Page 33 of When a Lady Desires a Wicked Lord
Her words slammed into him. He turned back to her, seeing the concern and fear that had darkened her irises to a smoky amber.
“Good God.”
“Professor Stockwell is the common thread in all of these deaths,” she said, pain shading her tones. “Your suspicions were correct.”
“I must return to Egypt. Come with me, Alexandra. Stockwell possessed volumes of notes. He’d extensively studied the Pharaoh’s Sun. With the amulet and the map we will—”
“There isnocurse. Tell me you have not succumbed to frightening lore.”
“You know me better than that,” he said. “The menace we are facing is not of a supernatural nature. But that will be of little comfort when we encounter the threat. I’ve no intention of biding my time, patiently waiting to be attacked by some unknown menace. I must determine what the cur is after.”
She cocked her head, studying him with those luminous brown eyes. “You believe the answer can only be found in Egypt?”
“Where else?”
“A return to Cairo at this time would be pointless.” She came to him, her steps slow and measured. Reaching out, she cupped her palm against his jaw. “Benedict, the evil has followed you to the city. We must acknowledge that fact. We must band together to confront it from a position of strength. While we are in London, we will have the backing of the Colton Agency.”
The evil has followed you.
Regret welled within his gut. Bugger it, she was right. Coming here…seeking out the map…had been a mistake. His intention to involve her with his scheme had been a miscalculation of the worst sort. By hellfire, he wanted to uncover the treasure Stockwell had located. If he had found the lost tomb, its riches would shine beyond his wildest dreams. With the funds the treasure would bring, he would never again be reduced to poaching artifacts to add to the collection of some gout-ridden old bounder with more money than sense.
But the cost of recovering the treasure had suddenly become too damned high. He could not risk Alexandra’s life. He should not have involved her. While he tracked down Rooney, he should have done everything in his power to remove her from the danger’s reach, even if that meant seeing her on a steamer bound across the Atlantic.
Once again, he’d been a fool. He could not allow Alexandra to pay the price for his error in judgment.
Reaching up, he kneaded his aching neck, as if that would ease the tension coiled deep within him.
“I want you to leave England,” he said finally.
Her mouth pulled tight. “That would not be advisable. I have made my reasoning clear. We have a far better chance of unmasking the scoundrel right here. In London.”
“Hunting a killer is not your responsibility. I want you far from here.”
“Youwant me to leave?” She eyed him as if he’d grown a tail. “I must admit, this is most unexpected. You charge back into my life with the audacity to tell me whatyouwant. You now claim to have concern for me. How very touching.”
“Can you doubt that I care about you? I raced from one continent to another to head off the man who could have killed you.” The words escaped him before he had the good sense to rein them in.
She stood silent, seeming to ponder his words. Her eyes widened slightly, the only show of emotion. No unpleasant scenes for Alexandra Quinn. That would have been beneath her stiff-upper-lip school of dignity. She’d always been able to contain her feelings—other than when he’d managed to tap into the passion that rippled just beneath her cool surface.
She toyed with the lace at her sleeves. “Whether or not you care for me is not pertinent to this situation.”
“I cannot be certain that I will be able to keep you out of harm’s way, and Colton cannot guarantee your safety.”
“He is confident his agents will provide superior protection.”
“I do not share your faith in the man. It would be wise for you to go somewhere far from this place…far from the danger. Across the ocean.” He reached for her, taking her hand in his. “If you agree, I will arrange your passage.”
Her feathered brows shot up. “Last night, you were adamant that I should join you in your pursuits. And now, you’d see me travel to America?”
“Is it so incredible that I should have a change of heart?”
“You came here seeking a map to a treasure. Am I to believe you’d simply let your quest fall to the wayside?” Her mouth curled at the corners, not quite a smile. “Is it possible you have come to believe I will interfere with your pursuit of the riches?”
“You, of all people, should know I have no intention of abandoning the hunt for the map. I won’t simply walk away. I know what Stockwell told me. But that does not change one simple fact—he should not have involved you.”
“He did not intend to,” she said softly.
“Stockwell asked me to protect you. And I will to see to it that you are out of the killer’s reach.”
