by Cheryl Holt
He kept on, refusing to provide the slightest indication that he cared at all.
“Thank you for your escort, Mr. Price.”
“It was my pleasure, Mrs. Wallace.”
Susan watched as Preston bowed to her mother. He’d accompanied them to the city, which Edna had appreciated even though it had galled her. They were in Cairo and once again ensconced at the hotel. They were seated on the verandah where servants could fan them with palm fronds.
Edna was unusually subdued, seeming confused and exhausted. By the time she figured out her next step, Susan would be winging to Italy with Preston.
“If I can be of further service,” Preston told Edna, “let me know.”
“I will,” Edna said.
He spun to Susan. “I’m off to visit some old friends, so I must be on my way.”
“Mr. Price has an appointment,” Susan said to her mother. “I’ll walk him out to the drive.”
“Fine, but come right back.” Edna was staring out at the river, and she waved Susan away without even glancing at her.
“I will. I’ll just be a moment.”
She and Preston strolled off together, and when they were out of earshot, Preston whispered, “Gad, she’s a mess, isn’t she?”
“Yes. I can’t decide what has her more upset: our being evicted from the camp or her having to recognize that Fenton is a dangerous fiend.”
“It’s certainly brought her down a peg.”
“Yes, but she’ll bounce back. She always lectures me that a lady should never succumb to the doldrums. I’m betting she’ll be good as new by morning.”
“Heaven help us all.”
They laughed, and she took his arm and stood nearer as they proceeded through the lobby. They only had a minute, and she was desperate to discuss the elopement.
“When shall we go?” she inquired. “Have you thought about it?”
“Are you joking? The subject constantly occupies me.”
“We have an invitation to supper at Valois’s tonight. Will you be there too?”
“I’d like to see the old fellow,” Preston blithely responded, “but I’ve already accepted another invitation. I don’t dare cancel it.”
Susan wanted to ask with whom he’d be dining, and she was incredibly irked that he could have been with her at Valois’s but would rather eat elsewhere. They could have spent the whole evening flirting and chatting, but she wouldn’t complain. He’d had a full life before he met her. Of course he’d have other friends. Of course he’d have other obligations.
“I don’t currently have an appointment though,” he said. “I lied to your mother about that.”
“You scamp.”
“I’m actually on my way to the harbor to buy our tickets and make the arrangements for our journey.”
“How will we go?”
“We’ll take a boat to Alexandria, then we’ll book passage on a ship to Italy. It’s a very short trip from there.”
“Oh, I can’t wait!”
“Neither can I.” He smiled down at her. “I hate that we can’t sneak off to our favorite bathing pool. We have to behave until I’ve removed you from Edna’s clutches.”
“I have to be extra cautious, so I don’t raise her suspicions. I can’t have her watching me too closely.”
“With her low mood, I believe a bird could land on her head, and she wouldn’t notice.”
“Too true,” Susan agreed, and they laughed again. “But when will we go? You still haven’t explained any details, and I’m dying with anticipation.”
“You haven’t given me any information about your mother’s schedule. You’ll be at Valois’s party, but she’ll be there too, so that won’t work. Plus, we shouldn’t flee at night. It has to be in the daylight, during a period when she’ll be busy.”
Susan pondered, then grinned. “How silly of me. I forgot that she’s conferring with Valois tomorrow. The last time, she was away for four hours.”
“Will it be morning or afternoon?”
“Afternoon. At two. Could we be ready that quickly?”
“Absolutely,” he said. “And it’s probably best to go at once. She’s very distracted from what happened at the camp, so she won’t be expecting any trouble.”
“Tomorrow!” She was barely able to contain her excitement.
“You’ll need to pack light. Carry a small satchel that won’t draw attention.”
“What about my things?”
“I’ll purchase new when we get to Rome.”
“Perfect. Where shall we meet? When shall we meet?”
“Your mother’s appointment is at two, so she’ll leave a bit after one. Let’s have you down in the hotel garden at half past one. Sit on the bench facing the river. I’ll hire a chair for you, and it will deliver you to me at the dock.”
“I have to travel there on my own?”
He scowled as if she were a child. “It has to be a secret, Susan. We can’t trust a servant or a maid. If your mother catches a whiff of our plans, she’ll foil them.”
“I know, I know.”
“So sit yourself out on the garden bench, and a porter will come for you.”
Her pulse was thundering in her ears so loudly that she could scarcely hear him. She was going to elope! She was going to run away with the man of her dreams!
They’d reached the grand portico at the front of the building, and he instructed the valet to hail him a chair. Several men bustled over to pick him up.
Suddenly, she panicked, terrified that a glitch would arise.
“Will I see you before tomorrow?” she desperately asked, sounding much more anxious than she’d meant to.
“No. I’ll be at the dock, remember? We can’t leave the hotel together. It would arouse people’s curiosity.”
“What if something goes wrong? What if mother finds out or Theo tells or—”
“Susan!” He leaned nearer, his tone scolding. “It will be fine. I have this under control. Don’t worry.”
Yet panic assailed her again. “But…when will we marry?”
