“It’s all a matter of inflection really.” Gwen gestured aimlessly. “Or perhaps semantics.”
“It’s entirely possible he doesn’t even know we left the hotel,” Effie said thoughtfully.
Gwen nodded. “Then we should proceed as if he doesn’t. No need to tell him anything he’d probably prefer not to know.”
“We are just thinking of him,” Poppy murmured.
Harry knocked again. Wasn’t it interesting how a man’s knock said all sorts of things about his mood? Perhaps they shouldn’t let him in after all.
“This is silly.” Sidney gestured at Poppy to open the door.
Poppy hesitated, obviously trying to decide if this was indeed wise or not, then adopted her brightest smile and swung the door open. “Harry! It’s you.”
“It was me a moment ago when you shut the door in my face.” He strode into the room.
“I’m afraid I didn’t recognize you.” Poppy heaved an overly dramatic sigh. “My eyesight is not what it once was.”
“You, Mrs. Fitzhew-Wellmore—” he pinned Poppy with a hard look “—could probably read a newspaper from fifty paces.”
Poppy beamed. “Thank you, Harry.”
“We have things to discuss.” Harry’s gaze shifted from one lady to the next and finally settled on Sidney. “All of us.”
“First, you really should listen to Sidney’s recounting of her visit.” Enthusiasm sounded in Gwen’s voice. “It’s quite fascinating.”
“No doubt.” Harry glared at the ladies. “Regardless—”
“Did you know they eat with their fingers?” Effie asked. “And Sidney says it’s not at all messy but really rather refined.”
“Yes, I am aware of that. However—”
“And she met a real princess who is apparently quite fond of Sidney’s stories.” Gwen fairly glowed with pride. “An Egyptian princess—isn’t that remarkable?”
“Indeed it is but—”
“Of course everyone does like Sidney’s stories except for you,” Gwen added under her breath.
“And they supplied Sidney with clothing, as she certainly couldn’t continue to wear last night’s gown, especially to return to the hotel.” Poppy shook her head. “That would have been most awkward. But I think she looks wonderful in her foreign garb.” Her eyes widened innocently. “Don’t you?”
“Yes, of course.” He glanced at Sidney, then his gaze snapped back as if he hadn’t noticed her apparel on his arrival. He stared and she wasn’t entirely sure if he was appalled or entranced. Regardless, either sentiment was most gratifying.
Sidney had never worn anything like this in her life and never imagined she would. In many ways, the Egyptian garments, in varying shades of green embroidered with gold threads, were every bit as complicated as her usual clothing but they were far more comfortable. Especially as a corset was not required. The full sheer trousers ballooned out from the waist then fell softly to a cuff around her ankles. Next came a sort of soft shirt that reached just above her knees. A sash wrapped around her waist. Over it all was a type of sheer coat or robe that buttoned from below her bosom to her hips, the sides slit all the way from the bottom of the garment, near her ankles, to the top of her legs. Lady Hatice had also presented her with a shimmering beaded and jeweled headpiece—a gift from the princess—that held a sheer muslin veil in place. All in all, Sidney thought she looked quite fetching. As did the ladies. It was difficult to determine exactly what Harry was thinking.
“Very nice,” he murmured, still apparently unable to wrench his gaze away.
“Do you really think so?” she said in an overly innocent manner, inspecting the clothing. “It’s extremely comfortable. We were just saying that we should all purchase several pairs of the trousers along with the robes and shirts to wear at home.”
“In London?” Skepticism sounded in his voice.
“Goodness, Harry,” Poppy teased. “It’s not as if we would wear such things on the streets of Bloomsbury.”
“Although we would make quite an impression at the next Lady Travelers meeting,” Gwen said thoughtfully.
“Brilliant idea!” Poppy grinned.
“We saw several stalls in the souk that offered female garments,” Effie said. “I daresay it will be a simple matter to return before we leave Cairo and make our purchases.”
