Read Egyptian Honeymoon Online

Authors: Elizabeth Ashton

Egyptian Honeymoon (8 page)

BOOK: Egyptian Honeymoon
2.2Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

'Let me escort you to your cabin, madam.'

'Thank you, but I'll do that,' Steve told him. His eyes were dark with anger, his mouth set like a steel trap. A little uncertainly, Noelle rose to her feet.

'A sh-shame to break up the party, but I've sworn to obey him.' She giggled. Steve's hand closed over her arm like a vice. 'S-see you in the morning, folks.'

He propelled her out of the room from whence it was only a short distance to her cabin. The cool night air as they went along the deck sobered her, and she glanced anxiously at her husband, wondering what he was going to say to her. They reached her cabin, and pushing her inside, he followed her, closing the door after him. Noelle walked across to the window, closed against marauding insects, and leaned her forehead against the cool pane, as Steve spoke.

'I'd be quite justified if I took off my belt to you. How dare you make such an outrageous suggestion, and behave so disgracefully!'

'Beat me if it'll relieve your feelings,' she returned without looking round. 'It seems I've married a tyrant with no regard for mine. You'd better hurry up and administer my punishment, or Marcia will go off with that desert sheik. I don't suppose she's particular so long as she's got a man.'

'Your suppositions are quite absurd,' Steve reprimanded her, 'and it isn't Marcia who's caught Omar's eye.' He put a hand on her shoulder and spun her round to face him. 'I can only surmise you're mad jealous of her.'

Noelle went off into peals of hysterical laughter, and Steve slapped her face. Pulling herself together, with one hand to her smarting cheek, she said disdainfully:

'Jealous of that tart? You flatter yourself. I don't care who you sleep with so long as it isn't me.'

Steve went quite white, and his eyes blazed, then with a muttered oath he went out, slamming the door behind him.

Noelle sat down on her narrow bed and found she was shaking. She had done it now, good and proper, but she felt no elation. She had behaved badly, but Steve had spoken to her as if she were a naughty child, to be sent to bed for her misdemeanours, and Marcia's effrontery had infuriated her. Was she expected to spend her honeymoon a trois? It was too much to expect of a new wife, even if she were only a wife in name. Steve had been so different that morning during the expedition to Giza, almost she had been on the verge of capitulation. She had been looking forward to seeing Luxor and Karnak in his company, believing that they might arrive at a better understanding amid the mutual interest in the ruins.

But Marcia had turned up and spoilt every hope of. a closer union. Steve, had declared her suppositions were absurd, but his every action confirmed them. Even Marcia would not have dared to thrust her company upon them if she had not had previous encouragement.
Of course
Steve had known she would be on the boat, and her story about friends meeting her at Luxor was a fabrication. Well, they could have their fun and Noelle wouldn't try to intervene. As she had told him she did not care as long as he left her alone.

Alone—what a dismal word! Ever since Hugh had died she had felt so much alone. Though she had not expected much from her marriage to Steve, she had hoped for children, but there was no prospect of a family if he continued to seek his satisfaction elsewhere. She looked round her single cabin with lacklustre eyes. Its prim neatness emphasised her solitude. But she didn't want Steve to relieve it, certainly not, but there was Omar ben Ahmed. He was disposed to be friendly, though Steve had plainly disapproved, but fair was fair. Since she was quite indifferent to the princeling, she could be in no danger from him, and Steve had no right to object when he had Marcia. It would salve her pride to have an attendant cavalier to flaunt in front of Marcia's supercilious eyes.

She stood up to prepare for bed. The cabin, being a single one, had its own shower and so on in a cubicle in one corner. The door between her and Steve was firmly locked. She opened the one leading out on the deck and went outside. Steve's adjacent one was dark; he was probably still with Marcia, and afterwards would go to her cabin. Noelle leaned over the rail looking at the water swirling past. The moon was full, a golden orb in a velvet sky… a honeymoon. The faint throb of the engines was audible as the unwieldy craft pursued its way upstream, and the deck vibrated a little under her feet. It was not private, it had access to the lower decks, but she had it to herself tonight. She was a tiny atom in this great mysterious land, being borne up this most romantic of rivers to… what? Further humiliations at Luxor? Gradually the calmness of the night soothed her battered feelings. She glanced towards Steve's cabin—still no light—then with a sigh went back into hers.

