City of Jasmine

by DEANNA RAYBOURN

  “Gabriel!” I nudged him as hard as I could in the ribs, hoping I’d hit something vital. “Don’t be rude. I do apologise, Mr. Halliday. My husband always did have a filthy temper and death hasn’t improved it.”

  “Oh!” Aunt Dove exclaimed. “He is still your husband, isn’t he? Now, I see it—you were masquerading as that interesting archaeologist Rowan in Damascus, the one we had dinner with, the fellow with appalling table manners. I can’t believe I didn’t recognise it then, but it’s all in the eyes, I think. No one could mistake those beautiful blue eyes—so wasted on a man! Well, come and give me a kiss and later on you can explain how you managed to survive a shipwreck, to say nothing of why you’ve been pretending to be someone you aren’t.”

  Gabriel went and kissed her papery cheek with a loud smack. She slapped him lightly. “There’s a good boy. I’m sure you had your reasons. The Gabriel Starke I knew wouldn’t do something so frightfully stupid without a good reason.”

  He stared at her a long moment with something like gratitude before turning away.

  I held out the newspaper to him. “Read all about us. Apparently I’ve been abducted and you are possibly a sex criminal.”

  “Jesus Christ,” he muttered, snatching it out of my fingers. I turned back to Aunt Dove.

  “How did you come to be flying the Jolly Roger, Auntie?” I asked. “And where’s Wally?”

  She gave me a sorrowful smile. “I’m afraid he had to leave, dear girl. Trouble at home.” She turned to the others to include them. “Wally’s father is Viscount Walters, you know. Wally is heir to the title. A very pretty estate in Hampshire, I’m sure you’ve heard of it—Mistledown? Doesn’t that sound ethereal? Such a charming name for a house, although the Walters men have always run to eccentricity. Anyway, the old fellow had a bad turn and poor Wally was wanted at home, no doubt for some hearty deathbed recriminations. It was all quite sudden and the dear boy was wretched about the whole thing, but I packed him onto the first train out of Damascus and told him not to worry, that I would manage the Jolly Roger.”

  “I still can’t believe you flew her—and all the way from Damascus!”

  “You needn’t look so shocked. It may be the furthest I’ve flown, but I did a splendid job, if I say it myself,” she said, her tone a trifle miffed.

  “Lady Lavinia was quite capable at the controls,” Mr. Halliday affirmed. “I’m afraid this was all my idea. You see, Lady Lavinia grew quite concerned when she hadn’t heard from you, Mrs. Starke. I offered to borrow a friend’s Nieuport to fly out to the dig site and have a look around—see if I could turn up a bit of information and perhaps bring you back with a bit of luck.”

  “Naturally, I refused,” Aunt Dove added smoothly. “My niece is my responsibility. I told him I was perfectly capable of flying the Jolly Roger myself, but he insisted on coming along.”

  “I thought it might be useful to have a member of the diplomatic corps since the situation out here can be tenuous at the best of times,” he said, his voice carefully neutral.

  Hamid gave a booming laugh. “You are tactful, Mr. Halliday.”

  “Thank you, Sheikh.”

  They bowed to each other and Gabriel gave a gusty sigh. “Fine, we’re all getting along like a house afire. Time to get things sorted. Dove, my heart, I’ll pull the ballast sack out of the Jolly Roger, and Evie can fly you back to Damascus. I’m sure Mr. Halliday would be only too happy to act as escort,” he added with a bland smile in the gentleman’s direction. “In the meantime, Hamid and his fellows and I can secure some sort of transport for Herr Doktor Schickfuss and get him medical attention.”

  “Herr Doktor Schickfuss? Do you mean Herr Doktor Wolfram von Schickfuss?” Halliday inquired. His light sandy brows were arched in curiosity. “Isn’t he one of the fellows attached to your...that is to say, Mr. Rowan’s dig?” He flushed just a little, but he was not a diplomat for nothing. He covered the awkwardness easily.