They couldn’t delay until they were in Rome. If Edna caught up with them, Susan wanted the vows exchanged so Edna couldn’t pry them apart.
“When did you suppose?” he said. “As soon as we’re on the boat to Alexandria, we’ll have the captain perform the ceremony.”
“I’d forgotten that they can.” She nodded. “That will be so romantic.”
“By suppertime, you’ll be Mrs. Preston Price.”
He climbed into the chair, and with a jaunty wave, the curtain closed and the porters carried him away. She watched until he disappeared from view, then she spun and headed to her mother’s table, and there was a definite spring in her step.
Valois hid in the shadows, listening as Lady Theo and Edna Wallace quietly bickered in his foyer.
It was just Edna and Theo for the evening, with Susan Wallace pleading fatigue and remaining at the hotel with her brother. They were waiting for their chair so they could depart early. They were both dour as fishmonger’s wives, and he wasn’t sure why they’d come.
His party was progressing out on the verandah, so his other guests were merrily assembled in the other side of the house.
“I swear, Theo,” Edna nagged, “you’re as gloomy as a winter day.”
“Are you in a better condition?”
“You know I can’t abide socializing with strangers, but you’re young, and you should have been mingling. That’s why I made you attend, so you could improve your mood. I detest your moping.”
“May we return to England? Please? I realize you’d like to continue sightseeing, but I’m so weary of Egypt.”
“Why is that precisely? If I had to guess, I’d say you’re mooning over Mr. Grey. You have been since you met him. Now he’s vanished, and you’re miserable. Didn’t I warn you to shun him? You didn’t listen, and you’ve wound up inconsolable.”
“I’m not mooning over Mr. Grey. I simply want to go home. I never thought
I should have had to leave, and I’ve had my fill of exploring.”
“We traveled so far, and we’ve hardly toured any important places.”
“If you journey to another excavation, could I stay in Cairo?”
“Stay in…Cairo?” Edna sounded aghast, as if Lady Theo had asked to dawdle in Hell. “No, you may not. Your father entrusted you to my care. You will remain with me at all times.”
“I won’t visit another site. Not with Fenton pulling his pranks and Mr. Grey no longer there to protect me.”
“You don’t need protecting,” Edna tersely said. “I spoke to Fenton, and he’s recognized the error of his ways. There will be no further mischief or I’ll know why.”
“You can’t stop him from doing whatever he likes. You have no idea how.”
“I can’t stop him? I’m his mother, Theo. If I can’t, who can?”
“Wasn’t it enough that Mr. Webster evicted us? This entire trip has been pointless.”
“It has not been pointless. We’re adventuring in Egypt, Theo. I wish you’d show a bit of gratitude.”
“I’m grateful,” Lady Theo claimed, “but why can’t we call an end to it? There’s no reason to tarry. I’m certain my scandal has been superseded by numerous others, so my reputation is likely the last topic vexing people in London. And Susan has completely shed her infatuation for Neville.”
“Despite what you assume, I didn’t bring Susan to Egypt because of Neville Pinkerton! Now cease your complaining.” She stomped outside and cast about for a servant. One of his men approached, politely bowing, as she snapped, “Where is our chair? Have you sent to Spain for it?”
His man hustled her off with apologies and explanations. It provided Valois with an opportunity to walk into the foyer as if it had been his destination all along.
“Lady Theo, I heard you were leaving. I had to say goodbye.”
“Monsieur Valois! I’m sorry we didn’t find you before we left. My aunt and I are tired, and it was a spur of the moment decision.”
“Think nothing of it. I hope you’ll visit again when you’re feeling better. You must regale me with details of your trip down the Nile. I’m away from the villa so infrequently, and I have to live vicariously through the experiences of others.”
“Yes, I will visit again. Thank you.”
“Mr. Grey mentioned that you encountered some difficulties.”
At his referring to Soloman, she glanced away, giving every indication that Edna was correct for once. Poor Lady Theo was grieving the loss of her darling Mr. Grey.
Valois was a romantic, in the very best French sense, and he adored happy endings, just as he hated lovers being separated. As he came from an aristocratic family himself, he understood the importance of ancestry and bloodlines, but he also understood that life was short, and couples had to grab contentment where they could.
Were Theo and Soloman so far apart on the social ladder? Yes, Soloman was a bastard son, but his father had been an earl. And that earl had been very fond of him. Theo’s father was a baron, and by all accounts, he’d never been fond of her in the slightest. Why shouldn’t they wind up together? Why shouldn’t they wed if Valois could push them in that direction?
Neither of them had a father to guide them. Why should they be alone? Soloman was so dreadfully morose over her. Why not fix what was wrong?
“My journey was uneventful,” Lady Theo lied.
“Was it, dear?” he soothingly asked. “I’m privy to all sorts of information. It’s my stock and trade. I know what happened.”
“Oh.”
“Soloman was particularly glum when he returned.”
“Was he?”
“He misses you very much.”
“Misses me?” She scoffed. “You’re mad.”
“He told me all about you. I couldn’t get him to shut up.”
Her jaw dropped in surprise. “He talked about me?”
“Yes, quite glowingly.”
“Really?”
