by Laura Martin
‘Sebastian,’ she said, her voice wavering with emotion.
Before she could say any more he moved closer to her and looped an arm around her back. Emma felt him pulling her closer and instinctively held the torch out to one side so she wouldn’t get burned. Then her body was pressed up against his and Emma felt the heat radiating from his skin to hers.
Emma opened her mouth to speak again, but Sebastian swooped quickly and captured her lips with his own. She felt all the tension melt from her shoulders as he nipped at her lips and darted his tongue into her mouth.
She nuzzled in closer to him, pressing her body firmly against his, then she let go. She let go of all the thoughts of the future and all the memories of the past couple of weeks. She allowed herself just to live in the moment and savour being here in Telarti’s tomb with the man she loved.
After a minute Sebastian pulled away and looked down at her.
‘This is incredible,’ he said, his voice hoarse.
Emma nodded, not sure whether he was talking about their kiss or the tomb or both.
‘Emma, whatever happens in the future, I want you to know these last few weeks have been the best of my life.’
She could see the boyish enthusiasm in his eyes and felt pleased she had helped to put it there.
‘I could never have imagined discovering a tomb such as this,’ he continued.
Emma felt the smile freeze on her face. Was he just talking about finding the tomb?
‘But I would give up discovering a thousand tombs even more magnificent than this for the couple of weeks we spent together.’
Emma felt her heart soar, then immediately plummet back to earth. He was still talking as though some time in the near future they would separate and lead completely independent lives.
‘Don’t give up on us,’ Emma whispered, taking his hand in her own. ‘I love you and I know you love me. Don’t give up on that.’
Before he could answer her, and before he could see the tears that were building in her eyes, Emma stepped away from him on the pretence of exploring deeper into the burial chamber. Her flickering torch illuminated a pile of scrolls stacked neatly in one corner and Emma crossed the room and eyed them, all the while wondering what was going through Sebastian’s mind.
Gently, she ran a finger over the topmost scroll, looking for any sign of fragility in the papyrus, any sign it would disintegrate if she picked it up. It was sturdy beneath her fingers so carefully she picked it up with one hand and started to unroll the stiff papyrus. The markings were hard to see in the torchlight but she peered at them nevertheless, wanting anything to distract her from Sebastian’s presence behind her. He hadn’t said a word since her entreaty for him not to give up on them, and she wanted to give him time to absorb what she’d said. She wanted to give him a chance to realise the best place for both of them in the future was in each other’s arms.
She heard him move a couple of steps and braced herself for either his arm slipping around her waist or a more formal tap on the shoulder. Seconds passed and neither contact came and Emma realised he’d been moving away from her rather than towards her. She felt the tears well up once again in her eyes and she wondered whether this time she’d lost him for good.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Sebastian took a step towards Emma then thought better of it. He needed to get things clear in his head before he voiced his thoughts. He needed to make a final decision.
He loved her, that much he knew; he loved her more than he’d thought it was possible to love. He wanted her as well. His body thrummed with desire every time she was within touching distance; just thinking about her made him want to lay her down and make love to her until neither of them could think straight.
So he loved her and he desired her, but was that enough? Sebastian shook his head. Surely it didn’t matter how much he loved her, he could still end up hurting her. The idea of raising a hand to Emma might seem ludicrous now, but how could he know what the future held?
Images of what could be flickered through his mind and he saw himself happy with her by his side. He knew if he sent her away he would never be happy again. Every day would be spent pining for her, missing her laugh and her smile, wishing she were back in his arms and knowing he only had himself to blame.
He looked around the tomb and nearly laughed. Four weeks ago discovering a tomb like this would have been his ultimate ambition—now he would give it all up to be able to spend his life with Emma. He’d do anything if it meant spending his life with her by his side.
Seb’s eyes rested on an image of the goddess Hathor and silently he beseeched her for guidance. Seb knew the old gods were no longer listening, but he wished the goddess would give him a clue as to what to do. Idly he ran his fingers through a chest of jewellery as he wondered what to do for the best.
‘I’ll give up this tomb, I’ll give up all the treasures and the accolade of discovery, if you just guide me, Hathor,’ he whispered.
Gently he felt his shoulders sag at the weight of the decision and as he stared at Emma’s back he wondered whether he was about to ruin both their lives for good.
A distant rumble swept all thoughts of the future from his mind. Instinctively he spun on his heel and peered back the way they’d come. There was nothing there. Just as his heart was beginning to slow another rumble was followed by a crash that shook the ground they stood on.
Emma’s eyes met his and the panic he saw in them sliced through his chest. In a couple of quick steps he crossed the room and swept her into his arms. As he pressed her against his body he could feel the pounding of her heart beneath her skin.
‘What was that?’ Emma asked as another rumble almost drowned her out.
Momentarily Seb didn’t know how to answer, then as another rumble shook the tomb he realised what was happening.
‘The tunnel’s unstable,’ he said, remembering the pile of rubble close to the entrance. ‘We must have disturbed something coming in.’
