Mirage

by Monica Burns

  Alex cringed as she recalled the terrible moment Jane had rushed away. She’d actually believed her friend had deserted her. How could she have thought such thing? Jane was not the type of person to desert friends in need. No, all of this was her fault. She should never have considered coming to Egypt.

  “Perhaps Altair was right. Maybe I don’t have any business being here.” Biting back tears, she didn’t know how to deal with the depth of the despair assaulting her.

  “What kind of talk is that? It’s not like you to quit when the odds seem against you.”

  “This is different. Someone other than me could have been hurt. I don’t want that kind of responsibility.”

  “Now you listen to me, Alexandra Talbot. This wasn’t just your father’s dream. It’s yours as well. Are you going to quit at the first sign of trouble?”

  “I’m not quitting, I’m just thinking maybe this entire expedition wasn’t a good idea.”

  Jane arched an eyebrow. “Well, it sounds like you’re quitting to me. And that’s the one thing I never thought I’d see.”

  Alex closed her eyes and shook her head. Jane didn’t understand. How could she? She didn’t want to quit, but she didn’t want anyone to get hurt because of her. Someone was trying to keep her from reaching Khatana-Qantir. First, there was the incident at the Museum, the stranger following her in London and now this.

  A snake didn’t just slither onto a ship without someone seeing it. And since England didn’t have cobras, the only assumption left to make was the deliberate release of the viper into her cabin sometime while she was on deck.

  She heaved a sigh. A lethargic sensation filled her limbs, and she moved slowly toward the rail of the ship. Leaning against the wood, she stared down at the busy wharf. Dozens of blue-covered Berbers swarmed the dock, working to dispose of the cargo coming off the Moroccan Wind. She watched the activity with detachment.

  What was she going to do? Should she just give up and go home? What would Father have done? She’d always been so strong. Not afraid of anything. Well, almost anything—blood obviously was still her Achilles’ heel.

  Beside her, Jane rested her hands on the ship’s railing. “Look out there, Alex. Do you see those Pyramids? That’s four thousand years of rich history. Per-Ramesses is the same way, only no one’s discovered it yet. That’s a dream worth fighting for, don’t you think?”

  The quiet depth of passion in her friend’s voice surprised her. Did Jane have a dream she’d not told her about? For all her straightforward manner, Jane still could surprise her. No, her friend was right. Per-Ramesses was an aspiration worth fighting for, and achieving her dream meant she had to stay.

  “Yes—it’s a dream worth fighting for.” She smiled at her friend. An unexpected noise sounded behind her, and she wheeled about in fear. The sight of Altair’s tall figure forced a sigh of relief from her lungs.

  “I didn’t mean to frighten you.” The regret in his voice warmed her heart.

  “It’s all right. I’m just a tad jumpy. It will pass.”

  He nodded his head, but his eyes remained dark with an emotion she couldn’t decipher. “If you and Mrs. Beacon are ready to leave, I can escort you to the hotel. I’ve arranged for all of your things to be unpacked and repacked to ensure your safety.”

  “Thank you. Although I think it unlikely you’ll find anything.”

  “I agree, but I prefer to remain cautious.” The assessing glance he directed toward her made Alex conclude that he too believed someone had deliberately released the deadly snake into her cabin.

  She flinched as he stretched out his arm toward the gangway. The understanding look on his handsome face bolstered her courage, and she forced a smile to her lips. Jane, assuming a motherly air, wrapped her arm around Alex’s waist as they left the ship.

  Despite her ordeal, she found her tension dissipating as their landau rolled toward the hotel. Jane commented on their mode of travel, and Altair indicated the hotel prided itself on providing every European comfort possible for its guests. Alex was delighted with the open vehicle. It allowed her to see everything all around her.

  Towering above it all were the Giza Pyramids. They had stolen her breath away as sunrise had slowly revealed them to her from the deck of the ship. Golden symbols of an era long dead to the rest of the world, they spoke an ancient language all their own. With each layer of stone, their symmetrical, triangular shapes reached toward the heavens, reminding her how small humankind really was.

