“Does Miss Doyle know about this supposed curse and how it came to be here?” Lady Norbright asked cautiously.
“We told her, and her sister, but I’m certain they don’t believe that Lord Kilsyth brought a curse or a mummy with him.”
“So, they are aware that my husband has guests?” Lady Norbright asked slowly.
“Yes. We told them, though we only knew the name of two of your guests, as it isn’t any of our concern,” Eliza offered.
“Well, thank you for the warning.” Lady Norbright ushered them back out the door before she shut it and speared Henry with a censuring gaze.
“What are the chances that Miss Doyle’s decision to help at the school had anything to do with your presence in my home?”
“If I were to make a wager, I’d say everything.”
Chapter 23
At first, it didn’t seem like anyone else would get sick, but Mrs. Wiggons still kept the girls close to the school for fear of the illness being spread to the neighboring estates and into the village. In fact, in those first few days, the students weren’t even allowed to step outside of the school. Mrs. Wiggons finally relented but the students were forced to stay within sight of the school at all times.
And while most of the students took the opportunity to be out of doors, Eliza continued work on her horrid novel, though she appeared a bit distracted at times. Sophia dearly hoped that she’d not given up so soon, but feared Eliza’s mind was thinking about curses and whatnot. Well, as long as her imagination was contained to the pages she was writing, all would be well.
“We are going to take a walk through the gardens,” Olivia announced as she and her sister Victoria flounced into the chamber Sophia shared with Eliza and Rosemary.
“Would you like to join us?” Victoria asked.
“It’s better than sitting around here.” Rosemary stood and smoothed her dress.
“I would like some fresh air as well,” Sophia agreed. “I’ve already caught up with my studies and have grown quite bored.” Though she’d rather be bored than worrying about what Eliza was conjuring in that mind of hers.
“What of you, Eliza?” Victoria questioned.
Eliza frowned. “I don’t think so.” Then she straightened as her eyes narrowed. “Isn’t this the night that you dine with your brother?”
Every Wednesday, Victoria and Olivia had supper at Harrington Manor.
“Usually, but as my brother has guests—injured guests—we thought to remain at the school,” Olivia answered.
Eliza jumped from her seat. “You can’t remain here. You must go to Harrington.”
The sisters stepped back in alarm.
“Why?” Victoria asked.
“To learn if anything else has befallen those in the household,” Eliza insisted.
“I’m certain that if there had been more accidents, injuries or illnesses, we would have learned,” Sophia warned. Oh, she had hoped Eliza had truly given up seeking out adventures and dangers and kept her imagination to her horrid novel, but apparently that was not to be the case.
“Nobody would come here and report on anything, you know that,” Eliza argued.
Sophia supposed she was correct. And, even though they could see the manor from the other side of the school, they couldn’t really see what was going on over there unless they peeked through the bushes that grew along the property line.
“Why is it so important that we need to find anything out,” Olivia argued.
“Because of the curse, of course. The curse of the Mayfair mummy.”
“See, I told you there was a curse,” Mary announced as she stepped into the chamber, Ruth by her side. “You said there was no such thing as a curse. You lied to us.”
“Because there is no curse,” Eliza insisted.
“Then why do you want to know if there have been more accidents or injuries?” Ruth demanded.
