by Jane Charles
Eliza rolled her eyes. “He is not a mummy but a man.”
“You have been sick, Abigail,” one of the girls said.
Sophia leaned closer to the door.
“You have?” Mrs Wiggons asked in alarm.
“It’s nothing,” Abigail insisted.
“That is not so,” Ruth argued. “These past few days she’s had a runny nose and this morning she was claiming her throat was sore.”
“Goodness!” Mrs. Wiggons exclaimed. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I always have a runny nose, sneezing and coughing during this time of year.”
“Do you always get spots, too?”
“No,” the girl admitted.
Eliza and Rosemary edged toward the crack in the door, as they silently tried to listen and find out what was wrong with Abigail.
“You have a fever,” Mrs. Wiggons announced.
“It’s nothing,” Abigail insisted.
“Oh, I’m certain it is something, but I’ll wait for the doctor to confirm.”
“What is it you suppose?” Mary asked.
“Measles.”
Rosemary, Eliza and Sophia gasped. They’d already had measles, but a number of students hadn’t yet. If Abigail brought the disease with her then the entire school would be affected.
“It’s bad enough that the students may become ill, which isn’t your fault because you had no way of knowing,” Mrs. Wiggons said. “But you went to Lord Norbright’s home, where you had no right to go, and may have spread the disease there. It’s much harder on adults than it is children, if they haven’t had a case of it before.”
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Wiggons.”
“I’m certain you are, but let this be a lesson to you and stay away from property owned by others.”
“I bet the mummy brought the measles with the curse,” Abigail cried.
“There is no such thing,” Mrs. Wiggon’s chastised.
“Yes, there is. Just ask Eliza, she’s written all about it in her story from reading the journals.”
Eliza gasped. “That little sneak was reading my papers? How dare she?”
Sophia nearly snorted because not too long-ago Eliza wouldn’t have hesitated a moment before going through someone else’s belongings, or sneaking into their house and snooping around.
“I won’t argue this further,” ordered Mrs. Wiggons. “Now, you get to bed and I’ll summon the doctor.”
Sophia, Rosemary and Eliza quickly stepped back from the door before the headmistress opened it.
“I suppose you heard everything?”
Sophia bit her lip and looked at her friends.
“Well, it really doesn’t matter. I have other pressing matters. I need to summon the doctor and warn Lord Norbright.”
“We could do that for you,” Eliza offered.
“You are not going anywhere,” Mrs. Wiggons insisted. “If it is the measles, then it doesn’t need to be spread further from this school.”
“But we had the measles, remember,” Rosemary reminded her. “About a month after we first arrived. A bunch of students came down with the ailment.”
Mrs. Wiggons frowned. “You’re correct.” She sighed. “That still leaves a number of students who have not suffered the disease.”
“Do you wish us to summon the doctor.”
She shook her head. “No. I’ll send a maid, but you do have my permission to call on Lady Norbright and warn her. Be sure and knock on the door, just don’t enter as if you own the place, and ask to speak with her in private.”
“We will, Mrs. Wiggons.” Eliza called as she hurried for the door.
Sophia and Rosemary rushed after her. Though Sophia didn’t understand why they were in such a hurry, she didn’t question it. Perhaps Eliza had decided that this was the perfect opportunity to learn more about the mummy, or the injured gentleman wrapped up like a mummy.
They’d barely reached the boundary line of the estate when Miss Doyle called out.
“What are you girls doing here?”
They turned and noted their teacher walking with the woman who had been with Lady Norbright in the tea house the day before.
“We need to speak with Lady Norbright,” Eliza insisted.
“What is this about?” Miss Doyle insisted.
“Measles,” Rosemary blurted out.
At that, both women took a step back.
“Explain,” Miss Doyle insisted.
Quickly, Eliza told them about Abigail and her spots and that they’d been inside Lord Norbright’s home and they could be exposed.