  Oddly enough, she didn’t feel as if she was viewing them for the first time. It was a strange feeling. She’d never been to Egypt before, and yet it was as if she’d finally returned home after a long absence. Everything seemed so unusual and strange, yet so familiar.

  The pungent odor of the dock quickly evaporated, replaced with fresher, more aromatic smells. As the carriage moved through the narrow streets, she inhaled the exotic scents of first one spice then another. One moment the mildly sweet and spicy scent of coriander teased her nostrils before the strong perfume of saffron replaced it. Suddenly the sweet fragrance of fennel drifted its way past her nose, and she immediately looked at Altair.

  The unusual assortment of oils he used for his personal scent included fennel. Were his ties to Egypt and the desert the reason he used such an unusual mixture for his toiletries? She breathed in the licorice-like aroma, remembering how the fragrance blended with the cedarwood on his skin to create a decidedly masculine aroma.

  With great effort, she tried to ignore the pleasure the smell gave her, but she failed. The scent grew stronger—assailing her senses in the same way the shouts of every merchant did. The musical language of Arabia filled the air, a perfume for the ears. On either side of the streets, merchants spilled their wares out onto the stoops that adjoined their shops. Beguiling and seductive, the vendors shouted out their encouragement to stop and buy something. Several times, she had to force herself not to plead for the carriage to stop.

  Women, garbed from head to toe in beautiful silks, walked past them. The only parts of their body showing were their hands, feet and eyes. Their eyes were beautiful. Kohl darkened the dusky color of their eyelids, giving them an exotic look. She wondered if Altair liked his women to wear kohl around their eyes.

  An erotic image filled her head. What would it be like to stand before him, dressed in colorful silks with kohl on her eyes and a veil covering her face? Her heart hammered at the notion. She darted a quick look in his direction only to find him watching her. Heat burned her cheeks, and she quickly pulled her gaze away from his. Thank goodness the man couldn’t read her mind.

  Beside her, Jane pointed out the Pyramids rising into the sky as the carriage rolled out into a wide avenue lined with sycamore and palm trees.

  “Aren’t they magnificent? It’s unbelievable that man created something that’s withstood time for more than four thousand years.”

  Seated across from them, Altair smiled. “I thought I would arrange for a trip to the Pyramids tomorrow. It would allow you time to relax before we set off for Khatana-Qantir.”

  “That would be lovely, my lord—” Jane paused and smiled apologetically. “I’m sorry, you prefer Altair, don’t you?”

  “I do. The men of the Mazir tribe are my brothers, and I’m proud to bear a name that makes me one with them.”

  “Then if we are to call you Altair, I insist you call me Jane,” she said with a smile. “Tell me, how did you meet the Sheikh?”

  “My father knew Medjuel’s grandfather.”

  “Medjuel?” Jane shrugged in puzzlement.

  “The Sheikh el Mazir. He is Medjuel to those closest to him.”

  Half-heartedly listening to their conversation, Alex tensed. It still puzzled her that Altair referred to Sheikh Mazir as leader of the tribe. Her father would never have made the mistake of not knowing the difference. Perhaps she’d simply misunderstood him. Sh
e shrugged to herself. It really didn’t matter. She had an escort into the desert, and that was the important thing. Her reverie ended as the carriage came to a halt in front of a lovely hotel.

  “Oh my word! Isn’t it beautiful, Alex?” Jane’s surprised delight echoed Alex’s pleasure as she stared up at the picturesque building.

  The building’s front was an intricate pattern of spiked archways and decorative slits, while a dome of glass served as a roof. Flowering plants adorned the pristine, white façade and its surrounding grounds. A large palm tree filled the center of the hotel’s circular driveway, while baskets of jasmine hung from the walkway encircling the building. Several short myrtle trees lined the front of the hotel. In full bloom, their branches were laden with lavender blossoms. The delicious fragrance of the flowers soothed her senses, and Alex sighed softly.

  “I take it the hotel meets with your approval?” Altair’s quiet question sent her nerve ends skidding into one another. The sensual note in his deep voice stroked her skin with a heat that made her nipples harden and push against her corset. Oh God, the man had just asked a simple question, and yet the reaction of her body implied he’d done much more.

