Among Sand and Sunrise

by Stacy Henrie

  Florence rolled her eyes and stood. “I may be the oldest of the bunch, but that doesn’t mean I want to be left behind. I’m coming too.”

  “Perfect,” Syble said with a laugh before linking arms with her grandmother and Ethel. “Let’s go find the man I love.”

  * * *

  When Karnak came into view at last, Syble nearly shouted with relief. The nervous anticipation coursing through her had made the relatively short donkey ride from Luxor to the temple complex feel twice as long. What if she’d missed Marcus? She had scrutinized the faces of each person they had passed. But what if he had somehow escaped her notice?

  “Would you like us to help look for him?” Nana asked when they stopped.

  Syble shook her head. While she was truly grateful for all of their support, she wanted to be the one to find Marcus herself. She also didn’t wish to speak with him in front of an audience.

  “Maybe you could wait here, to intercept him if I don’t find him first.”

  Florence gave a curt nod. “If he comes out alone, he’s going to get an earful from me.”

  “That’s one way to detain him,” Rose murmured, but she appeared more amused than exasperated at her friend’s no-nonsense attitude.

  Her grandmother gave her a quick hug. “Go on. We’ll be praying for you both.”

  “Thank you, Nana.” She waved to the four of them, then hurried into the complex.

  The place had struck her as vast the last time she’d been here, but tonight it felt even larger. How would she ever find Marcus? He could be anywhere.

  Syble paused her harried pace as she tried to decide which direction to go first. Shutting her eyes, she reviewed in her mind their previous visit. The two of them had wandered off after she’d introduced Marcus to several other young ladies.

  She felt nothing but gratitude in this moment that the widows had sabotaged her own matchmaking efforts and that Marcus hadn’t developed a connection with any of the potential candidates Syble had found. How blind she’d been to her own feelings, or at least unwilling to examine them closely.

  Ducking her chin, Syble offered a silent prayer, thanking the Lord for one more chance with Marcus. Then she lifted her head and retraced the same path they’d taken last time.

  There were fewer people in this part of the complex, and after a few minutes, she wondered if she’d made a mistake. Perhaps Marcus had gone exploring elsewhere. She drew alongside the room with the statues, where they had stopped, and saw a lone figure standing there. A familiar figure with dark hair and glasses and his hands tucked inside his pockets.

  The sight of him set Syble’s heartbeat drumming with equal parts hope and fear. Would Marcus listen to her long enough to hear what she needed to say? Or was it too late? She pulled in a full breath and let it out slowly, then she walked toward him.

  * * *

  The sound of approaching footsteps interrupted Marcus’s half-hearted focus on the row of statues in front of him. He’d hoped for more time in this spot by himself, but he couldn’t fault someone else for wanting to enjoy it too.

  He turned, fully intending to leave, but he froze when he saw Syble. She looked as lovely as ever, though her dinner gown struck him as an odd choice to wear for a nighttime visit to Karnak. Sand covered her hem, and some of her hair had slipped from its usual coif, as if she’d been hurrying through the complex.

  “Syble? What are you doing here?” Marcus glanced past her, but no one else materialized at her side. “Is Kirk with you?”

  She shook her head, her gaze never wavering from his. “Mr. Kirk is still at the hotel.”

  “He didn’t wish to see the temple?” That didn’t sound like his friend.

  Marcus felt the impact of her soft smile strike him straight through his chest. “I didn’t invite him.”

  It was not the answer he’d predicted, but it was certainly the one he wanted. “I read the article from the newspaper…about our find.”

  “Did you like it?” she asked, her tone eager, hopeful.

  He nodded. “I'm grateful, though a bit baffled still, as to why you credited me with so much.” Marcus paused to search her face for any sign of regret over what she’d chosen to do. “I know how very important this dig was to you.”

  “It was.” Syble took a step toward him. “Until something else—someone else—became more important to me than any accolades.”

  Marcus wanted to believe she meant him, but he wasn’t entirely certain. Just because his friend wasn’t here tonight didn’t mean Kirk was no longer a contender for Syble’s affections. “What about Kirk?”

