Desert Song (DeWinter's Song 3) (27 page)

Lord Tyler's voice was hard and held hidden meanings. "Don't go telling anyone some wild story about abduction, Mallory, for no one would believe you, either. Our work here is very important, and we can only stay as long as we don't offend the government."

Her mother tried to be more diplomatic. "The natives wouldn't dare touch an Englishwoman. It was more reasonable to tell everyone that you got lonely and returned to England."

Mallory was too angry to cry. She didn't know these people, and it was obvious that they didn't want to know her. "In any case, I won't be staying," she said. "I've decided to go back to England."

"A wise decision," her father agreed, nodding his head. "This is no place for a young woman of marriageable age. We would never find you a suitable husband in Egypt."

Mallory was weary, and she felt as if she'd swallowed half the desert. "If you will excuse me, I will go to my room. I just want to bathe and go to bed."

Her mother stepped before her. "I can't believe how beautiful you are. You were such a homely little thing, who'd have thought you would turn out so well?"

"Her eyes she gets from my side of the family," her father said, taking a closer look at her.

"If the two of you will excuse me, I will wish you good night. I'll try not to intrude on your lives any longer than is necessary."

* * *

After Mallory left the room, her parents exchanged glances.

"Phoebe should have taught her better manners," her mother said. "She seemed to have a rather cold nature, don't you think?"

After Mallory had bathed, she slipped into bed, planning her departure. The next day she would make the long voyage down the Nile and take the first ship for home. She would go to Cousin Phoebe and ask if she could live with her.

It had been a mistake for her to come to Egypt. She thought of Michael, and turned her face into the pillow, crying bitter tears. If she had remained in England, she would not have fallen in love with a man who would never love her in return.

She fell asleep clutching the signet ring that Michael had placed on her finger when they stood before the holy man. This was all she had left to remember him by. This ring was hers, and she would keep it with her always.

Chapter 29

It was early morning as Mallory dressed in her plain gray traveling gown. She counted out her money and sighed with a heavy heart. There would be enough to pay for her passage to England, but she doubted that she would have enough left to take a public coach to Cousin Phoebe's house. She would have to put her pride aside and ask her father for money.

Mallory hadn't expected to find her mother and father awake at such an early hour, but they were in the dining room having breakfast when she entered.

"Good morning, Mallory," her mother said, indicating the chair near her. "I'm glad we have this time together. Will you breakfast with us?"

"Yes, thank you."

Lady Julia spooned thick porridge into a bowl and handed it to Mallory. "That's a ghastly gown you are wearing. I suppose it's one Phoebe chose for you. She never knew anything about style."

Mallory became angry at their criticism of her cousin. "Cousin Phoebe managed quite well on the money you allotted her."

Lord Tyler took a sip of coffee, then turned to his wife. "You see how disrespectful your daughter is? I told you we should have sent her away to school, but you insisted your cousin could look after her."

Mallory came to her feet, her head held high. "I'm leaving today. But I find myself short of funds. I'm loath to ask you for money, but I have no choice."

Her father ducked his head, and she could see that he was embarrassed. When he looked up at her, his eyes were sorrowful. "Some people just shouldn't have children, Mallory. I know we haven't been good parents to you, but we had a life we loved, and you just didn't fit into it."

Mallory shook her head. "I don't know either of you, and I don't ask you to know me. All I want is to leave. If you'll assist me, I'll have Safwat drive me to the docks."

He stood. "I'll get the money from my office."

When he left, Mallory looked at her mother. "I apologize for any inconvenience that I may have caused you. I can assure you that you will never again be bothered by me.

Her mother stood up and moved to Mallory, but didn't touch her. "I have many regrets in my life, and one is that I never knew my own daughter." She shrugged. "If you had been born the son your father wanted, it would have been different. You can't understand what pride a man can have in a son. They like to boast about their son's accomplishments and—"

"I understand," Mallory said, moving to the door. "I've always known what a disappointment I was to you."

"Would you like us to accompany you to the docks?" her mother asked, as if that would make up for some of their neglect.

"No, if you don't mind, I'd prefer to go alone."