  “It’s beautiful.” She choked out her words, aware her answer possessed a breathless quality.

  The door to the carriage opened, and Jane accepted the hand of the porter who had hurried to meet their vehicle. Altair quickly followed, then turned to assist Alex from the carriage. The warmth of his touch sank through her skin to heat her blood, and she trembled at the smile he sent her.

  His hand at her elbow, he ushered her and Jane into the bright, airy hotel. Inside the large entryway, a fountain bubbled cheerfully in one corner, while a small aviary in the center of the lobby provided a musical serenade of bird songs. Above them, the glass roof allowed light to filter down through the palm fronds that towered over the hotel, providing natural shading for the crystal roof. The hotel manager, a small, wiry man, hurried forward to meet them, a cordial smile on his dark-skinned features.

  “Welcome, welcome. We’re delighted to welcome the guests of Sheikh Mazir to the Billôr Sarâya.”

  Altair stepped forward in a quick move, a look of tension on his features. “Hakim, the Sheikh has requested the royal suites for Miss Talbot and Mrs. Beacon. Their luggage will be arriving shortly.”

  “But of course, Excellency. The suites are ready—”

  “Thank you, Hakim. I’m certain you’ve seen to everything, you always do. Please arrange baths for the Sheikh’s guests immediately.”

  “Of course, Excellency. It is an honor to serve you. The Billôr Sarâya is always happy to welcome you and—”

  “That will be all, Hakim. Bring me the room keys, and I’ll escort the ladies upstairs.”

  Puzzlement furrowed the small man’s dark brow, and Alex glanced up at Altair’s face. His jaw was taut with tension as he glared at the manager. She narrowed her eyes. Why was the hotel manager treating Altair as if he were royalty? If the man had greeted her and Jane in the same manner, it would be understandable. But the dark-skinned manager seemed only concerned with Altair’s wishes and commands. The two men stared at each other for a long moment before the hotel manager bowed in an obsequious manner. “Of course, Excellency.”

  The man scurried away as if Altair’s mere presence had served to intimidate him. Alex frowned. Something mysterious floated beneath the surface of their conversation. It raised the specter of doubt as to Altair’s true motives. He worked for the Museum, making it hard for her to trust him. It was a nagging suspicion that was difficult to shrug aside.

  “Billôr Sarâya. What a lyrical-sounding name. What does it mean?” Jane’s voice broke through the uneasy silence.

  “Crystal Palace.” Alex spoke at the same time Altair did, and she turned her head away when Jane arched her eyebrow in amusement.

  Blast! She should never have agreed to Altair’s bargain. The man set her nerves on edge. His cryptic mannerisms made it impossible not to think he was hiding something from her. But what? Biting her lip, she studied his haughty profile.

  As if aware of her probing look, he turned his head and arched an eyebrow at her in a silent question. Flustered, she quickly looked away, all too aware of how a mere glance from him made her body vibrate and tingle with sensation. Everything Altair had done could easily be explained away. She was letting her imagination run amuck where he was concerned. Although she was certain someone was trying to kill her, she couldn’t possibly consider him a suspect. He’d saved her life twice now. A murderer wouldn’t save the person they were trying to kill.

  Hakim returned and halted in front of Altair. He bowed in a humble manner and offered the keys without looking up. Tension and annoyance played across Altair’s face as he accepted the skeleton keys. She was about to comment on the hotel manager’s servile manner, when a man strode into the hotel lobby.

  The man swiped off his wide-brimmed hat before he slapped it against his leg and dust flew off the brim. Lean and muscular, the man stood almost as tall as Altair, and his skin was tanned a deep golden-brown. The light from the glass ceiling danced across his brown hair bleached almost blond by the sun-drenched environment. He looked around the lobby until he saw Altair. A wide grin on his face, the man strolled forward.

  “Altair! I came as soon as I heard you were back.”

  Wheeling about, Altair grinned widely. For a brief instant, Alex wished she could bring such an expression of pleasure to his face. Dismayed by the thought, she immediately pushed it aside. Little good would come from considering the effect the man’s smile had on her—let alone wishing she could produce a similar response on his part. It would only get in the way of her efforts to fulfill her promise to her father and herself.

