Page 18 of Death and Desire

Dina’s cheeks turned a lovely shade of pink before she hid them behind a fan as they stepped into the street.

The implication of her own words struck Violet. “Oh...I didn’t mean...oh, curse my tongue.”

“No. It’s fine.” Her companion waved her hand, gold bangles knocking together on her wrist. “I know what you meant. It’s just...”

“You find my brother attractive?”

“I do, but I find his friend quite handsome as well,” Dina said, her voice low.

“Well, you have my blessing, should you choose to pursue either of them.”

“I appreciate your support.”

Dina’s soft laugh reminded Violet of birdsong. Their friendship had blossomed over such a short period of time, and it was refreshing to have female companionship after being alone for so long.

After her mother’s death, she’d rarely ventured far from the family’s country estate. Their brief trips to London often left her melancholy, and she preferred the country in deep moments of reflection. She’d longed to share her experiences with someone who would understand.

Mother would have loved Dina. This trip would have been a wondrous exploration for both of them. Retracing her mother’s steps from when she’d visited Cairo all those years ago gave Violet motivation to persist. Egypt called to her, if only because of the memory of her mother’s stories.

“Your father is hosting a dinner party tonight, is he not?” Dina interrupted her thoughts as they walked toward the Continental.

“Yes, at the hotel. Will you attend?” Violet took Dina’s hand. “Please tell me you’ll be there. I cannot bear the thought of being the only woman at the table.”

“In that case, I shall rescue you.” Dina winked. “No need for a handsome stranger to come to your aid two nights in a row. Just be sure to seat me near your brother and David.”

“Of course.” Violet joined her laughter, but deep in the recesses of her mind lingered the stranger.Khalid.

After they’d visited half a dozen jewelers and a handful of boutiques, Violet returned to the Continental and Dina took her leave, promising to return for dinner. Inside her room, Violet’s earlier purchases awaited. They’d been delivered directly to the hotel and laid out on the settee at the foot of her bed.

She withdrew a lovely blue gown with black beading from one of the bags and placed it neatly on the white counterpane. Violet tugged at the collar of her simple white linen dress. The heat of the day lingered heavily in the room. She opened the doors to the balcony and sighed as a gentle breeze drifted in. The sweet scent of blooming jasmine floated into the room, teasing her senses.

The opulent gardens outside called to her, inviting her with their deep, varying shades of green spattered with bright bursts of colorful blooms. She longed to take a book to a vacant chair in the shade. Indulge in some reading and lose herself for a few moments of quiet.

But her father expected her to join them for dinner in an hour.

A familiar pull tugged deep inside her, tempting her to abandon her commitments and enter the garden. She placed a hand over her heart, pressing the stone on her wrist to her overheated skin, and closed her eyes.If only you were here, Mother, then you could talk sense into Father about his unrealistic expectations.

When she opened her eyes, Violet found the moment interrupted by a furry interloper. Tucked beneath one of the palm trees, a black dog sat on its haunches, watching her. Its golden eyes glinted even in the shadow of the branches overhead.

She leaned against the balustrade, admiring the animal’s sleek coat. What kind of dog was this? It looked unlike any breed she was familiar with. Perhaps it had escaped the custody of one of the guests.

Violet searched the garden, but there was no one milling about the greenery. When she sought out the dog once more, it was gone. She frowned. Poor thing. Hoping the owner had found it, she retreated to her room to dress for the evening meal.

Her father’s dinner went exactly as she’d anticipated it would. Boring. Dina’s presence lightened the heavy burden on her shoulders and gave her moments of much needed levity, as did conversation of their plans for the following day—a trip to the museum to view the antiquities.

“Why do you want to look at mummies in the museum?” Isaac scoffed as he picked at the pheasant on his plate. “There’s so much more to do in Cairo.”

“Like what?” Violet asked, looking at her brother seated on the other side of Dina. “Go to clubs and drink expensive whiskey?”

David’s ungentlemanly snort behind her bolstered her mood. None of them liked being dragged into her father’s business, but they managed to make the situation bearable.

“There’s a fantastic club on a boat. You would love it.” Dina turned to Violet with gleeful expectation. “We should go.”

“Tonight?” Violet nearly spilled her wine with the abruptness of the suggestion. “I don’t know...I...”

“Not tonight. I can make reservations for later this week.” Dina’s excitement was infectious.

“Yes, let’s do it.”

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