  “Yes,” Gabriel replied shortly. “He’s had an accident.” He paused, flicking a quick glance at me, and I realised he intended to minimise the danger in order to reassure Aunt Dove that it has all been perfectly safe. “I’m afraid the old fellow’s been shot. Just a flesh wound, but it’s turning septic and the sooner he gets to a proper hospital the better.”

  “Shot!” Aunt Dove turned to me. “Darling, what have you been doing out here?”

  “Well, I didn’t shoot him,” I protested in some irritation. “I only shot Gabriel.”

  Mr. Halliday blinked and stared from Gabriel to me. “You shot your husband?”

  Gabriel bared his teeth in a wolfish grin. “Square in the chest. Luckily I had something in my pocket to deflect the bullet.”

  Sheikh Hamid was watching me with new respect, his expression one of amused interest. “You are a new Zenobia, little sister.”

  “I only shot him because he wanted me to,” I confessed modestly.

  “Still, it is only a warrior of cool head and temperament who can shoot when he must and keep his aim true. More so for a woman. Their emotions run hot as the noonday sun.”

  “How poetic you are, Sheikh?” Aunt Dove asked, fluttering her lashes a little.

  I frowned. “That really is the rankest untruth, Hamid, if you’ll forgive me. In my experience, men are far more emotional, particularly under life-and-death conditions. I remember one incident at flight school when two of the fellows came to blows over—”

  “Evie,” Aunt Dove said, gently recalling me to the matter at hand.

  “Oh, of course.” I smiled at Hamid. “Just as well. It was about to get nasty. One of the fellows shoved the other right into a spinning propeller.”

  Mr. Halliday swallowed thickly, his complexion a little green. “I say, I do have a few questions. How did this Doktor Schickfuss come to be shot, anyway? Were you potting birds out here?”

  I could feel Gabriel’s eyes boring into me, willing me to be quiet and I ignored him.

  “No. Gabriel discovered something of value, a relic of sorts, and it was stolen. Herr Doktor Schickfuss happened upon the folks who stole it from us and we thought he was in league with them.”

  “And so you shot him?” Halliday’s voice was incredulous.

  I gave an impatient sigh. “No, they shot him. Mr. Halliday, do try to keep up. Now, of course, you see why Gabriel’s suggestion is ludicrous. We can’t possibly just let them get away with it. We have to go after them and get it back.”

  “We?” Aunt Dove perked up considerably.

  “Not we,” Gabriel contradicted.

  “Your jaw is going to lock like that if you grind it any harder,” I told him. I turned back to the rest of the group. “Now, at first we thought the planes were French authorities reconnoitering the area to look for renegades and deserters, but now we know it was just you, and it was very sweet of you to come looking, and I’m delighted you did. But we’re not ready to give up yet, so you can either stay and join in the fun or head back to Damascus and I’ll meet you there.” I paused and furrowed my brow. “Unless Baghdad would be better? We have heard some strange things about the goings-on in the city. Is it still peaceful?”

  “For the moment.” Halliday’s tone was dry. “But I won’t lie, Evie. We’re sitting on a tinderbox here. I, for one, will feel much safer when you and Lady Lavinia are safely out of the country. Baghdad is—”

  “Out of the question,” Gabriel interrupted. “This thing has got quite out of hand, and if you would get Evie back to Damascus, Halliday, I would be personally grateful.”

  I turned to him, my mouth agape. “I am not baggage to be carted around at your pleasure, Gabriel Starke. I am my own woman and I think you abdicated any authority over what I do the day you put me on a steamer out of Shanghai, to say nothing of the fact that you faked your own death—a fact I would be delighted to present to the authorities
at the nearest embassy because I am terribly certain it’s not legal.” I turned to Halliday. “You’re a representative of His Majesty’s government. Can’t you arrest him?”

  Halliday looked awkwardly from my inquiring face to Gabriel’s insouciant one. “I’m afraid, that is to say, really, it isn’t my place—”

  “That is diplomatic-speak for ‘no,’” Gabriel stormed. “I’m not afraid of anything official you care to threaten me with, so just drop it, Evie. Can’t you see I simply want to forget the whole bloody thing?”