Emma’s eyes darted to the ceiling of the tomb and Seb saw the panic in them. He too looked up and baulked as he saw the cleft in the rock above their heads. A small shower of stones and dust started to fall and quickly Seb pulled Emma into the doorway of the burial chamber.
‘We’ve got to get out of here,’ Seb shouted, aware that the rumbles were getting closer together.
Emma looked wistfully back into the chamber before reluctantly nodding her head.
‘Maybe we should try and take something with us,’ she said. ‘Save something.’
An image of Emma being crushed underneath a pile of rock made Seb shudder and insistently he pulled her forward.
‘No time,’ he said. ‘We have to get out of here.’
Emma took one last look back over her shoulder then allowed Seb to pull her up the first of the steps. They were just reaching where the ground levelled out at the first set of chambers when an almighty crash reverberated round the enclosed space and the shock almost knocked them off their feet.
Seb felt his blood pulsing through his temples. He had to get Emma out of here and fast. He’d never forgive himself if something happened to her. He just wanted her to be safe in his arms, somewhere nothing could ever hurt her again.
Quickly he led her through the first set of chambers and up the first of the steps that would lead them back into the open air and to safety. They’d only taken three steps when they were forced to stop. In front of them was a huge pile of rock, almost sealing the tunnel completely. Seb now knew what the loud crash had been: this part of the ceiling of the tunnel had fallen in. Frantically he pulled at the rock, knowing he could never move it all in time to get them out before the entire tunnel came down.
‘We can escape up there,’ Emma said, pointing to a gap between the pile of rock and the ceiling. It was just about wide enough for one person to sque
eze through.
Seb scrambled up the precarious mound of rock and peered through, throwing his torch so it illuminated the other side. Quickly he slid down again and faced Emma.
‘It’s a sheer drop on the other side. If I get through I’ll be able to help you down. Will you be able to scramble up on your own?’
Emma nodded and within a few seconds Seb was back at the top of the pile of rocks, squeezing through the small gap. He felt the sharp edges rip at his clothes and he knew he would have many scrapes and bruises by the end, but it didn’t matter. If he managed to get Emma out of here alive he didn’t care what injuries he sustained.
Once he was through the gap he braced himself then dropped down, gritting his teeth as he landed on the uneven ground and his feet scrabbled for purchase.
‘Come on through,’ he shouted.
The wait seemed like an eternity. He could hear Emma on the other side trying to clamber up the pile of rock, but still she did not appear. There was another loud crash and the whole tunnel shook as something collapsed farther down.
‘Emma?’ he called, frantically hoping she was all right.
No answer.
‘Emma,’ he called again, panic rising up inside him.
She couldn’t be hurt; she couldn’t be trapped inside. He needed her with him, by his side, in his arms.
Suddenly her head appeared through the gap and Seb felt his whole body relax a little. He hadn’t lost her. She was still alive and in one piece.
‘Wriggle through, then I’ll catch you,’ he instructed.
Emma slowly began to emerge through the gap until it was just her legs. She looked at him uncertainly.
‘How will I get down?’ she asked, looking at the drop dubiously.
Seb knew it would be too difficult for her to turn around and lower herself down so he stepped forward and opened his arms.
‘Just push yourself forward as hard as you can and I promise I’ll catch you.’
He wondered if she would hesitate, if she would trust him or if she would seek another way down.
He saw her eyes fix on his and then she was sailing through the air. Seb opened his arms and braced himself. Emma hit him with quite a force, but he managed to keep his balance, wrapping his arms around her and gently lowering her to the ground.
He knew they had to get out of the tunnel, but he was so happy she hadn’t been injured he took a second to brush a kiss against her lips and hold her body tight against his.
Then, before they could be crushed by any more falling rock, he pulled her up the remaining steps and into the sunlight.
They both had to blink over and again when they emerged into the light, and they stood for a minute just looking at the entrance of the tomb. Seb pulled Emma farther back until they were standing just next to the crevice that led them back to the main trail.
As they watched there was another huge rumble and a crash that reverberated round the whole valley. Dust billowed from the entrance to the tomb and for a few seconds they both had to shut their eyes. When Seb opened his he saw the entrance was now completely sealed by another pile of rubble, and he knew if they’d been a minute longer they would have been trapped inside.
He dragged his eyes away from the tomb and looked at Emma. She was pale and dusty, but most importantly she was unhurt. When he had been waiting for her to emerge over the pile of rubble he had thought he might have lost her. The pain he’d felt in his heart had been unbearable. Gently he gathered her in his arms and just pulled her towards him, holding her in an embrace that he never wanted to break.
‘I love you,’ he whispered into her neck as he held her against himself. ‘I love you.’
He felt her relax in his arms and press her face into his shoulder.
‘I was so scared I’d lost you,’ he said, stroking her hair as he held her. ‘I can’t live without you.’
Emma stiffened at his words and slowly pulled away so she could look into his eyes.
Seb knew he’d spoken the truth; he couldn’t live without her. He couldn’t spend every day knowing she was elsewhere, wondering if she was in danger and not being able to protect her. He needed her by his side. He needed her to be his wife.
