Whispers In The Sand Part 18

'Inshallah!' There was no shrug this time. Instead, the ghost of a nod.

'Then thank you. Thank you very much. It is gold, Ibrahim. You are very generous to trust me with it., She smiled suddenly. 'I wish I knew the right thing to say in Arabic.'

'You say: kattar kheirak.' His eyes twinkled.

'Kattar kheirak, Ibrahim.'

He bowed. 'Ukheeirak, mademoiselle.' He gave her a huge smile. 'Now I must go and work in the bar. Bon appet.i.t, mademoiselle. U'i. Leilt ik saideh. That means take care, and may thy night be happy.'

After he had gone she stared down at the charm in her hand. It was an eye surmounted by an arched brow with below it a tiny swirl of gold. The Eye of Horus was, she knew, a symbol of protection and 219.

healing used for thousands of years all over the world to ward off danger and illness and bad luck. She held it for a moment tightly in her hand then felt for the clasp and carefully hung it around her neck. It touched her enormously that Ibrahim should have trusted her with something so precious. It also terrified her. What did he know that had made him so afraid for her? She glanced down at the dressing table drawer, but she did not open it. Some time today she would see that the bottle was put away in the safe. She s.h.i.+vered.

Picking up the gla.s.s of scented fruit juice she sat down on the bed and reached for the diary. In the morning she would decide whether to go on the sailing trip which was scheduled on the blackboard outside the dining room or whether to take the chance to track down Serena whilst Andy was well and truly out of sight and talk to her at leisure and without a chance of being interrupted. But first, tonight, she must find out what happened to poor Louisa at the hands of the villainous Roger Carstairs. Pulling the pillows up around her she put her hand for a moment to the small gold charm and she smiled. It had made her feel safe and cared for, something, she realised, she hadn't felt for a very long time. She sat for several minutes lost in thought, savouring the feeling, then she opened the diary again.

The candle held high in her hand Jane Treece surveyed the scene.

It was clear what had been going on. Louisa Sh.e.l.ley had been behaving like the trollop she had always suspected she was, entertaining Lord Carstairs in her darkened cabin. With one disdainful look she took in Louisa's flushed face and bruised mouth, her torn blouse and the handsome angry man hastily climbing off the bed. He was still fully dressed, so she had arrived in time to thwart their l.u.s.t. With a self-satisfied smile Jane Treece cleared her throat.

'Would you like me to help you get ready for dinner, Mrs Sh.e.l.ley, 220.

or shall I come back later?' Her voice was at its most repressive.

'Thank you, Jane. Yes. Please stay. I should like to change.' Louisa's voice was shaking. She turned to Lord Carstairs and pointed at the door. 'Go.'

For a moment he hesitated, then with a smile he ducked outside. In the narrow pa.s.sage he turned and raised his hand. 'A bientot, sweetheart. We'll continue our delightful discourse very soon.'

Louisa closed her eyes. She was shaking as she watched Treece light her bedside candle and the others on the table. In a very short time the cabin was full of gently flickering light.

Without a word Treece gathered Louisa's discarded clothes from earlier that afternoon and folded them. Then she picked up the ewer and withdrew to fetch hot water and towels. Louisa glanced at her dressing case. It was still locked, the tiny ornate key safely hidden beneath the thimble in her small sewing box. With shaking hands she reached up to her pins and combs and allowing her long chestnut hair to fall round her shoulders she picked up her hairbrush and began to brush it with slow rhythmic strokes, trying to brush away the feel of Carstairs' hands, the smell of his breath, the cold fascination of his glance.

She looked up as Treece reappeared. 'Thank you, Jane.' She bit her lip, trying to steady her voice. 'Has Lord Carstairs left the boat?'

'I'm sure I don't know, Mrs Sh.e.l.ley.' Treece put down the heavy jug with a resentful bang which slopped the water onto the dressing table. 'Did you wish me to run and fetch him back for you?'

Louisa stared at her. 'You know I don't! The man is a vicious brute.' She found herself suddenly fighting back tears. 'I only wished to be sure he had safely gone.' There was a long pause as the woman considered her words and Louisa saw a slight softening of the grim expression on her face.

