CHAPTER TEN

The morning passed swiftly as they rode at a comfortable pace toward Cairo. Charlotte felt hungry, but didn't say anything. She supposed this was part of her punishment, not getting any food. It was better than being beaten, but it just added to her feelings of despondency.

She was relieved when they stopped for a food break and wondered if she would get anything, but her worries were assuaged when Ardeth brought her a small bundle over along with a water skin. He didn't speak, as he hadn't spoken all morning, merely nodded at her mumbled thanks and then left her alone. She picked at the food and felt utterly miserable and also incredibly conspicuous. She couldn't wait to be back with Evy and, hopefully, her brother.

By the time they set off again she had made up her mind to ask Ardeth about Billy, see if he had any information. After they had been riding for another hour she cleared her throat, but kept her face turned away from him, feeling more comfortable that way.

"Have you heard anything about my brother yet?"

Ardeth was surprised to hear her voice after so long without a word. "I have heard nothing yet, my men have not returned to us. We will more than likely meet up with them in the City. Do you think I would not tell you if I knew something?"

She shrugged. "I don't know."

"Of course I would tell you, it is your right to know about your brother," he said, frowning at her averted face.

She didn't reply and he sighed, knowing it was better this way, but not liking it. They rode on for a while longer and she spoke again.

"How long until we get to Cairo?"

"Perhaps another two hours, not much longer now. We are almost within sight of the City now," he replied, pointing her to the horizon to pinpoint where the City would appear out of the heat mirage.

She nodded and concentrated on the view ahead before voicing her next question. "Do you really stone women and...and...beat the soles of their feet?"

"We did, about fifty years ago," he replied and she swung around to look at him. "Some tribes still practice it, but we tend to treat our women with respect and gentleness."

"But you haven't..."

"Treated you like that? I did at first, you will remember," he said, his eyes leaving hers and looking back at his men before turning to her again. "If you had behaved you would still be treated thus."

She didn't know what to say to that so she turned away and resumed her silence.

Eventually she noticed shapes appearing on the horizon and she felt her heart beat a bit faster as she saw the city loom into view in the far distance, at last giving her something to watch grow bigger as they neared it.

After an interminably long time they reached the city and rode silently down the narrow streets, avoiding the odd car that rumbled along. Charlotte noticed that they received some very strange looks from the people they passed, most of them bowing in respect and she saw Ardeth nod back to a few of them.

The sight of Rick and Evy's house appearing as they reached the outskirts on the other side of town was such a relief that she felt all the tension drain out of her, leaving her slumped back against Ardeth. He didn't complain, wrapping one arm more firmly around her middle as if he understood how she felt. As they neared the large house, he saw Rick run out and make his way toward them, not looking as concerned as Ardeth would have imagined. The reason soon became clear when Evelyn came out behind him, holding hands with a young boy that had to be Charlotte's little brother.

"Oh my God!" Charlotte said shakily and then burst into tears, her body shaking so much that Ardeth had trouble keeping her in the saddle. He brought the horse to a halt outside the gates and swung down from on top, pulling Charlotte down after him.

The stress of the last few days, of all the fear and uncertainty, caught up with her in one huge rush and all the blood left her head. Ardeth was still holding onto her when she started to crumple and he instantly caught her up in his arms, concerned by how pale she was as she lost consciousness.

"Is she alright?" Evy asked, rushing up to them and brushing Charlotte's hair away from her face.

"I believe the shock of seeing her brother was too much," Ardeth muttered. "Where shall I put her?"

"Follow me," Evy said, leading him into the house and up the stairs to the guest room Charlotte had previously only been able to stay in for one night. She fussed as Ardeth gently laid Charlotte on the bed and stood back, unsure of what to do now.

"You go downstairs and join Rick and I'll get her changed. She should rest and you can tell us what happened." Evy shooed him out of the room and closed the door as he made his way back down to find Rick.

He heard voices coming from a room off to the left and looked around the door to find Rick talking to Khalid and the two Med-jai he had sent out in search of the boy. Before he had taken two steps, however, the small boy stood in front of him and was staring at him with an expression very similar to one of Charlotte's.

"Are you a woryer?" he asked Ardeth, folding his arms in front of him in a very adult gesture.

