He shook his head. “I would be honored to be able to help you decipher the first discovered completed cuneiform epic, but I am worried that it may be impossible without the map the London Society of Antiquaries holds.”
Rose sighed. He was right. Thomas nudged her with his shoulder and grinned. “Still, I will try my best.”
“I know.”
“I can’t believe someone kidnapped you to steal your work. Had I known what happened to you, I would have returned to London immediately. Your father will be distraught.”
Rose said, “No need to make it dramatic.”
“It is.”
She’d told him it was smugglers. Rose couldn’t imagine what he would think if he knew it was tied to some type of government espionage. Hawley had assured Augustus it was a one-time thing, so she would stay mum about those details.
“I would like to keep the retelling as simple as possible. There is no need to worry my father unnecessarily.”
Thomas nodded and pulled a flask from his coat pocket. He took a sip. “Cheers to you and your next adventure.”
She took the flask from him. “Thank you. I can’t wait.”
*
Middle of the Desert, Syria– January 1851
Augustus slid offthe horse, exhausted and dirty but thrilled to finally have made it to Benjamin Calvert’s excavation camp. It had taken him three full days to reach the site with the help of two guides.
His heart pounded that he was so close to seeing Rose again. An older man emerged from a tent, studying him and the guides. One of the guides said something to the man in Arabic, pointing at Augustus.
Was this Rose’s father? He’d corresponded with him over letters but never met him in person. Still, Augustus could see his likeness to Rose. He made his way over to him, and the mansmiled at him, confused but amused. “Your Grace, you are the last person I expect to see in the middle of the desert.”
“I’m looking for your daughter.”
Calvert lifted a brow. “Why?”
He shifted on his feet, uncomfortable, feeling like he was making a bloody fool of himself. Still, he only had one shot at this. He took a deep breath and said, “Sir, I love your daughter. I’ve come to ask for her hand in marriage.”
The man guffawed, seemingly delighted. “You fancy my Rose?”
“More than anything else in this world,” he said, suspecting Calvert would appreciate honesty more than anything else.
“Why don’t you join me in my tent and tell me how this happened?”
Augustus followed the man into the massive space and was surprised to find a sitting area, desk, and bed.
Calvert winked at him. “Not what you expected. Have you ever been out of England?”
Augustus took a seat, shaking his head. “No, I haven’t, sir.”
“Call me Benjamin since we may become family.”
He nodded, nervous and desperately wanting this man to find him suitable as a match for his daughter. Augustus thought about the absurdity of that statement. Any father in England would have jumped at the chance to have their daughter marry a duke, but he suspected Benjamin wasn’t so impressed. “Please call me Augustus or Sinclair then.”
Benjamin nodded and leaned back in his chair, contemplative. He stroked his beard quietly. Finally, he asked, “Does Rose know you love her?”
The back of Augustus’s neck heated. There was so much to their story that he couldn’t share with this man. “I think so. I made a mess of it, honestly. I wasn’t as forthcoming as I should have been.”
Rose’s father nodded, and Augustus continued, “Then Rose decided I was better off with my childhood love, whom I don’t love at all. It is complicated.”
Benjamin burst into laughter and then shook his head. “Love always is. Rose’s mother was a lady and had just begun her debut when we met. I still remember when we ran off together. It seemed as if being together was impossible, but eventually, we found our way. I wish she were here to see our daughter fall in love.”
