Read Online Egyptian Honeymoon by Elizabeth Ashton - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Elizabeth Ashton
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of light, she saw Omar ben Ahmed standing in front of her. He was wearing a white suit and his dark eyes glistened as they raked her from head to foot, taking in every detail of her supple figure clad in a plain blue dress, her white sandals and her hair loose upon her shoulders. Reaching out, he touched a tress of it.
'Pardon me, but it fascinates me.'
Noelle jerked her head away.
'I should have put it up, but it's so hot. Where is everybody?' For the lounge appeared to be empty.
'Either sleeping off last night's excesses or sunbathing,' Omar told her. 'After you went last night, more champagne. We broke up very late. The green-eyed one has an infinite capacity.'
Noelle turned her head away. Steve, of course, had rejoined Marcia after he had left her.
'But what would you,' Omar went on. 'There is nothing else to do. But sit down, fair one, and allow me to order you a drink. Coffee?'
'Yes, please, but not Turkish.'
She sat down on a banquette with a low table in front of her. Omar procured two cups of coffee, then seating himself beside her said:
'Now tell me all about yourself. You are newly married, yes?' He glanced at her ring. 'Your husband is an old acquaintance of mine, we have dealt together.'
Noelle recalled that the men had greeted each other in Arabic, and remarked: 'He speaks your language.'
'Yes. I believe Steven Prescott knows something about everything, except how to treat a wife.'
The black eyes were insinuating, but Noelle did not rise. She was not going to confide in this Arab Don Juan. She said carelessly:
'I expect you aren't used to our Occidental manners.'
Omar laughed. 'They are strange to me, but Steve is of the West and I am of the East, and as your poet says, never the twain shall meet, except perhaps in love. You love him very much?' Noelle looked down into her cup. The question verged on impertinence, and if she answered it truthfully she would have to say that love had no part in her marriage, but neither did it in Eastern unions, which were almost always arranged. The admiration in his eyes was balm to her wounded pride.
'He's a very successful and clever man,' she said evasively. 'Have you seen him this morning?'
'Oh yes, but weren't you present when he performed his heroic rescue act?' His tone was mocking.
Noelle stared at him. 'Rescue act? What are you talking about?'
'So you weren't? How disappointed he will be!'
Sudden anxiety gripped her. 'Oh, please be serious! I know the boat stopped—tell me what happened. He's all right?'
'There was a little altercation on the stairway between an irate passenger and a waiter, who he said had tried to cheat him. Blows were struck and the fellow fell overboard. He could not swim, so Steve dived in after him. Quite unnecessary, there are plenty of lifebelts.'
Noelle stood up; she had gone very white. This was what had been happening while she had chatted unconcernedly with the Bates. Steve had been in danger and she completely unaware.
Omar said soothingly: 'Don't distress yourself, madam. They fished them both out and the whole episode was over in moments.'
'But… but… the crocodiles!' she stammered, her eyes widening in horror as she recalled the Colonel's words.
Omar laughed again. 'They were all made into shoes and handbags long ago.'
'Oh! But where is he? I must go to him.'
She might not love him, but he
was
her husband, somebody should have informed her. Omar was making light of the incident, implying that Steve had been showing off, but he might be injured, shocked, needing her.
Omar touched her arm gently to check her.
'The green-eyed houri is fussing over him. In my opinion he only did it to impress her.'
Noelle sat down again abruptly. So Marcia had witnessed the whole performance, though she did not believe she had been the motive for Steve's rash action. Possibly there had been no real risk; Steve was, a strong swimmer. Marcia had usurped her place, without sending to tell her. Quite likely Steve had not wanted
'Pardon me, but it fascinates me.'
Noelle jerked her head away.
'I should have put it up, but it's so hot. Where is everybody?' For the lounge appeared to be empty.
'Either sleeping off last night's excesses or sunbathing,' Omar told her. 'After you went last night, more champagne. We broke up very late. The green-eyed one has an infinite capacity.'
Noelle turned her head away. Steve, of course, had rejoined Marcia after he had left her.
'But what would you,' Omar went on. 'There is nothing else to do. But sit down, fair one, and allow me to order you a drink. Coffee?'
'Yes, please, but not Turkish.'
She sat down on a banquette with a low table in front of her. Omar procured two cups of coffee, then seating himself beside her said:
'Now tell me all about yourself. You are newly married, yes?' He glanced at her ring. 'Your husband is an old acquaintance of mine, we have dealt together.'
Noelle recalled that the men had greeted each other in Arabic, and remarked: 'He speaks your language.'
'Yes. I believe Steven Prescott knows something about everything, except how to treat a wife.'
The black eyes were insinuating, but Noelle did not rise. She was not going to confide in this Arab Don Juan. She said carelessly:
'I expect you aren't used to our Occidental manners.'
Omar laughed. 'They are strange to me, but Steve is of the West and I am of the East, and as your poet says, never the twain shall meet, except perhaps in love. You love him very much?' Noelle looked down into her cup. The question verged on impertinence, and if she answered it truthfully she would have to say that love had no part in her marriage, but neither did it in Eastern unions, which were almost always arranged. The admiration in his eyes was balm to her wounded pride.
'He's a very successful and clever man,' she said evasively. 'Have you seen him this morning?'
'Oh yes, but weren't you present when he performed his heroic rescue act?' His tone was mocking.
Noelle stared at him. 'Rescue act? What are you talking about?'
'So you weren't? How disappointed he will be!'
Sudden anxiety gripped her. 'Oh, please be serious! I know the boat stopped—tell me what happened. He's all right?'
'There was a little altercation on the stairway between an irate passenger and a waiter, who he said had tried to cheat him. Blows were struck and the fellow fell overboard. He could not swim, so Steve dived in after him. Quite unnecessary, there are plenty of lifebelts.'
Noelle stood up; she had gone very white. This was what had been happening while she had chatted unconcernedly with the Bates. Steve had been in danger and she completely unaware.
Omar said soothingly: 'Don't distress yourself, madam. They fished them both out and the whole episode was over in moments.'
'But… but… the crocodiles!' she stammered, her eyes widening in horror as she recalled the Colonel's words.
Omar laughed again. 'They were all made into shoes and handbags long ago.'
'Oh! But where is he? I must go to him.'
She might not love him, but he
was
her husband, somebody should have informed her. Omar was making light of the incident, implying that Steve had been showing off, but he might be injured, shocked, needing her.
Omar touched her arm gently to check her.
'The green-eyed houri is fussing over him. In my opinion he only did it to impress her.'
Noelle sat down again abruptly. So Marcia had witnessed the whole performance, though she did not believe she had been the motive for Steve's rash action. Possibly there had been no real risk; Steve was, a strong swimmer. Marcia had usurped her place, without sending to tell her. Quite likely Steve had not wanted
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