by Stacy Henrie
He offered a tight smile. “They can’t all be, can they?”
“Is it customary to find so little in the way of artifacts inside some tombs?” Kirk’s question cut through the numbness surrounding Marcus. He’d almost forgotten his friend was here—with Syble.
Falling back a step, Marcus released himself from her hold. “I believe I’ll…” He glanced around, desperate for something more to do, somewhere else to go. “I’m going to begin packing up camp. Then we’ll need to widen the hole to be able to get inside. Since the tomb isn’t fully intact, the items will be divided up between myself and the Antiquities Service. However, you are welcome to whatever you like from my half, Adelle.”
“Marcus, wait,” Syble said, her tone almost pleading. “There’s something I need—”
He gave an apologetic shake of his head and strode from the room. Whatever Syble had to say, he wasn’t sure he could bear to hear it. Not after such a blow to his career and not when she was clearly with Kirk.
* * *
Syble never got to the chance to speak with Marcus before she returned to Luxor that afternoon with her grandmother and the other widows. Every time she’d made an attempt to talk to him, someone or something had prevented a private conversation.
The newspaper article she’d tucked inside her dress pocket that morning still remained there. Syble had considered showing it to Marcus the moment she’d arrived at the dig site but decided against it. She hadn’t wanted him to think that she was trying to overshadow his important moment. But after the treasury room had yielded so little in the way of treasure, she’d wanted her news to erase his sharp disappointment. Only he’d left the dig site before he could hear it.
“Is the food not to your liking tonight, Miss Rinecroft?”
She lifted her gaze from her plate to Mr. Kirk, who was seated beside her. “No, it’s as delicious as usual. I’m just not very hungry.” She’d been taking her meals with him and his sister and brother-in-law all week, but tonight, the three of them had joined all of the Wandering Widows at their table. Marcus had yet to return to the hotel, and with the rest of their party gathered together, Syble felt his absence keenly.
“Perhaps you need something entertaining to spark your appetite.” He smiled. “I was thinking we might visit the temple of Karnak tonight. I’ve heard it is rather breathtaking by moonlight.”
Syble offered a light laugh, more feigned than sincere, and took another bite of her food. She wouldn’t mind visiting Karnak again, but not with Mr. Kirk. That was an experience she would always associate with Marcus. And regardless of all that had happened between them, she didn’t wish to return to such a special place with any other man.
“Why don’t we take a stroll along the terrace instead?” she suggested.
Mr. Kirk’s mouth turned down in disappointment, but he recovered quickly. “That would be nice as well.” His eyes held hers as he added in a lower voice, “Any activity with you, Miss Rinecroft, is one well spent.”
She sensed the honesty in his admiration, and yet it didn’t affect her as it once had. Tonight, she felt no fluttering pulse, no quivers in her stomach, and certainly no shyness from being near him.
“I’ve enjoyed our time together too.”
She meant the words. Mr. Kirk had been as amiable and fun as she remembered—that hadn’t changed. His own inclination for spontaneity made any excursion an entertaining one, and she’d enjoyed her time in his company.
Still, the fact that he wouldn’t think twice about racing her down a hill of sand if she dared him meant she had no inclination to ask—convincing him wouldn’t feel like an exhilarating victory. Nor would he have any qualms about randomly exploring Luxor rather than plotting out an efficient course as Marcus would be prone to do, which meant there would be none of the pleasure of hashing out a way to meet in the middle. And therein lay her greatest reservation about Mr. Kirk.
He wasn’t Marcus.
Syble had been so certain at the beginning of this adventure that Marcus would be as irritating to her as he had been in the past. That hadn’t proven true, though. She’d come to see how complementary their differences could be, and how much more fun it was to be with someone so opposite to her own personality—someone who challenged her and brought out the best in her. Marcus tempered some of her impulsiveness, and she liked to think she encouraged him to be more carefree.
None of that mattered, though, if he wanted nothing to do with her anymore.
