Desert Song (DeWinter's Song 3) by Constance O'Banyon Page A
Authors: Constance O'Banyon
Tags: Fiction, Suspense, adventure, Romance, Historical, Adult, Action, Regency, Danger, 19th century, Egypt, ocean, father, sailing, sea voyage, DeWinter Family, Sheikhs, 1840's-50's, DESERT SONG, Lord DeWinter, Captors, Nursing Wounds, Desert Prison, Ship Passenger
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Wickett departed, Mallory went to the small porthole, staring out at the stars that twinkled in the ebony sky. She was lonely for the only home she'd ever known. And she missed Phoebe.
She searched for the North Star, as she had as a child. When she located it, she smiled and imagined herself back at Stoneridge riding her horse over the green hills.
Chapter 6
Captain Eustace Barim had served in the Royal Navy for thirty years before retiring to a small farm with his wife. After the first year, he had found farming tedious, and his wife too demanding. That was why he became the captain of the mail ship, Iberia. He was a tall man with a weather-beaten face, wrinkled from too many hours of sun and salt air. He was always popular with crew and passengers because he had a ready wit and an engaging manner.
After the evening meal, Michael sat with the captain and the only other Englishman aboard, Mr. Alvin Fenton, a banker from London.
The glass of brandy the captain had given Michael went ignored, as did the unlit cigar. His mind was on his father, and he was impatient to reach Egypt so he could begin his search. Sir Robert Peel, the prime minister, had given him letters to present to the viceroy of Egypt, Mehemet Ali, in hopes that he would aid Michael. He reached inside his breast pocket to make certain the papers were still there— he never let them out of his sight.
Michael became aware of the heavy silence and glanced up to find the captain and Alvin Fenton staring at him. "I beg your pardon, were you speaking to me?" he asked.
Captain Barim poured brandy into his own glass before he spoke. "I merely asked about your family yacht, the Nightingale. I've heard she's a fine ship."
"Yes, she is. The Nightingale has been in my family since I was three years old. My father had her refurbished last year. I've made many voyages on her. Captain Norris always said I cut my teeth on the railing. It's certain that my sister and I carved our initials there."
Captain Barim nodded in approval. "I'm nothing but a seafaring man, myself, your lordship. Although the Iberia is not a ship of the line, you'll find she's fast."
"I've been impressed thus far," Michael said graciously. He was having a difficult time making polite conversation when his mind was on his father.
"Since she's been fitted with engines, we'll be reaching our destination in ten days," the captain said with pride, "rather than the two weeks it took previously."
"I'd heard how fast she is, although it's hard to comprehend such speed," Alvin Fenton said. "I would like to see the engines when it's convenient."
"It would be my pleasure to show you about whenever you say." The captain looked at Michael. "I'd be happy to show them to you as well, m'lord."
"Thank you. I'd like that."
Captain Barim looked pleased. "Tomorrow, then."
"How many passengers can you accommodate, Captain?" Michael inquired, more to keep the conversation light than from curiosity.
"We've carried as many as twelve, but this voyage we have only seven. Besides you and Mr. Fenton here, there's three Arabs and two English ladies. You've met Mrs. Wickett, who is joining her husband's garrison at Cairo. There's also Lady Mallory Stanhope, who I believe is joining her parents."
"Lord Michael, what I can't understand is why you would be going to Egypt alone if you are on a hunting excursion," Mr. Fenton questioned. "Unless you are meeting a larger party?"
Michael had decided it would be prudent to keep his father's disappearance a secret, so he had fabricated a story of game hunting to explain his visit to Egypt. "Yes, I'll be joined by others once I reach my destination."
"But surely India would have been more ideal for hunting than Egypt," the man persisted. There are tigers and other large game animals that you won't find in Egypt. Also, we have garrisons there that would provide you with all you require. In Egypt there is only a small army post."
Michael swirled the amber liquid around in
She searched for the North Star, as she had as a child. When she located it, she smiled and imagined herself back at Stoneridge riding her horse over the green hills.
Chapter 6
Captain Eustace Barim had served in the Royal Navy for thirty years before retiring to a small farm with his wife. After the first year, he had found farming tedious, and his wife too demanding. That was why he became the captain of the mail ship, Iberia. He was a tall man with a weather-beaten face, wrinkled from too many hours of sun and salt air. He was always popular with crew and passengers because he had a ready wit and an engaging manner.
After the evening meal, Michael sat with the captain and the only other Englishman aboard, Mr. Alvin Fenton, a banker from London.
The glass of brandy the captain had given Michael went ignored, as did the unlit cigar. His mind was on his father, and he was impatient to reach Egypt so he could begin his search. Sir Robert Peel, the prime minister, had given him letters to present to the viceroy of Egypt, Mehemet Ali, in hopes that he would aid Michael. He reached inside his breast pocket to make certain the papers were still there— he never let them out of his sight.
Michael became aware of the heavy silence and glanced up to find the captain and Alvin Fenton staring at him. "I beg your pardon, were you speaking to me?" he asked.
Captain Barim poured brandy into his own glass before he spoke. "I merely asked about your family yacht, the Nightingale. I've heard she's a fine ship."
"Yes, she is. The Nightingale has been in my family since I was three years old. My father had her refurbished last year. I've made many voyages on her. Captain Norris always said I cut my teeth on the railing. It's certain that my sister and I carved our initials there."
Captain Barim nodded in approval. "I'm nothing but a seafaring man, myself, your lordship. Although the Iberia is not a ship of the line, you'll find she's fast."
"I've been impressed thus far," Michael said graciously. He was having a difficult time making polite conversation when his mind was on his father.
"Since she's been fitted with engines, we'll be reaching our destination in ten days," the captain said with pride, "rather than the two weeks it took previously."
"I'd heard how fast she is, although it's hard to comprehend such speed," Alvin Fenton said. "I would like to see the engines when it's convenient."
"It would be my pleasure to show you about whenever you say." The captain looked at Michael. "I'd be happy to show them to you as well, m'lord."
"Thank you. I'd like that."
Captain Barim looked pleased. "Tomorrow, then."
"How many passengers can you accommodate, Captain?" Michael inquired, more to keep the conversation light than from curiosity.
"We've carried as many as twelve, but this voyage we have only seven. Besides you and Mr. Fenton here, there's three Arabs and two English ladies. You've met Mrs. Wickett, who is joining her husband's garrison at Cairo. There's also Lady Mallory Stanhope, who I believe is joining her parents."
"Lord Michael, what I can't understand is why you would be going to Egypt alone if you are on a hunting excursion," Mr. Fenton questioned. "Unless you are meeting a larger party?"
Michael had decided it would be prudent to keep his father's disappearance a secret, so he had fabricated a story of game hunting to explain his visit to Egypt. "Yes, I'll be joined by others once I reach my destination."
"But surely India would have been more ideal for hunting than Egypt," the man persisted. There are tigers and other large game animals that you won't find in Egypt. Also, we have garrisons there that would provide you with all you require. In Egypt there is only a small army post."
Michael swirled the amber liquid around in
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