No! It couldn’t be borne!
He’d rather offer himself as manual labor on someone’s dig site than go back to dreary Britannia and lead a life as dull as those unrelenting gray skies.
Not that I’m much more than that at present.
It was beyond his understanding why his uncle bothered to keep him on, since he was now forbidden access to any part of the temple.
Jack had a hunch it was purely for the pleasure it gave the cad to order him about, knowing he couldn’t refuse. This trip to Cairo, for instance—where he was permitted to stay under the same roof in one of the hotel’s sad single rooms on the ground floor, but not to join his uncle and his rabble of guests to dine. Not that he was tripping overhimself for that honor. The whole troop could take a flying leap off the top of a pyramid for all he cared. Knowing how brazen most tourists were, walking roughshod where they had no business to be, that outcome wasn’t entirely beyond the bounds of possibility.
A glance at his pocket watch told him he’d better get on and make himself useful. He was supposed to be supervising a supply run this morning, meeting thereisof the sailboat down at the dock before heading to the market. Then he needed to check over the state rooms, making sure everything looked tip top. He wasn’t even invited on thedahabeya,being relegated to the paddle-steamer for the journey south, where he’d be repeating his housekeeping supervision at the villa.
As if I’m chief bloody chambermaid!
He was making his way out when he was brought up short by a swish of pale-yellow skirts emerging from the breakfast room. Even from behind, there was no mistaking her,with that golden-red hair piled high, curled and pinned, topped by a dainty confection one could hardly call a hat.
Close behind was an older woman but she veered off to speak to the concierge.
Jack smiled to himself. He was feeling prickly himself right now, but that feisty piece had taken the biscuit last night. Not that he entirely blamed her for how she’d treated him. He ought to know better than to approach a woman who didn’t know him from Adam and start up with some flirting. It wasn’t his usual style, but something about her made him want to talk to her more—even if for another tongue-lashing.
Sidling up behind, he bade her good morning and was rewarded by her visibly jumping in alarm. However, she quickly regained her composure, whirling about to glare at him.
“You again!” If the flashes she sent him were lightning bolts he’d be sizzled on the spot.
For a moment, he clean forgot what he’d been planning to say. She’d looked ravishing on the terrace, in a froth of pink, but lemonsuited her better. The blush was high in her cheeks, presumably brought on by pique at having him accost her.
And those eyes!
He’d thought them regular blue in the evening light but saw now they were lighter. Azure, or cerulean? He wasn’t sure there was a name for this hue, but it reminded him of a Scottish beach he’d once visited, where the sands were very white and the sun had momentarily breached the clouds to transform the water to a sparkling shade.
She was glowering at him, looking down her nose, as if daring him to utter one more word.
He almost faltered, his voice emerging slightly hoarse, obliging him to clear his throat. “On your own again? Be careful, this place is full of dodgy characters.”
“Is that right?”
He would swear her lips twitched.
“I hardly think I’ll come to much harm in the foyer of the hotel, but if you attempt tooffer me beverages, or anything else…” she paused, “I have my parasol to beat you off.”
Jack couldn’t suppress a smile, nor the desire to keep looking at her. She was certainly worth looking at—taller than most women and slender, with an elegant neck and upright posture, haughty without a doubt, uppity and imperious and imposing.
But magnificent.
Instinctively, he imagined what it would be like to have her pinned beneath him, with all that glorious hair tumbled over a pillow, her lips and thighs parted, eager to receive his…
That thought was interrupted by a trilling from across the lobby. “All arranged!” The older woman bustled over. “That’s the telegram arranged. Though we really ought to send a postcard. Something with the pyramids, and the Sphinx, don’t you think? Perhaps two postcards and?—”
“Aunt!” The young beauty spoke in a hushed whisper. “A quieter voice, please!”
He saw his chance and stuck out his hand to the older woman. “A pleasure tomeet you. Jack Balfour, at your service. If you need help with anything at all, please allow me to be of assistance.”
“How very kind! I’m Miss Sullivan and I take it you’ve met my niece. As to assistance, I believe everything is in hand. I was asking the clerk to arrange the sending of a telegraph message, to inform my sister that we’ve arrived safely. She does worry, you see, and very much wanted to accompany us, but isn’t in the best of health, poor dear. Arthritis, you know, which comes to us all, and trouble with her chest. Nothing too serious, but her digestion is delicate. A trip like this! Well, it would be risking the most inconvenient sort of?—”
“Aunt Clodagh! I’m sure Mr. Balfour doesn’t want to hear about…any of that.” The younger woman winced. “In any case, we mustn’t detain him. He surely has some place to be.”
“Not at all. I’m perfectly at liberty.” It wasn’t true, but he could tell the offer was safely made. He could see full well that MissHaughty would rather receive overtures from an over-amorous camel than spend a moment longer in his company.
“So charming!” Miss Sullivan cooed. “Isn’t he charming, Onora?” Her attention spun back to him. “My niece has been living with us. She’s frightfully clever you know; has been studying all sorts of ancient things at Lady Margaret Hall, in Oxford. Do you know it?”