  “Leighton, it’s wonderful to see you.” With a hearty handshake and one hand on the stranger’s shoulder, Altair greeted the man.

  “And you. How long has it been? A year and a half?”

  “At least that.” Altair turned toward Alex and Jane. “Leighton, let me introduce you to Miss Alexandra Talbot and Mrs. Jane Beacon. Ladies, may I present Leighton Marlowe, Earl of Tunbridge.”

  “Ladies.” The earl nodded in their direction, his gaze briefly pausing over Jane’s face for a fraction longer than necessary before turning back to Altair. “So, what the devil are you doing in Cairo? I would have thought you’d be out in the desert this time of year.”

  Beside her, Jane stiffened. Surprise shot through Alex as she watched her friend’s face cloud with irritation. It was the first time she’d ever seen her friend completely ignored by a man. From Jane’s expression, it was apparent she wasn’t accustomed to such disregard either.

  She lightly touched Jane’s arm, but her friend simply shook her head as an undefinable expression pulled her mouth into a tight line. It was unlike Jane to act like a spoilt child. But given the earl’s good looks, she could understand why her friend was peeved at being ignored. Suppressing a smile, Alex returned her attention to the men and their conversation.

  “Will you be heading out to the camp anytime soon? I’m sure Gameela is eager to see you.”

  Without meaning to, every muscle in Alex’s body tightened into a coil of tension. Who was Gameela? Did he have a mistress here? The notion sent her heart plummeting toward her stomach before righting itself.

  “Actually, I’m not sure when I’ll be going to the Sheikh’s camp. I’m helping Sheikh el Mazir lead an expedition out into the desert, up near Khatana-Qantir.”

  “What do you expect to find out there? It’s just a small village—nothing of any consequence.”

  A puzzled expression crossed the earl’s face, alerting her to Altair’s rigid posture. As he glanced over his shoulder, she grew still at the evasive look on his sharply carved features.

  “Perhaps, but Miss Talbot here thinks otherwise.”

  “Hmm, possibly. I recall that
American professor you corresponded with claimed Per-Ramesses existed out there.”

  Her stomach lurched at the comment. The earl had to be talking about her father. Why hadn’t Altair told her about corresponding with her father? What possible reason would he have for keeping such information a secret? Once again, distrust about his true intentions reared its head.

  “Actually, I only translated and prepared the correspondence between the Sheikh and the professor.” Altair gave a nonchalant shrug of his shoulders, but his tension was evident in his rigid pose.

  “But I—”

  “Speaking of the Sheikh, he’s actually here in Cairo for the next couple of days. I’m sure he’d welcome seeing you at the villa.”

  Puzzlement vanished as the earl’s features became unreadable. He arched his eyebrows at Altair before nodding his head. “I’ll make sure to stop in to see him before I head out to Luxor. No doubt, he’ll have some interesting tales to relate. It was good seeing you, Altair. Ladies.”

  The two men shook hands, and with a brief nod in their direction, the earl strode away. Jane emitted a disgruntled sniff of anger, her gaze locked on the earl’s departing back. If she hadn’t been so disturbed by Altair’s deception, Alex would have marveled at the fury on Jane’s face. Instead, she ignored her friend’s fit of pique and pinned her gaze on the man beside her. He frowned as she glared at him.

  “Shall we proceed to your accommodations, ladies? The Sheikh’s men should deliver your trunks from the ship soon, and Hakim will no doubt have your baths ready in short order. I’ve some arrangements to make for our trip to the Pyramids, so once I’ve seen you to your rooms, I’ll be on my way.”

  “Will you join us for dinner, Altair?” Jane’s voice held just an edge of sharpness to it. “And perhaps you’d convince the earl to join us. I’d love to learn more about Luxor.”

  Curiosity glinted in Altair’s eyes as he bowed in Jane’s direction. “It might take some doing, but I’m sure I can convince Leighton to join us. He’s a bit rough around the edges, but he can be quite charming when he chooses to be.”