She set down her fork, all appetite gone. The others were still engaged in conversation, but Mr. Kirk noticed she’d finished eating.
“Shall we take that stroll?”
Mustering a smile, Syble allowed him to help her with her chair. “Mr. Kirk and I are going to walk on the terrace,” she told her grandmother. She’d only meant for Nana to hear, but the other three widows exchanged worried glances. Florence wasn’t the only one who watched Mr. Kirk with wariness. “I’ll be fine.”
How she loved these four women. Syble would dearly miss traveling with them on their next trip. She would even miss their antics, their worrying over her, and their matchmaking. But she no longer feared a future away from their little group. Now she knew that God intended for her to do something else with her life—she just needed to figure out what that might be.
Since the dinner hour hadn’t yet concluded, the terrace stood mostly empty. Syble joined Mr. Kirk beside the railing, content to watch the Nile without talking. She wasn’t ready to leave Egypt yet. Something about this place filled her with energy. It was here, in this land of sand and sunrise, that she felt more herself than she ever had at home or even during her time in London.
“There’s something I wish to ask you, Miss Rinecroft.” Turning to face her, Mr. Kirk lifted her gloved hand.
The intensity of his gaze set Syble’s pulse thudding faster, though not from anticipation. She suspected what he wished to ask, and in her heart, she already knew her answer.
“What is it?”
He rubbed his thumb across her glove. “Spending time with you this week has reminded me of how much I enjoyed your company in London.” He visibly swallowed. “I know I hurt you, Miss Rinecroft, and for that I am truly sorry.”
“I appreciate that, Mr. Kirk. But there’s nothing to apologize for. Not anymore.”
The tension left him. “I’m relieved to hear it.” He glanced down at her hand. “Mostly because I’m hoping for a second chance.” Before she could reply, he rushed on. “If your feelings match my own, which I assure you are stronger than they have ever been, I would like to court you officially.”
“What of your family’s expectations?”
His mouth turned down slightly at the question, but his tone remained just as earnest when he answered. “I’ve decided to truly follow my heart, as I was told to do, and not let others’ expectations dictate my choice this time.”
The declarations were ones Syble had once longed to hear from him. Back then, she had been content to marry for mere affection, with the hope that it would grow into more. But now she knew what it meant to be in love. And she did not love Mr. Kirk.
“I’m glad you want to follow your heart.” She offered him a genuine smile. “You and the girl whose heart you claim will be far happier because of it.”
He dipped his head in a slow nod. “Am I right to assume that girl will not be you, though?”
“Yes.” She squeezed his hand. “You’re a good man, Elijah, and I will be forever thankful that we are friends.”
“But that is all you believe we can be?”
Syble lowered her arm and nodded. “Thank you for a wonderful week.”
“I found it invigorating as well.” His smile had mostly returned. “Tell Brandt he is a lucky chap.”
She raised her eyebrows, confused at his meaning. “What for?”
“Because he’s won the heart of an extraordinary woman.”
Her cheeks filled with mild heat. “How did you know?”
Bring
ing her hand to his mouth, Mr. Kirk placed a kiss against her glove. The gesture held none of the thrill that had accompanied Marcus’s kiss to her hand.
“All of our conversations have been peppered with his name, Syble. And I saw your face this evening when you learned he had not arrived to join everyone at dinner. You were quite distressed.”
Syble hadn’t fooled anyone, least of all herself, into thinking things between her and Marcus were over. They weren’t for her. Was it possible he felt the same way? And if he did, was this the new course she was to take with her life?
“I don’t know how he feels,” she admitted.
“Then you ought to find out.”
On impulse, Syble rose on her toes and kissed Mr. Kirk’s cheek. “You’re right. I’m going to follow my heart too and see how he feels.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” His eyes brightened with amusement in the next instant. “When do you plan on finding out?”
She stepped back, her lips curving up in a grin. “Tonight.”