It was apparently the wrong thing to say as it brought Harry’s attention firmly back to the matter at hand.
His eyes narrowed. “And will you be returning to the markets on your own?”
“Whatever you think best, Harry.” Effie cast him a contrite smile.
He snorted in disbelief. “You three promised that you would not leave the hotel.”
“Did we leave the hotel?” Poppy said to Effie who summoned a not at all convincing look of confusion.
“Don’t try to deny it.” Harry glared. “I saw you. And you gave me your word.”
“On the contrary.” Gwen squared her shoulders. “You told us we were not to leave the hotel under any circumstances—”
Poppy nodded. “You were quite firm about it.”
“Which we thought was a bit, oh, arrogant on your part.” Effie cast him a chastising look. “You have no right to tell us what to do. You’re not a relation, you know.”
“Regardless.” Triumph rang in Gwen’s voice. “We never agreed not to leave the hotel. We simply mentioned that we were not stupid.”
“And proved it by leaving the hotel?” Frustration sounded in his voice. “Why?”
“Because you didn’t think rescuing Sidney was necessary,” Effie said as if it were obvious. “We considered all you had said and decided you were probably right. And how absurd it would be for you and Daniel to rescue someone who didn’t need rescue. It would also be most embarrassing on an international level as well.” The ladies shuddered in unison. “After all, we do represent England. Not officially, of course, but as subjects of Her Majesty’s, our actions reflect on her.”
“We should write a pamphlet about the responsibilities of travelers to queen and country,” Poppy murmured.
“We trust you, Harry, and we trust your judgment. If you didn’t think Sidney had been kidnapped, the chances were good that she hadn’t.” Gwen smiled.
“And yet we worried all the same,” Poppy added.
“We simply thought it was an excellent idea if we went to the residence to see if Sidney was there. Thereby saving you—and Daniel too, of course—from a potentially difficult situation.” Gwen leaned toward him and lowered her voice in a confidential manner. “You really should try harder to stick to your convictions, Harry.”
“My convictions?” Harry said in a strangled voice. “My convictions?” A muscle twitched in his jaw. He closed his eyes and Sidney assumed he was counting to ten as the man was obviously fighting to hold himself in check. He opened his eyes and Sidney resisted the urge to take a step back.
“I must disagree with you, Lady Blodgett, on the question of stupidity. You claim you and your friends are not, and have never been, stupid yet tonight’s escapade was the very definition of stupid.” His voice rose. “Do you have any idea what might have happened to you on the streets of Cairo? Alone? At night?”
“Nonsense.” Gwen sniffed. “It wasn’t very far from here, you know. Why, we were scarcely gone any time at all.”
“Mr. Chalmers assisted us and provided a carriage, a driver and a rather burly interpreter as an escort. Really a charming man,” Effie added.
“We simply knocked on the door of the residence—which none of us thought looked anything like a dwelling for royalty really although it was extremely opulent inside. A few minutes later we were escorted to the women’s quarters where Sidney was just about to leave.” Poppy cast him a placating smile. “So you see there was nothing that need concern you at all.”
“This was not cal
ling on friends for tea!” Harry glared as much in frustration as anger.
“One never makes uninvited calls at teatime,” Gwen said under her breath. “That would be most impolite.”
Harry ignored her. “Do you understand even remotely what might have happened to you? None of you speaks the language nor are any of you familiar with the customs. And while I do pity anyone who might try to detain you, what if I had been wrong?”
“Nonsense, Harry,” Poppy said brightly. “You’re never wrong.”
“Harry,” Sidney began, “I really think—”
“I’ll get to you later,” he said in a rigid tone and turned his attention back to the ladies. “You could have gotten yourselves kidnapped. Or worse—killed. I will not allow that to happen.”
“Goodness, Harry,” Gwen said. “While we do appreciate your concern, you are not responsible for us. We are adversaries remember?”
“I don’t care what we are, it’s my duty to protect you.” His voice rose. “All of you.”