Emma didn’t utter a word, but just looked at him, a wariness in her eyes as if she didn’t want to hope too much.
Seb was just about to take her hands in his own when his fingers brushed over a bulge in his pocket. He slipped his hand in and his fingers closed around something cold and it was a few seconds before he realised what it was. In the chamber, just before the first rumble, he’d been running his fingers absent-mindedly through the chest of jewellery. He must have inadvertently slipped a piece of the jewellery into his pocket before they’d fled.
With his eyes locked on hers Seb sank down in front of her and took the ring from his pocket.
‘Emma, will you do me the greatest honour of becoming my wife?’ he asked.
She was quiet for a second, looking at him warily.
‘What kind of wife?’ she asked eventually.
Seb grinned. ‘A proper wife. A wife who never has to leave her husband’s side. A wife who is her husband’s partner and whole world.’
He watched as the tears sprang to Emma’s eyes and felt a lump start to form in his throat. How could he ever have imagined he’d be able to live his life without her?
‘What do you say?’ he asked.
‘Yes,’ Emma replied, leaning down to kiss him on the lips. ‘Yes, yes, yes.’
Seb held the ring forward and they both looked at it for the first time.
‘Is that...?’ Emma’s voice trailed off.
‘It’s a gift from the goddess Hathor,’ Seb said, slipping it onto her finger.
Emma studied it carefully and Seb smiled at how perfectly it fitted on her slender finger, as if it had been made just for her. The delicate band held a beautifully cut emerald that glinted in the sunlight.
‘We’re truly going to be married?’ Emma asked.
‘Truly.’
‘And you won’t send me away?’
Seb shook his head. ‘I couldn’t. My heart wouldn’t withstand being apart from you for more than a minute.’
Emma nodded, brushing the tears from her cheeks, and Seb took her hand in his.
‘What do we do about the tomb?’ she asked.
‘I think we’ve found something much more precious than an old tomb,’ Seb said, grinning. ‘Why don’t we let Telarti keep her secrets for a few years longer?’
He remembered his promise to the goddess. Someone had shown him the way inside the tomb, and, although he knew the ancient gods didn’t answer prayers any more, he was going to stick to his end of the bargain nevertheless.
‘I love you.’
Seb looked down at the woman who would soon become his wife and he knew his life was complete. He loved her so much.
‘Will you promise me something?’ he asked, turning serious.
‘Anything.’
‘If I ever as much as raise my voice to you, you’ll leave me.’
Emma looked at him for a long time. She must have realised how much this meant to him, for she nodded solemnly. ‘I promise. I know it will never happen, but I promise all the same.’
‘I love you more than you could ever know. I love you with all I have,’ Seb said, cupping her face in his hands and kissing her leisurely. He had all the time in the world to enjoy lavishing attention on his new wife.
Epilogue
Emma wiped her forehead and replaced her wide-brimmed hat. After three years in Egypt she knew she was never going to get rid of the freckles that covered her nose, but she still didn’t want the rest of her skin to burn.
She couldn’t believe it was three years since she’d first sailed down the Nile, three ye
ars since she’d first locked eyes with Sebastian as he dived into the murky waters and surfaced by her felucca. And it was three years since they had discovered the tomb of Telarti.
Emma thought back to their adventure in the desert and smiled. The interceding three years had held their share of adventures, but luckily nothing as perilous as their first foray into the desert together.
It still made her grin when she thought of the nights they’d spent under the stars after discovering the tomb, getting to know each other intimately. At the time she’d never wanted them to end, but Sebastian had been keen to get her back to Cairo and make her his wife. And he’d promised they’d spend many more nights camped out under the stars with just each other for company.
Emma remembered too their arrival back in Cairo. They’d taken the boat from Luxor, and had been joined by Ahmed and Dalila, the Fitzgeralds’ maid, before the boat had finally docked in the city centre. Mrs Fitzgerald had been waiting for them at the dock, dragging her hen-pecked husband behind her and looking scandalised and ready for a fight. She hadn’t for one minute believed Emma’s virtue had been protected and had demanded Sebastian and Emma marry immediately.
Sebastian had chortled at that and asked whether she could really deprive the female population of Cairo his charm and attention. Mrs Fitzgerald hadn’t even smiled.
The older lady had been mollified slightly when she’d found out Sebastian had already proposed, but she had still whisked Emma away and hadn’t let her out of her sight until the wedding day. Thankfully on being separated from his bride-to-be Sebastian had worked like a madman and three days later they had wed. There had of course been the inevitable gossip surrounding the quick marriage, but when they had been comfortably ensconced as husband and wife, that had all died down quickly enough.
They had never revealed the location of Telarti’s tomb, instead preferring to keep it a secret between themselves. Sometimes, on long summer evenings, they would talk about going to excavate the tomb again, but Emma knew Sebastian wanted the tomb to remain hidden. He’d made some sort of pact with the goddess down there, and Emma was content to leave it at that.