“Of course, she insists it’s the mummy’s curse when the gentleman in the box wasn’t a mummy at all,” Eliza laughed. “But they are young yet and I’m certain their minds are filled with imagination. When they mature, they’ll realize that there is no such thing as a curse.”
Sophia blinked at Eliza. What had happened to her friend? While it was a relief that Eliza wasn’t giving in to her usual fanciful thoughts, it was bothersome as well.
“What are you talking about?” Miss Doyle asked in confusion. “What mummy.”
“Well, they assume it is the mummy that was stolen from Mayfair and it did arrive in a coffin.”
“And this accident and the measles were caused by the curse?”
“Of the Mayfair mummy, yes,” Eliza clarified.
“At first we thought it had come with Lord Kilsyth since he lives in Mayfair and that is where the mummy had been stolen from,” Rosemary added.
“But it isn’t a mummy at all,” Sophia clarified. “Just an injured gentleman, all bandaged about the head and face.”
Eve heard what the girls were saying, but couldn’t really concentrate or comprehend any longer. As soon as they said that Kilsyth was here, all coherent thought disappeared.
“Girls!” Cait ordered. “Stop. Start at the beginning. Who is at Harrington Manor and why did you think they had a mummy?”
Eliza took a deep breath and then calmly explained how the two carriages had arrived and then the wagon carrying a coffin. That all the passengers were injured from what they believe was a carriage accident. And, because they hadn’t known about the accident and only saw the coffin, Norbright’s sisters wanted to learn who had died and that Sophia, Rosemary and Eliza had gone with them. Then the newest students, Abigail, Mary and Ruth had followed them inside and screamed when they saw the mummy, which wasn’t a mummy at all.
Eve blinked at them. Her sister had certainly not exaggerated in her letters when she described the students and what they’d gotten up to.
“Now Abigail insists that her measles are because of the mummy,” Eliza concluded.
“The curse of the Mayfair mummy,” Rosemary added with a giggle.
“And Mrs. Wiggons wanted us to come over and warn Lady Norbright that her family and Lord Norbright’s friends may have been exposed to the measles.”
“Are all the gentlemen who arrived with Mr. Ashford still at Harrington Manor, or have they gone?” Eve asked. What were the chances that Kilsyth had left?
Oh, she hoped he had and that it was only a coincidence that he was in the area.
“They are all still there, I’m certain,” Eliza answered. “All four gentlemen were injured, just not as badly as the one in the coffin.”
Eve’s heart skipped.
“Not so badly that they couldn’t move about, but they were bandaged,” Sophia added.
At least Kilsyth wasn’t seriously injured, thank goodness.
Though, as much as Eve would like to see Kilsyth, and be assured that he didn’t suffer any serious injury, he could not know that she was here. She was just as certain that as soon as he recovered, he’d be gone, so Eve would just need to remain out of sight and in hiding, if necessary, until he took his leave.
“We’ve both suffered through measles when we were girls,” Eve reminded her sister.
“I remember.”
“As Lord Norbright has guests, it isn’t right that we intrude, espec
ially if they are injured.”
“What are you saying?” her sister questioned with a warning.
“That we should have my belongings moved to the school and I can help take care of the girls who become ill. That is all.”
Her sister stared into Eve’s eyes. Cait knew what Eve was about and hoped she didn’t say anything in front of these three girls.
“Are you certain? Don’t you wish to see if Lady Norbright might need our assistance?”
In other words, her sister was asking if Eve was certain she didn’t wish to see Lord Kilsyth.
“They have a house full of servants and only four guests. The school has at least three dozen students and is lightly staffed.”
Again, Cait held her eyes. “If this is what you want.”
No, it wasn’t what she wanted but it was the only option. Kilsyth could not know that she was here. Eve needed that time and distance to mend her heart and he needed time to forget she existed, otherwise, he might order her right back to London, which was his right since he was her guardian.
