"I did hear, however, that some rare Cleopatra coins have surfaced," Abdel said, a bit playfully. "Ah, if I could get my hands on one of those."
"I need a passport, Abdel," Samir said. "Citizenship papers. I need them fast."
Abdel did not immediately answer. He watched with interest as Samir reached into his pocket.
"And money. I need that too."
Samir held up the glittering Cleopatra coin.
Abdel reached for it before he was out of his chair. Samir watched him without expression as he examined it.
"Discretion, my friend," Samir said. "Speed and discretion. Let us discuss the details."
Oscar was back. Now that might be a problem, Julie thought, but only if Rita said something foolish, but then Oscar never listened to Rita. He thought Rita was a fool.
As Julie came down the stairs, she found her butler just closing the front door. He had a bouquet of roses in his arms. He gave her the letter that had come with them.
"Just arrived, miss," he said.
"Yes, I know."
With relief she saw it was from Elliott, not Alex, and hastily she read the letter as Oscar waited.
"Call the Earl of Rutherford, Oscar. Tell him I cannot possibly come tonight. And I shall call later myself to explain."
He was about to go when she took one of the roses out of the bouquet. "Put them in the dining room, Oscar," she said. She sampled the fragrance, then felt the soft petals with her finger. What was she going to do about Alex? Surely it was too soon to do anything, but every day only made matters worse.
Ramses. Where was he? That was really the first order of business. The door of her father's room had been open, the bed untouched.
She hurried back through the hall to the conservatory. Even before she reached the door, she saw the magnificent bougainvillea laden with red blossoms.
And to think that yesterday she hadn't noticed these beautiful blooms. And look at the ferns, magnificent. And the lilies that had opened early in their pots throughout the room.
"What a miracle," she said.
She saw Ramses seated in a wicker chair, watching her. And already dressed splendidly for the day's adventures. And this time he'd made no mistakes. How ruddy and beautiful he looked in the streaming sunlight; his hair fuller, richer, and his great blue eyes filled with a sombre melancholy as he looked at her, that is, before he brightened completely and gave her that irresistible smile.
For one moment a shock of fear passed through her. He seemed on the edge of tears. He rose from the chair and came towards her and lightly touched her face with his fingers.
"What a miracle you are!" he said.
A silence fell gently between them. She wanted to reach up and throw her arms about his neck. She merely looked at him, feeling his closeness, then she reached out and touched his face.
She should draw back, she knew it. But he surprised her. He drew back and then, kissing her almost reverently on the forehead, he said:
"I want to go to Egypt, Julie. Sooner or later, I shall have to go to Egypt. Let it happen now."
How weary and raw he sounded. All the gentleness that had been in him yesterday was mingled now with sadness. His eyes seemed darker and larger. And she'd been right--he was near to weeping, and it sent the fear again to her soul.
God, how great must be his capacity for suffering.
"Of course," she said. "We'll go to Egypt, you and I together...."
"Ah, that was my hope," he said. "Julie, this age can never belong to me until I say farewell to Egypt, for Egypt is my past."
"I understand."
"I want the future!" he said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I want ..." He stopped, clearly unable to go on. Flustered, he turned away from her. He reached into his pocket and removed a handful of golden coins.