'I had thought to hear them say he was staying for dinner,' she commented as she took Louisa's ruined blouse and stared at it distastefully. 'This will have to go to the ghasala woman to be washed and mended.' She looked up. 'The Forresters are thrilled to have made such friends with another member of the aristocracy and one of so high a rank. They would be very put out if they thought one of their guests had upset him.'

'Would they indeed.' With pursed lips Louisa reached for the 221.

soap. 'Please pour out some water.' She s.h.i.+vered, though the cabin was still very hot. 'I'll wear my silk for dinner, thank you, if you could find it for me, then you can go and help Lady Forrester.' She straightened suddenly and looked the woman in the eye. 'Please do not speak about this to the Forresters. As you rightly said, it would upset them.

She intended to speak to Sir John herself, and soon. But she had no wish for the sour-faced Jane Treece to spread the word first. Although she had detected a slight thaw in the woman's att.i.tude, she was, she suspected, quite capable of relaying the story in some no doubt biased and unpleasant way. She watched with a deep sigh as Treece closed the cabin door, then she sat down on the stool and wearily surveyed her image in the mirror, taking in her full rounded bosom, shown off by the ribboned corset with its low neckline, her narrow waist and the long luxuriant hair hanging round her shoulders. Her face, for all her care with sun hat and parasol had caught the sun a little and the unaccustomed colour in her cheeks had made her dark eyes sparkle. Had she in some unknowing way led him on? Not deliberately, certainly. Never that. She s.h.i.+vered, and plunged her hands into the basin, splas.h.i.+ng her face and neck, feeling her hair trail in the water. When she looked up once more she could see nothing, blinded by the water. Shaking the droplets from her eyes she stared at the mirror and she gasped. In the steamy gla.s.s she could see that there was a figure standing immediately behind her.

With a cry of terror she spun round, but there was no one there. All she had seen were shadows from the masthead lamps of a boat, edging close beside them in the narrow mooring, blending with the criss-cross of shadows from the candles. Clutching the towel she stared round. The cabin was empty but for her. It glowed warmly as the light fell on the luxuriant colours of the hangings which decorated it. Steadying her breath with an effort she reached for her comb. It was her imagination. Nothing more. There would be no further ghostly visitations tonight. When she was dressed she would have a few minutes to soothe herself by catching up with the entries in her journal, then she would go to the saloon and if she must, brave the cruel hard eyes of Roger Carstairs for the rest of the evening.

222.

Getting up Anna wandered over to her own dressing table and broke a piece of bread in half. Cutting up the egg and selecting a slice of cheese she made herself a sandwich and moved back to the bed. The Eye of Horiss nestled between her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, the gold warm against her skin. She paused for a moment, listening, and glanced at her watch. It was nearly eleven o'clock. The others would by now have finished listening to the talk by Omar on the modern history of Egypt which had been scheduled for this evening. They would be quietly chatting and drinking amongst themselves in the lounge before finally going off to bed.

Sir John was in the saloon on his own when Louisa walked in. He stood up hastily. 'My dear, you look beautiful!' He eyed the midnight silk, and as though unable to stop himself, took her hand and kissed her fingertips. 'Louisa, m'dear. I fear I have some disappointing news. Roger has had to leave us. He had a message that there was a problem with one of the crew on his own boat, and he has had to go back. He asked me to beg your forgiveness for leaving so abruptly.'

'I don't think it was leaving he was begging forgiveness for!' Louisa said tartly. She sat down on the cus.h.i.+oned seat near him. 'Is Augusta joining us soon?'

He shook his head. 'Alas, the excitements of the day have proved too much for her. She has retired early. So I have asked Abdul to serve dinner early for us.' He reached for the decanter. 'Allow me 223.

to pa.s.s you a drink, m'dear. And let us toast our ascent of the cataract and its happy completion tomorrow.