"Your father and I will be criticized if you travel without a chaperon."

Mallory looked at the stranger who by birth was her mother. Her mother's only concern seemed to be what people thought. "I will keep to myself and give no one the least reason to blame you for my behavior."

Lady Julia looked doubtful. "I suppose there's nothing else we can do."

By now her father had returned, and he handed Mallory an envelope. "This should cover all your expenses. I have been more than generous with you. When you get home, buy yourself a new wardrobe."

"Thank you." She turned to the door. "I must hurry because Safwat is waiting to take me to the docks."

They walked with her to the front door. "You wouldn't have enjoyed life with us, Mallory," her mother said. "We travel so often and don't really have a place we call home."

"You have a home in England that is suffering from neglect," she reminded them.

"We feel no kinship with Stoneridge, since it will pass to a distant cousin on your father's death."

Her father patted her shoulder, and her mother pressed a stiff kiss on her cheek.

Safwat helped Mallory into the buggy, and she didn't look back when they drove away. There was nothing for her here; there was nothing for her in England, either.

She could see herself becoming a spinster like Cousin Phoebe, and ending her days alone and friendless. But she'd had one glorious night of love, and no one could take that memory away from her.

* * *

A long line of riders wound its way across the desert. Michael and his family stayed abreast with Prince Khaldun, while British soldiers rode beside Bedouin tribesmen. When they came to the Nile River, they followed it toward Cairo. Just before they reached the outlying vicinity of the city, Prince Khaldun called a halt.

"This is as far as I go." He and Michael dismounted and embraced. Khaldun's eyes were sorrowful. "When friends part, it is like losing a part of one's self, but when those friends are like brothers, they will never lose that friendship."

Michael nodded. "We will meet again, Khaldun."

Michael knew that he would never know a better friend. "Yes, we shall meet again. Good friends shouldn't be apart too long."

Michael mounted his horse and allowed his eyes to run down the line of Jebeliya warriors. He'd come to know so many of them. He had eaten their food and fought at their side. A part of him would always be Akhdar 'em Akraba. He raised his hand in a silent salute, and turned his mount toward Cairo.

When Michael topped a sand dune and turned to look back, Khaldun and his soldiers had disappeared. Even their horses' hoof prints had disappeared in the shifting sand.

* * *

Lord Tyler and Lady Julia were packing crates of artifacts to be shipped to the British Museum when Safwat entered the room.

"There are very important people wanting to see you," he said, bobbing into a bow. "Very important."

Lord Tyler laid an ebony statue aside and looked up in irritation. "Who is it this time, Safwat?"

"Very important," he repeated.

Lady Julia patted her hair into place. "I'm weary anyway, Tyler. We'll see who it is, but don't offer them tea. We don't want to be late for Lady Mangrem's dinner. She always has the most interesting guests."

* * *

Michael glanced around the small sitting room that seemed more like a museum, looking for anything that would prove Mallory was there. But there was nothing that was hers.

Raile picked up a small Egyptian statue of Osiris and turned it over in his hand and then handed it to Kassidy. "Fake," he said distastefully.

"You've a good eye for authenticity," Lord Tyler said, entering the room with his wife. "Most people are deceived by that statue."

"I'm surprised it would fool anyone since it's made of black marble, a substance not available to ancient Egyptians."

"That's right," Lady Julia declared. "But not many people are aware of that." She looked curiously at the four people in the room. The woman wore an emerald green riding habit that could only have come from Paris. The three men were obviously wealthy, and of great importance.

"My servant failed to give us your names," Lady Julia said by way of apology.

Michael stepped forward. "These are my parents, the duke and duchess of Ravenworth, and my brother-in-law, Lord Glencarin. I'm sure your daughter had told you about me—I'm Michael."

The Stanhopes were clearly impressed by their guests. But they were also curious.

"Well," Lord Tyler said, "I have certainly heard of you. Who hasn't heard of the DeWinter family? But Mallory didn't mention that she was acquainted with you."

Michael looked stunned, and then annoyed. "Perhaps if you would ask Mallory to join us, we can clear up everything. Where is she?"

