Daughter of the God-King(115)

“I see.” Indeed, this recitation seemed very much in keeping with what she knew of her new husband, and she teased, “Don’t tell Swansea and her new husband that I’ve turned popish.”

“Good God; that is the least of my troubles; m’father always assumed I would marry you. He will think me a sorry excuse.”

Hattie found this piece of information very amusing, in an ironic sort of way. “Tell him it was not to be—only don’t bring home Eugenie in my place; he would think you a sorry excuse.”

He let out a bark of laughter and then admitted, “Mother would always tell him we were too familiar to marry.”

“Your mother is a wise woman.”

With a smile, he teased, “You’ll never tell her of my engagement to Madame Auguste? Promise?”

“As long as you’ll never tell her of my parents’ treason.”

He ducked his chin and ran a comforting hand down her arm. “Done,” he agreed, his voice gruff.

“I will be very happy to shake the dust of Egypt from my sandals,” Hattie pronounced with no small bitterness.

“I cannot blame you,” he said quietly. “Where do you go?”

She smiled. “To his sister’s.” Hopefully this answer would suffice, and before any further questions could be asked, the cabin door opened to reveal Eugenie, carrying a bottle of wine and a napkin that revealed bread and dates when it was unrolled on the berth.

“I am to remind you to stay away from the windows,” Eugenie said. “And there are no glasses so we must share the bottle.”

“Excellent work,” pronounced Robbie, and removed the cork with his pocketknife.

They settled on the berth and passed the wine bottle between them in the light of the single candle. “Easy, Hattie,” warned Robbie. “You are not used to spirits.”

“Only a sip,” she assured him in a meek tone.

“Shall we play cards?” Eugenie asked Robbie, running her fingers along his sleeve. “We can play for Hattie’s hairpins.”

He laughed. “I understand you tend to fleece those foolhardy enough to engage you in cards.”

“I shall be happy to fleece you, and more than once.” She looked at him from under her lashes and Hattie chuckled in appreciation, which drew an admonitory look from Robbie. It is so much better to be married—to understand the innuendos, she thought. But how I wish he was here, so that I could say such teasing things to him. Stifling a pang, she reconciled herself to the sad fact that she may not see her husband again for quite some time. I miss you, Dimitry, she thought. Please, please be careful.





Chapter 47





Hattie sat cross-legged on her berth, writing a letter to Dimitry. They had transferred from the small schooner to the Sophia and were currently anchored at Cairo, but were to depart very shortly for points eastward. The night before, Robbie had said his farewells before slipping away quietly so as to draw no attention. Hattie did not witness his leave-taking because she continued to be consigned to the lower deck, and as a result of the forced close quarters she and Eugenie were ready to strangle each other—although to the good, Hattie was fast learning the finer points of cheating at cards. To pass the time and to fight claustrophobia, Hattie was writing the letter and striving to maintain a light and encouraging tone. As she and Dimitry knew so little about each other’s lives, she thought to relate the high points of hers up to the day they met. Unfortunately, the recitation thus far did not amount to more than a page and a half—truly, she had lived a very dull life until her trek to Paris, and then she had made up for it with a vengeance.

She was ready to be away, now that Robbie had disembarked—ready to meet her new family and begin the business of setting up her new life. And it would be a relief beyond measure to feel safe again—the small schooner had experienced a few tense moments near Helwan when local officials had boarded to make a search; apparently all vessels heading to the Nile delta were undergoing a search for reasons that were not explained but which Hattie could easily guess. Curled up tightly, she hid in a cupboard in the captain’s quarters, and Robbie told her later that their unnamed vessel flew a Dutch flag and Captain Clements spoke in that language to the boarding party as he presented his passage documents. Robbie had been instructed to say nothing unless asked, and fortunately the officials were too distracted by Eugenie to make any inquiries.

“I feared her bosom was going to fall out of her dress,” he confessed in amusement, “and I believe every man on board feared the same thing.”

“Hoped, you mean,” Hattie corrected him. “God bless Eugenie.”