She sipped from the gla.s.s he gave her and then put it down. 'John, I'm afraid I must ask you not to allow Lord Carstairs to set foot on this boat again. He came to my cabin this evening and behaved with shocking impropriety.'

Sir John stared at her, his pale blue eyes huge above his moustache. She saw him drum his fingers on the table.

'Louisa, I find this hard to believe. My dear, he is a respected man. A gentleman in every way.

'No, not a gentleman.' Louisa clenched her fists. 'Had Jane Treece not interrupted, he would have ravished me! He has some strange power, some ability to use mesmerism on me, which rendered me incapable of fighting him off. And he is trying to persuade me by underhand means and by threats to part with my little scent bottle. No, I cannot allow you to let him come back! I didn't want to mention it in front of Augusta. I know she likes him, but this is outrageous behaviour, you must agree!' She fell silent as she reached with a shaking hand for her gla.s.s once more.

Sir John was staring at her. 'You say he tried to ravish you?'

She nodded.

He licked his lips. 'He forced his way into your cabin?'

She nodded again.

'And touched you improperly?' His eyes left her face and dropped to the neckline of her gown. Suddenly he was breathing very heavily. 'My dear Louisa, you must remember that you are a very attractive woman. And in this heat, even the most august person might feel his blood race in your company.' He half stood suddenly, and moved closer to her. 'I myself have felt strongly attracted to you. Strongly!' He put out his hand and touched her wrist with hot fingers.

'John! What are you doing?' Augusta's voice interrupted him as she sailed into the saloon.

He leapt back as though he had been scalded. 'My dear! I didn't hear you! How fortunate you are here. Louisa has told me such terrible things. Terrible.' He was babbling with terror. 'My dear, Carstairs has proved to be the most awful painted sepulchre. A cad. A dreadful disgrace to our s.e.x.'

Augusta had seated herself at the table. With commendable calm she reached for the decanter.

224.

'I thought it was exceedingly foolish of you to go out with the man unchaperoned, Louisa,' she commented. 'Did you appear for him, too, en deshabille?'

Louisa found herself blus.h.i.+ng slightly in spite of her anger. 'I did not, I a.s.sure you. I have found Lord Carstairs' behaviour totally unspeakable. I hope very much you will forbid him to set foot on the Ibis again.'

Augusta leant back in her seat and sipped thoughtfully from her gla.s.s. 'I don't think we can do that. The man is a peer of the realm. I have to admit that he has made me too feel uneasy, but I had thought his ambitions fixed on Venetia Fielding, so I have to say I am surprised he should jump on you.

Louisa raised an eyebrow. 'You make it sound as though I am unworthy of his attentions.' She was indignant in spite of herself.

Augusta gave a dry smile. 'Not so much unworthy, my dear, as probably not rich enough. David Fielding has a large fortune and he has let it be known Venetia's dowry will be considerable.'

She glanced at her husband. 'Is there a reason for his interest in Louisa?'

Sir John was sitting meekly with his hands on the table in front of him. 'He wants her little perfume jar.' He shrugged. 'G.o.d knows why, but I think it has to do with his study of Ancient Egypt. I wish you would give it to him, Louisa, and have done. It can mean very little to you in real terms and you can name your price. The man will pay whatever you ask.'

Louisa glanced at him. 'It is not for sale. I have told him that. And for me it is also now a memento of Ha.s.san who bought it for me and whom you so unjustly dismissed -' She caught herself in mid-sentence about to say more and bit her lip. 'He was my friend, and that makes it doubly precious to me. I a.s.sure you, I will never part with it. Not as long as I live.'

225.Anna put down the diary. She frowned. Was that a sound outside the door? She stared at the handle nervously, straining her ears and nearly jumped out of her skin as she heard a quiet knock.

'Who is it?' She cleared her throat anxiously.

'It's me, Toby. I didn't want to wake you if you were asleep. I was just checking you were OK.'

She climbed to her feet and went to open the door. 'I am fine. Thank you.' He was standing, leaning against the wall, one arm casually raised behind his head. He grinned at her, making no move to come in. 'I was just a bit worried when I saw you weren't at supper. I rather hoped Andy hadn't dragged you off to his lair.' She smiled. 'Not a chance.'

