Silk and Secrets(42)

It was exactly the kind of romantic episode they had once intended to share. Before Juliet had run away, they had been planning a lengthy journey into the Middle East. Illness in Ross's family had forced a postponement, and Juliet had been upset at the delay. That was when they had their first arguments.

Now here they were a dozen years later, doing exactly what they had intended—but only up to a point. When they had planned their journey, they had always assumed that a scene such as this would end in passionate love- making. Now that their long-ago dream had been realized, they were so thoroughly estranged that romance was unthinkable.

Yet he was thinking about it. Knowing that if he did not move, he would be unable to stop himself from touching her, Ross stood abruptly and brushed the sand from his robes. "That is enough of Lady Hester for tonight." His fingers balled into a fist as he restrained himself from offering his wife a hand. "It's time to get some sleep. Dawn will come all too quickly."

Lithely Juliet rose to her feet. As they began walking back toward Sarakhs, she said, "What will you do when you return to England, Ross? Managing the family property may be necessary, but I imagine you'll find it rather dull. It certainly won't be enough to absorb all your energy."

Rather hesitantly he replied, "For years I've had an idea in the back of my mind to establish an institute for oriental studies, a place where Eastern and Western scholars can meet and exchange knowledge. I had intended to do it when I could no longer travel. Now that time has come, a little sooner than I expected."

He glanced sideways at his wife. With her long swinging stride, she kept up with him effortlessly. "Have you heard about the new railways that are being built in Europe?"

"I've read about them, but they sound like just a passing novelty. It's hard to believe that people can—or want to—move so quickly. And surely the time and money involved in laying railroad tracks must be prohibitive."

"It is expensive, but not prohibitive. Over the next few decades, railroads will change the world," Ross predicted. "Someday soon, not only will there be railroads connecting every part of Europe, but also crossing the whole width of Asia and America. The world is getting smaller, and in the future it will be increasingly important for different peoples to learn to understand each other. In a small way, perhaps my institute can contribute to that." He stopped, abashed, thinking that it was foolish of him to say so much about what was only a vague dream.

"It's a wonderful idea," Juliet said warmly, "and no one could do a better job of running such an institute. You've always been so good at talking with people from every walk of life, and at getting them to talk to each other." She laughed softly. "Sometimes I used to find your ability to see all sides of a question exasperating, but that fair-mindedness is one of the best things about you. I'm glad you will be putting your talents to good use."

Ross felt absurdly pleased at her approval. If there was one thing he remembered clearly about his wife, it was that she would never perjure herself by praising something she considered a bad idea.

They were nearing the caravansary. She raised the tagelmoust and pulled it tightly around her lower face. By the gesture, she distanced herself from him, becoming once more the servant Jalal. They completed the walk in silence.

An oil lamp hung in the entry arch of the caravansary, but the courtyard was still, with only embers showing where fires had burned. Here and there a camel snorted or a man coughed, but no one else was still up; they had talked much longer than Ross had realized. Carefully they picked their way through the maze of sleeping bodies, both human and animal.

When they arrived back at their own cubicle, the door to the small room was open to the night air and the faint light was enough to show the interior. The back end of the cubicle was stacked with their supplies and baggage, leaving an area about seven feet deep and just wide enough to allow four men to roll out their mats side by side.

Murad and Saleh were lying next to each other on the left side of the room, leaving the two places on the right for the absent members of the party. Their sleeping rugs had been laid out in position for their return.

Taking it in at a glance, Ross muttered an oath under his breath. Why the devil couldn't Saleh have managed matters so that the older man would be sleeping between Ross and Juliet?

Simultaneously they turned to look at each other. It was impossible to read any expression behind the tagelmoust, but he had no doubt that she was as dismayed as he was. The ease that had been between them vanished, replaced by palpable discomfort.

Well, there was nothing that could be done about it now, not without calling undesirable attention to their sleeping arrangements. Wordlessly Ross pulled the sheathed knife from his sash and laid it on his mat. Though it was unlikely that a caravansary would be robbed, through long habit he liked to keep a weapon near to hand, just in case. He lay down in the middle spot, leaving the wall position for Juliet. After wrapping his heavy wool blanket around him, he rolled onto his side, turning his back to where she would be lying.