warmth would thaw some of her bone deep chill.
    He ignored her protest, his arm tightening protectively around her. “Judith, you go on. I’ll take Antonia outdoors.”
    Her voice worried, Judith said, “I’ll go with you.”
    Antonia was pressed so close to her cousin that she felt the vibration of his reply against her cheek. “No, Simon and the guide need to know that we have left, not wandered into a side passage and broken our necks.  As Tony said, there is no need for you to leave when you are enjoying the tour.”
    After a doubtful moment, Judith accepted his suggestion and ducked her head to enter the passage.
    In the distance the amplified voices of Simon and the guide could be heard, but Antonia ignored them. All that mattered was the reality of Adam’s arm around her as they retraced their steps through the cavern, his comforting flow of words that anchored her to sanity. The torchlight caused grotesque shadows to swirl and dart around them, but with Adam she was safe.
    His calm strength brought forth half-forgotten memories. There had been other occasions when Adam had held her close like this, protecting her from the demons of the dark. As a child, she had sometimes suffered