Noah couldn’t will his feet forward.Leaving here meant giving up on Jack.
Jack, who would never give up on him and saved him more times than he could count.
Yet if he didn’t, Stephen would likely kill him.Leave him here to become a feast for desert vultures.And then where would Jack be?
Stephen sighed.“I don’t know what she sees in you, truly I don’t.”
Noah’s heart gave a painful thump.More frustrating than not knowing one was being manipulated was knowing yet being powerless to prevent the manipulation.Stephen had mentioned Ginger to remind him of what Noah risked by being careless.
He climbed onto the camel slowly, pulling it upright.Stephen also mounted and then brought his camel to Noah’s side.“You see, Benson?Just like the times of old.You and I riding two dromedaries across these deserts.I simply cannot wait to return to proper society once more.”
Noah scoffed at him as they started forward.“In what world do you live, Fisher?If I’m taking you to Cairo, it’s to have you executed for treason.”
“Perhaps.You may find that the information I have to offer the British government is reason enough to keep me alive—perhaps even negotiate a pardon.”
A pardon?
Stephen was from the world of the unbelievably rich and influential.Noah had spent half the war watching how the actions of some of the rich and influential could impact millions.“Because of Lord Braddock’s oil concession with Ibn Saud?”
Stephen removed a package of Turkish cigarettes from his robe.He offered one to Noah, who shook his head.A mistake.His head ached too much to move it much.
“Among other things.”Stephen pulled out a lighter and lit his cigarette, looking cool and collected as the camels pushed forward.“You are interested in that matter, aren’t you?I’m certain Cairo Intelligence will be as well.”
And once Cairo Intelligence knew of it, Ginger’s family would probably lose the only possible way for them to find wealth again.“Is there actually a concession?”
Stephen shrugged.“I was there when both men signed it.I believe Captain Shakespear arranged the meeting.”
The idea of Lord Braddock signing an oil concession with Ibn Saud seemed far-fetched.“But what were the terms?”
“Don’t remember the particulars.Lord Braddock was interested in financing oil explorations to the area—hence my involvement.The man had all the ideas but none of the funding.I’m uncertain what came of it all.I didn’t have the time to track everything the man did.But I would imagine he made some arrangement for the concession in his estate—wouldn’t you think?”Stephen released a stream of smoke from his lips.
Noah’s hands curved over the riser on the camel’s saddle.He didn’t know what to think of it all.That Lord Braddock would have been involved in oil dealings wasn’t wholly surprising.He’d been desperate to restore his former fortune.But what had come of the concession?
He may have to call on Lady Braddock after all.
They crested a hill.In the hazy lines of the horizon, the advancing army of the British came into view.Had anyone other than Stephen been with him, Noah would have felt relief to see his countrymen.But, as it was, Jack’s voice rang in his mind, about how they’d made a deal with the devil.
Noah glanced over his shoulder, in the direction he’d left Jack.And though there was nothing he could do, he whispered a plea for forgiveness.
ChapterNine
The Continental-Savoy Hotel in Cairo had been transformed.Like so many hotels and large buildings throughout Egypt, the British had requisitioned it for their use during the war.To Ginger, it seemed an odd location to house the Arab Bureau and other offices for the Cairo Intelligence Department.
Standing inside the main lounge, she took in the graceful arches of the high ceilings and polished marble floor.A luxury outfit meant for entertainment, not the grim business of war.How many times had Noah been in this building?Both her father and Henry had worked here as well.
She clasped her handbag in gloved hands.Her family had been surprised when she’d turned up the evening before at the house in Cairo.Seeing the shutters removed, sheets pulled from the furniture had taken her aback and left her unsettled.She had never expected to sleep there again.Her family had helped William find a few staff members already.
The oddest part of it all, though, was her lack of uniform.She had come to Egypt already a nurse.The only other time she’d spent so much time out of uniform was the spring before, when the ordeal with her father had occurred.
Mr.Osborne approached.“Lady Virginia.”Osborne smiled pleasantly and shook her hand.“I’m so glad to see you.Shall we?”
She followed him down the hallway.He looked over his shoulder at her.“Did you have a pleasant journey from Alexandria?”
Ginger hurried to keep up with his brisk pace.“Yes, thank you.”
He stopped at a door, rapped with the back of his knuckles, then opened it.A man inside rose from a desk—Lord Helton.
Ginger stepped back, chilled.Regardless of how he’d helped her family, the man unnerved her.
