“Only two miles from here, my lady, but first we must cross the river.We shall hire a felucca—a sailing vessel—to make the crossing.I shall inquire as to carriages we might take on the other side.What time would you like to go?”
“If we wake up early, we can be back before the heat is too high,” Harry suggested.
“Breakfast at seven o’clock.Leave at eight?”Will countered.
When their party agreed, he turned to the guide.“We’ll need to pay you extra, for I have reason to believe this wasn’t part of your original itinerary for us.”
“You may pay me after I know the costs,” Mahmood replied.“We will have time to visit the Temple of Luxor in the afternoon—it’s very close.Have you decided if you wish to continue up the river for another fortnight, or if you wish to return to Cairo?”
Will and Harry exchanged quick glances before turning to their families.“We’ll discuss it over dinner and give you an answer on the morrow,” Will replied, earning a nod of approval from Harry.
Two hours later
With their bellies full and the ladies having departed for the hotel’s parlor for hibiscus tea, the men leaned back.“Do we continue up the Nile or head back to Cairo?”Will asked.
“If we continue, what would we see?”Tom asked.
David was quick to respond.“There are temples at Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Philae—that’s about a hundred and twenty miles from here.”
“It would seem a shame to turn around now,” Randy argued.“I would understand if you would all wish to go back, but I happen to be on my wedding trip with my wife,” he said.
“We are well aware,” his brother deadpanned.
Randy directed a grimace at Tom.“Father always said ‘happy wife, happy life’, and I am in agreement.Diana and I will continue even if you decide to go back.We can make arrangements to meet you in Rome in a couple of months,” he explained.
“Everly, what say you?”Will asked.
Harry chuckled softly.“I admit I have been very surprised at how well my countess has faired on this trip.Not a peep of complaint.And Helen and Bradley seem entertained by the adventure?—”
“They do indeed,” Will said, chuckling.“Too bad he probably won’t remember it.”His quick glance in Tom’s direction had him catching his nephew’s brief grimace.
“I told my man of business I would send word should I be gone longer than six months?—”
“Only six months?”Will repeated in surprise.
“I realize now I should have guessed my ladies would enjoy this more than I expected,” Harry admitted.“Who knew they wouldn’t mind sleeping under mosquito netting and eating strange foods and seeing shriveled up mummies?”he added rhetorically.
“We really haven’t seen any of those,” David complained.
“We are not bringing any of those back with us,” Will stated, his attention on his son.
David scoffed.“I was only teasing,” he claimed.“Besides, I would rather not suffer a mummy’s curse,” he added.
“Nor would any of us,” Randy agreed.
“So...do we go on or go back?”
“Go on,” the rest said in unison.
Will chuckled softly.“Well, that was easier than I thought it would be.”
They finished their drinks and headed to the parlor to join the women.Given the plan for an early departure in the morning, they were soon off to bed.
Not necessarily to sleep, though.
Randy’s announcement they were to continue up the Nile to Philae was met with a shriek of delight from Diana.She showed her appreciation by riding him to a rather satisfying release.His last thought before he dozed off was ‘happy wife, happy life.’