“Very well,” her sister finally said then turned to the girls. “Have Mrs. Norbright send our belongings to the school. We will go there now to offer what assistance we can.”
The three nodded and hurried off to the manor.
“Are you certain this is what you want, Eve?” Cait asked.
“I’m certain this is what I need.”
Henry had stood at the top of the cliff and observed Eve and her sister walk along the beach and then discard their shoes and stockings before wading into the ocean. His heart clenched at the sight of her and the way her blond hair was tossed by the wind, and the way the wind pressed the gown against her lush body. The exposed, perfectly formed legs only made him want her more. But, instead of acting on need and desire, he simply observed the two sisters. They needed each other at the moment and despite what appeared to be a carefree day to any casual observer, Henry recognized the sadness in both women. And, as much as he wanted to go to her, he would not intrude so eventually, he returned to the manor.
Lady Norbright had told them that Eve was staying with them, along with her sister, Caitlin, and soon enough the two would return. Eve might be shocked at his presence, but once she moved past that, they’d have a long discussion.
However, she didn’t return and as time passed, he almost abandoned the library and went after her, but was stopped by the arrival of three students. He’d already seen the three removed from Harrington Manor earlier. What cause did they have to return?
The girls were animated, that was for certain.
“Measles?” Henry overheard Lady Norbright exclaim as he walked further toward the entrance.
“Miss Doyle and the woman with her have decided to return to the school to help since they had suffered from the illness when they were younger and wish to have their items sent over.”
Henry’s stomach tightened. Eve was not coming back?
“Mrs. Wiggons wanted us to warn you that you may have been exposed. She’s sending for the doctor.”
“Thank you for letting me know,” Lady Norbright finally said. “I’ll have the belongings of the Misses Doyle delivered.”
The three girls straightened. “They are both Miss Doyle?”
“Yes, sisters, not that it is any concern of yours.”
“Of course, it isn’t,” the redhead announced. “We will be on our way.”
“Lady Norbright,” the housekeeper called as she bustled down the corridor. “We must call a physician.”
Lady Norbright turned with alarm. “What is wrong Mrs. Whipple?”
The older woman wrung her hands. “Peters went down to the beach to do some fishing and was attacked by a seal and bitten.”
“Bitten?” Henry found himself asking. Eve had just been down there. Were seal so dangerous?
“It’s never happened before,” the housekeeper insisted. “But, when he returned to the manor and entered the kitchen, Cook was so startled by his appearance that she burned her hand and then a kitchen maid slipped on the water that Cook spilled in the process.”
“Goodness!” Lady Norbright placed a hand against her breast. “I’ll see that the doctor is sent for immediately.”
“Mrs. Wiggons has already sent for him,” the blond student reminded them. “I’ll direct him here first since the injuries are more pressing than a simple case of the measles.”
Measles weren’t exactly simply, but in the grander scheme of things, when one takes ill, all anyone could do was to make them as comfortable as possible, whereas injuries should be treated immediately.
The three turned for the door but the blond stopped. “We’ve had the measles, so if you need anything we can help.”
Lady Norbright laughed. “I am certain we will get along fine. Now run along. I’m certain that Mrs. Wiggons may need your assistance if the entire school comes down with the disease.”
As Lady Norbright shut the door on the girls, she turned, catching Henry’s eyes. “Have you had the measles, Lord Kilsyth?”
“No. I have not.”
“Then it appears you won’t be seeing your Miss Doyle for some time, but you are welcome to remain here as long as you need.”
Damn and blast. He’d ridden all this way, literally risking life and limb, and now he’d be denied for who knows how long before he could see her again.
There was a quick knock at the door and Lady Norbright opened it, revealing the three girls again.
“Yes?”
“We thought we had better warn you,” the redhead announced.
“About?”
“The curse!”
“Eliza, I am warning you, do not even think—.”