'I have to say, I'm glad. OK. Goodnight. Sleep well.'

She stood in the doorway as he walked back along the corridor and watched as he turned the corner. Then thoughtfully she went back into the cabin.

She refused to allow herself to read any more that night. Exhausted, she had a quick shower and climbed into bed. Her last thought was of the charm around her neck. With it there she still felt strangely safe.

And she slept well until the early hours. Then she half awoke, thinking of Louisa. She dozed again, woke again and slept. When she awoke the next time almost before her eyes were open she found herself reaching for the diary again. To know what had happened to Louisa was becoming an obsession.

226.

Louisa had slept late after her uncomfortable conversation with the Forresters and Augusta was alone in the saloon the next morning, when she left her cabin, dressed in a cool blouse and skirt. Augusta led the way on deck, where they sat sipping lemonade in the shade of the draped sail. 'Sir John and I have been talking, Louisa,' she began. She gave the younger woman a quick glance. 'We believe we may have been too hasty in dismissing Ha.s.san. I think perhaps we were misled by Roger. Unintentionally, of course,' she added hastily. 'The reis thinks Ha.s.san has not yet gone downriver. He and Sir John have gone ash.o.r.e to try and locate him. The men will be back soon to pull us up the rapids but it will be easy for Ha.s.san to find us should he wish to, when we are lying at Philae.' Louisa held her breath. She closed her eyes, trying hard to keep her expression composed. Her heart was beating very fast.

'That would please you, my dear?'

She became aware suddenly that Augusta was studying her face.

She nodded. 'That would please me very much.'

'John is a good man, you know, my dear.' Augusta bit her lip. 'He sometimes gets a little excitable. But he means no harm.'

Louisa smiled. 'I know that.' She was touched. Augusta must have found it hard both to ask forgiveness for her husband and to warn her off. She had managed both with infinite tact.

There was only one bone of contention left. 'And Lord Carstairs?'

'If Ha.s.san is here there is no need for you to be alone with him, my dear. I believe Roger was probably a spoilt child and has continued to behave as one now he is an adult. If he wants something he believes he should have it and nothing must be allowed to thwart his desires. We will have to show him that, though he is still welcome on the Ibis, in this case he is not going to get what he wants.'* * *

227.Louisa spent the rest of the morning sketching the cliffs and rocks. It was midday before the men began to return, ready to drag the boat up the last part of the cataract. With them came Sir John and Lord Carstairs.

Louisa had withdrawn to the far rail so that she could watch the proceedings from the boat. She didn't greet the two new arrivals, staring instead at the men forming up on the rocks, getting ready to heft the great ropes like tug of war teams preparing themselves to do battle against the elements. After a few moments, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Sir John and Carstairs go below into the saloon where Augusta was sheltering from the sun.

It was a while before any of them emerged, then at last Augusta appeared. Her eyes were sparkling as she hurried aft and sat down beside Louisa.

'Such wonderful news! You are not going to believe it!'

'Sir John has found Ha.s.san?' Louisa felt her heart lift in excitement.

'Ha.s.san?' Augusta looked vague for a moment. 'oh no.I believe John has left word for him to follow the Ibis if he wishes to have the job back. No, no, far better than that. My dear, Roger Carstairs has asked John if he might call on you. My dear, he wishes to ask for your hand!'

Louisa stared at her. For a moment she was too stunned to react. An icy clamp seemed to have fastened itself over her lungs so that she could not breathe. Her mouth had gone dry.

Augusta clapped her hands. 'of course Sir John said yes. He knew you would be thrilled! Roger was so apologetic about frightening you yesterday. He said that his love for you completely overrode his sanity. He has brought you the most beautiful gift, Louisa-'

At last Louisa managed to move. As stiff as a wooden doll she rose to her feet. Pencils and brushes cascaded to the deck and rolled away as she stared at Augusta. 'How dare he!' Her voice was so dry it rasped in her throat. 'How dare he come and try to inveigle his way onto the boat? Why should he ask Sir John? He is not my father! How dare anyone presume I should be pleased?'

