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Authors: Patricia Wynn
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of his weakened resources for the day, Matthew did not argue when she insisted she would find her way home. He only prayed he would not regret the rash impulse that had led him to accept her mad proposal.
Chapter Five
The next few days were restless ones for Matthew. Instead of sending him back to his bed, the outing had made him eager for more activity. Nothing was harder for a man of his enterprise than to sit idle, once a fire had been lit inside him. And, suddenly, one burned. Ambition, which had always been at the crux of his character, had sprung back to life with the thought of facing his accusers with an ally by his side. Not the same dark ambition which had driven him into Africa, but one that was much more fundamental: the desire to restore his reputation in the eyes of his peers.
True, Ahmad had always been his willing supporter. But, no matter how enlightened the patrons of the African Association were, they were still Englishmen, and full of bias. To them, Ahmad was nothing more than a specimen of his race. A particularly fine one, but merely an object for study, certainly not a man whose opinion they would consult. After all, he had not been properly brought up, nor had he attended the proper English university. So how could he be believed?
The narrow minds of Matthew's colleagues made Faye's liberality seem all the more remarkable. That her girl's mind should hold more wisdom than all those learned brains put together confounded him; but her belief in him somehow meant more to him even than Ahmad's steadfast friendship. And Matthew was not so foolish as to think it was because Faye was merely one of his own kind.
Discovering within himself a distinct impatience to see her again, he sent her a note, informing her of the time of the association's next meeting and asking where he should call to take her up. Her response arrived on Saturday when he and Ahmad were passing through the plain entryway of their apartments in the wake of their afternoon meal. Matthew slit open the seal of her missive, doing his best to conceal his eagerness.
However, when he read Faye's reply, excusing her from riding with him on the grounds that she had another engagement earlier that evening, fresh doubts made his heart sink. She would have to meet him at the tavern to arrive by the designated hour. Matthew could not help wondering whether she would appear at all.
His misgivings were ably seconded by Ahmad.
"But, Matthew saab," Ahmad said, when he had been acquainted with her reply, "what do you know of this woman?"
Alerted by his friend's plaintive note, Matthew braced himself. "What does any man know of any woman?"
"Saab--" Ahmad's voice was mildly scolding--"I only ask you to beware. Do you not find it strange that she should go about all alone?"
"Eccentric, perhaps, but not so out of the ordinary as to raise the degree of suspicion you obviously entertain."
Matthew felt burdened by his own suspicions--that Faye was, for whatever reason of her own, attempting to keep him from knowing where she lived. Or worse, that she had heard the rumors about him and had thought better of being seen with him. Already the prospect of facing the men who had accused him had put him on edge. He did not need an additional cause for disquiet.
Ahmad ignored Matthew's subtle plea for reassurance. "I was under the impression that unmarried English ladies would always walk out chaperoned."
"Often they do. But should they do otherwise, we do not take them out in the marketplace and stone them. And," Matthew snapped unreasonably, "if you find you are fond of such entertainment, I suggest you find another country in which to reside."
Fortunately, Ahmad had experienced Matthew's sharp temper before and did not take offense. Why would he, Matthew asked himself, feeling contrite, when he had often in his delirium cursed Ahmad for being so inconsiderate as to jostle him while carrying him on his back through the jungle?
But
Chapter Five
The next few days were restless ones for Matthew. Instead of sending him back to his bed, the outing had made him eager for more activity. Nothing was harder for a man of his enterprise than to sit idle, once a fire had been lit inside him. And, suddenly, one burned. Ambition, which had always been at the crux of his character, had sprung back to life with the thought of facing his accusers with an ally by his side. Not the same dark ambition which had driven him into Africa, but one that was much more fundamental: the desire to restore his reputation in the eyes of his peers.
True, Ahmad had always been his willing supporter. But, no matter how enlightened the patrons of the African Association were, they were still Englishmen, and full of bias. To them, Ahmad was nothing more than a specimen of his race. A particularly fine one, but merely an object for study, certainly not a man whose opinion they would consult. After all, he had not been properly brought up, nor had he attended the proper English university. So how could he be believed?
The narrow minds of Matthew's colleagues made Faye's liberality seem all the more remarkable. That her girl's mind should hold more wisdom than all those learned brains put together confounded him; but her belief in him somehow meant more to him even than Ahmad's steadfast friendship. And Matthew was not so foolish as to think it was because Faye was merely one of his own kind.
Discovering within himself a distinct impatience to see her again, he sent her a note, informing her of the time of the association's next meeting and asking where he should call to take her up. Her response arrived on Saturday when he and Ahmad were passing through the plain entryway of their apartments in the wake of their afternoon meal. Matthew slit open the seal of her missive, doing his best to conceal his eagerness.
However, when he read Faye's reply, excusing her from riding with him on the grounds that she had another engagement earlier that evening, fresh doubts made his heart sink. She would have to meet him at the tavern to arrive by the designated hour. Matthew could not help wondering whether she would appear at all.
His misgivings were ably seconded by Ahmad.
"But, Matthew saab," Ahmad said, when he had been acquainted with her reply, "what do you know of this woman?"
Alerted by his friend's plaintive note, Matthew braced himself. "What does any man know of any woman?"
"Saab--" Ahmad's voice was mildly scolding--"I only ask you to beware. Do you not find it strange that she should go about all alone?"
"Eccentric, perhaps, but not so out of the ordinary as to raise the degree of suspicion you obviously entertain."
Matthew felt burdened by his own suspicions--that Faye was, for whatever reason of her own, attempting to keep him from knowing where she lived. Or worse, that she had heard the rumors about him and had thought better of being seen with him. Already the prospect of facing the men who had accused him had put him on edge. He did not need an additional cause for disquiet.
Ahmad ignored Matthew's subtle plea for reassurance. "I was under the impression that unmarried English ladies would always walk out chaperoned."
"Often they do. But should they do otherwise, we do not take them out in the marketplace and stone them. And," Matthew snapped unreasonably, "if you find you are fond of such entertainment, I suggest you find another country in which to reside."
Fortunately, Ahmad had experienced Matthew's sharp temper before and did not take offense. Why would he, Matthew asked himself, feeling contrite, when he had often in his delirium cursed Ahmad for being so inconsiderate as to jostle him while carrying him on his back through the jungle?
But
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