Lady Travelers Guide to Deception with an Unlikely Earl

by Victoria Alexander

  The night clerk directed her to an impatient-looking Egyptian gentleman in the lobby, dressed in long flowing robes, and more than a little irate. His English was passable although he spoke so quickly it was not possible to understand everything he said. And while Sidney tried to explain she could not go anywhere at this hour—why, it was nearly midnight—he was adamant that his instructions had been to fetch her and fetch her he would. Before she knew it, he had whisked her out of the hotel and into a waiting carriage. It was most annoying and on the drive to the residence she did wonder why she was indeed irritated but not the least bit frightened. If anything, she was rather excited. How thrilling to meet a real Egyptian princess in the dead of night. Admittedly, she could be in the midst of an abduction but that seemed rather far-fetched. Her escort was determined but not the least bit threatening. He made no attempt to be circumspect or discreet and even in Cairo she imagined a kidnapper would try to be inconspicuous. Furthermore, she would wager kidnappers rarely sent formal invitations and were probably never acknowledged by desk clerks. Certainly Millicent Forester would not be frightened. She would see this as an adventure and so would Sidney.

  In no time at all they arrived at one of the gates that separated one part of the city from another. Her escort—a Mr. Gamal she thought although she might have misheard his name—assisted her out of the carriage then accompanied her a short distance down the dark narrow street and around the corner to a nondescript door. It might have been somewhat distressing had not Mr. Gamal continued to mutter under his breath, obviously at the inconvenience she had caused him. He knocked sharply and the door opened almost at once. Sidney was led through endless corridors, twisting and turning and not all conducive to remembering the route, should she need to do so later. In spite of lit oil sconces, it was entirely too dim to see much of anything. Sidney had the impression of endless stone walls and patterned tiled floors and glimpsed the occasional high, lattice-covered window. And while she did try to stay unconcerned, even Millicent might be a bit apprehensive at this point.

  At last they reached another door, this one ornate with carvings and brass ornamentation. Mr. Gamal knocked sharply and a few minutes later the door opened. A lovely woman, a bit younger than Sidney, clad in the filmiest of silken robes with wide flowing trousers, looked from Sidney to Mr. Gamal and frowned in confusion. Before she could utter a word, the man let forth a rapid-fire stream of Arabic complete with frenzied gestures—most directed at Sidney—and accompanied by obvious indignation. One didn’t have to know the language to recognize that. The moment he paused for breath, the lady responded—her words coming just as fast and her indignation matching his own. At last they seemed to come to some sort of grudging agreement. Mr. Gamal bowed to Sidney then hurried away, obviously relieved to be rid of her.

  “My fervent apologies, Mrs. Gordon. Please, come in,” the lady said, her voice refined, her English almost perfect. She stepped back and waved Sidney ahead then closed the door. “This wing of the palace is reserved for the harem.”

  “The harem?” Sidney stepped forward cautiously.

  The lady glanced at Sidney’s feet. “Your shoes, Mrs. Gordon?”

  “Of course,” she murmured and removed her evening slippers.

  A gallery bordered by columns opened up into a large court with high curved ceilings. Sconces cast a dim light in the expanse. A fountain splashed musically in the center of the room and low sofas and mattresses and cushions were scattered about, all covered with brilliantly colored fabrics in traditional Egyptian patterns.

  “This is where the women and children of the household reside along with their servants. It is not quite the den of immorality and salacious behavior Europeans and the west have been led to believe.” She tilted her head and studied Sidney. “But I assumed you would know that.”

  “I have heard any number of things about harems. But—” Sidney shook her head “—I’ve never had the opportunity to visit one.” Nor had she ever been in a royal residence.

  “I’m afraid it will be far more ordinary than you expect.” She smiled. “I am Lady Hatice, a distant cousin of the royal family, and I’m afraid there has been a dreadful mistake.”

  “Has there?”