Augusta looked stunned. For a moment she didn't appear to know what to say. She raised her hands and let them fall to her sides in a gesture of total bewilderment. 'He asked John because he is your host. This is his boat. We are caring for you, my dear.'

228.

She sounded near to tears. 'We thought you would be so pleased. Think of it. His t.i.tle -, 'I do not want his t.i.tle, Augusta!' Louisa snapped back. 'And I most certainly do not want him or his gift. I shall not receive him. Please tell him to go.' She turned and leant against the rail, staring down into the water.

'Louisa-'

'No.' She did not look round. 'Please. Get rid of him.'

'I can't do that, Louisa.' Augusta paused for a moment, looking at her, then, with a sigh she turned away. As with a shout the mooring ropes were loosened and the boat swung into the channel Louisa found herself alone on deck.

It was perhaps an hour later that she made her way somewhat cautiously back to her cabin. As she pa.s.sed the door she glanced into the saloon. Augusta and Sir John were there alone. Of Carstairs there was no sign. With a sigh of relief she turned towards her door and pushed it open. He was sitting on the bed. On the counterpane beside him was her journal and her dressing case.

At her gasp of surprise and fear he smiled. 'Please don't scream, Louisa. It would be so embarra.s.sing to have to tell Sir John and Augusta that what they heard was merely the voice of your pa.s.sion. Give me the key to this silly little box and we'll have done.'

'You've been reading my private diary!' She was overwhelmed with anger.

'Indeed I have. And what interesting reading. You don't appear to like my company, my dear. Your penchant is for natives, I see.' He sneered at her. 'Luckily I'm not particularly worried by your views, either way. The key, please, or I'll be forced to break the lock.'

'Get out of my cabin!' Louisa could feel her anger mounting. Heat was flooding through her body. 'Get out now!' She moved towards him and s.n.a.t.c.hed the diary out of his hand. 'Do you want me to summon the high priest once more to my aid? He came when I called him. Remember? Who knows what he might do to protect me.'

Carstairs laughed. 'Summoning spirits, my dear, is what I do, not you. I have trained for years in the occult practices which will bring forth the guardians of your little bottle. Is that really what you 229.

want?' He stood up suddenly and she fell back, frightened. He seemed very tall in the small cabin. Although she was trying very hard to disguise the fact, her courage was draining away as fast as it had come, leaving her numb with fear. Carstairs looked down at her, not hiding his disdain, then he raised his face and took a deep breath. 'Anhotep, priest of Isis, I call you forth here. Now. Anhotep, priest of Isis show yourself before me now. Anhotep, priest of Isis come forth into the daylight!' He flung up his arms, his voice echoing into silence.

Louisa gave a small whimper.

She could see the figure already, transparent in front of the window, the thin arrogant face, the square shoulders, the strange, pale eyes, so like the eyes of Carstairs himself with his frightening, penetrating gaze. The silence in the cabin was suddenly intense, the atmosphere electric. Louisa closed her eyes.

'Did you call, Mrs Sh.e.l.ley?' Jane Treece's voice, immediately behind her, made her gasp.

For a moment she couldn't move, then she turned towards the new arrival. 'Yes, please!' She clutched at the woman's arm. 'Would you show Lord Carstairs the way out? He was just leaving.'

She had begun to tremble violently. She closed her eyes again as Treece led Carstairs away and sank onto the bed, unable to move. When she opened them again the figure in the window was still there.

'Oh G.o.d!' Anna spoke out loud. She shut the book and took a deep breath. Her hands were shaking. She glanced across the cabin at the closed drawer of the dressing table. Forcing herself to stand up she was about to cross to it when a cough outside her door made her jump.

It was Toby.

230.

He took in her short nights.h.i.+rt and dishevelled appearance when she opened the door. Then he focused on her face. 'I was worried when you didn't come to breakfast, having missed supper last night. Are you sure you're OK? You look awful.'

She gave a brittle laugh. 'Is that your usual chat up line?'