“Why?” Poppy shook her head. “We’ve never asked for your protection.”
“Because it’s my fault you’re here in the first place.”
“Although we have always wanted to travel to Egypt,” Gwen said in an aside to Poppy, “or anywhere really.”
His jaw tightened. “Because that’s what a proper gentleman is expected to do.”
“Come now, Harry.” Sidney scoffed. “Even I know that’s utter rubbish.”
“Because.” His gaze met hers. The man was a towering rock of barely suppressed ire. “In spite of my best intentions, I like them. Even Mrs. Higginbotham!”
“Why, Harry,” Effie said wryly. “Such lovely sentiment will go straight to my head.”
“I am doing my best to protect you—” he glanced at each of them in turn then shot Sidney a pointed glance “—all of you.”
Sidney stared for a moment. She didn’t expect that kind of heartfelt declaration from him. And he did have a legitimate point. “You’re right. They shouldn’t have left the hotel by themselves. Ladies, the next time Mr. Armstrong asks for your promise you should be forthright in extending it to him.”
“And what about you?” Harry glared at her.
“What about me?”
“A man you have never met hands you a request allegedly from a princess asking for your presence and you blithely go off with him?”
“Oh, I wouldn’t call it blithely.”
“Are you mad?” His eyes widened and his voice rose. “There was absolutely no reason to believe this man was who he said he was.”
“The invitation was on excellent stationery complete with a royal crest. It was engraved.” Sidney shook her head. “Not the kind of thing you can easily forge.”
“No but it is the kind of thing easily stolen.” He shook his head in disbelief. “You simply trusted this stranger.”
“I am an excellent judge of character,” she said in a lofty manner.
“Not that I’ve noticed,” he snapped.
“I like all your friends. Mr. Chalmers and Mr. Nazzal.” She almost added that she’d probably like his friend Mr. Deane as well but that would bring to mind his late friend, Mr. Pickering and, at the moment, that didn’t seem wise.
“I believe I just made my point!”
“We like them as well,” Poppy murmured.
Harry shot a hard glance at her then returned his attention to Sidney. “You are an enigma. I don’t know from one moment to the next if you’re going to be rational or impulsive or determined. It’s the most annoying thing I have ever encountered. You are the most annoying woman I have ever met! Did you know your eyes light up whenever anything of a questionable nature arises?”
“Do they really?” She grinned although she knew he did not intend it as a compliment and stepped closer to him. “And I would call things of a questionable nature adventures.”
“Only in your stories!” He stared down at her. “And would it be possible for you to change your clothing? I find what you’re wearing to be most distracting.”
“What utter nonsense. This isn’t the least bit revealing.” Sidney crossed her arms over her chest. “Besides, you’ve seen women all over Egypt wearing precisely the same thing.”
“Indeed I have but they were not you!”
“And they are allowed to wear clothing that I am not allowed to wear?”
“Exactly.”
“That’s irrational, Harry.”
“I tend to be irrational when I worry and I don’t like to worry, Mrs. Gordon.”
“No one likes to worry, Mr. Armstrong.” He’d been worried? For her? The far-more-than-she-had-expected Harry Armstrong? If he was afraid for her then it did stand to reason that he cared for her. Her heart leaped at the thought. “I’ll try not to scare you again.”
His gaze slid to the ladies on the sofa, not even bothering to pretend they weren’t listening, then back to hers. “See that you don’t.”
She gazed up at him. “You’re coming perilously close to talking about something like feelings.”
He stared at her for a moment. “No, I’m not.” He turned to leave then turned back. “Oh, and I’ll take the object if you don’t mind.”
She frowned. “What object?”
“The medallion, dear,” Effie said.
“Oh yes, the medallion.” Sidney nodded. “Is Mr. Nazzal here to claim it?”
“No. I expect to see him tomorrow.”
“Then you may have it tomorrow.” She smiled pleasantly but held her breath. “I would like some time to study it.”
