Chapter 25

Lucian knew that 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 other parks owned 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 Eliza had 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.

“Shall we visit the remaining caves or the mine tomorrow?” she asked at dinner.

Lucian raised an eyebrow and frowned. “You will find nothing here.”

“You do not know that for certain.”

“I will send footmen and gardeners out to search these areas and they can report back to us.”

“No!” she insisted. “There is no fun in doing so. I am the one who has been searching and I want to be the one to find the mummy.”

Lucian dropped his chin then pinched the space between his eyes. “If they were to find something, they would report directly to us and then we could go see for ourselves.”

“It is not the same,” Eliza argued. “Besides, if they came back and said they found nothing, I would still want to look for myself.”

“Very well,” he blew out on a sigh. “As soon as I have the availability, I will escort you to each location so you can search and be done with this madness.”

Eliza couldn’t contain the happiness that bubbled up from inside. “Thank you,” she gushed. “I promise that you will not be disappointed. We will find a treasure.”

“A mummy is not a treasure,” he argued.

“It is to some, as were all the other valuables taken from homes.”

“The very ones that will be returned to their owners,” he warned.

“Of course!” she agreed. “The fun is in the quest and discovery. I never intended to keep anything.”

“You will likely not find anything to keep either,” he warned.

“Can you not at least show some anticipation? It could be a great adventure.” Though it wasn’t as if they were traveling to a far continent to fight their way through jungles.

“I adventured there, often, as a child,” he reminded her.

Would his children one day do the same? Would they find the toy swords and play the same games Lucian had enjoyed with his brothers?

A longing settled into her heart, one that Eliza could not understand. She had never longed to marry and have children because she would not allow herself to do so. But, the idea of Lucian fathering children who would explore caves, get dirty, and play at pirates or knights left her sad. She’d be left out of one of the many joys of life.

Except, she had her own life, full of excitement and when she was bored, created a world to which she could escape. Further, she had no responsibility to a husband or home and could do as she wished. That was much better than being a mother and forced to remain in one place.

Wasn’t it?

Goodness, what had come over her.

“It will be an adventure to me,” she insisted, then finished the wine in her glass.

Unfortunately, they did not venture anywhere the following day because it was raining. At least there were no storms, just dreary rain that did not let up and Eliza had no choice but to make her way to the parlor following breakfast to work on her novel.

What surprised her, however, was when Lucian joined her late in the afternoon.

“I have been reading your previous works again,” he announced.

There was an edge to his voice and Eliza wondered what he found objectionable.

“These are the last two and I thought I would enjoy them in here, while you work.” He smiled, which was something Eliza hadn’t seen him do very often. “What better way to spend a rainy day than reading and sipping tea?”

“I have no objection.” Though she did wonder why when there were several rooms within this manor where he could read.

Eliza returned her attention to the pages before her. She was almost finished making her revisions and creating clean pages to submit to her publisher. All she needed now was to finally finish her story. She still did not know how it would end because it would depend on what was found, if anything.

Oh, she knew that just because the mummy was stashed at a park owned by an earl who liked rocks that it could be somewhere else, but she had no other clues. Besides, after she had been banned from Wyndhill Park, she had researched the various estates throughout England and those with Park in the name she had inquired into the ownership. If one was an earl, she questioned the gossips in Society. None of them had any interest in rocks or fossils as far as they knew, which brought her back to being convinced the mummy was located here.

If the mummy was not located here, she would just have to write that it was, but she really hoped to find a cave of loot.

Her story had also changed from a miss on a quest to a woman who had been captured by a dark lord and held in his castle and only permitted to walk in the gardens under guard.

A smile pulled at her lips as she glanced up at Lucian who read quietly by the window. While she was thrilled with her new revisions, he was frowning at the book that she had written.

Some of her happiness deflated. Did he not like the story?