“—No, you don’t understand,” Eliza interrupted. “I am too mature to believe in such nonsense. But our newest students are convinced that the accident and the measles were caused by the curse of the mummy that Lord Kilsyth brought with him from Mayfair. Now that you’ve suffered three injuries in quick succession, I’ll never be able to convince them otherwise.” She blew out a long-suffering sigh.
Henry practically choked. “What mummy?” he asked.
“Your friend, who was in the coffin and wrapped up like one. It’s silly, of course, but those three are young and tend to believe nonsense.”
Lady Norbright choked and looked to the blond who simply shook her head and shrugged.
That mummy was Ashford, who had yet to gain consciousness.
Henry’s stomach tightened in fear for his friend. The doctor said they’d simply need to wait to see if he woke, or didn’t.
If Ashford died, it would be all his fault. Henry had been the one to insist that Ashford and Keegan accompany them, as they knew where to find Harrington Manor. It was stupid. He could have gained directions from anyone once he arrived in Kirksbury, but Henry hadn’t been thinking all that clearly. Now his friend may die because Henry had been too panicked and irresponsible when he set out after Eve.
The redhead tilted her head and studied Henry. “I understand you are from Mayfair, Lord Kilsyth. By chance did you come in contact with the mummy before it was taken?”
Did this girl actually believe in the curse after all, or was she accusing him of theft?
“I did not,” Henry chastised. “Only Pickmore had that honor and I can assure you that neither of us took the thing.”
Eliza’s eyes widened. “Of course not. I’d never assume such a thing. I was simply curious, that is all.”
“Curious?” Lady Norbright asked in disbelief.
“Yes!” Eliza readily answered. “I’ve been reading the journals from Rosemary’s mother, when she had been in Egypt. I had hoped for another accounting of what a mummy looked like.”
“Well, you won’t be bothering Captain Pickmore for information, as he needs to recover from his injuries.”
“Yes. Of course,” Eliza dutifully dropped her chin as if scolded.
“Does Miss Doyle know about this supposed curse and how it came t
o be here?” Lady Norbright asked cautiously.
“We told her, and her sister, but I’m certain they don’t believe that Lord Kilsyth brought a curse or a mummy with him.”
“So, they are aware that my husband has guests?” Lady Norbright asked slowly.
“Yes. We told them, though we only knew the name of two of your guests, as it isn’t any of our concern,” Eliza offered.
“Well, thank you for the warning.” Lady Norbright ushered them back out the door before she shut it and speared Henry with a censuring gaze.
“What are the chances that Miss Doyle’s decision to help at the school had anything to do with your presence in my home?”
“If I were to make a wager, I’d say everything.”
Chapter 23
At first, it didn’t seem like anyone else would get sick, but Mrs. Wiggons still kept the girls close to the school for fear of the illness being spread to the neighboring estates and into the village. In fact, in those first few days, the students weren’t even allowed to step outside of the school. Mrs. Wiggons finally relented but the students were forced to stay within sight of the school at all times.
And while most of the students took the opportunity to be out of doors, Eliza continued work on her horrid novel, though she appeared a bit distracted at times. Sophia dearly hoped that she’d not given up so soon, but feared Eliza’s mind was thinking about curses and whatnot. Well, as long as her imagination was contained to the pages she was writing, all would be well.
“We are going to take a walk through the gardens,” Olivia announced as she and her sister Victoria flounced into the chamber Sophia shared with Eliza and Rosemary.
“Would you like to join us?” Victoria asked.
“It’s better than sitting around here.” Rosemary stood and smoothed her dress.
“I would like some fresh air as well,” Sophia agreed. “I’ve already caught up with my studies and have grown quite bored.” Though she’d rather be bored than worrying about what Eliza was conjuring in that mind of hers.
“What of you, Eliza?” Victoria questioned.
Eliza frowned. “I don’t think so.” Then she straightened as her eyes narrowed. “Isn’t this the night that you dine with your brother?”