  “Gamal left quite early in the evening to deliver our note and request your visit. My mistake was in telling him to wait and escort you here. I didn’t intend for him to wait all night.” She rolled her gaze toward the high ceiling. “Some men are scarcely more intelligent than the donkeys they ride. Indeed, I have known any number of donkeys far cleverer than any man.”

  “I was engaged for the evening so I did not get your note until a short while ago,” Sidney said. “And then Mr. Gamal was quite adamant in his insistence that I was to come with him.”

  Lady Hatice shook her head in disbelief. “Again, my apologies, Mrs. Gordon. Nearly everyone is abed at this hour. But as it is now so late, we would be honored if you would agree to stay the night. Then you may visit with Princess Naile in the morning.”

  Sidney hesitated. “I really should get back.”

  “Ah, but you said you’ve never seen a harem before.” She smiled. “I will reveal all our secrets to you and perhaps they will find their way into one of your stories.”

  Sidney laughed. “Very well, then, I’ll stay.” Besides, if she recalled correctly, she had read that it was considered rude not to accept hospitality when offered—especially when it came from a royal household. “But I do need to send a note to my friends at the hotel. I would hate for them to worry.”

  “Of course. I will have writing materials provided at once.” Lady Hatice nodded. “Now, allow me to show you to your room.” She led Sidney out of the court and into another corridor, stopped after a short distance and opened the nearest door. “I hope it is acceptable.”

  A gas lamp burned on a low table next to an equally low bed piled high with comforters and coverlets. Tempting and almost irresistible. Sidney bit back a yawn. “It’s lovely, thank you.”

  Two young maids appeared at the doorway. “Asim and Fenuku will assist you with your gown and help you change. We have garments for sleeping for you.”

  It was fortunate Sidney had thought to hide the medallion in her room before coming down to meet Mr. Gamal. She had no idea how she would explain a gold object falling out of her corset.

  “And I shall send someone with pen and paper. When you’re done with your note, Asim will bring it to me and I’ll see to it that it is delivered to the hotel immediately.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I can see you’re weary so I will bid you good evening.” Lady Hatice turned to leave.

  “Might I ask you a question before you go?”

  “Please do.” She turned back to Sidney and smiled. “As many as you wish.”

  “I was curious about your English. It’s very nearly perfect.”

  “How kind of you to say.” Lady Hatice’s eyes glowed with pride. “I had an English governess and spent three years at a school for girls in England. My father believed, given the British presence in Egypt, his children should learn the language as well as the nature of the people.”

  “And did you learn the nature of the people?”

  Lady Hatice considered the question. “Like people everywhere they are concerned with status and rank, and place those they don’t know in—what is the word? Ah yes—pigeonholes. We do the same. Those who are different from ourselves are always looked upon oddly.” She shrugged. “I did enjoy my stay in England but I do not regret leaving.”

  “I see.” Sidney wasn’t sure what to say. She couldn’t really dispute Lady Hatice’s assessment as much as she wanted to. And wasn’t Sidney in a pigeonhole of her own?

  “Did you have another question?”

  “Quite a few really.”

  Lady Hatice raised a brow. “About harems no doubt.”

  “I’m just wondering how one come
s to live in a harem.”

  “It is not so different than any large family that shares a domicile. There is nothing more important to us than family. Like you, I am a widow. After my husband died, my children and I came here to live. When I marry again, and I do hope to marry again, I shall leave.”

  “You don’t mind living here?”

  “I am not a prisoner, Mrs. Gordon. Contrary to what you might have heard, we can come and go as we please.” Her eyes twinkled with amusement. “I suspect you will have additional questions in the morning but is there anything else you wish answered now?”

  “Not really.” Sidney drew a deep breath. “Although I have never met a princess before and I’m not sure what is expected of me.”

  “You would greet her in very much the same way you would greet a princess in England—no more than a courteous bow is necessary. Respect, Mrs. Gordon, is truly all that is needed.”

  “Very well,” Sidney said faintly.

  “I can assure you, the princess and everyone else is going to be quite taken with you.”

  “Really?”