Of course Soloman hadn’t breathed a word about her, but Valois truly had spies everywhere. When he said he knew what happened on the river, he knew what happened.
“He’s such a lonely man,” Valois mused.
“I’ve always thought so,” she agreed.
“He doesn’t believe he’s entitled to be happy. Because of what transpired with his brother, he feels it’s his penance to suffer a life of misery.”
“I realize that.”
“If a woman loved him, he would change for her. I’m sure of it.”
“Wouldn’t it be pretty to think so?”
Valois stared, wearing her down with the force of his gaze until she scowled.
“Why are you looking at me that way?”
“Will you leave without seeing him? I assumed you were tougher than that, Lady Theo. I pegged you for a fighter.”
“I can’t imagine why you would have. You don’t even know me.”
“I know enough.” Suddenly, Edna was coming back with his servant. She was grumbling and grousing and would arrive any moment.
“Soloman is here,” he blandly stated.
“Here…in the villa?”
“Yes. He lives here—as I’m sure you’re aware.”
She peered so longingly into the residence that it broke his heart.
“He didn’t join us for supper,” she said.
“He doesn’t like to. If there are British guests, he doesn’t bother.”
“I hate how gossip has ruined him.”
“He claims he’s departing tomorrow to sail down the Nile.”
“Tomorrow…” she murmured.
“Yes. He plans to stay away until you’ve headed to England. He’s too lovelorn to speak to you a final time.”
“Lovelorn? Over me? Don’t be ridiculous.”
“He’s a coward, so he’ll go to avoid you. Will you let him?”
“Why would he be fretting? He was very clear when we parted that it was over. Actually, he insisted it had never begun in the first place.” She paused, then chuckled. “Why am I telling you any of this? You have a sly way of inspiring confidences.”
“I know men, chérie.” He patted her hand. “If you visited him, he’d be delighted.”
“How could I arrange it? Edna would never permit me to call on him.”
“Edna doesn’t have to be apprised, does she? I can have a chair bring you back to the villa once she’s in bed.”
She smiled a smile that explained why Soloman was so smitten. She was absolutely divine, and he wished he were twenty years younger.
“You’re very naughty to suggest it, Monsieur Valois.”
“I am a romantic, Lady Theo. I like my friends to be happy.”
“If I misbehaved with Soloman in your home, who would be happy? You? Me? Soloman?”
“Why, all of us, Lady Theo.”
Edna bustled up, the porters behind her and carrying her chair.
“Theo, come!” she said. “We’ve dawdled long enough.”
Theo nodded to Valois. “Goodbye, Monsieur. Thank you for the exquisite supper.”
“I’m so glad you attended, and you must stop by every evening that you are in Cairo. Consider it a standing invitation. Don’t wait to hear from me.”
“You’re very kind.”
Valois took her arm and escorted her over. At the last second, as Edna was climbing in and fussing with the cushions, he whispered, “I will have the porters tarry at the hotel until dawn.”
“I won’t need them, but I appreciate your offer.”
“Nights are long and the desert quiet, chérie. I will have them tarry—in case you change your mind.”
Valois lifted her in, waved, and they raced away.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
After an evening of pointless socializing with Cassandra, Soloman had just returned to his suite in Valois’s villa. He was washing in the dressing room when he heard the door open from the hall.
Someone entered on light feet, and it was defini
tely a female. He wondered if it was a servant, but Soloman had never given any of them the slightest indication that he was interested. The other possibility was that Cassandra had followed him home, but he simply couldn’t imagine her sneaking into Valois’s in the middle of the night.
He walked over to the sitting room, and when he realized the identity of his visitor, he was so astonished that he could have fainted.
“Theo?”
“Hello.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I had to see you.”
“Why? Are you all right?”
“I’m fine and don’t act so surprised.”
She looked incredibly unnerved, and he could certainly comprehend why. It was very late, the city quiet, the villa quiet. How had she traveled to him? Was she insane?
She’d donned a native woman’s clothes, a veil covering her face so there was very little to distinguish her as being British. She yanked the veil away to reveal her beautiful blond hair that was down and brushed out. The dress was wrapped around her like a large towel so her shoulders and arms were bare. Her feet were clad in a pair of skimpy sandals, so they were bare too.
He couldn’t believe his eyes and had to stare intently to be sure he wasn’t hallucinating.
“I am surprised,” he told her. “Why would you come to me?”
“Why would I? Monsieur Valois claimed you were prepared to leave the city rather than speak to me. Tell me it’s not true.”
“When did you talk to Valois?”
“At supper. He said you were home, but refused to dine with us.”
“You know I don’t like your aunt.”
“But you could have found a way to meet me alone.”
“I didn’t want to do that. I thought I was clear.”
“You were extremely clear, but guess what?”
“What?”
“I decided not to listen to you.”
She sauntered over to him, not halting until her body was pressed against his. He was overwhelmed by the heat of her skin, the subtle hint of her perfume. She smelled like sunshine and flowers, but there was another scent too, one that was enormously intoxicating to his male sensibilities.
It had only been a few days since they’d been together, so there had been no time for his fascination to wane. He desired her as much as he ever had, and he didn’t trust himself to behave.