  “Of course you do,” I returned coldly. “Because it’s difficult. Because it’s hard. Because that’s your way, to run at the first sign of trouble. Well, it isn’t my way, thank you very much. I’m going to see this thing through.”

  Gabriel went white to his lips and rose without a word. He left the tent and an uncomfortable silence fell.

  “Always so awkward when married people quarrel,” Aunt Dove murmured.

  “We’re not married, not really,” I told her. “I was halfway to divorcing him when he died, remember?”

  “Yes, dear, but he didn’t die, did he? You are still married to him. And married people always seem to get into the silliest quarrels.”

  “I do not quarrel with my wives,” Hamid said blandly.

  “Because your culture gives you complete authority over them,” I reminded him.

  “No, because I find my wives are usually right and it is more harmonious to simply agree with them.” He stroked his beard thoughtfully. “Now, what was this about a theft?”

  * * *

  I should have known it was a mistake to mention the theft in company. Halliday seized on it as soon as Sheikh Hamid had spoken.

  “Here, now. What’s all this about a relic? If Mr. Starke really has found something of value in the desert, surely it belongs to the sponsors of the archaeological expedition. And the French government—” He broke off, darting a quick glance at Hamid. “Well, perhaps not the French anymore. I suppose it will fall to Faisal and his people.”

  “King Faisal,” Hamid corrected coldly.

  “My apologies, Sheikh,” Halliday said, inclining his head. “My government has not officially recognised the kingship of Prince Faisal, you understand.”

  “And if the British government does not recognise it, it cannot be so?” Hamid’s voice was pleasant, but his eyes glittered dangerously, and I was reminded of precisely how ferocious the Bedouin could be.

  “Recognition by His Majesty’s government would go a very long way towards legitimising the rule of King Faisal,” Halliday pointed out practically. “Surely you see that, Sheikh.”

  “What I see is once again it becomes the business of the European to direct the destiny of the Arab,” he replied.

  “As much as it pains me to say it, Sheikh,” Halliday said, his voice calmly reasonable, “it would indeed help Prince...that is, King Faisal’s cause to have British support. If this relic is so very significant, perhaps joint ownership would reflect well upon both nations. If nothing else, it would cut out the French, something I think both of our peoples can agree is not a terrible thing?”

  Hamid looked mollified for the moment, and I tipped my head thoughtfully towards Halliday. “Considering the upheaval in the government, I’m a little surprised they sent you out to find me. After all, one aviatrix is hardly as noteworthy a story as the toppling of the French government.”

  “It hasn’t toppled yet,” he reminded me. “This trouble with Pr—King Faisal may be a tempest in a teacup.”

  “You think an Arab king declaring his country independent is so trifling a thing?” Hamid asked, his hand settling with lazy purpose on his dagger.

  But Halliday wasn’t a diplomat for nothing. He smiled at Hamid. “I would love nothing better than to see Faisal succeed in tossing the French out on their ear,” he said with disarming bluntness. “But the French are better armed and firmly entrenched. It will take a miracle, inshallah.”

  Hamid inclined his head and his hand dropped from his dagger. Halliday turned back to me.

  “But your disappearance was bigger news than you think. It was picked up by wire services and has spread around the world. Everyone is waiting to see if you’re all right or if you’ve been carried off by—”

  “By an archaeological sex maniac,” I finished.

  He rose and dusted off his trousers. “If you will excuse me, Sheikh, I would like to make the necessary repairs to Mrs. Starke’s plane.”

  I jumped up. “What’s the matter with the Jolly Roger?”

  He gave me a reassuring smile. “Nothing very serious. Just a bit of tightening up, and a leak I need to patch.” I hesitated and the smile deepened. “You needn’t worry, you know. I’m perfectly qualified, and I promise not to touch a wire on her frame without permission.”

  I felt a warm flush in my cheeks. “I’m being beastly and you’re only trying to help. Yes, of course, do what you must. And thank you.”

  Sheikh Hamid rose, as well, his good humour apparently restored. “You may need the services of some of the village men and the blacksmith. I will help you with this.”