Tired with all the excitements of the day, she was soon asleep, but as towards dawn she half awakened, before turning and sinking into sleep again, she uttered a man's name, but it was not Hugh, it was Steve.

Breakfast could be served in one's cabin if one so desired and did not want anything cooked. Noelle availed herself of this service next morning, the steward bringing her a tray of coffee, rolls and fruit. By doing so she avoided meeting anyone. When she was dressed, she went out on deck, where canvas chairs had been set out.

The
Serapis
was not a luxury boat like the Nile-Hilton streamers that plied between Luxor and Aswan. The more usual method of touring by those anxious to see as much as possible in the time available was to fly to the former town and take the boat there. Cairo had been still very hot and Steve had thought the all-river trip would be cooler and more relaxing, and since the
Serapis
had accommodation to spare he had booked it. That was what he had told Noelle, but after Marcia's appearance she was sure he had made an assignation with her and her story about friends letting her down was but a flimsy excuse.

This morning Noelle was not to have the deck to herself; an elderly couple had already availed themselves of its seclusion. English, she thought as she met their slightly hostile stare. The English always resented intrusion, while Continentals welcomed it. She bade them a polite good morning and the man, perceiving she was a pretty girl, responded with a smile.

'Good morning, my dear. I'm Colonel Bates and this is my wife.'

'And I'm Noelle Esm… Prescott.' She was not used to her new name. She sat down on a lounger beside the Colonel, unwilling to go farther afield in case she encountered Steve and Marcia. They exchanged the usual small talk. Then the Colonel tilted his straw hat over his eyes and began to doze. Mrs Bates chatted on about their country cottage in Devonshire; her children, now married, had settled elsewhere. Her hands were busy with cotton and hook; she was crocheting lace. Noelle listened idly, watching the landscape slipping by. This part of the Nile wound through rocky cliffs, which surprised her, as she had expected to see flat sands. Villages clustered at the water's edge, amid palm trees and tamarisks; these with casuarinas and eucalyptus were the only arboreal products of Egypt, where there were no forests of hardwood trees. The natives used camel dung for fuel. It is a mainly agricultural country; cotton, cereals and rice flourish, but principally in the Delta region. In classical times Egypt was one of Rome's chief granaries. The villagers' houses are built of mud brick with unglazed square or round windows. Usually several are joined together, and the flat roofs are used to store everything from mattresses to bundles of reeds, which give them a derelict look. Life among the
fellahin
must be very primitive, Noelle reflected, and felt a little ashamed of the luxury with which she was surrounded. But they did have continual sunshine and warmth to make their lives easier.

She was half asleep when she suddenly became aware that the engines had stopped and the boat was drifting gently back downstream. Mrs Bates was looking alarmed.

'Harry, wake up,' she called. 'We've stopped. Something must be wrong.'

Her husband opened one eye. 'Damned inefficient wogs,' he grumbled. 'Don't panic, my dear, I expect it's only engine trouble.'

'You don't think the boat might blow up?'

'Most unlikely. We've probably run into a crocodile.' He laughed facetiously.

Noelle sat up and listened. She heard raised voices and splashing up forward.

'Do go and see, Harry,' Mrs Bates insisted. 'I'm sure something's happened.'

The Colonel raised himself reluctantly on one elbow, but at that moment the engines started up again and the boat began to move in the right direction.

'There, you see, nothing to make a fuss about,' he said as he settled down again.

The sun increased in power, and Noelle decided to seek the comparative cool inside the lounge. Her companions, who had said they were used to the tropics, seemed impervious to heat, but she had never been able to stand too much sun. Bidding them au revoir, she went down to the lower deck. Green blinds shut out the glare from the lounge and made the light dim. Noelle paused inside the entry, blinking, and a voice beside her made her start violently.

'Good morning, beautiful madam. I trust you slept well. You look fair as the sunshine.'

'I don't feel it,' Noelle returned, 'it's getting very hot.'

As her vision adapted itself to the change of light, she saw Omar ben Ahmed standing in front of her. He was wearing a white suit and his dark eyes glistened as they raked her from head to foot, taking in every detail of her supple figure clad in a plain blue dress, her white sandals and her hair loose upon her shoulders. Reaching out, he touched a tress of it.

'Pardon me, but it fascinates me.'

Noelle jerked her head away.