Ardeth smiled and crouched down in front of him. "Yes I am a warrior. Are you Billy?"

The little boy nodded and grabbed hold of Ardeth's hand, tugging him over to the sofa. "Come and see my train. Uncle Rick bought me a train," he prattled on, leading the big man to where his prized new toy was. Ardeth made the appropriate oohs and ahhs as the toy was pushed under his nose and then found himself being used as a seat as Billy climbed on his lap and settled there to play.

Rick grinned at the sight of Ardeth being used as a train track and came over to join him. "He's quite the little charmer, isn't he?" Rick said, ruffling Billy's hair. "We cheered him up after his ordeal by getting him this little toy. It doesn't look like they harmed him at all. In fact, from what he said, the woman who was looking after him was nice."

"You found him with a woman?" Ardeth asked.

"Well, I didn't. Your two men there found him. Apparently, the men who took Charlotte left Billy with some woman who lives in town, without telling her who he was. She got the shock of her life when your men pieced together the puzzle of where he was and burst into her house waving their swords around."

"I imagine she did. Where is this woman now?" Ardeth asked and called his men over, asking them in Arabic if the woman had been questioned. he was pleased to find out that she was with the police now, and they were trying to find out who the men had been.

"There is just one thing," Rick said, looking serious. "It seems the men weren't working alone. They weren't the ones who orchestrated this whole thing. Until we find out who the boss is, we'll have to keep a close watch on Evy and Charlotte. Either one could be taken."

Ardeth nodded. "You are right, my friend. I will leave men here with you for your safety." He eased Billy from his lap to Rick's and went to speak to his men in more detail, pleased to find Amir walking into the room.

The story of how it had all begun came out and Amir apologised for failing his leader, but Ardeth smiled and patted the man's shoulder. "You did what you could, my friend. You had no idea that something such as this would occur. As it is, all has turned out well. We will all be more vigilant in the future, no?"

Maria ambled into the room holding a large tray and offered mint tea to the Med-jai and coffee to Rick, smiling at the compliments she received. Rick motioned for Ardeth to come and join him again and Ardeth sat on the sofa, once again being climbed on by Billy.

"So, Ardeth, what happened out there to make Charlotte faint like that?"

Ardeth opened his mouth to reply when Evy entered the room and cut him off. "Yes, that's exactly what I want to know. I've just put her into her night-clothes and she is smothered in bruises. Her face is a mess and the other bruises look like hand prints!"

Rick's eyes shot to Ardeth as the other man moved uncomfortably. "Anything you want to tell us, old buddy?"

Ardeth dismissed his men, telling them to go check the perimeter of the estate, before he replied. "Your cousin is very stubborn, Evelyn," he said, taking a sip of the mint tea he was holding.

"Stubborn? Charlotte? She's as quiet as a mouse!" Rick said.

"No she is not. She was most disagreeable at times," Ardeth said and Evy sat in a chair opposite them, frowning at Ardeth.

"Don't tell me you're responsible for some of those bruises?" she asked him, shocked that Ardeth would hurt a woman.

"Just the ones...lower down," he said reluctantly.

Evy gasped and sat up straighter. "You spanked her!"

"What?" Rick asked, equally as shocked, but also amused at the thought of Charlotte bugging Ardeth enough to make him paddle her backside.

"She was disrespectful to me in front of my men and she did not behave as she should have," he explained, getting the dark look on his face that Evy and Rick both recognised.

"She must just love you," Rick said, grinning.

"Richard O'Connell, this is not funny! Poor Charlotte had just been kidnapped and then for Ardeth to strike her...!"

"She deserved it, but I admit that perhaps I was too harsh. I never meant for such vivid bruises to appear on her skin..." Ardeth said, but was cut off by Evy.

"How do you know what the bruises look like? Ardeth!" Evy's voice was even more shocked as she realised he must have seen Charlotte without clothes.

Ardeth looked so uncomfortable now that Rick decided to step in and save him any more embarrassment. "Evy, the important thing is that he brought her back in one piece, don't you think?"

