Chapter 38

Lucian had no idea that simply holding a woman—the woman he loved—through the night without having made love first could be so peaceful. It wasn’t that he didn’t want Eliza because he always would, but last night he simply wanted to be close and protective.

He also slept deeper than he had previously.

Maybe it was happiness. For the first time in his life, Lucian was truly content. He’d confessed his feelings for Eliza and even though he had been frightened for her life, and relieved when he discovered that she had not been harmed, that was nothing compared to the peace that settled about him when Eliza said that she loved him.

He wanted to remain in her bed for the rest of the day, just as they were, but the servants would be about soon, and Stella would be knocking on Eliza’s door if she did not make an appearance at a reasonable time.

“Eliza, time to wake up.” He kissed her cheek but she only mumbled then turned her head into the pillow.

“Don’t you want to find the mummy today?” If anything drove Eliza it was her search.

Her body lost some of its relaxed state and then she slowly turned and grinned at him.

“Get dressed and meet me in the parlor.”

“What of breakfast?” she asked.

“We will eat when we return.” They would not be gone so long and it was still early. “I will ask for two lanterns and meet you in the parlor.”

Her grin only got wider before she pushed him out of the bed.

After grabbing his dressing gown, Lucian unlocked her door then hurried to his own chamber where he dressed for the day. Eliza loved adventures, and when the mummy wasn’t found, she’d want to start off on another. Would he be enough for her?

Yes, he told himself. Besides, Eliza was correct that he no longer had to be responsible for his siblings and any of his younger brothers were suited to oversee the estate while he was gone.

Why shouldn’t he go off with her even if it was only for a few days. There was more to life than responsibilities and Parliament.

Once dressed, he hurried to request the lanterns and when he finally walked into the parlor, Eliza was waiting for him.

“Shall we search the last cave?”

“You already know the answer,” she said with a smile.

For once they didn’t rush, but Eliza did practically skip in her excitement and he experienced the oddest sensation of joy. Something else that had not been in his life previously.

“We are here.” She stopped before the entrance.

Lucian lit both lanterns and handed one to Eliza. “After you.”

He expected her to go slowly, but instead she hurried forward. Then again, she had been there yesterday. When she reached the split in the cave, Eliza turned left and then finally slowed and she searched ahead of her.

Eliza suddenly stopped and gasped. “There is something here.”

He came up from behind her and lifted his lantern. There was something inside, but the light didn’t stretch far enough.

“What is in there?” he asked, somewhat alarmed. These caves were supposed to be empty.

“There is a torch on the wall.” Eliza pointed.

That had not been here before either. Lucian struck the flint and lit the torch, which nearly filled the area with light and that is when he noticed a dozen or so crates stacked in the middle. “Where did all that come from?”

“Mayfair, of course,” Eliza answered as she rushed to the crates and started to look around them.

Lucian followed and couldn’t believe the valuables that had been stored in his cave. “All of this was taken from different homes?”

“I assume. I only cared about the mummy,” Eliza answered.

He lifted this lantern and looked around. “I do not see one.”

Eliza walked around the pile of crates then stopped and smiled. “That is because it is here.”

“That is not possible,” he said as he walked around the other side and looked down. There, lying on the ground, was the shape of a body, wrapped in dirty cloths. It was a mummy. “I cannot believe it.”

“I did tell you it was hidden away on your estate.” She laughed again.

“You are going to remind me that you were correct and I was wrong for the rest of my life.”

“I certainly will, especially when it could have been discovered ten years ago.”

Lucian closed his eyes knowing that this moment would never be forgotten by either of them because Eliza would never let them. And, in truth, he didn’t mind.

“What I would like to know is who put it here? Why would they steal all these valuables and then leave them in a cave at Wyndhill Park for ten years and never come back?”

“Maybe there is something in here.” She leaned into a crate and pulled out a thin portfolio then opened it before she withdrew documents then frowned.

“What?”

“I do not know who these people are. Do you?”

Lucian took the papers and quickly read. “They are dead, which is probably why none of this was ever collected.”

“Dead?”

“Two were grooms who traveled between here and London. The other two had similar positions at another estate. All four resigned to join the footguards.”

“They died in war?” Eliza asked.

“Yes.”

“They could have sold everything and not needed to really work again. Why join the army?”

“It says here that they planned to leave everything in the cave for five years and when they returned, the thefts would have been forgotten and then they would sell everything.”

“Except they never returned,” whispered Eliza.

“Had they, you might not have ever found the mummy.”

“Yes, I would,” she answered with confidence. “A person can sell a silver bowl with few questions, but not a mummy.”

He supposed that she was correct.

Lucian stood and pulled Eliza to him. “Let’s return and I will send footmen to take everything back to the manor while we break our fast.”

“Even the mummy?” she asked.

“Even the blasted mummy.”