* * *
He could’ve joined everyone for dinner back at the hotel, but Marcus had been famished earlier and had chosen to eat elsewhere by himself. A hearty appetite had been the result of an entire afternoon spent wandering the Valley of the Kings and other sites in and around Luxor. While his route had been aimless, his thoughts and prayers hadn’t been.
Now that he knew the treasury room would not bring him the fame he’d hoped for, Marcus had taken a hard look at his archaeology career. Hard work, and luck, on future digs might still not amass the sort of accolades his brothers had received. Was it worth it, then, for him to continue on? Could he find some other motive for his efforts in Egypt, besides worldly acclaim?
The answer had taken time in coming. It wasn’t until he stood at the Temple of Hatshepsut, thinking about the Abderrassul family and their large discovery nearby, that he had known what to do. Or rather what he needed to keep doing.
As Marcus contemplated the story that had inspired him as a boy, he felt a sense of peace and acceptance. God did not care whether he found a hidden tomb loaded with enough treasure to fill a museum. However, He did care that Marcus made use of his talents and continued to work and dream in those—and that was exactly what he planned to do.
He might never be known to the world for a famous find in Egypt, but he wouldn’t give up his work here either. Being an archaeologist brought him a great deal of satisfaction and happiness. And that was reward enough for him.
Marcus entered the lobby, his focus on the stairs across the way. “Congratulations, Mr. Brandt!” the clerk called out to him.
“I’m sorry?” He eyed the younger man in confusion and took a step toward the hotel desk. His find earlier today hardly warranted such felicitations.
“You’re too modest, sir.” The clerk gave a knowing nod. “That was quite a discovery. I’ll have to get myself up to the museum in Cairo to see it all.”
A gentleman reading a newspaper rose from his chair and hurried over to Marcus. “Did I hear correctly? You’re Brandt, the famous archaeologist?”
“I…uh.” Marcus shook his head, his bewilderment increasing. Had either gentleman not spoken to him by name, he would’ve been certain they had mistaken him for someone else. “Which discovery are you referring to?”
The clerk spoke to the man with the newspaper. “Found so many, he can’t remember.”
“The discovery near the Valley of the Kings,” the other man said. He thrust the newspaper at Marcus and tapped a finger against one of the bold headings.
British Archaeologist Finds Hidden Tomb, Marcus read.
“There has to be some mistake,” he muttered.
The clerk chuckled. “No mistake if you’re Marcus Brandt. And I happen to know you are, from the registry and from all the times you’ve stayed here in the past.”
“May I keep this?” Marcus asked the man with the newspaper.
The fellow nodded. “Of course—and congratulations.”
He thanked him and started for the stairs a second time, reading the article as he walked. Just as the two men had claimed, the newspaper stated that Marcus was indeed the archaeologist on the dig that had resulted in the find of a hidden tomb, though Syble, Gran, and the other widows were mentioned too. The article also claimed that he and Syble had discovered the all-important map together some years ago.
Lowering the newspaper, Marcus stopped at the bottom of the stairs, stunned and perplexed. The credit Syble should have claimed for both the discovery of the map and the tomb had largely been given to him. But why? She’d been so eager to be known for this find. Had the paper misinterpreted the information Syble had given them?
There was only one way to find out. He turned around and headed toward the dining room. Hopefully the group would still be eating at this hour. His guess paid off. Marcus found his grandmother and the others at their customary table. The only one absent was Syble.
Still eager for answers, he approached the table. All four women looked more than a little relieved to see him. “There you are, Marcus.” Gran accepted his kiss to her cheek. “Is everything all right? Have you eaten dinner?”
He smiled. “Everything is fine, Gran, and I did eat. However, before I return to my room, I have a question about this article I just read.”
“Oh good, you saw it.” Rose clasped her hands together. “Isn’t it marvelous? And in the Times, no less. Adelle showed it to us this afternoon.”