'I should have put it up, but it's so hot. Where is everybody?' For the lounge appeared to be empty.

'Either sleeping off last night's excesses or sunbathing,' Omar told her. 'After you went last night, more champagne. We broke up very late. The green-eyed one has an infinite capacity.'

Noelle turned her head away. Steve, of course, had rejoined Marcia after he had left her.

'But what would you,' Omar went on. 'There is nothing else to do. But sit down, fair one, and allow me to order you a drink. Coffee?'

'Yes, please, but not Turkish.'

She sat down on a banquette with a low table in front of her. Omar procured two cups of coffee, then seating himself beside her said:

'Now tell me all about yourself. You are newly married, yes?' He glanced at her ring. 'Your husband is an old acquaintance of mine, we have dealt together.'

Noelle recalled that the men had greeted each other in Arabic, and remarked: 'He speaks your language.'

'Yes. I believe Steven Prescott knows something about everything, except how to treat a wife.'

The black eyes were insinuating, but Noelle did not rise. She was not going to confide in this Arab Don Juan. She said carelessly:

'I expect you aren't used to our Occidental manners.'

Omar laughed. 'They are strange to me, but Steve is of the West and I am of the East, and as your poet says, never the twain shall meet, except perhaps in love. You love him very much?' Noelle looked down into her cup. The question verged on impertinence, and if she answered it truthfully she would have to say that love had no part in her marriage, but neither did it in Eastern unions, which were almost always arranged. The admiration in his eyes was balm to her wounded pride.

'He's a very successful and clever man,' she said evasively. 'Have you seen him this morning?'

'Oh yes, but weren't you present when he performed his heroic rescue act?' His tone was mocking.

Noelle stared at him. 'Rescue act? What are you talking about?'

'So you weren't? How disappointed he will be!'

Sudden anxiety gripped her. 'Oh, please be serious! I know the boat stopped—tell me what happened. He's all right?'

'There was a little altercation on the stairway between an irate passenger and a waiter, who he said had tried to cheat him. Blows were struck and the fellow fell overboard. He could not swim, so Steve dived in after him. Quite unnecessary, there are plenty of lifebelts.'

Noelle stood up; she had gone very white. This was what had been happening while she had chatted unconcernedly with the Bates. Steve had been in danger and she completely unaware.

Omar said soothingly: 'Don't distress yourself, madam. They fished them both out and the whole episode was over in moments.'

'But… but… the crocodiles!' she stammered, her eyes widening in horror as she recalled the Colonel's words.

Omar laughed again. 'They were all made into shoes and handbags long ago.'

'Oh! But where is he? I must go to him.'

She might not love him, but he
was
her husband, somebody should have informed her. Omar was making light of the incident, implying that Steve had been showing off, but he might be injured, shocked, needing her.

Omar touched her arm gently to check her.

'The green-eyed houri is fussing over him. In my opinion he only did it to impress her.'

Noelle sat down again abruptly. So Marcia had witnessed the whole performance, though she did not believe she had been the motive for Steve's rash action. Possibly there had been no real risk; Steve was, a strong swimmer. Marcia had usurped her place, without sending to tell her. Quite likely Steve had not wanted her.

Omar looked at her sympathetically and laid his hand over hers. She looked at it dully, but made no movement of withdrawal. She was surprised how upset she had been to learn Steve had been in danger. Could it be she cared for him more than he deserved?

Omar said softly: 'Your husband neither appreciates you nor loves you, so perhaps it is a pity there was no crocodile to dispose of him.'

'You mustn't suggest such an awful thing!' she flashed. 'I… I'd be inconsolable.' And she wondered if perhaps she would.

'But I would console you,' Omar said eagerly. 'Oh, my white rose, if only you were free!'

Noelle looked at him curiously, but her eyes dropped before the flame in his. He seemed to be an inflammable person. She did not believe his protestations, and she had no intention of embarking upon a liaison with him, which was what he wanted. But because her heart was sore because of Steve's treatment, she said provocatively:

BOOK: Egyptian Honeymoon
2.2Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

Other books

Initiation by Jessica Burkhart
The Perfect Kill by Robert B. Baer
Sworn to Protect by Katie Reus
Rameau's Niece by Cathleen Schine
Zigzag by Ellen Wittlinger
When Opposites Attract by Romina Valdes-Alsina
Happy Family by Tracy Barone
Spin by Catherine McKenzie