  “Oh my yes.” Lady Hatice’s eyes widened in surprise. “I am sorry, I thought you understood. Princess Naile as well as all the other ladies here absolutely adore—” she grinned “—Millicent Forester, Richard Weatherly and all the Tales of a Lady Adventurer in Egypt.”

  ...and with a cry of “Let us rescue Mrs. Gordon!” we were off to save the Queen of the Desert from an uncertain fate. From perhaps spending the rest of her days in a harem, no doubt at the mercy of...

  —“The Return of the Queen of the Desert,” Daniel Corbin, foreign correspondent

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  “SIDNEY IS IN a harem?” Mrs. Higginbotham peered over his shoulder. For an old lady, she certainly had extraordinary eyesight.

  “Mrs. Gordon is in a harem?” Corbin’s voice sounded behind them. Fine time for Corbin to finally make an appearance.

  “What are you doing here?” Harry said sharply.

  “I was coming to find out why you didn’t inform me about Mrs. Gordon’s kidnapping.”

  “I might have mentioned it to him,” Mrs. Fitzhew-Wellmore said with a wince. “But I did think he already knew.”

  “There was no kidnapping,” Harry said firmly and turned his attention back to Nazzal’s missive.

  “Well, what was there?” Lady Blodgett asked. “And why is Sidney in a harem? Did she go there of her own accord?”

  “Where is this harem?” Mrs. Higginbotham squared her shoulders. “We shall have to fetch her ourselves.”

  “You have my assistance in any rescue of Mrs. Gordon,” Corbin said staunchly. “It will make an excellent story,” he added under his breath.

  “Come now, Mr. Corbin.” Mrs. Fitzhew-Wellmore glared at the reporter. “Our first priority is retrieving Sidney, not your story.”

  Corbin winced.

  “Furthermore.” Mrs. Fitzhew-Wellmore raised her chin. “I daresay we can rescue Sidney without you.”

  “And yet I do not intend to be left out,” Corbin warned.

  “I don’t know that anyone needs to be rescued.” Harry glared at the group. “If you would all restrain yourselves, and allow me a moment to read this, then we can decide what needs to be done.”

  “Yes, of course.” Lady Blodgett waved at the note. “But quickly would be appreciated.”

  “Perhaps we should adjourn to somewhere more private.” Mrs. Higginbotham glanced around the entrance hall. Tea at Shepheard’s always attracted a crowd, especially on weekdays when a military band played.

  “Your rooms perhaps, Harry?” Lady Blodgett asked.

  “Excellent idea.”

  A few minutes later, they were in Harry’s suite on the first floor, down the hall from Sidney’s.

  “According to Nazzal,” Harry began, “Mrs. Gordon is in the harem in one of the lesser royal residences, not far from here.”

  “May I see that?” Lady Blodgett held out her hand for the note and Harry passed it to her.

  “Is she being held against her will?” Corbin asked, a bit too eagerly.

  “He doesn’t say but I doubt it.” Harry shot him an irritated look. “Do you know anything about Egypt at all?”

  “Only what I’ve read in Mrs. Gordon’s stories,” the reporter snapped. “You tell me if they’re accurate or not.” A distinct challenge sounded in the man’s voice.

  “Oh, I don’t believe Sidney has ever written about harems,” Mrs. Fitzhew-Wellmore said in an aside to Lady Blodgett beside her.

  “I would suggest we have far more important matters to discuss at the moment than the veracity of Sidney’s stories.” Mrs. Higginbotham aimed a pointed look at Corbin.

  “You’re right, of course.” Corbin straightened his shoulders as if about to head off to conquer the unknown in the best manner of a fictional hero. “Far more important.” What an idiot.

  “Harems, Mr. Corbin, are not bastions of immorality. That’s a false impression advanced by European fiction. They are simply the quarters of the female members of a household as well as their servants and children. The wives of the household, limited to no more than four, are free to come and go as they please. Servants and, well, slaves, have no such liberty.”

