Page 33 of Sands of Sirocco
Noah’s appetite was fading fast.“This is one area of my life you have no right to control.The army can order me to do many things—but not to stay away from the woman I love.”
Helton leaned closer.“Yes—but fornication, adultery … those are all punishable acts.”His eyes hardened like flint.“I’ll do what it takes to rein you in, Benson.I’d advise you not to cross me.”
Just what was he threatening?
Noah had been too careless.Allowed his love—and lust—to put both Ginger and himself in a compromising situation.And he’d given Helton the upper hand.
Before Noah could say anything more, Victoria returned to the table.Her face was flushed.“Was that entire scene really necessary?”Noah glowered at her.
“Quite necessary.Consider it my favor to you.You and that woman were infamously linked.Congeniality sends a powerful signal that there was nothing to the matter.”Victoria sat, then dusted her hands on her serviette as though ridding herself of the grime of the moment.Her smile was eager.“And you’ll never guess who’s with them.”
Noah settled his features to a purposefully bored look.“Do I care?”
“The Earl of Braddock.He’s come to Cairo to see to the estate.But according to Lady Braddock, she’s thrilled to have him join the family for the winter season.I think she’s hoping for a new son-in-law.And he seems quite taken with Lady Virginia.”
Resisting the urge to take another look at the man, Noah’s shoulders tightened.Lady Braddock’s hopes were natural, but they represented yet another way in which Noah would be measured and found wanting.
Lord Helton had nearly finished his dinner.Noah stared at his uneaten meal and frowned.This entire night was wrong.The colorful dresses of the ladies, the gaiety of laughter trilling through the air, the fuss of the Egyptian waiters over the British colonizers they increasingly felt betrayed by.And who could blame them?Ever since arriving back in Cairo, Noah had sensed the angry simmer on the streets that pulsed in the heart of the native Cairenes.
“You look positively triumphant, dearest.”Lord Helton dabbed his mouth with his serviette.
“You should have seen Lady Virginia squirm.”Victoria gave Noah a sharp look.“Promise me you’ll keep away from her this time, Noah.She’s no good for you.”
Noah set his serviette on the table.“As I came to discuss the matter with Jack, I think I’ve had quite enough of the company for the evening.”Standing, he bowed his head toward Lord Helton, then Victoria.“Good evening.”
The shocked expression on Victoria’s face was satisfaction enough.He headed for the exit without waiting for another word from either of them.After all, he’d never promised to stay away from Ginger, despite Lord Helton’s demands.Victoria had no reason to assume his feelings had changed.
Suffocated as he made his way toward the lift, he stopped.Walking away from that dining room was torture, but not because of Victoria’s actions.Now that he knew Ginger was so close, he needed to see her, to speak to her.
A grimmer thought occurred: he needed to tell her about Stephen’s sudden reappearance in their lives.Before she heard about it from someone else.
He paced, then went directly to the concierge.“I need to give a note to a lady in that dining room.”
ChapterTwelve
With dinner over, Ginger’s family had entered the part of the evening that Ginger loathed the most—making social rounds.As people that Ginger had never met stopped to greet them, a dragoman slipped past Ginger.He paused, reaching toward the floor beside her.“As-salaam alykum.”He offered her a slip of paper.“You dropped this, miss.”
Ginger took the paper as he continued past.Unfolding the square, she read one word:Ezbekieh.
Her heart thumped.
Noah.
Since she’d seen him, she’d thought of little else.The dinner had dragged, and the snide comments her family had muttered about him only made it worse.Could he be inviting her to meet him in the famed Ezbekieh Gardens across the street?
She crumpled the paper, then pushed it into her handbag.
Stay away from him.
Her conscience nagged her.Lord Helton had been clear.Her family could be at risk if she went.
But Noah had to know he was being watched.He wouldn’t ask her to meet him if he didn’t think it was safe.After all, Ezbekieh had sprawling paths amidst trees and shrubs, fountains and more—plenty of places to be out of sight.
Before she lost her nerve, Ginger stood.Lucy and her mother were wrapped up with introducing William.Ginger moved toward them.“Mama, if you’ll excuse me—I think I’ll hire a carriage and go home for the evening.I have an early start in the morning.”
Her mother searched her gaze.Did she suspect Ginger would lie?She pressed a kiss to Ginger’s cheek.“Be safe, darling.”
Ginger gathered her shawl and her handbag.As she left the dining room, she glanced back at the table Lord Helton and Victoria had vacated nearly an hour before.Seeing Noah with Victoria had brought back memories of a darker time.She pushed those thoughts aside, feeling more sure-footed as she went.For now, her love for Noah had to hide in the shadows.Someday they would be free.
