Chapter 2

What the blazes had Eliza meant that one could only hope? What kind of trouble did she want to get up to being chaperone free?

Did he even want to know?

That question had bothered him all last evening and into this morning, and even now as he watched her at the far end of the table while guests enjoyed the wedding supper that had followed the nuptials.

Eliza Weston was the type of woman who would drive any man to Bedlam. Now she was to be his neighbor for the next two months, at the very least.

There was something about Eliza that made Lucian forget reason and he could not begin to understand why as it made no sense. She was the last person who should occupy his thoughts.

He was calm, reasonable, mature, and not given to flights of fancy.

She lived in a world where she let her imagination rule and had once believed in the possibility of witches, vampires, and ghosts. She possessed not one ounce of decorum and lacked discipline. It was no wonder that she had never married. What kind of man would want a woman like her as a wife?

Still, no female before or since they had kissed had ever tempted him the way Eliza had and still did.

She had taken a seat next to his brother, Micah, and the two seemed to be having quite a delightful discussion. Occasionally their laughter drew the attention of the other guests, and while Lucian should be irritated, he was not and wished there were times that he too could let go of his control.

He had been freer with his emotions once. Laughed easier and found enjoyment, but the weight of the earldom had settled on his shoulders at the age of sixteen and grew heavier with each year. By the time his sister had married and brothers had grown into men, what humor Lucian had once possessed was gone, leaving behind a serious, responsible gentleman.

And he certainly had not experienced a great passion since his encounter with Eliza by the lake years ago.

That did not mean that he’d been chaste. He’d had mistresses over the years, but that was to fulfill a need and intimacy that only involved the body, and no part of his soul, unlike the one time that Eliza’s lips had touched his.

Lucian also could not be angry with Eliza and Micah’s enjoyment simply because this was the first time that Lucian had seen his brother truly laugh since he returned from war. Just like responsibilities had stolen Lucian’s happiness, he had feared war had stolen the same from Micah. While Micah’s body may never heal from his injuries, perhaps his soul had.

Eliza laughed again.

She was everything Lucian was not, but what he wished he could be. Perhaps that was where the attraction began. He had become a recluse because he became nearly overwhelmed in crowds. Perhaps it wasn't the crowds of people, but his experience after he came to realize that everyone was listening to anything he said while in Society, and if a wrong word or phrase was muttered, it was commented upon. Except not to him but whispered in ears behind raised fans.

Bloody gossip!

He hated it and it stripped away any privacy anyone may wish to hold. And because Lucian was a private person who wished to keep his secrets, he became more silent. The last thing he ever wanted was for him or anyone in his family to be the topic of conversation, especially by ill-intentioned members of the ton.

Eliza, on the other hand, seemed to find pleasure and conversation anywhere she went and seemed to be without a care nor did she concern herself with any opinions as to her character while he simply observed and hoped to avoid notice.

Eliza had not taken the opportunity to get to know all Garretson’s brothers previously and was happy that she was seated next to Micah, the middle Sinclair brother, even though he was nearly as sober as Garretson. However, as she engaged him in conversation and he learned that she was an author, she began telling him how she came up with some of her characters. She then gave him examples of people she had observed and before long, they were both laughing. It was not proper to do so at a dinner table but she did not care. She was enjoying herself and he seemed to be as well.

She also had the feeling of being watched, but not in the same sense that she experienced in London shortly before the first cryptic message had arrived. Tonight, it was Garretson who stared at her with his blue eyes narrowed and lips firm.

Likely he did not approve and feared her influence on his younger brother.

Oh, she remembered when they had first met, when Oliver had brought her to Wyndhill Park. Garretson’s blue eyes had been warm and friendly, his auburn hair cut short, which seemed to emphasize his high cheek bones and sculpted jaw. He had been, and still was, the most handsome gentleman she had ever seen.

He had also been kind to her when she had first arrived. Dinner conversations were friendly and he did not take to sending her off to have tea with his younger sister Elaina while he and Oliver remained in the dining room drinking port and smoking cheroots but joined them.

It had just been the four of them at the beginning because Garretson’s other brothers were either in London or still at school. She and Elaina had little in common but they got along well enough. However, it was Garretson that Eliza had wanted to spend time with.

It also took no time at all for Eliza to become infatuated with him. Her heart pounded each time he entered the room. Her pulse had raced and her hands grew damp in his presence. She’d never experienced the like in her life. Smitten, but thought she was in love, which is likely what compelled her to kiss him. He, however, was polite and suffered none of the same symptoms as she.

“Why does my older brother watch you?” Micah asked.

“He does not approve of me,” Eliza answered with a chuckle. “In fact, I am banned from Wyndhill Park and must leave tomorrow morning and never set foot here again.”

“Whatever did you do?” Micah asked with a laugh.

Eliza smiled at Garretson then told Micah about the mummy and other items that had been stolen from homes in Mayfair when she was in school and how she had been searching for it, and why she was convinced that it was hidden at Wyndhill Park.

“Was it?” he asked.

“It was never found,” she answered. “Nor did your brother appreciate my search.”

She then went on to tell Micah how she had first slipped and fallen into the lake but made no mention of the kissing.

It had been the most wonderful kiss a girl could receive even if she had to instigate it.

It was then that Garretson became short with her and demanded to know what she was about.

“I should have just told him that I was strolling the estate and had slipped. Instead, I confessed that I was searching for a missing mummy. He thought me ridiculous, of course.”

Micah chuckled. “I can imagine.”

“However, I was not to be deterred. Unfortunately, each time Garretson found me alone in various parts of the estate his face would harden and he’d develop a visible tic in his jaw from clenching his teeth and then marched me back to the house. He did not want the guilt of something happening to me, such as drowning in the lake, or any other injury, because I had wandered off on his estate. When it came time to leave, your brother told me that I was banned from ever returning to Wyndhill Park. I think he feared that I could come back and further disrupt his life over a non-existent mummy.”

“But it does exist,” Micah reminded her.

“And still not found.”

Micah leaned close. “Tell, me, Miss Weston, were you able to search all of Wyndhill Park?”

“I was not.”

“So, it could still be here.”

She laughed. “That was nearly ten years ago.”

“Does that mean you have given up your quest?” His green eyes studied her. “Is that the real reason you have taken Greenhaven Cottage for the summer so that you can continue your search?”

“I have taken the house so that I would have a peaceful place to finish my novel. London does not provide that right now and I prefer the fresh air of the country.” Though, in truth, in the summery months, which they were about to embark on, it was the quietest time of the year to be in London.

He arched an auburn eyebrow. “So, you will not be sneaking onto the estate to continue your search?”

Eliza feared that if she told Micah her plans that he would then tell Garretson and the guards would likely be posted along the low stone wall that separated the properties.

“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.