  “I realized that when Mr. Kirk’s time in Egypt is over,” she said, her voice carrying conviction, “I will wish him well, but I won’t miss his company.”

  “You won’t?” Marcus echoed.

  There was no hesitation from her, only resolve. “He’s a good man and will likely make some other young lady very happy when he actually follows his heart. But I don’t love him, and I don’t want to spend my life with him.”

  “You—you don’t?”

  She laughed, and the happy sound filled him with a tiny degree of hope. “No, Marcus. I don’t.”

  Running a hand through his hair, he tried to make sense of her words. “I’m not sure I understand. I thought when you invited him to the tomb this morning…”

  Syble closed the remaining distance between them and twined her fingers with his. To his great delight, she wasn’t wearing her dinner gloves. “I invited him and his family this morning because I knew they’d enjoy the experience. That was the only reason. I haven’t felt or wished to feel a renewal of what we experienced last year.”

  She wasn’t with Kirk after all. The realization prompted Marcus to clasp her other hand in his, his heart hammering with optimism for the first time since the ball.

  “Do you think it possible you could ever forgive me for my idiotic mistake?” He didn’t let her answer before he added, “I’m truly sorry, Syble. I should have told you about that conversation with Kirk the last time you and I were here.” Marcus glanced away, fresh remorse filling him. “I didn’t want to influence Kirk, however unintentionally, in his decision. I also feared what you would think if you knew we’d discussed you—and that I hadn’t specifically advocated choosing you. Later, I hated the idea of knowing I might have contributed to your hurt. Yet my silence ended up hurting you too.”

  The warmth in her gaze when he returned his eyes to hers brought as much relief as her next words. “I was hurt, but I’ve already forgiven you, Marcus. I’m just hoping you can forgive me too.”

  “For what?”

  She surprised him by lowering her head. “I nearly threw away what we have over one mistake.”

  “What do we have?” he asked as he tipped her chin upward. He didn’t want to presume her meaning, though he also couldn’t extinguish the hope that burned strongly inside him now.

  The moonlight revealed the glitter of tears in her eyes. “We have something truly amazing. Something deeper and more meaningful than I ever thought I could find with anyone.”

  Her admission thrilled him far more than finding a whole tomb of hidden treasure. But his next question had to be answered, however vulnerable Marcus felt at speaking it aloud. “Does this mean you won’t grow bored with my company someday?”

  “Never.” Syble let go of his hand to touch his jaw. “What I feel when I’m with you is quite the opposite of boring, Marcus Brandt. It’s exciting and unexpected and makes every day an adventure, and I don’t see that ever changing.” Her voice dropped to little more than a whisper when she presented him with her own question. “You won’t grow frustrated with my spontaneity or energetic approach to life, will you?”

  Marcus leaned into her palm. He’d come here tonight in search of peace and comfort in the memories of Syble. Instead he’d found them with her beside him, along with a growing sense of joy. “Those are the very qualities that drew me to you in the first place.”

  “Really?�
� She playfully arched her eyebrows at him. “I seem to remember that you once found those same qualities rather irritating.”

  He grinned. “Just as you found mine irritating as well?”

  “Point taken.” She laughed again as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

  Without a doubt, he would never tire of her laugher or the feel of her embrace. “In all seriousness,” he continued, settling his hands on her waist, “I wouldn’t change a thing about you, Syble.”

  “And I want you just the way you are too.” She visibly swallowed. “I love you, Marcus. I think I started falling in love with you the moment I saw you charging down that hill of sand.”

  They both smiled at the memory. “I believe I fell for you that night I found you digging away in the dark,” he admitted without any reservation. “I couldn’t help but be impressed at the sight of such a beautiful, caring, tenacious woman, as eager as any archaeologist to find a hidden tomb.”

  Marcus rested his forehead against hers, happiness and gratitude nearly overwhelming him. What if he hadn’t agreed to help with his grandmother’s dig? He didn’t want to consider how differently things would have turned out, for both of them. Thankfully he’d agreed, and in doing so, he’d found the woman he adored, heart and soul.

