Page 21 of The Forsaken (Echoes from the Past #4)

FIFTEEN

Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland

“That’s the last of it,” Gabe announced as he finished bagging and labeling the bits of cloth, hair, and leather he’d found in the grave.

A long box, looking for all the world like a Christmas present, rested on the kitchen table, and contained the bones of the medieval warrior who was about to embark on his final journey.

“Think he’s even been to London?” Quinn asked as she eyed the box. It always amazed her that a living, breathing human being could be reduced to nothing but a box of bones.

“It’s possible,” Gabe replied. “It all depends on where his loyalties lay.”

“I never knew your family was titled.”

“Armand de Rosel, grandfather to William, Hugh, and Guy, was created the first Baron de Rosel. He would have received a Writ of Summons to attend Parliament, quite an honor in those days. The title passed to his son, Gilles de Rosel, and then to William. On William’s death, four-year-old Adam became the next Baron de Rosel.

And he was also the last. The family was stripped of the title when Henry Tudor took the throne. ”

“Fought for the wrong side, did they?” Quinn asked.

“They did. I know the history, but I can’t begin to imagine what it must have been like to live in a time when the balance of power continually shifted, and choosing the wrong side could mean not only the loss of your title and holdings, but possible execution.

Imagine the uncertainty. Putting aside the ongoing struggle for the throne, Berwick changed hands more than a dozen times during the Middle Ages, going from being English to Scottish and back again. ”

“Were there any Scots in your line?” Quinn asked.

“Not that I know of.” Gabe looked at the box of bones, his head tilted to the side in thought.

“Other than the fact that our man was buried with Guy de Rosel’s sword, there’s nothing to indicate that he was actually an ancestor of mine.

He could have been buried here for any number of reasons.

It would seem that someone was trying to hide his body, so chances are he didn’t die in battle, or of natural causes. ”

Quinn rested her palm on the box containing the mortal remains of the knight. “Whoever buried him clearly held him in great esteem and gave him the honors due to a warrior. I’d wager he wasn’t buried by his enemies.”

“No, probably not, but why bury him beneath the floorboards? A Christian burial was very important, and still is for people of the faith. Burying someone in unconsecrated ground was seen as either an insult or a punishment.”

“What did you do to deserve such a fate?” Quinn asked the silent bones.

“Hopefully, we’ll get some answers from Colin. Once we know what ultimately killed him, we’ll be able to start filling in the blanks.”

“Gabe, would you mind if I shared this discovery with Rhys? It could make for an interesting episode of Echoes . I know Rhys has several good leads for the second series, but he’d love this.”

“Quinn, you’re on maternity leave,” Gabe replied with an eloquent frown.

“I know, but I feel so restless,” she complained. “I’m not used to doing nothing. ”

“You’re not doing nothing, you’re taking care of our baby and preparing for its birth.”

Quinn sighed. “My nesting instinct hasn’t kicked in yet. Right now, I just feel grumpy and listless. Besides, whether Rhys is interested in the story or not, we’re still digging into the past. It’s what we do, Gabe.”

“All right,” Gabe conceded. “You can discuss this with Rhys. As long as production is on summer hiatus, I guess he can’t do too much damage.

Have you spoken to Sylvia?” Gabe asked carefully.

Relations with Sylvia had been strained since Gabe called the police on Jude when he’d disappeared with Emma.

“I have, but the conversations were brief and confined to inquiries about my health and the well-being of the baby. She’s still upset about not being invited to our wedding. And about Jude, of course.”

“Has the prodigal son returned?”

“Yes, Jude has come back to Sylvia’s, but only temporarily. Seems he’s moving in with his girlfriend, Bridget.”

“Isn’t that the girl who colored Emma’s hair pink?

” Gabe asked, his jaw tightening in that telltale fashion.

He was still upset with Jude for taking Emma out without permission and not telling anyone where he was going.

Thankfully, no harm had been done, but Gabe had been frantic, especially since Jude wouldn’t answer his mobile for hours.

“Yes, that’s her. Sylvia is rather in the dumps about it,” Quinn replied. “Jude is her baby.”

Gabe didn’t reply as he surveyed the hole in the floor.

The kitchen had been practically demolished.

A large chunk of the black-and-white tiled floor had been taken up to extract the remains and the plumbing was exposed.

There was still no running water, and the leaky pipe would need to be replaced, if the plumber could be persuaded to return .

“Is your mum ready to come back home?” Quinn asked as she organized the labeled plastic bags on the table.

“Not yet. I don’t want her back in the house until the water is running and the floor has been retiled. I worry about her falling into the hole.”

“Gabe, this place is a money pit,” Quinn said carefully. She knew Gabe shared her sentiment, but it was still his ancestral home, and he might take offense at her description.

“I know.” Gabe sighed. “I know. And so does Mum.”

“Shall we get going?” Quinn asked, eager to return to London.

“There’s one more thing I need to do before we leave,” Gabe replied.

“What are you thinking?” she asked, fairly sure he’d had an idea regarding the remains. “I know that look.”

“I’m thinking I need to find the floor plan for the original house.”

“Do you think such a thing exists?”

“My family has been on this parcel of land since the Conquest,” Gabe replied.

“The original structure must have been a fortress, but they expanded it over the centuries and eventually opted for comfort over safety. This house was built in the eighteenth century. Perhaps there are plans for the modern structure somewhere in Dad’s study. ”

“Gabe, how is it possible that this house was constructed without the remains being unearthed?”

“That’s what I was wondering,” Gabe replied as he headed for the study, determined to find the answer.