They’d been friends their whole lives, growing up side by side; then, in the Syrian desert, he confessed his love for her. And just like that, it had all clicked into place why he agreed to leave England with her and venture off to faraway lands. For Thomas, she was always his forever lady. She hated that it had taken her longer to figure it out, but now she knew he was her perfect match, actually her only. Thomas had just proposed. She pushed the thoughts away and bit out, “I will do it, but please don’t act like this is easy for me.”
Justin nodded. “I’m sorry. Would you like me to speak with him? Maybe he would understand—”
“No!” If Thomas knew what she was doing, he would do everything to prevent it. Leaving him a note that she’d returned to England for good was the only way, even though it would devastate him. He would hate her. Maybe that was for the best. She would need to make sure the letter made all her decisions final, or Thomas would come after her. Lisbeth, her heart breaking, sat down at the desk to write the missive—a goodbye letter to the one man who would always have her heart.
Dear Thomas,
I’ve decided to return to England. While our adventure has been fun, I find I miss my life in London and regret not having a Season. I hope you will understand. Even though I’m returning, I think it is best that you stay and continue your work with Benjamin Calvert and his daughter. I have no doubt you will be like the famous explorers we have always loved to read about. I hope to read about your adventures someday. Please don’t come after me. I will not see you if you do. My mind is made up. I release you from our betrothal.
Lady Lisbeth
She placed the letter in the envelope and handed it to Justin. Relief filled his face. “Thank you.”
Lisbeth nodded, hating the feeling of loss that coursed through her body. She stood and said, “Never mention Thomas to me again. I will go and do my duty, but I don’t want us ever to discuss this.”
Justin nodded, sadness hanging to him. It clung to her as well. It wasn’t every day a lady abandoned her betrothed. Lisbeth wished she were more selfish because choosing duty over love wasn’t what she wanted at all. She wanted to be with the man she loved, Thomas Easton.
Chapter One
January 1851
Syria
Twelve years later
Lisbeth stood inthe small building in the bustling Syrian port city of Latakia. She waited patiently as Mr. Abbas spoke to the guide who could escort her, Abbas, and her guard, Seth Benson, to the Calverts’ excavation site out in the desert. From what she’d been told, it would be another three-day ride.
Mr. Abbas’s hands flew in every direction. Lisbeth frowned; once long ago, she’d been able to speak some Arabic, but they were talking much too fast to understand what was being said. Instead, she glanced out the window. The street was alive with street vendors, men and women strolling along, and other lively entertainment.
If she were any other lady, she might be terrified to be in a new country, but the sounds, sights, and smells exhilarated Lisbeth. Partially, she supposed, because this wasn’t her first time in this city. However, it had been over ten years.
Abbas turned back to her and sighed, “Your Grace, Mr. Dawoud said Benjamin Calvert, his daughter, and her husband have returned to England.”
Lisbeth’s eyes widened. “Her husband?”
“Yes, surname Sinclair,” their guide, Mr. Dawoud, said.
Abbas frowned at him. “You speak English?”
“Of course I do.” Dawoud looked at him, puzzled.
Lisbeth smiled at him. “Did you say Sinclair?”
Dawoud beamed at her. “Yes, they wed in the desert. Miss Calvert’s father insisted.”
She laughed. It sounded like Benjamin. Joy coursed through her, but then it was replaced with frustration that she’d traveled all this way, and now they would have to return to England.
“Their partner, Thomas Easton, is in the city. Perhaps he can help you?” Dawoud suggested.
This was the one thing she’d feared. Well, not exactly this. She’d never anticipated Rose and Benjamin not being here at all. Yes, Lisbeth had suspected she might have to see Thomas briefly, but nothing more than that. Now, he was the only person who could assist her. She hoped Rose had told him about the map potentially being delivered.
She did her best to shake off her concerns. They didn’t matter. What was important was that she had a very old map indicating the location of two ancient cuneiform tablets that her club, The Historical Society for Female Curators, needed to retrieve. The club required them to finish deciphering an ancient epic. In London, they had clay tablets that contained the beginning and middle of the story. The map, if accurate, would lead them to the artifacts that included the ending. It would be a huge success for the club to display one of the oldest completed pieces of literature known to the modern world.
It was an epic that explained one man’s quest to win the right to be with the woman he loved. The Historical Society for Female Curators had deciphered and put on display the first half of the story at Seely House in London. It was currently a favorite attraction among theton.
It wasn’t often that London society became enthralled by antiquities, but the Historical Society for Female Curators had successfully grabbed their attention. Lisbeth was excited andproud of the club. They’d only been around for a year. Still, the male-only London Society of Antiquaries was doing everything in its power to limit their achievements.
Having a completed ancient epic on display would wow everyone. The club’s president hadn’t said it out loud, but Lisbeth suspected that Addie and the other board members hoped it would parley them into a chance to showcase artifacts at the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations that the Royals were hosting in a few months.