Evy relaxed and nodded. "You're right. I'm sorry Ardeth, you deserve our gratitude and instead here I am telling you off. Listen, you must be hungry, we haven't had dinner yet and I happen to know that Maria is making an enormous lamb stew, enough for everyone. You will join us?"

Ardeth nodded gratefully. "Thank you, I would enjoy sitting down for a meal with you." He glanced at the boy on his lap and then looked up at Evy. "Where are your children?"

"Oh, Alex is at boarding school now. But we brought someone with us to meet you and it's just about time for her to wake up. Wait here," she said and rushed out of the room. She made her way quickly up the stairs and into the room her daughter was in, still napping lightly. It wasn't like Evy to wake Libby up, but she didn't want to miss this opportunity to show Ardeth the bright little girl for the first time. Libby was as good-natured as always and sleepily held her chubby arms out to be hugged as Evy picked her up and carried her from the room.

Her next stop was to see how Charlotte was doing. She gave a gentle knock on the door and walked into the room, pleased to see that Charlotte was sitting up in bed, looking slightly confused. "Evy!"

"Hi, Charlie. How do you feel?" Evy asked, calling Charlotte by the nickname as she had when the girl had been younger.

"A little odd, to tell the truth. I remember riding in, but...oh my God! Billy! Billy's here!" She pulled the covers back and swung her legs out of bed, standing up too quickly and suffering a wave of dizziness. Evy rushed over and placed a steadying hand under her elbow until she could stand on her own.

"Sorry," Charlotte muttered, looking at Evy and then bending to smile at Libby. "Oh Evy, is this Elizabeth? She's gorgeous!"

"Yes, she is isn't she?" Evy said proudly, bouncing the toddler. "I forgot you haven't seen her yet. That makes two people I have to show her off to!"

"Two people?" Charlotte asked, frowning.

"Yes, you and Ardeth. You know Ardeth now, of course," Evy said, watching carefully for Charlotte's reaction.

"Yes, I know him. He was so...I know he rescued me Evy but he is just so...oooh!"

Evy smiled. "You know, that's how Rick used to affect me when we first met, too. Things worked out okay in the end though," she said.

"Things won't work out okay with him. I am so glad to be back here and safe at last!"

"Weren't you safe with Ardeth and the Med-jai then?" Evy asked, giving her cousin a sly look.

"It certainly didn't feel like it!"

"Get your robe on and come downstairs. We'll be having dinner soon and you must be hungry," Evy said, urging Charlotte to move.

"I am. I didn't eat much in the last few days. Er...is Ardeth down there?" she asked, tying the robe securely around her waist and putting her slippers on.

"Yes, he's talking to Rick. Come on," she persisted, "he's not going to bite."

"No," she shuddered. "He does far worse things than bite. Look, I'll come down but I won't sit near him. Promise me you won't sit me near him Evy!"

"I promise. You can sit next to me. Don't worry, I'll make sure he doesn't throw you over his knee again!" Evy couldn't keep the grin from her face and Charlotte gave her a surprised look. "Charlie, I put your night-clothes on. I saw the bruises. If it's any consolation Ardeth regrets marking you."

"And that makes it alright?" Charlotte asked, aghast.

"Of course not! I don't condone that sort of behaviour and I'm lucky that Rick has never tried anything of the sort. Or maybe I should say that he's lucky?" She led Charlotte from the room. "Mind you, our first time in Cairo together, in the middle of the Hamunaptra business, he did throw me over his shoulder and lock me in the bedroom. That was very heavy handed. He's made up for it since, though!" She looked at Libby who was staring at Charlotte and holding her arms out to the other woman. "Here, I think someone wants a hug."

Charlotte took the bubbly two year old and cuddled her, enjoying the warmth and the little grasping hands that explored her face and tugged at her hair. "She's lovely. Rick must be so proud of you for giving him two gorgeous children."

"I don't think Alex would appreciate being called gorgeous, but yes, I think Rick is proud," Evy said. "Billy's a sweetheart too. He looks like your mother, same colouring as you. He seems to like Ardeth."

Charlotte was going to ask her what she meant when they entered the living room and she saw Billy sitting on Ardeth's lap, playing with a toy train.

"I hope you don't mind, but Rick thought the toy would cheer him up," Evy explained.

