title: The Gilded Shroud (A Lady Fan Mystery)
author:  Elizabeth Bailey 
description: <b>Elizabeth Bailey</b> is the author of more than a dozen Regency novels. She lives in England.
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  THE LADY FAN SERIES
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  The Gilded Shroud
  
  
  
  
  
  The Deathly Portent
  
  
  
  
  
  The Opium Purge
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Elizabeth Bailey
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](images/00003.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Table of Contents
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [BOOK ONE: THE GILDED SHROUD](index_split_002.html#filepos2829)
  
  
  
  
  
  [BOOK TWO: THE DEATHLY PORTENT](index_split_023.html#filepos806208)
  
  
  
  
  
  [BOOK THREE: THE OPIUM PURGE](index_split_042.html#filepos1657575)
  
  
  
  
  
  [A NOTE TO THE READER](index_split_062.html#filepos2501770)
  
  
  
  
  
  [ALSO BY ELIZABETH BAILEY](index_split_063.html#filepos2510861)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  BOOK ONE: THE GILDED SHROUD
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chapter 1
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  The chambermaid, creeping into my lady’s room to light the fire, noticed
  nothing amiss. Prey to all the discomforts of a cold in the head, with her
  hearing muffled, Sukey was unaware of the unusual silence. Nor could any
  unpleasant odour penetrate beyond the thickness of a stuffed-up nose. Indeed,
  her concentration was intent