Mr Impossible by Loretta Chase Page B

keep private.”

    Rupert came to
attention. “A woman, do you mean?” he said.

    Mrs. Pembroke
stared at him.

    Noxley looked, too,
and his expression chilled. “I had not considered that
possibility,” he said.

    “ Really?”
Rupert said. “It’s the first thing that occurred to me.”

    “ Mr. Archdale
would never be so unwise as to become entangled with any of the local
women,” Lord Noxley said frigidly. “The Muslims have
strict notions of propriety, and the consequences of violating them
are severe.”

    “ Those
notions don’t include the dancing girls, I’ve noticed,”
said Rupert. “From what I’ve seen—”

    “ Mr.
Carsington,” Mrs. Pembroke said.

    He gave her an
innocently inquiring look.

    “ We seem to
be straying from the main point,” she said. “That point,
which may have eluded you, is the possibility of my brother’s
going toGizafor reasons other than those he gave me.”

    “ Given your
theory about the two incidents, Mrs. Pembroke, I find myself
wondering whether Mr. Archdale did, after all, make a discovery of
some kind at the pyramids,” his lordship said. “Or
perhaps while atGizahe said or did something to arouse curiosity and
speculation. The Egyptians are formidable gossips, as you know. They
will endlessly debate the most trivial matters, elaborate on every
tale they hear, and pass it on to everyone they meet. News travels up
and down theNilewith prodigious speed. Then there are the French and
their spies watching everything we do, as though we were still at
war. They are so jealous of our accomplishments here—and we all
know their agents are not the most savory persons.”

    “ The French?”
Rupert said.

    “ They seem to
believe thatEgyptand all it contains be-long exclusively to them,”
Noxley said. “They are completely unscrupulous. Bribery, theft,
and even violence are nothing to them.”

    “ Now here’s
something like it,” Rupert said. “Violence. Unsavory
persons. And French besides.” He looked at Mrs. Pembroke.
“Well, we’d best set out after the scoundrels, hadn’t
we? By the way, where exactly isGiza, and what’s so
irresistible about it?”

    They both stared at
him. Mrs. Pembroke wore a comical look of wondering exasperation.

    Rupert was well
aware that theGizaplateau lay across theNile. He must be blind not to
be aware. The famous pyramids were plainly visible from any number of
places in the metropolis.

    He’d asked
the stupid questions just to see Mrs. Pembroke’s reaction.

    “ Mrs.
Pembroke, I beg you will allow me to assist you,” said Noxley.
“I am sure the consul general wishes to do all he can to help
you, but his resources are limited.” He glanced briefly in
Rupert’s direction. “Please allow me to put my staff at
your disposal. And myself, of course. I am sure we shall get to the
bottom of this very quickly.”

    Far more quickly
than Hargate’s brainless son, was politely left unsaid.

    Rupert had to agree
about the brainless part. He’d blundered badly. Why should she
not discard him in favor of a man presenting clear signs of
intelligence?

    And how could
Rupert blame her?

    Noxious obviously
knew her brother better than Rupert did. The man had lived several
years inEgypt. He seemed to know everybody. He spoke the language.

    “ Why, thank
you,” said Mrs. Pembroke. “I shall be very glad to have
your help.”

    Idiot, Rupert
berated himself. Imbecile . Now Noxious would have all the fun
of a search with her, and Rupert would end up in the desert, looking
for rocks with writing on them that no one could read.

    Then she and Noxley
began to talk, as though Rupert didn’t exist.

    He gave a mental
shrug and redirected his attention to the partly open door. The dusky
beauty lingered still.

    What a hypocrite
Noxious was, acting so prim when Rupert spoke of dancing girls, when
a member of his lordship’s harem stood only a few yards away,
half-naked and clearly objecting to her lord and master’s
attention