“It is up to you whether you accompany me or not, but as soon as I retrieve my gloves and parasol, I will be going to the cemetery.”
With that, she turned on her heel and marched from the library and made her way upstairs to inform Stella where she was going and insisted that she need not accompany her but would have a footman with her if not Garretson.
When she returned downstairs and exited to the terrace from the parlor where she wrote, she found Lucian waiting for her.
Chapter25
Lucian knewthat there was no mummy in the cemetery or the crypts, nor was it anywhere at Wyndhill Park, but he also knew that Eliza would not give up until she searched every cave, crypt, and mine.
And maybe that was what they should do. He would accompany her to each location, allow her to search and when she found nothing, she would be content to remain inside the manor where she was safe.
He also could have sent footmen with her, but Lucian needed to protect her himself.
He also knew that she was venturing out and being brave to counter her fear of last night.
The walk to the cemetery wasn’t so far, but he kept watch and alert of their surroundings for anything that was out of place or unusual. Even though he saw no one, Lucian had the distinct feeling that someone was hiding and watching.
A line of trees separated the house from the cemetery and he recalled how often he had taken this walk.
He had visited the cemetery before his parents died, but then it had been a place to hide and play with his brothers, since it was easy to duck behind a crypt or headstone when trying to avoid being caught. But then his parents had died and he and Xavier had taken the solemn walk with their guardian and some of the servants and stood as a vicar said the final words over the graves of his parents. He and his brothers never played in the cemetery again.
A heaviness accompanied him today as he made his way to their graves, but it was because he worried and was ready to protect Eliza if necessary. She didn’t need to know that he had tucked his own pistol away and hoped that it was not needed.
“Why or what makes you believe that the mummy was hidden at Wyndhill Park?” Lucian couldn’t believe that he had never bothered to ask her before.
Eliza’s eyes brightened.
“I overheard a conversation,” she answered. “I had gone into the village with Rosemary, Sophia, Olivia, and Victoria to shop.” She looked up at Lucian. “We had permission for a change.” She laughed. “We were on the walk when I heard someone mention the mummy. Sophia heard it as well, so we slipped out of sight and listened.”
“Of course you did.” He snorted.
“The man, who we could not see, said that the mummy and goods were stashed at the park owned by the earl who liked rocks.”
Lucian frowned.
“It had only been six months since the mummy had been taken but none of us knew anyone of that description. What earl owned a park and liked rocks?” She then arched an eyebrow. “When we heard them approaching from the back of the alley, we pretended to look at the goods in the window but I glanced at them while they passed. We did not recognize them, but they were wearing the uniforms worn by footguards. When I started to go after them, Sophia pulled me back because she was afraid of what they would do if they learned that we overheard.”
“That was probably wise,” Lucian grumbled.
“It was not until Oliver collected me from school and then brought me here, and you showed us your collection of gems and rocks that I realized that everything fit from the name of your estate, Wyndhill Park, and the fact that you are an earl.”
“Therefore, the mummy must be here.” He nearly laughed but understood how Eliza had come to that conclusion. “I am also certain there are otherparksowned by earls.”
“True, but how many collect rocks?” she countered.
That was a question Lucian could not answer. “If there was a mummy hidden at my estate I would know,” he insisted.
“Would you?” she countered with a grin.
In truth, he wouldn’t, but the very idea was ridiculous.
“Had I not shown Oliver and you my collection it would have never occurred to you that the mummy might be here.”
“Exactly.”
Which meant that she would not have been sneaking around his estate. She would not have fallen into the lake and he wouldn’t have suffered from desire and passion when she had kissed him. It was after that Lucian had found her alone so often as she searched his property. Each time he saw her he had wanted to kiss her again, and more, but feared what would happen, or worse, what Oliver would do if he learned that Lucian was lusting after his younger sister. Therefore, he had no choice but to ban her from his estate because Lucian feared that he would give in to his desire, end up with a wife that would drive him to madness, and lose his closest friend.
Even though Elizahad not expected to find anything in the cemetery and crypts other than what was expected, she was still disappointed that there were no signs of a mummy or any valuables.
