Harrison sat forward, renewed energy coursing through him. “We need to check the vault and crypt. Both of them. Right away.”
Drake’s brows furrowed. “Right away?”
Harrison understood Drake’s skepticism. They’d searched the vault from top to bottom numerous times following the excavation. Harrison had even paid a specialist to come in and exhume further. But they’d found nothing of any consequence—a few historical artifacts and some jewels. But mostly everything of value had been removed when the vault had been filled in. Over the ensuing months, Harrison had no reason to go back to either the vault or the cathedral crypt, especially since at the mere mention of either one, Ellen got worked up.
Of course, with his assumption that Marian had died in the past as well as the present, he’d had no reason to look for more holy water in those places. But if he was analyzing the symbolism in the family emblem correctly, then he’d given up on her too soon.
If she’d lived, it was still possible for her to pass along holy water. He’d learned from the previous exchanges of ampullae that something in the molecular makeup of the holy water allowed it to defy constraints, the particles moving at planck, maybe even chronon, time—the smallest wavelengths possible. On some quantum level, the holy water itself was timeless, making it possible to transmit from one era to another.
In other words, just because the holy water hadn’t been in the usual hiding places when he’d first checked, didn’t mean it wouldn’t be there now, not if Marian had located more for them.
“It certainly won’t hurt us to check again, will it, Drake?” He pressed the switch on the control panel of his wheelchair and started for the door, his heart whirring as fast as his chair.
Only one other person wanted to save Ellen as much as he did. Marian. She would even do something as crazy as adjust the family heraldry and fill it with clues to get his attention.
“Very well, my lord.” Drake moved ahead of him and swung the door open. “Where to first?”
“The vault. Marian would only use the crypt as a last resort.” Marian knew the danger they’d encountered underneath Canterbury Cathedral when they’d previously gone there to retrieve ampullae, and she would spare them trouble if possible.
Not that they would encounter trouble. From what Harrison could tell, Lionel Inc., Mercer Pharmaceutical’s biggest rival, had given up the pursuit of Arthur Creighton’s ultimate cure after Arthur’s and Marian’s deaths. A new drug that led to comas and then death wasn’t anything worth stealing. At the very least, Lionel’s hired thugs hadn’t harassed them further. Even so, Harrison kept in regular contact with his private investigator, Sybil Huxham, who had been helpful last year in tracking his kidnapper.
Drake led the way to the front hallway room and to the closet at the far end, where he readied the lift. During the excavation, Harrison had installed an automated lift not only to allow him access to the vault but also to enable the excavation team to more easily remove the stones and bricks and dirt that had been used to fill in the underground room.
Now as he wheeled himself onto the metal grate and started down, cool, damp air met his descent along with the darkness of the cavern. The lift landed with a jolt that reverberated through Harrison’s wheelchair into his bones as though to ground him in reality. He had to keep from getting his hopes too high. He didn’t know how he could endure more disappointment. But what else could the symbolism in the family emblem mean?
Harrison waited as Drake used his torch from his mobile to locate the electrical switch. Although the vault hadn’t ever had electricity, Harrison had done up simple wiring to provide enough light for the excavation team. As two bulbs overhead flickered to life, Harrison wheeled through the layer of dirt that remained on the floor.
The walls contained a dozen or more recesses. His gaze skimmed over the ledges that had likely once been lined with priceless treasures but now contained only cobwebs and dust.
Drake followed behind him. “Where to start, my lord?”
“You start high.” Harrison steered toward one of the hiding spots. “And I’ll search low.”
Harrison didn’t bother to shine his torch into the first recess. He stuck his hand in and stretched it back as far as it would go. His fingers brushed the grit of stone and dust and rat droppings but nothing more.
He moved to the next nook.
“Harrison?” Ellen called from above the lift.
Harrison froze at the same time as Drake. Their eyes connected, and the guilt flashing across Drake’s face surely mirrored the guilt on his.
“Are you down there? I’m getting ready to go to Serenity House.”
Maybe he should have waited to search until she was in bed later. He shoved aside his trepidation and wheeled toward the lift. “I’ll be back up in a jiffy, love.”
“What are you doing?” Her voice contained an accusatory note.
He couldn’t tell her he’d just realized Marian had lived and subsequently redesigned the family emblem with clues that communicated to them from the past. Ellen wouldn’t believe him, would only get upset at him for bringing up the time crossing again. The last thing he wanted was for her to worry or stress.
Maybe if he kept things vague. “Nothing’s amiss. We’re making a study of something.”
“A study of what?”
“I was keen to have a look. That’s all.”
“I’m coming down. I want to see what you’re doing.”
He exchanged another glance with Drake, who shook his head as if to confirm that she wasn’t buying his pitiful act, and now it was impossible to budge her. “It’s of no consequence. Really.”
“Then you won’t mind my coming down.”
“It’s too damp down here for you, love.” He chucked out the last excuse he could find.
“Please, Harrison?” Her tone turned soft and pleading, one he couldn’t resist. In all honesty, there was nothing about her he could resist.
With a sigh, he pressed the lift button, sending it up.
A minute later, the clanking signaled her descent. When the steel grate touched the dirt floor, she stepped off, clutching her sweater closer about her shoulders. Her knuckles were white and her face especially pale under the sallow glow of the bulbs. Her blue eyes swept around the vault as though she expected to catch him in the act of doing something he shouldn’t be.
She took a step forward but then stopped and reached for the wall to support herself, clearly too weak to be walking around on her own.
Harrison swiveled toward her and wrapped a hand around her wrist, pulling her onto his lap. She didn’t protest but instead sank down, almost as if she was relieved not to be standing anymore.
He situated her closer than he needed to but couldn’t help it. “You should have waited for Drake to carry you inside.”
“My nurse assisted me.” She rested her head on his shoulder, her long hair brushing against his cheek and bringing with it her lemony, lavender scent, and he fought the urge to bend in and nuzzle his nose against her neck.
He’d pulled her onto his lap several times over the past couple of weeks as she’d gradually weakened. Although he detested her weakness and all it represented, he couldn’t deny he was taking advantage of having this excuse to hold her.