Archdale’s place, Rupert would pretend and
prevaricate, putting off the moment of truth as long as possible.
Meanwhile, he’d be looking for a way to escape.
If the villains did
discover the truth sooner than was convenient, one might be able to
persuade them to demand a ransom. That way at least, he would tell
them, they needn’t come away empty-handed.
Rupert kept these
thoughts to himself and concentrated on keeping Mrs. Pembroke’s
mind from dwelling unhappily on her brother.
Fortunately, Rupert
Carsington had a natural talent for driving others distracted.
Because she’d
found his renaming the boy Tom so provoking, the first thing Rupert
did when they’d mounted their donkeys was christen his
Cleopatra.
“ That is not
the creature’s name,” said Mrs. Pembroke. She told him
the Arabic name.
“ I can’t
pronounce it,” Rupert said.
“ You don’t
even try,” she said.
“ I don’t
understand why these people don’t speak English,” he
said. “It’s so much simpler.”
He could not see
her face—she’d put on the evil veil— but he heard
her huff of exasperation.
They set out at a
surprisingly fast clip, considering how narrow, congested, and busy
the streets were. He thought it was wonderful: the donkeys trotting
steadily on their way while carts, horses, and camels came straight
at them; the drivers running alongside and ahead, calling out
incomprehensibly and waving sticks, trying to clear a path while
everyone appeared to ignore them.
He praised the
donkeys to their drivers, congratulated the beasts on particularly
narrow escapes, and told the men anecdotes aboutLondonhackneys.
Mrs. Pembroke bore
it for as long as she could, which was not very long, before she
exploded, “They have no idea what you’re saying!”
“ Well,
they’ll never learn, will they, if one doesn’t make an
effort,” he said.
If the streets
hadn’t been so noisy, he was sure he’d have heard her
teeth grinding.
She said nothing
more, but Rupert was confident she was too preoccupied with his
breathtaking stupidity to fret overmuch about her brother.
Still, Rupert was
not a man to leave anything to chance.
When they reached
their destination, he was off his mount even before it had come to a
complete halt, and instantly at Mrs. Pembroke’s side.
He reached up and
grasped the lady firmly at the waist.
“ That is not
nec—” She broke off as he lifted her up from the
elaborate saddle. Instinctively she grasped his shoulders. Smiling
into her veiled countenance, Rupert held her in the air at eye level
for a moment. Then slowly, slowly, he lowered her to the ground.
She
did not immediately let go of his arms. He did not immediately let go
of her waist. She remained utterly still, looking up at him.
He couldn’t
see her face, but he could hear the hurried in and out of her breath.
Then she let go and
pushed away from him, and turned away in that quick, angry flurry he
found so delicious.
“ You are
absurd,” she said. “There is no need to show off your
strength.”
“ That hardly
wanted strength,” he said. “You weigh far less than I’d
have thought. It’s the layers and layers of mourning that
fooled me.” Not completely, though. There was the walk.
“ I can only
hope that you will be as diligent about finding my brother as you are
about ascertaining the dimensions of my person,” she said
crossly.
By this time the
gatekeeper had appeared. He looked to Rupert, but Mrs. Pembroke got
in the way and spoke in impatient Arabic.
The gate opened,
and they entered the courtyard. Another servant appeared and led them
into and through the house.
As they navigated
the labyrinth common toCairo’s better houses, Mrs. Pembroke
dropped Rupert a few hints.
“ Do keep your
mind on why we are here,” she said in an undertone. “We
can’t afford to waste time. Please resist the temptation to
give Lord Noxley’s servants nicknames. I doubt he will
appreciate it,
prevaricate, putting off the moment of truth as long as possible.
Meanwhile, he’d be looking for a way to escape.
If the villains did
discover the truth sooner than was convenient, one might be able to
persuade them to demand a ransom. That way at least, he would tell
them, they needn’t come away empty-handed.
Rupert kept these
thoughts to himself and concentrated on keeping Mrs. Pembroke’s
mind from dwelling unhappily on her brother.
Fortunately, Rupert
Carsington had a natural talent for driving others distracted.
Because she’d
found his renaming the boy Tom so provoking, the first thing Rupert
did when they’d mounted their donkeys was christen his
Cleopatra.
“ That is not
the creature’s name,” said Mrs. Pembroke. She told him
the Arabic name.
“ I can’t
pronounce it,” Rupert said.
“ You don’t
even try,” she said.
“ I don’t
understand why these people don’t speak English,” he
said. “It’s so much simpler.”
He could not see
her face—she’d put on the evil veil— but he heard
her huff of exasperation.
They set out at a
surprisingly fast clip, considering how narrow, congested, and busy
the streets were. He thought it was wonderful: the donkeys trotting
steadily on their way while carts, horses, and camels came straight
at them; the drivers running alongside and ahead, calling out
incomprehensibly and waving sticks, trying to clear a path while
everyone appeared to ignore them.
He praised the
donkeys to their drivers, congratulated the beasts on particularly
narrow escapes, and told the men anecdotes aboutLondonhackneys.
Mrs. Pembroke bore
it for as long as she could, which was not very long, before she
exploded, “They have no idea what you’re saying!”
“ Well,
they’ll never learn, will they, if one doesn’t make an
effort,” he said.
If the streets
hadn’t been so noisy, he was sure he’d have heard her
teeth grinding.
She said nothing
more, but Rupert was confident she was too preoccupied with his
breathtaking stupidity to fret overmuch about her brother.
Still, Rupert was
not a man to leave anything to chance.
When they reached
their destination, he was off his mount even before it had come to a
complete halt, and instantly at Mrs. Pembroke’s side.
He reached up and
grasped the lady firmly at the waist.
“ That is not
nec—” She broke off as he lifted her up from the
elaborate saddle. Instinctively she grasped his shoulders. Smiling
into her veiled countenance, Rupert held her in the air at eye level
for a moment. Then slowly, slowly, he lowered her to the ground.
She
did not immediately let go of his arms. He did not immediately let go
of her waist. She remained utterly still, looking up at him.
He couldn’t
see her face, but he could hear the hurried in and out of her breath.
Then she let go and
pushed away from him, and turned away in that quick, angry flurry he
found so delicious.
“ You are
absurd,” she said. “There is no need to show off your
strength.”
“ That hardly
wanted strength,” he said. “You weigh far less than I’d
have thought. It’s the layers and layers of mourning that
fooled me.” Not completely, though. There was the walk.
“ I can only
hope that you will be as diligent about finding my brother as you are
about ascertaining the dimensions of my person,” she said
crossly.
By this time the
gatekeeper had appeared. He looked to Rupert, but Mrs. Pembroke got
in the way and spoke in impatient Arabic.
The gate opened,
and they entered the courtyard. Another servant appeared and led them
into and through the house.
As they navigated
the labyrinth common toCairo’s better houses, Mrs. Pembroke
dropped Rupert a few hints.
“ Do keep your
mind on why we are here,” she said in an undertone. “We
can’t afford to waste time. Please resist the temptation to
give Lord Noxley’s servants nicknames. I doubt he will
appreciate it,
Similar Books
