call him John.”
“John!”
“Yes, it’s one of his given names. He’s working as an advisor at British Head Quarters. He’s more valuable to the army that way than if he were merely a soldier.”
The men coming back interrupted them. Amy went up to Mark. “How was the stallion?”
“A splendid beast.”
“Saleem.”
He swung around. “Yes?”
“Why didn’t you tell me your name was John, instead of spooling off such a long mouthful?” she teased.
“Ah.” He chuckled. “Admit it, Sister—you would have been disappointed with plain old John.”
“I would not. Mark, did you know?”
“Yes.”
“You pair of wretches! Honestly! I feel an absolute idiot.” She wagged her finger at them in mock anger.
“Never mind, my dear,” Evaline broke in. “Another cup of tea?”
“No, thank you, we should be leaving. I don’t like being away from the hospital too long.”
“Of course not. Don’t forget our little chat, will you? Here’s the card with our Mayfair address written on it.”
“Thank you for your kindness.”
They took their departure, promising to return again if they got the chance.
“What did you think of my mother?” Saleem asked, once they had mounted their camels.
“A lovely lady. I feel as if I’ve known her all my life,” Amy told him sincerely.
“She liked you, too, I could tell.”
“Amy has a knack of drawing everyone to her; one of those beautiful smiles will ensnare a man for a lifetime.” The teasing tone in Mark’s voice conflicted with his smoldering eyes.
“What a lot of poetic rot you men go on with.”
“Mark is right,” Saleem said. “You’re so fragile-looking, yet you combine strength with compassion.”
She noticed for the first time the flecks of gold in his brown eyes, and for an instant could not pull her gaze away.
The three of them dined at an officer’s club in Cairo. Immediately after the meal finished, Saleem took his leave.
“Would you like to go dancing?” Mark asked, squeezing her hand under the table.
“No, thanks, I feel rather grubby. What I told Evaline is true. I don’t like staying away from the hospital for too long. We’re so under-staffed. Several of the girls are suffering heat exhaustion, thanks to these stupid heavy uniforms.”
Arm in arm, they silently strolled along the banks of the Nile. A huge moon cast soft silvery shadows about them. Close by, an owl hooted, its mournful call hovering on the still night air. Amy gave an involuntary start.
“Spooky things, aren’t they, my lovely girl? But I’d never let anything hurt you,” he whispered, hugging her close. “Oh, darling,” he said on a groan, crushing her soft body against the hard contours of his own. “I desperately need to kiss you.”
She wrapped her arms around his waist as his mouth claimed hers in a hot passionate kiss that caused excited ripples to surge through her body. His hands moved in a restless, circular caress of her back, while his muscled thighs rasped against the softness of her feminine shape.
“Amy, Amy.” His lips blazed a trail of burning kisses along her throat. The heat of desire sizzled along her veins.
Momentarily he raised his head, then he captured her lips in a passionate savagery that left her weak and spent.
“Oh, God, we can’t go on like this. I’m going out of my mind.”
“Mark.” His name came out on a whispered sob. “Why don’t we get married?”
“You know I can’t. What about your nursing career? They’d send you home.” Releasing her, he stepped back a pace and raked his fingers through his hair. “Thank goodness we’re going into action soon.”
Goose bumps of fear pebbled her body, dousing the fires of passion. “When?”
“I’m not at liberty to say, even if I knew, but it has to be soon. The British Expeditionary Forces are being wiped out in Belgium. Whole regiments have been obliterated. They say Lord Kitchener is raising a new army in England, but it takes time, so
“John!”
“Yes, it’s one of his given names. He’s working as an advisor at British Head Quarters. He’s more valuable to the army that way than if he were merely a soldier.”
The men coming back interrupted them. Amy went up to Mark. “How was the stallion?”
“A splendid beast.”
“Saleem.”
He swung around. “Yes?”
“Why didn’t you tell me your name was John, instead of spooling off such a long mouthful?” she teased.
“Ah.” He chuckled. “Admit it, Sister—you would have been disappointed with plain old John.”
“I would not. Mark, did you know?”
“Yes.”
“You pair of wretches! Honestly! I feel an absolute idiot.” She wagged her finger at them in mock anger.
“Never mind, my dear,” Evaline broke in. “Another cup of tea?”
“No, thank you, we should be leaving. I don’t like being away from the hospital too long.”
“Of course not. Don’t forget our little chat, will you? Here’s the card with our Mayfair address written on it.”
“Thank you for your kindness.”
They took their departure, promising to return again if they got the chance.
“What did you think of my mother?” Saleem asked, once they had mounted their camels.
“A lovely lady. I feel as if I’ve known her all my life,” Amy told him sincerely.
“She liked you, too, I could tell.”
“Amy has a knack of drawing everyone to her; one of those beautiful smiles will ensnare a man for a lifetime.” The teasing tone in Mark’s voice conflicted with his smoldering eyes.
“What a lot of poetic rot you men go on with.”
“Mark is right,” Saleem said. “You’re so fragile-looking, yet you combine strength with compassion.”
She noticed for the first time the flecks of gold in his brown eyes, and for an instant could not pull her gaze away.
The three of them dined at an officer’s club in Cairo. Immediately after the meal finished, Saleem took his leave.
“Would you like to go dancing?” Mark asked, squeezing her hand under the table.
“No, thanks, I feel rather grubby. What I told Evaline is true. I don’t like staying away from the hospital for too long. We’re so under-staffed. Several of the girls are suffering heat exhaustion, thanks to these stupid heavy uniforms.”
Arm in arm, they silently strolled along the banks of the Nile. A huge moon cast soft silvery shadows about them. Close by, an owl hooted, its mournful call hovering on the still night air. Amy gave an involuntary start.
“Spooky things, aren’t they, my lovely girl? But I’d never let anything hurt you,” he whispered, hugging her close. “Oh, darling,” he said on a groan, crushing her soft body against the hard contours of his own. “I desperately need to kiss you.”
She wrapped her arms around his waist as his mouth claimed hers in a hot passionate kiss that caused excited ripples to surge through her body. His hands moved in a restless, circular caress of her back, while his muscled thighs rasped against the softness of her feminine shape.
“Amy, Amy.” His lips blazed a trail of burning kisses along her throat. The heat of desire sizzled along her veins.
Momentarily he raised his head, then he captured her lips in a passionate savagery that left her weak and spent.
“Oh, God, we can’t go on like this. I’m going out of my mind.”
“Mark.” His name came out on a whispered sob. “Why don’t we get married?”
“You know I can’t. What about your nursing career? They’d send you home.” Releasing her, he stepped back a pace and raked his fingers through his hair. “Thank goodness we’re going into action soon.”
Goose bumps of fear pebbled her body, dousing the fires of passion. “When?”
“I’m not at liberty to say, even if I knew, but it has to be soon. The British Expeditionary Forces are being wiped out in Belgium. Whole regiments have been obliterated. They say Lord Kitchener is raising a new army in England, but it takes time, so
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