Page 112 of Sands of Sirocco
A warm feeling spread within her.“How did your parents meet?”
“My father came to Egypt in the 1880s to fight in the war with the Sudanese.While he was here in Cairo, he fell in love with the daughter of one of the Egyptian generals.They were hopelessly matched, my father being an Irish Catholic soldier and she a Moslem from a wealthy family.When they ran away together, my mother’s father disowned her and threatened to kill my father.”
He’d told her before how much his parents had loved each other.They must have, to have risked so much.Even Noah’s father had taken a risk: his mother wouldn’t have likely been looked at kindly in his world.“You said your mother taught you Irish?”
“She taught me several languages.She had studied French and English besides Arabic.One of my parents’ neighbors that she befriended taught her Irish.”
Ginger’s thoughts grew darker.“Does your uncle know who you are?”
“Stephen made certain of it tonight.According to Alastair, the British government has decided to call me the leader of the Aleaqrab, though.They’re hunting me, Ginger.And I want to take you with me, but I’m not certain how easy it will be to get away.But if I leave you here, they may try to use you—”
“To capture you.”Osborne’s claims about Noah’s divided loyalties were now clearer than ever.And given what had transpired this evening at the palace, she was sure Noah’s family history would help convict him in the eyes of British society.
Rage crawled into Ginger’s chest.“How could Lord Helton allow this?”
“I’m no longer useful to him.And Stephen has offered him intimate knowledge on British enemies.Far more intelligence than I could have produced in years.I must leave here right away.”
“I’m going with you, of course.But where are we going?”
“After Sarah Hanover.Then Jack.It won’t be easy, though.I can’t rely on any of my friends or contacts to help.Not with Lord Helton knowing as much as he does about me.”
“Is Sarah in danger?”
Noah set his hand on the back of a chaise.“Victoria confessed earlier that Jack was being held on the outskirts of Cairo, where they had held her.Apparently, Osborne had some sort of coded message about the concession he tried to have Jack decrypt.One that—”
“They need Sarah to decrypt in order to find the concession.”Of course.
Noah went back to his bags.“Yes, I believe so.I have a feeling they captured Paul Hanover after he’d returned from Malta.Victoria mentioned Paul had been found with a coded message.But it’s likely that the message wasn’t intended for Jack and might be something he’s not able to decrypt.Victoria mentioned he was sick with one of the tropical illnesses too, which may have hindered him.I think it’s likely the message was intended for Sarah.”
Ginger clutched the black fabric of the burqa.Noah’s deductions seemed accurate—she never would have put it all together the way he had—but they’d also come too late.“We need to hurry then.”Sarah was friendly and warm, and her sense of humor, though outrageous, had been welcome.If any harm came to her, Ginger would feel responsible.“What if they’ve already—”
“Don’t worry yet.If they’ve taken her, she may be on her way to where they’re holding Jack.”
Ginger went toward her trunk.“I should get my kitbag together.Take some things with me.”
They’d have to leave her trunk here since there was no way to lug it around with them.But anything she left she risked never seeing again.With both Stephen and the government hunting Noah, who knew when she could return?“Do you think we’ll ever come back here?”
Noah lifted his bag onto his shoulder.“I’m not sure.I won’t be able to move with the freedom I’m accustomed to.And they’ll likely be looking for you too.We’ll have to be careful.”
Ginger pulled extra clothes into a kitbag, along with her medical supplies.The way things seemed to go, she would likely have to use it.Her fingers hovered over her folded nursing uniforms, and her heart constricted.She’d spent her entire time in Egypt in these.Then she grabbed two uniforms, unable to bear the thought of leaving them.At the very least they could provide an extra disguise if needed.“If they know I’m here, how do we leave without being seen?”
“The same way I came in—by the roof.”
ChapterThirty-Six
The engine of the motorcar thrummed across the bridge, the pale dawn taking shape.The Nile was calm, flowing with a steadiness that Ginger found comforting.Even at this time of the morning the shapes of a few of the traditional Egyptian wooden boats—feluccas—with their triangular white canvas sails were silhouetted against the sky.Some were likely getting an early start on the day.Others had occupants who’d paid to watch the sunrise on the river.
Ginger hugged her arms, thankful for the extra warmth the burqa provided in the cool dark.She and Noah hadn’t had time to discuss things further, but a low simmer of fury burned inside her.He’d given himself entirely to the British cause, and now everything he’d worked for had been snatched away.
Snatched away, in part, because he’d dared to love her.
The journey to Rumayla Square to find Alastair’s waiting motorcar had taken hours, despite its relative proximity to Alastair’s house.Crossing rooftops had been terrifying, especially knowing that she had to do so in silence or risk being caught.
She’d never admired Noah’s skills more.
Ginger directed Noah to Sarah’s house.As they crept closer, Noah turned off the headlights, not wanting to announce their arrival.
Set off from the main road, the house was still, shrouded in dark.
