Read Online Egyptian Honeymoon by Elizabeth Ashton - Free Book Online
Authors: Elizabeth Ashton
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her.'
Noelle went off into peals of hysterical laughter, and Steve slapped her face. Pulling herself together, with one hand to her smarting cheek, she said disdainfully:
'Jealous of that tart? You flatter yourself. I don't care who you sleep with so long as it isn't me.'
Steve went quite white, and his eyes blazed, then with a muttered oath he went out, slamming the door behind him.
Noelle sat down on her narrow bed and found she was shaking. She had done it now, good and proper, but she felt no elation. She had behaved badly, but Steve had spoken to her as if she were a naughty child, to be sent to bed for her misdemeanours, and Marcia's effrontery had infuriated her. Was she expected to spend her honeymoon a trois? It was too much to expect of a new wife, even if she were only a wife in name. Steve had been so different that morning during the expedition to Giza, almost she had been on the verge of capitulation. She had been looking forward to seeing Luxor and Karnak in his company, believing that they might arrive at a better understanding amid the mutual interest in the ruins.
But Marcia had turned up and spoilt every hope of. a closer union. Steve, had declared her suppositions were absurd, but his every action confirmed them. Even Marcia would not have dared to thrust her company upon them if she had not had previous encouragement.
Of course
Steve had known she would be on the boat, and her story about friends meeting her at Luxor was a fabrication. Well, they could have their fun and Noelle wouldn't try to intervene. As she had told him she did not care as long as he left her alone.
Alone—what a dismal word! Ever since Hugh had died she had felt so much alone. Though she had not expected much from her marriage to Steve, she had hoped for children, but there was no prospect of a family if he continued to seek his satisfaction elsewhere. She looked round her single cabin with lacklustre eyes. Its prim neatness emphasised her solitude. But she didn't want Steve to relieve it, certainly not, but there was Omar ben Ahmed. He was disposed to be friendly, though Steve had plainly disapproved, but fair was fair. Since she was quite indifferent to the princeling, she could be in no danger from him, and Steve had no right to object when he had Marcia. It would salve her pride to have an attendant cavalier to flaunt in front of Marcia's supercilious eyes.
She stood up to prepare for bed. The cabin, being a single one, had its own shower and so on in a cubicle in one corner. The door between her and Steve was firmly locked. She opened the one leading out on the deck and went outside. Steve's adjacent one was dark; he was probably still with Marcia, and afterwards would go to her cabin. Noelle leaned over the rail looking at the water swirling past. The moon was full, a golden orb in a velvet sky… a honeymoon. The faint throb of the engines was audible as the unwieldy craft pursued its way upstream, and the deck vibrated a little under her feet. It was not private, it had access to the lower decks, but she had it to herself tonight. She was a tiny atom in this great mysterious land, being borne up this most romantic of rivers to… what? Further humiliations at Luxor? Gradually the calmness of the night soothed her battered feelings. She glanced towards Steve's cabin—still no light—then with a sigh went back into hers.
Tired with all the excitements of the day, she was soon asleep, but as towards dawn she half awakened, before turning and sinking into sleep again, she uttered a man's name, but it was not Hugh, it was Steve.
Breakfast could be served in one's cabin if one so desired and did not want anything cooked. Noelle availed herself of this service next morning, the steward bringing her a tray of coffee, rolls and fruit. By doing so she avoided meeting anyone. When she was dressed, she went out on deck, where canvas chairs had been set out.
The
Serapis
was not a luxury boat like the Nile-Hilton streamers that
Noelle went off into peals of hysterical laughter, and Steve slapped her face. Pulling herself together, with one hand to her smarting cheek, she said disdainfully:
'Jealous of that tart? You flatter yourself. I don't care who you sleep with so long as it isn't me.'
Steve went quite white, and his eyes blazed, then with a muttered oath he went out, slamming the door behind him.
Noelle sat down on her narrow bed and found she was shaking. She had done it now, good and proper, but she felt no elation. She had behaved badly, but Steve had spoken to her as if she were a naughty child, to be sent to bed for her misdemeanours, and Marcia's effrontery had infuriated her. Was she expected to spend her honeymoon a trois? It was too much to expect of a new wife, even if she were only a wife in name. Steve had been so different that morning during the expedition to Giza, almost she had been on the verge of capitulation. She had been looking forward to seeing Luxor and Karnak in his company, believing that they might arrive at a better understanding amid the mutual interest in the ruins.
But Marcia had turned up and spoilt every hope of. a closer union. Steve, had declared her suppositions were absurd, but his every action confirmed them. Even Marcia would not have dared to thrust her company upon them if she had not had previous encouragement.
Of course
Steve had known she would be on the boat, and her story about friends meeting her at Luxor was a fabrication. Well, they could have their fun and Noelle wouldn't try to intervene. As she had told him she did not care as long as he left her alone.
Alone—what a dismal word! Ever since Hugh had died she had felt so much alone. Though she had not expected much from her marriage to Steve, she had hoped for children, but there was no prospect of a family if he continued to seek his satisfaction elsewhere. She looked round her single cabin with lacklustre eyes. Its prim neatness emphasised her solitude. But she didn't want Steve to relieve it, certainly not, but there was Omar ben Ahmed. He was disposed to be friendly, though Steve had plainly disapproved, but fair was fair. Since she was quite indifferent to the princeling, she could be in no danger from him, and Steve had no right to object when he had Marcia. It would salve her pride to have an attendant cavalier to flaunt in front of Marcia's supercilious eyes.
She stood up to prepare for bed. The cabin, being a single one, had its own shower and so on in a cubicle in one corner. The door between her and Steve was firmly locked. She opened the one leading out on the deck and went outside. Steve's adjacent one was dark; he was probably still with Marcia, and afterwards would go to her cabin. Noelle leaned over the rail looking at the water swirling past. The moon was full, a golden orb in a velvet sky… a honeymoon. The faint throb of the engines was audible as the unwieldy craft pursued its way upstream, and the deck vibrated a little under her feet. It was not private, it had access to the lower decks, but she had it to herself tonight. She was a tiny atom in this great mysterious land, being borne up this most romantic of rivers to… what? Further humiliations at Luxor? Gradually the calmness of the night soothed her battered feelings. She glanced towards Steve's cabin—still no light—then with a sigh went back into hers.
Tired with all the excitements of the day, she was soon asleep, but as towards dawn she half awakened, before turning and sinking into sleep again, she uttered a man's name, but it was not Hugh, it was Steve.
Breakfast could be served in one's cabin if one so desired and did not want anything cooked. Noelle availed herself of this service next morning, the steward bringing her a tray of coffee, rolls and fruit. By doing so she avoided meeting anyone. When she was dressed, she went out on deck, where canvas chairs had been set out.
The
Serapis
was not a luxury boat like the Nile-Hilton streamers that
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