Page 37 of Sands of Sirocco
Ginger grimaced.“Yes.They’re offering me the opportunity to earn a ten percent stake if I help them find the concession.Otherwise, the British government intends to seize it in its entirety, on the grounds that my father got it illegally.”
“I worried about that.In fact, when I first learned of it, I considered not telling my superiors at all about it.I didn’t want the CID taking any more from your family.But as I had to bring Stephen along with me, it forced me to, in case Stephen shared the information with them.”
Noah stared out at the gardens that surrounded them, his eyes unreadable.“Ginger, the world your father was involved in—it was dangerous.The men your father trusted were dangerous.”
She bit her lip.He wasn’t happy about it, as she’d suspected.“Are you angry with me?”
“No.”He released a frustrated breath.“Just concerned.”
His sentiment was heartwarming.She squinted.“Do you think my father hid the paperwork about the concession?”
“It wouldn’t surprise me.And Stephen must have some goal in bringing the issue to light now.It can’t be as a favor to your family, that much is certain.”
Ginger settled back into the space she’d occupied against his chest.“I’ll have to ask my mother if she knows anything.Lord Helton said they had, but that she’d been less than forthcoming.”
“That was what I would suggest.But be careful how much you draw her into this.Your mother keeps her silence because she’s aware of how dangerous your father’s behavior was.”Noah kissed the top of her head and then released her.He stood, holding his hand out for her.“Shall we go back?You can go on ahead, I’ll keep watch.”
As she stood, she smoothed out her dress.“Hopefully no harm has come to this dress—I had to borrow it from Lucy.I don’t have any evening gowns left.”
Noah gave her an approving glance.Something else lingered in his eyes, unreadable.“I didn’t have the chance to tell you how beautiful you look, by the way.”
The feel of his hand in hers had a way of making her pulse beat faster.“Well, thank you.You looked quite dashing yourself, though the blood hasn’t done you any favors.”
Noah set the jacket over his shoulders, slipping one arm into the sleeves at a time.“I’ll go to have it sutured directly.”
She didn’t want to leave him.
They stood in silence, bathed by the moonlight, the palm fronds of the surrounding trees dancing in the wind.Speaking with Noah had allowed her to forget her fears for a few minutes.What would this evening have been like if Noah hadn’t been keeping watch?Ginger shuddered.“Thank you for saving me, once again.”
“I’m going to have a talk with the concierge.See what happened to my note.”
She had a feeling she knew.Ginger clasped his hand tighter.“Lord Helton is once again demanding I keep my distance from you.”She stopped, glancing at him.“He said I needed to do whatever it took to convince you to stay away.”
Noah didn’t respond, his thumb grazing the back of her hand softly.“Is that what you want?I’ll wait for you as long as it takes,rohi.Even if it tortures me to keep my distance.”
“I think it’s what we have to do, isn’t it?”Her heartbeat seemed to slow.Despite all of Lord Helton’s threats, she couldn’t make herself say what she didn’t mean.“But it’s not what I want.”Her voice was barely audible.
His voice was equally low.“It’s not what I want either.”
She should return.She’d lingered long enough.“Make me a promise, at least?”She turned to face him as they walked away from the bench.
He smiled, his handsome features seeming to relax at the earnest way she looked up at him.“What’s that?”
“Promise me you won’t go after Jack without letting me say good-bye.”
Noah kissed the back of her hand softly.“Then I should say good-bye now,rohi.But I promise to send word when I’ve gone.”
ChapterThirteen
On al-Maghrabi Street, Noah inspected the bustling pavement packed with tables, cane-woven wooden chairs, and soldiers.Maison Groppi was a popular patisserie and deli with the troops, but Noah considered it a tourist trap, preferring to patronize some of the small cafés in Old Cairo.
He found who he was looking for, mostly because Captain Alastair Taylor refused to wear his uniform.Slender with lanky limbs, Alastair wore a tweed jacket with khaki trousers, a navy-blue bowtie, and his favored straw Panama hat over dark curly hair.He smoked a pipe as he sat reading his newspaper, fully absorbed.
Noah made his way to the table and sat.Alastair didn’t look up.“Did you see the headlines today?”Alastair’s voice was dry.
“Yes.”Noah unbuttoned his military jacket, feeling more restricted in it since the young nurse from the clinic had applied a thick dressing over his shoulder.As though he needed that much padding on his arm.He had half a mind to remove the dressing while he sat there.
Alastair folded the newspaper, taking a pull of his pipe.He held the smoke in his mouth momentarily, then released it.“Damned fools.I always worried about the Russians.”The streets crawled thick with carts and motorcars.“Mark my words, there will be riots today.Tea?”