  Mrs. Fitzhew-Wellmore gasped. “Do you think they want Sidney for a slave?”

  “No, I do not,” Harry said firmly. “As I do not think she has been kidnapped. Frankly, if that was the case, even Nazzal would not have been able to find out where she is this quickly. She would be hidden and she’s not. From what Nazzal has written—”

  “Why isn’t he here?” Mrs. Higginbotham crossed her arms over her chest. “We could certainly use his assistance.”

  Harry’s jaw tightened. He had thought exactly the same thing himself. “Unfortunately, he was called away but expects to return within a day or so.”

  “Then this is in your hands.” Lady Blodgett offered him an encouraging smile.

  “You can manage this, Harry,” Mrs. Higginbotham said as if there wasn’t a doubt in her mind. It was most gratifying.

  “And if you can’t,” Corbin added, “I can.”

  “No one needs to manage anything,” Harry said sharply. “The fact that Sidney has not yet returned could be due to any number of as yet unknown reasons. I suggest we wait until this evening. If she has not returned by then, we should turn this over to the British consulate. Sidney is in a royal household and this could be better handled through diplomatic means.”

  The three ladies and Corbin stared in disbelief.

  “That’s it?” Mrs. Higginbotham glared. “That’s your plan?”

  Lady Blodgett shook her head. “We did expect more from you, Harry.”

  “Richard Weatherly would certainly do more,” Mrs. Fitzhew-Wellmore muttered.

  “Why wait?” Corbin said slowly, staring at Harry, a definite challenge in his eyes. “I think we need to go and fetch her. Rescue her as it were.”

  Mrs. Higginbotham huffed. “Isn’t that what I just said?”

  “It’s an excellent idea, regardless of who said it first.” Mrs. Fitzhew-Wellmore nodded.

  “No.” Harry shook his head. “It’s not.”

  “If you’re not willing to go—” Corbin smirked “—I can certainly do this without you.”

  “I doubt that, Corbin.”

  “At least I am willing to try.”

  “As are we,” Mrs. Higginbotham said staunchly.

  Determination showed on each lady’s face and even Corbin adopted an expression of resolve.

  Bloody hell. Why not?

  There was the slimmest possibility he was wrong. That Sidney was indeed in trouble and being held against her will. He doubted it. It made no sense and Nazzal didn’t seem to think that was the case. Even so, the nasty feeling in his stomach had never been wrong.
Of course, he had never liked a woman before which had certainly mucked up everything else in his life.

  The proper, appropriate thing to do was to contact the consulate. It was exactly what the Earl of Brenton would do.

  Charging off to rescue Sidney was probably a dreadful mistake, a reckless and irrational course of action and there was every likelihood that it could go terribly wrong. It was exactly the kind of stupid, brash thing Harry Armstrong would do. The kind of thing that ridiculous character Richard Weatherly would do that would sweep Millicent Forester off her feet. Would it do the same to Sidney Gordon?

  “Very well.” He blew a resigned breath. “Let’s go rescue Mrs. Gordon.”

  * * *

  HARRY AND CORBIN stood in a narrow street before what he assumed was the west door of the palace. Fortunately, this particular royal residence was not far from the hotel. Even better it was now dark. Harry had sent out errand boys with inquiries to several Egyptian acquaintances who, like Nazzal, usually knew what was going on in the city. While he had gotten directions and some information as to the interior of the building, he had also received visits from two more creditors—apparently among those Nazzal had warned knew he was in Egypt. As he had no time to argue about charges and simply paid what they claimed he owed, they offered whatever assistance he may need in any future endeavors. As well as credit. That, coupled with the purchases of a few essential items, took longer than he had wanted which was more a matter of his own impatience than any sense of real urgency. Still, it was for the best. The later they attempted this, the darker it would be and the fewer people they would encounter. Besides, the longer this escapade took—the more likely it was Sidney would return on her own. He did feel the need to keep Corbin busy as well. There was no telling how much trouble the man would get into attempting to rescue Sidney by himself.