“Why?”
“I simply would, that’s all.” There was something about the images on the back that seemed vaguely familiar.
“I’d prefer to keep it where I know it’s safe.”
“It’s perfectly safe with me.”
“Yes, but as long as it’s in your possession there is the possibility you are not safe.”
“Don’t be absurd,” she said calmly. “I understand Mr. Wallace has left Cairo so I’m perfectly safe. And the object is hidden so it too is perfectly safe.”
Harry glanced at the chest of drawers.
“Did you really think I’d put it there?” She cast him a pitying look. “But do go on and look if you want.” Heat washed up her face but she refused to back down. Apparently it was one thing to encourage a man to dig through the unmentionables of a collector in possession of stolen goods and quite another to encourage him to go through your own.
“Why do you want to study it?”
She hesitated. “I’d prefer not to say anything at the moment.”
Harry leaned in and lowered his voice. “Do you trust me, Sidney?”
“Yes, Harry, I believe I do.”
“Good. I however do not trust you.” He stepped back and addressed the others. “Or any of the rest of you. We shall continue this discussion in the morning.” He pointed at Sidney. “You might want to hide that headdress as well.”
Sidney reached up and adjusted the piece. “It is lovely isn’t it?”
“Indeed it is. And unless I’m mistaken, those are real diamonds.” He nodded curtly and took his leave.
Sidney pulled off the headpiece and stared at it. Diamonds? She’d never had anything quite so lovely or valuable. What a remarkable gift. She would treasure it always.
The ladies waited almost a full minute before saying anything.
“Well, that was not nearly as dreadful as I expected,” Poppy said brightly.
“I do feel rather bad about misleading the man.” Gwen sighed. “But I suppose it couldn’t be helped.”
“Am I the only one who sees what is clearly evident here?” Effie looked at them expectantly. “Aside from the fact that the man has grown fond of us, which I would have wagered against, he is obviously in love.”
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“Come now.” Poppy’s brow furrowed. “I don’t think he’s in love with us. He probably simply feels the sort of affection one would feel for any older female relation.”
“She didn’t mean he’s in love with us, dear.” Gwen patted the other woman’s hand.
“Oh no, of course not.” Poppy’s gaze slid to Sidney. “Oh, I see.”
“I don’t think you do. And I don’t think that’s love,” Sidney said quickly but she wasn’t entirely sure she believed her own words. Or perhaps didn’t want to believe. It was, after all, a wonderful idea. “The man thinks of all of us as his responsibility. Nothing more than that.”
“And how do you feel about him?” Gwen asked.
“I’m not sure.” For a moment she considered everything she liked about Harry. He was amusing and really very clever. He was incredibly dashing and adventurous. He’d crawled down shafts in the Great Pyramid and then climbed to the top with scarcely any effort. He was far nicer to her friends than they frequently deserved. When he looked into her eyes she felt like he was looking into her very soul and when he’d kissed her... And the thought of coming to the end of this trip and never seeing him again twisted her heart and tightened her throat. “I believe I might, possibly, care for him. Rather a lot.”
“How lovely.” Poppy beamed.
“Indeed, we couldn’t be happier. However...” Gwen paused and the ladies traded glances. “We’re not sure how to say this but we have discussed it and we do think something does need to be said.”
“We do want to be as delicate as possible,” Poppy added.
“Good Lord.” Effie blew an annoyed breath. “This might not be the time for delicacy. The man has already kissed her.” She glanced at Sidney. “Hasn’t he?”
Heat flushed her face. “Well yes.”
“I thought so.” Effie nodded. “And he does think she is a widow.”
“I’d forgotten about that.” Poppy winced.
“What are the three of you talking about?” Sidney stared in confusion.
“While it is proper to wait until marriage, when one has passed a certain age, well, things are bound to happen. Human nature being what it is and all. Especially in tropical climes,” Effie added.
Lady Travelers Guide to Deception with an Unlikely Earl Page 22