Page 57 of Sands of Sirocco
Her comment elicited one of Noah’s rare smiles.“Occasionally.In this case, the men from the CID were short a player, and I agreed to step in.”
Then she noticed a small stain of blood near his shoulder.She came closer.Perhaps it was the alcohol, but she couldn’t will herself to care about being seen with Noah right now.“Oh, dear, Colonel Benson, you appear to be injured.”When she was close enough to him so only he could hear, she said, “I think you may have popped your sutures.”
He didn’t bother to look at his shoulder, as though completely unbothered.“You look beautiful.”
She wanted to kiss him but she couldn’t do it with people watching.“Thank you.”She dared not tell him that William had bought it for her.
Noah glanced over to the group she’d been sitting with.“Can I steal you from your party?I must return the pony.Walk with me.”
Ginger excused herself from William and Lucy.William studied Noah intently then replaced the look with a blank expression.
As they left together, Ginger steadied herself on Noah’s forearm.“I hate we can only steal a few minutes together.I shouldn’t have let you leave me at home last night.I should have insisted we have a proper wedding night.”
“It was better you didn’t.”Noah adjusted his handle on the reins.
“When can I see you?I want—” She broke off, a shy feeling crept through her.Was it wrong to tell her new husband she wanted to be intimate with him?
His eyes held hers, giving her reassurance, and he smiled.“I want to also.”Noah looked back toward the spectators on the field.
They’d walked sufficiently far enough away from the onlookers that they were in no danger of being overheard.He brought the pony to a stop and turned toward her.“Ginger, I want you to go home.To England.”
She furrowed her brow.“What?Why?”
“Someone has kidnapped Victoria Everill.The same group who sent an attacker after you in Ezbekieh.”Noah’s voice was just a shade above a whisper.“No one can know of it, so please don’t speak of it.”
Ginger gasped, then quivers ran down her spine.Is that why she’d been followed at Ezbekieh?And Victoria … gooseflesh pebbled on her skin.
Ginger searched his face.She had no love for Victoria, but the news was horrifying.What would happen to her?More to the point, how was Noah?Victoria had always been a source of jealousy for her.“Are you—”
“Worried for her?Yes.”Noah’s eyes reflected the cornflower blue of the sky.“The group that took her claim to be Egyptian nationalists, but I’m convinced Stephen has something to do with this.And it’s driving me mad that I don’t know what he’s up to.I can’t be sure you’re safe, and whatever Stephen is playing at is dangerous.”
“But he’s in prison, isn’t he?”Ginger had consoled herself with the fact.That Noah thought Stephen continued to be a threat made her pulse tick faster.
“He is.”Noah brushed her jawline with a light graze of his fingertips, clearly unconcerned with who might see him.“But I don’t trust him.Which is why I want you to leave Egypt with your family if you can.If I felt I could keep you safer by my side, I wouldn’t ask, but I don’t.With Jack and Victoria both captured, it’s more important than ever.”
“Noah …” Ginger closed her eyes, relishing in his touch.Her skin tingled.Her heart thumped painfully.“I’m not leaving you.Not again.”
Noah pursed his lips.“You frustrate me no end.”
She laughed lightly.“And you do the same.But I need to learn about that concession paperwork anyway.”She pulled open her handbag.“I went to see my father’s solicitor today in Cairo.And he told me that my father had several properties I knew nothing about.”
She unfolded the list of addresses, then handed it to him.“Look.Do you think it may be worth investigating what my father left there?”
Noah studied the paper.“It may be.I don’t know if the government knows about these.”
Was that even possible?She should have asked Mr.Brandeis, who was likely to know the details of the sales.“He apparently entrusted the concession to a man named Freddy Mortimer on behalf of my father.Apparently, Mr.Mortimer was supposed to take the concession to a safer location and bring back the details of it for my mother.But he never returned.”
Noah’s eyebrows rose in surprise.“That doesn’t sound promising for Mr.Mortimer.”
“Odd, isn’t it?”Ginger pursed her lips.“Do you think he’s dead?”
“It seems likely.I’ll try to find out what I can.”Noah looked lost in thought.“And you won’t leave?”
“No, my love.You think Stephen is involved with all this, don’t you?”
“Only Stephen knew of the concession.”Noah handed her back the paper, which she replaced in her handbag.“I think he’s baiting you somehow, Ginger.”
“He’s baiting both of us.”Ginger sighed and looked back to the crowd.“I should rejoin my party.Before my mother becomes infuriated over this.”
