My Lady's Choosing: An Interactive Romance Novel(18)
She points toward a tall, dark figure leaning casually against a pillar. “Poor Benny. He finds balls ever so tiresome. You see, half the mamas of the ton are desperately trying to get him to marry their daughters because of his fortune, but he makes the daughters so nervous with his brooding manner and good looks that they clam up entirely around him. What he really needs is someone to challenge him, I fancy. I wonder if you could liven up this sorry event for him?”
Your eyes then turn to a broad-shouldered form on the edge of the dance floor. The man’s hair is the russet color of autumn leaves at sunset. Lady Evangeline grins.
“You’ve spotted our handsome Scotsman, Captain Angus MacTaggart! He was frightfully brave at Waterloo, but he now works for the Society for the Protection of Widows and Orphans of the War. He is a wonder at raising money—no one can say no to a war hero, especially with a face like that—but he’s an even greater wonder at caring for orphans. Shall I make an introduction?”
You gaze at these two attractive and potentially interesting men and try to decide whom to meet first.
If you pick the handsome and nobly sardonic cousin of Lady Evangeline, turn to this page.
If you pick the dashing and caring Scot, turn to this page.
“I think I should stay behind,” you say. “The museum needs help and Kamal must recover from his injuries.”
Lady Evangeline smiles at you.
“You have a good heart, my dear. Never lose that.” She rests an elegant hand on your cheek. “Just remember—you are far more capable than you realize. I think you can make a real difference here.”
Over the next few weeks, you take her advice to heart. Your days are filled with industry and, in their own quiet way, excitement, as you right the fallen artifacts, match them with Kamal’s meticulous cataloging, and find just the right place to display each piece. As the museum slowly comes together, you feel yourself swell with pride at the sight of each mummified cat, and each canopic jar filled with intestines fills a hole in your soul that you did not realize was there.
You also tend to Kamal as he recovers, and you find yourself looking forward to time spent with the sweet-natured Egyptologist. After the doctor pronounces him well enough to rise, you tenderly lead him to see what you have done with his life’s work.
“But this is wonderful!” he gasps.
“You like it?” you venture shyly.
He gives you a lingering look from the liquid pools of his intelligent cocoa eyes, his boyishly handsome face still marked with bruises.
“I-I think I should offer you a job! You are the best curator I have ever had,” he says.
“Oh, Kamal,” you exclaim as you throw your arms around him. “That would be wonderful!”
Your vigorous motion upends the papers he is carrying, and a notebook falls to the floor. You are shocked to see that in it he has sketched your face lovingly in the margins, in the same delicate style in which he draws all of his beloved artifacts.
“Oh, Kamal! What is this?” you ask, blushing.
“It…I…oh, miss, I am sorry. I am too forward. It…it’s just that…I…”
You realize that in his own shy way, this is a confession of love. You stare at him in wonder.
As you each gaze into the other’s eyes for a few, deliciously loaded moments, you realize nothing more needs to be said, for you both know you have found your other half in this life. Suddenly, Kamal pulls you into his arms and kisses you with a passion you didn’t know he had.
The next thing you know, you are tearing at each other’s clothes and making feverish love among the mummies. It doesn’t matter—they are dead. But your loins are alive!
You marry, of course, and are blissfully happy. You also feature as ongoing comedic side characters for the continued series of Lady Evangeline’s adventures, always providing a safe space and a sympathetic ear when called upon. She drops in from time to time between quests to tell stories to your enthralled offspring. Little Evangeline, your eldest (and sole nonbookish) child, particularly loves these visits from her rambunctious godmother and namesake and grows up to be quite the adventurer herself.
The museum flourishes under your careful eye, and your legacy is continued in the capable hands of your many adorably studious children. The museum still stands to this day in the heart of Cairo, a wonder for all to see, with your and Kamal’s names inscribed in the entranceway on its grand facade.
The End
A few weeks later, you are standing at the docks with Evangeline, seeing Henrietta off with her farmer love. Thanks to some strings expertly pulled by Evangeline, they are traveling to a new life that waits for them abroad. Now armed with assumed names to protect them from Cad, along with their blissful happiness, they wave at you from the ship.
Yet the sight of the young lovers entwined cannot help but cause you pangs. Lady Evangeline notices and tries to shake you from your gloomy reverie.
“You have truly impressed me, my dear,” she says. “I have a thought.”
“Yes, Lady Evangeline?” you say cautiously. She takes both your hands in hers and fixes you with a piercing sapphire gaze.
“You might have heard that I am taking a trip to Egypt soon. I was wondering, would you care to join me as my lady’s companion?”
You stare at her in wonder. Egypt would be a wonderful adventure…but it will take you far from any chance of seeing Benedict again.