“I have a novel to finish,” she said again.
“That, Miss Weston, is a disappointment.” He then looked over to his brother. “Lucian could use some irritation in his life.” He slowly smiled. “However, if you have a change of heart and wish to complete your search, I will never breathe a word of it, especially to Lucian.”
Might she have an ally among the Sinclair brothers? “You could also search for it. The mummy, if it is still here, does not need to be found by me.”
Micah lifted his cane. “Ah, if I but could, but there are times that I can barely walk the gravel-paved gardens without pain, and I dare not risk meandering over uneven ground because it is quite embarrassing to fall and then need assistance to rise.”
“I am sorry for that.” Eliza knew that he’d been injured in battle but had not inquired as to the details as it would be impolite and most likely a private matter.
“Though, you have my encouragement, if you wish to proceed,” he offered. “I will even draw you a map of the best places to hide a mummy at Wyndhill Park. My brothers and I did much exploring when we were just boys. There are caves, and an abandoned mine, and crypts that have likely not been visited in several years.”
“Caves and a mine, you say?” She had not known this.
“And crypts.” He laughed. “Unless you are afraid of ghosts.”
She tilted her chin and bit her bottom lip but decided that she still wasn’t going to confess her plans to Micah. “I do have a novel to finish…but perhaps a map might be fun to explore…you know, just in case I finish the book early, or simply need to take a walk and clear my mind…”
“I will make certain it is delivered before I leave.” Micah laughed.
“Leave? Where are you going?”
“I am off to Harwood Hall in the morning. Another family estate near Eastbourne in Sussex. I am in need of a change of scenery. Though, had I known that we would have such an interesting neighbor and that I would have the opportunity to watch my brother become vexed, I would not have made such plans.” He laughed.
It was a shame that Micah wasn’t going to be around to assist her in her quest, but the map would certainly be beneficial.
Chapter3
Lucian blewout a sigh and entered his library where he poured himself a glass of brandy. They were gone. Every last guest had finally vacated Wyndhill Park, which included his younger brothers. Micah had gone off to Harwood Hall, Asher to Newmarket and Silas to continue his education at the Veterinary College of London. Six months ago, Silas had been uncertain of his future. It was Asher, who ran the stables, who had suggested Silas become a veterinarian to care for their stable of racers.
Lucian needed the silence of today after having entertained so many guests these past few days. The first had arrived four days before the wedding, and they had been his sister, Elaina, and her family. Then Olivia’s brother and wife had arrived with their children, along with Olivia’s sister, and then the house had been flooded with friends of Xavier and Olivia.
He supposed there could have been many more people present but his brother and now sister-in-law had intentionally kept the guest list to those who were close and important to them.
Silence surrounded Lucian with the only sounds being distant and quiet voices of the servants as they went about putting Wyndhill Park back to rights.
Today that silence was welcoming, but in a few days, it would be deafening and Lucian had yet to determine the right balance of where he was comfortable with just the right number of people within the house so that there was conversation and laughter, but not so overwhelming that he could not escape the noise, and the main reason he had not wanted any of his brothers to move away from Wyndhill Park. They were the perfect balance but he also knew that they would not remain here forever.
What would he do when the remainder of his brothers married and made their own homes away from here?
Loneliness ate at him when he had only himself for company after a few days, but too many people put him on edge and exhausted him.
Lucian supposed that if he became too lonely and in need of conversation that he could always invite his new neighbor to dinner.
No! He would not invite Eliza onto his property as she would see it as an invitation to snoop and explore.
Though, that had been nearly ten years ago and she had likely given up her foolish search for that mummy. It likely would not even occur to her to wander off to portions of the estate beyond the gardens.
He didn’t even know why she was searching his estate for such a thing in the first place. They were in Hampshire, England, not Egypt!
Why had she thought to find it here? He had almost asked but decided that her reason would likely be as maddening as her belief that the mummy was here.
Lucian wandered to the terrace doors and stepped out. If he stood at the very edge, he could just see the cottage through the break in the trees. Why had she taken Greenhaven Cottage? If it was so she could be free of London, any property throughout England would have suited, yet she rented the one next to Wyndhill Park and Lucian wanted to know why. The real reason, and not simply that she needed to be away from London.
Eliza placedthe manuscript before her on the desk. This was the reason she was at Greenhaven Cottage.
The words written on the parchment were those of a girl just learning to pen stories. More pages had been added through the years as ideas came to her, and as she learned what she believed to be the path the mummy had taken after it was stolen from the Mayfair home of Lord Edgworth. Each new detail or discovered information had been added to the manuscript, but none of it was cohesive. It was just an assortment of material. She also had no idea of what was true and what had been simply speculation or a false rumor. Yet, the pieces fit well enough together to write a novel.
Today, she would first organize her pages and prepare a new outline while arranging the research in order of events. Then she would began rewriting the story from the beginning, with a more mature tone, and layer in details previously missing. After she had completed her full edit and rewrite of everything before now, she would once again set out on her quest to find the missing mummy.
