Page 79 of Sands of Sirocco
“No, but she was asking for you.I’m certain she needs the comfort of a friend after her ordeal.”Dr.Radford turned to go, then stopped.Fingering her black physician’s case, she searched his face, her brow knitting.“Colonel Benson, I can’t help but wonder, but are you acquainted with Captain Harold Young?”
“I am.”Looking her in the eye grew more difficult.
“In that case I’m not sure I’m comfortable leaving Lady Victoria with you.”Dr.Radford’s lips set to a line.
What was the woman proposing?To stay and be a personal escort?“Dr.Radford, I work with Captain Young at the CID.”
“I have the feeling you’re aware of the precise incident I’m referring to.I’ve turned the matter over to the authorities, you know.”
“I won’t hurt Lady Victoria.But if you’re concerned for her welfare, you’re certainly welcome to ask her if she’s comfortable staying with me.”Noah’s tone was a bit more biting than he’d intended.
Dr.Radford squared her shoulders.“I already have.”Begrudgingly, she added, “She says there’s no one in Egypt she trusts more than you.”
Noah’s lips curled with the irony of Victoria’s statement of loyalty.His own wife was less convinced of his goodness.He had no desire to deny the matter with Young and had worried what would happen if Young accused him.
Lord Helton being in the hands of the Aleaqrab complicated his situation, though.Without Lord Helton to speak for him when an accusation came through, he’d have to explain the situation without giving a complete picture.
“If it helps—” Noah cleared his throat—“I brought Captain Young to the hospital the other night.Did my best to stop him from being killed by his attackers.I’m uncertain what Young remembers, but if I hadn’t been there he would likely be dead.”
Dr.Radford flinched.“It’s not up to me to decide what happened.Even if your role was as noble as you claim, there are still gaps to the story, such as why you felt the need to leave him there telling no one what happened to him.”Still, his explanation appeared to have mollified her somewhat.“You do understand I’ll have to report this conversation?”
Noah leaned against the door frame.“When?I’m having Lady Victoria moved later this evening to a safer location.”
“Most likely tomorrow morning.”Dr.Radford sighed, a tired expression on her youthful-looking face.“Good evening, Colonel.”
At least she was giving him some time to prepare.
As Dr.Radford left, Noah slipped back into the bedroom.The curtains were still drawn, the light in the room dim.With sunset approaching in a few hours, there wasn’t much point in drawing them now.
Victoria sat on the bed, wearing the shirt he’d lent her.He poured a glass of water, then brought it to her side.She accepted it, offering him a grateful smile.A cut on the corner of her mouth and a shadowed bruise on her cheek told him she’d been struck in the face.
“Alastair should come soon,” Noah said, sitting on the foot of the bed.
She sipped the water, averting her gaze.She knew what that meant.“It’ll be good to see him.”
“I told him to bring a burqa.You can wear it to go down through the lobby without being recognized.”
“I’d rather stay with you.”Victoria’s dark eyes were red-rimmed, a rare moment of vulnerability for her.“Please don’t send me away.”
The air in the room felt stale and Noah wished he could open the window, allow some cooler air in.“Alastair is better at this sort of thing that I am.And you can trust him.”
She placed the water on the bedside table.“And my father?Are you going after him?”
Finding Lord Helton was crucial—almost more for his own sake than hers.
Noah scooted closer and took her hand.“I’ll do what I can.I promise.I made some inroads with the organization that took you while I was searching for you.I’ll go to the place they took me.See what I can learn.”He squeezed her hand gently.“It may help me if there are any details you can give me, about where you were being held.What you remember.”
If Jahi hadn’t been killed, his help could have been invaluable.Noah wished he’d taken the time to interrogate the man more.
Victoria turned her face away.Her fingers curled against his.At last, she whispered, “I have little to tell you.They kept a sack over my head when they grabbed me and I didn’t see where they took me.I think they kept me in a cellar—but it felt like a tomb.”
“Who did you see while there?”
She shuddered.“There was one man …” Her lips pressed together, white.She appeared troubled.
He didn’t push her further.The ordeal was too fresh.“If you remember anything, have Alastair send me a message.I won’t be at Shepheard’s after tomorrow morning.It’s become a bit too dangerous for me.”
“Where are you going?”Alarm registered on her face.
