My Lady's Choosing: An Interactive Romance Novel(34)

The opportunity to mingle with the upper-crustiest of society’s upper crust is supremely tempting. Indeed, with your humble background, you’d be a fool to turn down such a rare invitation to improve your standing in the company of your betters. And the presence of Sir Benedict…well, that certainly doesn’t lessen your intrigue.

Yet you cannot help but be intrigued by the Scotsman’s offer. You’ve always had a tender heart for children, and something about his rugged altruism sparks a dangerous recklessness in your chest.

What will be next?





If you wish to rub elbows with the ton—and Sir Benedict’s elbows in particular—hustle your bustle to this page.

If you think doing good for poor kiddies is infinitely better than pretending you can hang with the elites of London (and you can’t help your curiosity about what Mac’s got under his kilt), hop on over to this page.





“I have just finished deciphering the parchment in the canister that dear Kamal transcribed,” Lady Evangeline explains as she strides down the corridor to your rooms. You hurry to keep up with her.

You peer at the mysterious inscriptions. “What does it say?”

“Well, my dear, it seems that what we have here are directions.” Lady Evangeline turns to you, her sky-blue eyes shining. “It speaks of a temple in the middle of the desert. One lost to the rages of Hathor when she was transformed into Sekhmet, goddess of war, after witnessing the weakness of humankind and their love.”

“The lost Temple of Hathor!” you cry.

“Precisely. I have mapped out where this scroll says the site is. Though I must warn you, the journey is arduous. There may be sandstorms, bandits, and several varieties of poisonous snakes along the way.”

“Oh,” you say. You silently curse both your insatiable thirst for adventure and your burning loins.

With a roguish smile Lady Evangeline looks up from her papers. “We will need to leave right away. And pack quickly. And change our clothes into something more suitable.”

Suitable for facing down would-be murderesses? You frown.

“No need to worry. You may borrow mine.” She leads you to her room and throws a few garments made of sturdy material toward you before stalking behind the screen to change.

You inspect what she has given you and frown again, confused.

“But…my lady…these look like…”

“Breeches?” says Lady Evangeline, emerging from behind the screen clad in a scandalously tight pair of pants that cling to her every curve and a billowing man’s shirt. “Quite right. The most practical thing one can wear under the circumstances.”

“But surely these will cause a scandal wherever we go!” you cry.

Lady Evangeline stalks over to you and caresses your face. “Not where we are going, my dear. There, we shall fit right in.”





Go to this page.





“My lady,” you whisper urgently, “I think I need your assistance.”

Laughter dances in the blue depths of Lady Evangeline’s eyes. “Anything for you, my dear, for you have me entirely intrigued!”

“Good,” you say, “because I believe if I am to get to the bottom of this little, ah, escapade, I will need to investigate.”

“I see…,” says Lady Evangeline thoughtfully. “And how may I help you in this endeavor?”

“You seem to know something of this Mrs. Caddington’s associates. I was wondering if you knew any personally?”

Lady Evangeline raises an elegant eyebrow. “Well, I must confess that I do. However, as much as I admire your freewheeling, suspicion-following spirit, I’m not entirely sure that visiting the person—or their place of residence—is a good idea for a sheltered young woman.”

“Oh, out with it!” you cry, cheered by the company and the good brandy. “I may be a reasonably respectable woman, but I have lived long enough to know something of the world!” Admittedly, much of this bravado is the brandy.

If she notices, Lady Evangeline does not let on. Instead, she throws her head back and laughs. “Ah, my dear, you truly are a treasure. And I certainly admire your tenacity and determination.”

“So you will assist me?” you say. Lady Evangeline smiles warmly.

“Of course I will. If you wish to remain in England, I will always endeavor to assist you. Especially if it can help poor cousin Benny.”

“Oh, thank you!” you exclaim, hugging her in slightly tipsy delight. As Lady Evangeline embraces you warmly, however, a thought occurs to you.

“What do you mean, if I wish to remain in England?” you ask.

“Ah. Well. You see, my dear, I plan on taking a trip to Egypt. I am somewhat of a keen Egyptologist, and I have several dear friends in the country whom I made when my late husband was stationed there during the war. It is a long journey, and possibly an arduous one. I was looking for a companion for the expedition, one with a sense of adventure and initiative, who might be able to handle the rigors of journeying to a strange land.”

You stare at her, astonished at what you think she is implying.

“So, my dear, what do you say? Would you like me to assist you in your adventures in London, or would you like to assist me in my adventures in Egypt?”