He nodded absently. “Yes, but I don’t understand why I received the larger share of the credit for the find. It was as much Gran and Syble and the rest of you as it was me.”
Marcus expected Adelle to offer an explanation, since Syble was her granddaughter. But it was Florence who spoke up. “That was Syble’s decision. She was the one who contacted the newspapers, and that’s the story she gave them.”
“I still don’t understand why.”
Adelle finally entered the conversation. “Syble read me the article when we returned to the hotel today. Apparently she felt strongly that the archaeologist on the dig should receive the majority of the credit for the discovery of the tomb.”
He gazed down at the article again. This dig had been important to Syble, yet she had sacrificed her moment of glory. For him.
“Where is she?” he asked next.
The widows shared a long look before Gran answered, “She’s walking with Mr. Kirk.”
“Ah, I see.”
This selfless, amazing woman, whom he loved with all of his heart, had chosen someone else. Perhaps if Marcus had been more open with her, about a great many things, he would not have lost her to Kirk. Deep regret coursed through him.
“You know, I believe I’m going to venture out again.”
Gran blinked in surprise. “But you just got back. Where are you going?”
Where indeed? He’d visited most of his favorite sites already today. Except for one.
“The temple of Karnak,” Marcus announced.
If he couldn’t be with Syble in reality, then he would revisit a place that had been significant to both of them. He only hoped the memories there would be more a balm than a burden and would help to ease the pain of losing her.
CHAPTER 17
“Is Marcus back yet?” Syble asked before she even reached the table where her grandmother and the other women still sat.
Ethel visibly swallowed. “He was here, but he left again.”
“Where did he go?” The urgency to find him, to tell him how she felt, made it impossible to stand still. As she waited for an answer to her question, she folded her arms and bounced on the balls of her shoes. She didn’t want another day to pass without confessing her heart to Marcus.
Nana gave a slow shake of her head. “I don’t know that we should tell you, Syble dear. Not if you still intend to renew your relationship with Mr. Kirk.”
“I’m not involved with Mr. Kirk.” She glanced at each of them in turn, but they only stared back with wariness on their fa
ces. “I promise I am not renewing my relationship with him. I enjoyed our outings this week, but only because we’re friends with similar interests and personalities. That is all we will ever be. I made that clear to him tonight.”
Nana, Rose, and Florence finally looked convinced, but not Ethel. Syble knelt down in front of Marcus’s grandmother. “I understand you don’t want his heart to be broken all over again, Ethel. I don’t want that either.” She clasped the woman’s gloved hand in her own. “I was hurt when I found out about his conversation with Mr. Kirk. But I’ve realized this week that I don’t want to let one mistake cost Marcus and me a chance at real happiness together.” Taking a deep breath, she added on the exhale, “I love him.”
“It’s about time,” Florence grumbled good-naturedly.
Syble chuckled, though she kept her gaze on Ethel. “I hope he loves me too, but the only way to know for certain is to talk to him.”
A hopeful smile erased the worry on Ethel’s face. “He went to visit the temple of Karnak again.”
It wasn’t the answer Syble had expected, but she couldn’t think of a more perfect one. Marcus had gone to a place that held significance for them. Maybe that meant he hadn’t written off a future together just yet. Her pulse sped up at the possibility. Rising to her feet, she placed a quick kiss on the widow’s cheek. “Thank you, Ethel.”
Nana stood as well. “Are you going there now?”
“Yes,” Syble said without hesitation. She wasn’t dressed for an excursion to the temple, but she couldn’t wait another second to see Marcus.
Resolve etched her grandmother’s features. “I’m coming with you.”
“So am I.” Rose pushed back her chair. “I wouldn’t miss this reunion for anything.”
Ethel also rose from her seat. “I want to join you too, if that’s all right.”
“Yes, of course.” Syble smiled at Marcus’s grandmother, then turned to face the remaining widow. “What about you, Florence? Do you want to come with us or stay here?”
