Curse of the Mayfair Mummy by Jane Charles

Author:Jane Charles [Charles, Jane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-01-15T06:00:00+00:00

Her first ball and Eve was quite certain she’d never want to attend another. Perhaps if she had entered Society with her father and sister by her side, it might have been different. Tonight she may have been Miss Doyle, ward to the Earl of Kilsyth, but she was a fraud. She’d changed her look and manner of speech all because of a wager and to be accepted so that she might find a position outside of Covent Garden. If she’d been herself, not one gentleman would have requested a dance. Did she really wish to be accepted by Society, or a potential employer, if she had to hide herself?

She had been flattered that so many bachelors wished to dance with her and hadn’t rested during even one set, but that was only because she was a new miss to be met. Once the newness wore off, she’d no longer be of interest to anyone and would be viewed as just another miss in want of a husband, just like the dozens of other misses in attendance.

At least Captain Pickmore was attentive, fetching her punch when she became parched and even partnering her. Lady Kilsyth was kind as well, making many of the introductions. However, Kilsyth spent a good deal of the evening frowning, as if she’d disappointed him somehow. If anything, Eve had never been so careful in the manner of how she conducted herself, her decorum and speech before in her life. She had made no mistakes, so why did he frown as if she’d failed him somehow?

Kilsyth had won the wager and now he could be done with her, just as she wished to be done with him.

That wasn’t true. She’d miss him when she finally decided to leave, but to remain in his home any longer than necessary would only bring her further heartbreak.

Oh, if only he were disagreeable for the most part it would be so easy to walk away, but he wasn’t. Deep down he was a caring gentleman, and kind. It was his exterior that caused others to wonder if he was unpleasant.

However, the one matter she was thankful for was that gossip was more focused on the missing mummy and artifacts and not her and Lord Kilsyth. Everyone seemed to have an opinion of the type of person the thief or thieves had been and where the items had been taken. It was a relief in a sense that, unlike Ascot, ladies were not talking about her behind their fans. If they were, she’d not noted them.

“How was your evening, Lord Kilsyth,” Jeffries, the butler greeted upon their entrance.

“A smashing success,” Kilsyth answered as he handed off his hat and cane.

“I am so please to here that, sir,” Mrs. Peade said.

“We knew that you could do it, sir,” the butler added.

“Yes, Kilsyth, a success.” Pickmore reached inside of his coat and pulled out a pouch. “The wager. What was it again.”

“Five pounds,” Kilsyth dismissed as he walked to the sideboard and poured a brandy for himself and another, which Eve assumed was for Pickmore.

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