  “I love you, Syble. And I want to know you’ll be by my side tomorrow and every day after that.”

  Her fingers twined through the hair at the back of his neck. “Is that a proposal?”

  He chuckled at her impish tone. “Not quite, but this is.” Tugging her arms gently downward, he grasped one of her hands in his and lowered himself to one knee. “Miss Syble Rinecroft, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

  “Are you sure you find me suitable?” Her worried tone belied her attempt at a smile. “I know Ethel likes me. But what about your parents?”

  Marcus rose to hold her face between his hands. “Hopefully this answers your question,” he said, purposely echoing the words she’d spoken to him the night of the ball. Then he kissed her fully and ardently until they were both breathless.

  “Is that sufficient enough an answer, my love?” He smoothed away the tears that slid onto her cheeks. “You are more than suitable just as you are, and best of all, we suit each other. That, I assure you, is all my parents will care to know.” Marcus searched her face for any sign of lingering doubt. “Does that allay your concern?”

  Syble gave him an enthusiastic nod. “It does, and my answer is yes. I will marry you.”

  With another grin, he bent to kiss her again. Only the sound of sudden cheering and applause interrupted the private moment. Marcus peered past her to find all four widows wiping their eyes and watching the two of them with rapt smiles.

  “The Wandering Widows came too?” he asked with a smile as he looked at Syble.

  Her own mouth twitched at the corners. “They wouldn’t be left behind, not even Florence. And since the true purpose for their trip was about bringing you and me together, I naturally couldn’t refuse their company tonight.” She twisted slightly to say over her shoulder, “I did ask them to wait by the entrance, though.”

  “At our age,” Florence called back, “we’re allowed to disregard some things now and again.”

  Marcus shook his head with amusement. He hadn’t suspected their ulterior motive for their trip to Egypt, but he felt grateful for it. “So all those knowing looks and smiles?”

  “Oh, yes.” Syble held onto his lapels. “You know they’re going to take all of the credit for bringing us together?”

  He slipped his hand to the back of her neck and into her hair. “I believe I can live with that.”

  “Me too,” she whispered, leaning toward him.

  She brought her smiling lips to his, and they shared another long kiss under the open sky, while the four widows behind them filled the ancient halls with plans and talk of the wedding to come.

  EPILOGUE

  Nile River, Luxor, Egypt, November 1909

  With her legs tucked beneath her, Syble sat reading in the steamer’s sun gallery. Her thumb idly spun her wedding ring round and round her finger, a habit she’d formed since marrying Marcus six weeks earlier.

  Their wedding in London had been a joyous occasion, largely because of the people who had come to support them. Marcus’s family, including all of his siblings, had attended, as well as Syble’s brothers. Her parents had come to England too and were so relieved at Syble finding a husband they weren’t even a little disappointed that Marcus was not a member of the titled gentry. After all, earls and viscounts and dukes were old news. But a famous British archaeologist in the family? Now that was something unique for Mrs. Rinecroft to boast to her friends about.

  The Wandering Widows had helped with all of the preparations, telling anyone who would listen how they had orchestrated the match themselves. Syble’s best friend, Gwen, was in attendance as well, along with her husband and their baby girl. Their mutual friend Clare had also come to the wedding with her husband and their two children. Mr. Kirk had been invited too, and both Marcus and Syble had been pleased to see him carrying on an especially lengthy conversation with the daughter of one of Mr. Brandt’s friends.

  The wedding and the celebration following it had been every bit as full and bustling and happy as Syble could have wished. Even Marcus had remarked on how much he enjoyed everything. Still, they were both more than ready for time alone when they’d embarked on their month-long honeymoon tour of Europe. Together they had marveled at the Eiffel Tower, climbed a mountain in Switzerland, ridden the canal boats in Venice, swum in the Mediterranean, visited a Turkish monastery, and experienced hundreds of moments Syble would never forget.

