Both Thomas and Benjamin had received invitations to join the latter society, but in a show of support for Rose, they declined. The stodgy group didn’t allow women, regardless of the value of their work. It was a shame because the group was missing out on many capable club members. For over a hundred years, the club had been the most prestigious and unchallenged establishment for all things related to antiquities. The Historical Society for Brazen Curators was changing that.
Thomas rolled his shoulders again and grimaced. “I’m getting too old for exploring.”
Rafe snorted. “You are only thirty-two. But maybe you should consider going to England and settling down? You could convince that author to work with you to publish more serials.”
“I’m not returning to England.”
His friend glanced at Lisbeth and then back at him. “You are going to let the lady go? Why?”
He studied Lisbeth. She was still wearing the trousers and long shirt that Rose liked to wear, but soon, she’d be back in her regal dress. While he knew this woman, the one she would transform into in Latakia was a stranger to him.
“We decided we’ve both changed too much.”
Rafe snorted. “That doesn’t mean you aren’t compatible or the love you once had has disappeared.”
Thomas sighed. “She is a duchess. What do we have in common?”
“You are now a famed explorer, but I imagine some of the old you still remains. What did she used to call you?”
He didn’t respond, and Rafe, already knowing, added, “Serious Thomas. You are still that person. Trouble seems to find you, but you are far more cautious than you lead most to believe. You could go to London and be with her.”
His gaze once again drifted back to his old love. The tiniest amount of hope flared in him. To date, he’d not allowed himself to consider it. But he suspected that if he returned to England, thetonwould welcome him with open arms. Although he may have been the son of a housekeeper, he was now quite wealthy. His mother would be delighted if he were to return. She’d never flat-out asked him to settle back in London, but he sensed it from her letters.
Lisbeth laughed at something Abbas said, and Rafe added, “You could at least visit Rose, Benjamin, and your mother.”
“I will think about going to London but not to re-establish anything with Lisbeth,” he insisted. “We are too different.”
Rafe shook his head. “Daft man.”
Thomas lifted a brow and said, “You are not pursuing the lady that you never speak of.”
His face turned serious. “She isn’t unattached.”
Thomas did his best not to appear surprised. That was the most Rafe had ever shared about his heartache. He sighed. “Perhaps we both are a little bit like the Majnun.”
Chapter Ten
Abbas succeeded inbooking passage on a ship for him, Lisbeth, and Benson. They would be departing the day after tomorrow. Lisbeth had been surprised that he’d found a ship returning to England so soon. She supposed she shouldn’t be that shocked. Ship travel seemed to be rapidly evolving all over the world. She sipped her wine while she, Abbas, and Benson enjoyed a last meal with Thomas and Rafe.
Conflicting emotions swirled within her. She missed Jeremy and Alice, but she’d also rediscovered a part of herself in Syria—one she delighted in. Her life in England, aside from her involvement with the Historical Society for Female Curators and her children, was one marked by tedious appointments and events. Perhaps she needed to do less of them and more things she enjoyed.
Her gaze flitted to Thomas. She was happy to have reached a truce or resolution with him. Lisbeth reflected on the emotions she felt when he’d been swept away. She never wanted to feel that again. While she and Thomas were different people, imagining a world where he didn’t exist any longer seemed devastating.
Over the last ten years, she’d often imagined what his life was like and hoped it was exciting. When the serials came out about him, she’d been equally jealous of his pursuits but also happy that he’d been so successful. She’d not enjoyed all the talk about the women, but studying him now, she suspected it was all true.Serious Thomas had become a broad-shouldered man with an easy smile.
His eyes connected with hers, and he held up his wine glass. She raised hers in return—her stomach flip-flopped. Lisbeth’s eyes flicked down to his large hand, and for a mad moment, she wondered what it would feel like to have it run along her skin. A flush heated her cheeks, and he tilted his head as if trying to decipher what she was thinking.
Abbas interrupted the moment by tapping on his glass. “I would like to propose a toast. Thank you to Easton and Rafe for assisting us in locating the tablets, and thank you to Her Grace for not only bringing the map to Syria but also for squeezing into the small hole in the cave tunnel to retrieve the artifacts. I don’t think I would have done the same. I don’t think I realized the duchess was such an adventuress until traveling with her.”
Lisbeth laughed. Anyone who knew her in London would never believe all she’d done in the last week. She held her glass up. “To you, Mr. Abbas, for helping the Historical Society for Female Curators negotiate a deal with your mother’s village and the village of Al-Wa?a to display the amazing artifacts that contain the complete epic.”
Rafe added, “And to Benson, who I don’t think wanted to do any of this but made it through.”
Everyone laughed, and Benson shrugged but didn’t deny it. Her guard would, without a doubt, be happy to be back on English soil. They all drank, and Rafe said, “Tell me about this Historical Society for Female Curators.”
Lisbeth nodded. “About a year ago, Viscountess Hawley stood the club up as a place for women to study history as well as educate the public on antiquities. The tablets that Rose previously deciphered are our main exhibit. Still, they only contained half the epic. We are hoping that when Rose translates the remaining tablets, it will complete the story and allow us toobtain a spot in the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations.”
“What is that?” Thomas asked.