"Oh, that's so nice of you, he loves trains." She handed Libby to Evy again and rushed over to her little brother. Billy looked up from making train noises and hurled himself at Charlotte, his small body almost making her lose her balance. She cuddled him for a while, trying not to cry with relief to have him back with her again, and then she held him at arms length and studied him carefully, looking for any sign of harm.

"Are you okay pumpkin?"

Billy nodded and held his train up. "Look, Charlotte. Uncle Rick brought me a real train and I've been showing it the woryer," he said and pointed to Ardeth, who was smiling gently at the child.

"Yes, I have been used as train tracks. An unusual experience." he said, his eyes glancing off hers as if he didn't want to look at her. Well, that suited her fine, because she most decidedly didn't want to look at him. She wished he had directed that smile at her instead of at Billy, though, and that thought niggled.

She didn't get a chance to reply as Billy pulled her face back to his, talking to her from a space of about an inch. "Can I sit next to the woryer to eat my dinner, Charlotte? Can I? Please? He knows about trains."

Charlotte felt a flash of annoyance that her little brother would prefer Ardeth's company even after being parted from her for so long, but she couldn't resist his serious little face. She smiled and hugged him again. "Of course you can. His name's Ardeth, and you should really ask him if it's okay."

She turned to look at Ardeth again and saw him holding a slightly sleepy Libby, complimenting Rick and Evy on this latest addition to their family.

"She looks very different from young Alex, more Evy's colouring." Ardeth said, not protesting in the least when Libby started tugging on his beard. "I am sorry I could not come to your home and see her sooner, but my duties here have kept me too busy. I hope you understand, my friends..."

"Of course we do. We're just glad that you're getting to see her now. She seems to like you," Evy said, grinning at his discomfort. "You can tell her to stop you know, she won't break if you speak harshly to her!"

"No, she is fine. When she really starts hurting I shall tell her to stop, do not worry," Ardeth gave a dazzling smile to the little girl and received a hard pat on the nose and a giggle in response.

As soon as Libby got bored with tormenting him she squirmed to be set free and toddled across the room to her mother. Billy, who had been awaiting his chance, instantly left Charlotte's arms and climbed back up onto Ardeth's lap, grabbing his face to get his full attention. Rick smiled at the look of surprise on Ardeth's face at the little boy's forceful attitude.

"You have to get used to that with kids, you know. They like to make sure you're listening," Rick said, watching as Charlotte and Evy sat down in two of the comfortable chairs across the room.

Billy asked Ardeth politely if he could sit with him and Ardeth smiled and nodded at the small boy, teaching him how to pronounce his name properly. He was very patient with him, Charlotte thought. So how come he hadn't been remotely patient with her? She chewed her lip as she thought about that and came to only one conclusion. It was because she was a woman! She noticed suddenly that Ardeth had raised his eyes to hers and was staring at her intently, his expression heated. Her eyes were trapped and held by that look before he dropped his gaze deliberately to her lips and licked his own, making her blush.

Rick and Evy both caught the look and glanced at each other, trying not to smile at how intently Ardeth was studying the young girl.

"Shall we go into the dining room?" Evy asked, standing up and urging Charlotte up with her. "Maria will be calling us in soon anyway. Ardeth, call Khalid and Amir in will you? Oh, and Rachid. They should all sit with us, don't you think?"

"That is very kind of you, Evelyn, thank you." Ardeth said as he straightened up, lifting the small boy with him, much to Billy's delight.

"What about the rest of the men?" Rick asked.

"Yes, Maria would have made enough for everyone. She has this uncanny knack of knowing how many people will be descending on us!" Evy said, moving out of the room ahead of the men.

"Thank you Evelyn, but my men will eat outside whilst keeping watch. They will appreciate the food," Ardeth said, grinning at Billy as the little boy started fiddling with his hair. When they reached the hall he bent and put Billy down, keeping one hand on his shoulder. "I will be back in a moment, child."

Billy wasn't so easily put off, however, and he grabbed Ardeth's hand before he had taken more than a step.

"Looks like you just made a friend," Rick said, smiling and patting Ardeth's shoulder.

"Indeed. Very well, Billy, you may come with me," he said, getting a happy beam from the boy.