  It seemed only fitting to end their honeymoon with a Nile cruise—just like the one they’d taken eight years ago. Only this time they would remain in Luxor for the winter, while Marcus worked on a new dig. Today would be their final morning onboard the steamer.

  Syble glanced up as she turned her page. To her delight and surprise, her husband leaned against the railing, his hands inside his pockets and his gaze on her. His hair was still tousled from sleep, and he hadn’t yet secured the top button of his shirt or put on his vest and jacket.

  “What are you doing up?” she asked, tucking her finger into her book to mark her spot. Marcus had still been sleeping when she’d slipped upstairs.

  His slow smile coaxed her pulse to race. “I am watching the sunrise.” His attention remained fixed on her, though, not the golden light bathing the landscape and river beyond the deck. “What are you reading, by the way? One of your romance novels?” His eyebrows rose above his glasses in a knowing look.

  “It happens to be one of your research books.” She held it up for him to see. “I thought it appropriate reading since we’re back in Luxor.”

  He nodded in apparent pleasure at her answer. “I see. You haven’t given up on your love stories, have you?”

  She shook her head, then pretended to read some more. “Not in the slightest.”

  Marcus chuckled and loosely folded his arms. “You know, a rather pert young lady once told me that I would miss out on life if I kept my nose pasted inside a book. Perhaps she was only referring to research books, though.”

  “Oh, I’m sure she was.” Syble bit back a laugh of her own.

  “In that case, I recommend you follow her sage advice and not let life pass you by. Particularly at this moment, when your loving husband has yet to kiss you good morning.”

  Setting aside her book, Syble rose to her feet. “I think you’re right.” She walked to the railing, wrapped her arms around her husband, and kissed him soundly. He returned her ardor as he held her close.

  “Good morning,” she murmured as she peered into his handsome face.

  Marcus smiled fully. “Morning, my love.”

  “Am I missing life now?”

  His green eyes shone with tenderness and amusement. “I believe you’ve struck a good balance, my dear. However, we ought to try anoth
er kiss just to be sure.”

  Syble readily complied. After another breathless kiss, she rested her head in the crook of his neck, relishing the feel of his strong, steady arms around her.

  “Do you know where you want to begin digging?” she asked. They’d been talking about possibilities for their next site ever since arriving in Cairo, but Marcus hadn’t settled on any one idea yet.

  He placed his cheek on her hair. “Not exactly. Did you find anything promising in that book you’re reading?”

  “Actually, I did.” Syble released him just long enough to grab the book before returning to his side. With her back resting against his chest and his arms around her waist, she showed him what she’d found.

  Marcus murmured approval, followed by a quick kiss below her ear. “I believe that may work. Well done, Syble.”

  “Thank you.” His compliment warmed her nearly as much as his kisses. She couldn’t wait to begin another dig together—this time as husband and wife.

  He rested his chin on her shoulder. “Bear in mind that any tomb we discover may not yield the grand treasure we found inside that hidden one.”

  “I promise I’ll remember.” Syble twisted in his embrace to face him. With the book still in one hand, she encircled her arms around his neck. “Besides, I have all the treasure I could ever want right here, with you.”

  The look he gave her set her heart racing once more. “I couldn’t agree more.”

  Then Marcus kissed her again until Syble forgot all about books and tombs and sunrises. Everything but experiencing life, in this moment, with the man she would love forever and always. And she could think of no greater adventure than that.

  AUTHOR’S NOTE

  The bulk of Marcus and Syble’s archaeological experiences are based on the work of American archaeologist Theodore M. Davis, who discovered the tomb of Yuya and Tuya in 1904–1905. Though they were only the in-laws of a pharaoh, their tomb still yielded a room full of treasure—enough to fill an entire gallery at the Egyptian Museum located in Cairo.

  This story is also a nod to the fascinating work of British archaeologist Henry Carter, who at one time worked with Davis and, like Marcus, also cleared a tomb at the expense of a wealthy patroness. After years of little success, Carter, along with Henry Stanhope, the fifth Earl of Carnarvon, discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922. Apparently Carter was also known for his kindness toward those who labored with him.