  Halliday brightened. “I say, that’s awfully nice of you. Perhaps you can tell me a bit more about these hostile fellows we’re up against.”

  They left together and I made to follow, but Aunt Dove’s voice was sharp.

  “Sit down.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” I said. I folded my legs under me and took a seat on the carpet, arranging my features into a wide-eyed expression of patient obedience.

  “Meekness doesn’t suit you,” she said, her lips thin. “Now, suppose you tell me, Evangeline Merryweather Starke, precisely what you are doing gallivanting around the desert with your not-quite-dead, not-quite-ex husband?”

  I took a deep breath and launched into a detailed explanation. I left nothing out, at least nothing of importance, and she had only asked a few probing questions. Her expression was thoughtful, and when I finished, she nodded. “I suspected something like this.”

  I blinked. “How on earth could you have possibly suspected something like this? Have you added clairvoyance to your talents?”

  “Don’t be pert,” she said, arching an imperious brow. “When I saw that photograph of him, I knew exactly why we were going to Damascus. I just wish you had confided in me sooner.”

  I gaped at her. “When did you see the photograph?”

  She gave a long, slow-lidded blink. “The day it arrived, child. I went through the post before you did and there was one blank envelope. Since it didn’t have either of our names on it, I opened it and found nothing but that photograph.”

  “There was no envelope when I saw it,” I pointed out.

  She flapped a hand. “Of course not. I threw it out. It was filthy. Besides, it had no distinguishing marks of any kind, not even a postmark.”

  “Then how did it even get to us in the first place?”

  “The ambassador’s people in Rome had kindly delivered any post that was sent to their office. This was among those things. I made inquiries at the ambassador’s office, but the witless fellow I talked to merely said that the outer envelope had been so soiled and badly torn he thought it best to throw it away and simply pass along the interior envelope. He said the postmark had come from Damascus, but there were no other markings on it. So that made for a tidy little dead end. No more information to be had beyond what was on the photograph itself.”

  “But why didn’t you tell me you knew about the photograph?” I felt a little aggrieved that she had kept it from me all this time. I thought of the long days of travel, the sight-seeing in Damascus, and through it all there hadn’t been the slightest hint from her that she’d known.

  “Why didn’t you tell me that was why we were going to Damascus?” Her gaze was sharp, but her tone had softene
d.

  “I suppose,” I said slowly, “I didn’t want you to worry. Wally thought the whole thing was the wildest sort of goose chase at first, but then we decided I had no choice but to go and see the thing through.”

  “And do you always do what Wally tells you?” There was a touch of asperity, and Arthur fluttered irritably in his cage.

  “I’m not marrying him, am I?” I regretted the sharpness the moment the words were out of my mouth. “I am sorry, Auntie. It’s all gotten out of hand. And Gabriel—”

  “Isn’t living up to your expectations?” she guessed.

  “My expectations where Gabriel is concerned are quite low.”

  “But not your hopes.”

  I looked up quickly, but her face had gone sweetly sad. “I know, child. I know what these last five years have cost you. I know you blamed yourself for pushing him away, and I know you fretted yourself to distraction about whether you made a terrible mistake in Shanghai.”

  “And it turns out, I didn’t. I thought he was something he wasn’t, and that illusion is what I married. The real man is so capricious he makes my head spin. He’s exactly the man I was afraid he was. He’s feckless and unreliable and he’s got himself mixed up in all sorts of nasty business out here. My mistake wasn’t misjudging him. It was marrying him in the first place.”

  She gave me a thoughtful look. “When this is all finished and you’re quietly and thoroughly divorced, you might give some thought to choosing a nice beau from all those suitors you have flocking around. Someone besides Wally.”

  I shuddered. “That’s the last thing I want to think about. I won’t marry again,” I swore. “One time down that particular road is plenty for any girl.”

  “And too much for some,” she reminded me. “I’ve done quite nicely for myself without bothering to hitch my wagon to anyone else’s star. But you aren’t me, Evie. You like having someone around. That’s why you took up with Wally after you lost Gabriel. He was a sort of husband for you, albeit the kind who wouldn’t pester you in the bedroom.”