Lady Julia offered them a seat. "Would you like tea?"

Kassidy could see that her son was displeased that Mallory had not told her parents about their marriage, and she was afraid of what he might say, so she intervened. "That would be nice, thank you. We can't stay long though, because the captain of our yacht told us that we must get under way before sundown. We only came for your daughter."

Lord Tyler looked confused. "What do you want with Mallory?" Then he became suspicious. People such as the DeWinters would not be interested in his daughter unless she had done something to displease them.

"I know we English should behave in a way that is a credit to queen and country," Lord Tyler said, "so, let me assure you that you don't have to be concerned about Mallory's actions any longer, since she is on her way back to England."

"When did she leave?" Michael demanded harshly.

"Please don't concern yourself," Lord Tyler said. "And I want you to understand that Mallory's misconduct has nothing to do with her mother and me. She was raised by my wife's cousin, and we saw little of her. If her actions seem unconventional, I pray that you will consider her youth and her lack of guidance and not blame us."

Warrick looked quickly at Kassidy, knowing that Lord Tyler had said the wrong thing.

Raile placed his hand on Kassidy's arm, hoping to calm her, but she shook his hand off.

Kassidy's eyes were blazing. "I can no longer allow you to malign your daughter, Lord Tyler. While I have not met her personally, I have come to admire her greatly. She has courage and character that many of us lack. Rather than condemning her, you should be glad that you are blessed with such a daughter. I can assure you that this family has every reason to be grateful to her, and we shall cherish her as you obviously haven't."

Lady Julia moved forward to support her husband. "Just what did our daughter do that you think is so wonderful?"

Raile spoke up before Kassidy could inform them. "Perhaps we should let our son tell you," he said, looking pointedly at Kassidy.

Michael felt no better about these people than his mother did. "Not only did Mallory save my life and that of my father, but she did a great service for her country, as well. My father plans to advise Her Majesty of Mallory's actions, so she will be justly rewarded."

He looked at Mallory's mother, who could only stare at him in amazement. She had to sit down when she heard his next words.

"Apparently Mallory hasn't told you that she is my wife."

Lord Tyler and Lady Julia looked at each other in stunned silence. Then the significance of Michael's announcement struck them.

"Your Grace," Lady Julia said, turning to Kassidy. "To think of it, our families united by marriage. I can't tell you how happy this makes me. We should intercept Mallory and bring her back. We'll have a grand party. Perhaps the viceroy himself will attend."

Once again, Raile thought it best to intervene before Kassidy could find her voice. "You will excuse us if we seem impatient. But we are on our way to England."

Lady Julia could see all her grand plans dissolving. "But surely you could remain for a few days longer? I'll send Safwat to fetch my daughter. Perhaps her barge hasn't yet sailed."

"Thank you, no," Michael said emphatically. "I will find my wife without your assistance." He turned to leave, his anger smoldering.

Kassidy and Raile followed after him without a word.

Warrick, enjoying himself, smiled politely as he paused in the doorway. "I don't believe we'll be staying for tea after all."

After their guests had departed, Lord Tyler and Lady Julia exchanged glances. It was Mallory's father who spoke first. "We deserve no better than we got, Julia. We have cut Mallory out of our lives, and now she has a new family. I can only imagine how cold and heartless we appeared to the duke and duchess."

"Oh, Tyler, we have treated our daughter badly. I wouldn't blame her if she never wanted to see us again."

"It's strange, but I find myself comparing my behavior to that of Henry the Eighth. Like him, I wanted a son desperately. And like King Henry, when I found myself with a daughter, I rejected her. His daughter, Elizabeth, was the greatest monarch England has ever known, and similarly, our daughter has distinguished herself with no help from us. She will one day be the duchess of Ravenworth. We, I fear, will not be a part of her life."

"Nor do we deserve to be. For the first time, I'm ashamed of myself. She needed me as a mother, and all I could do was criticize her. It's no wonder she didn't tell us about her marriage."

"I can't even be angry that Lord Michael didn't ask my permission to marry Mallory. Why should he—I've never been a father to her."

"Oh, Tyler, what have we done?"