CHAPTER FOURTEEN

"I've never worn trousers before," Charlotte said, never having been brave enough to actually wear the loose types that were slowly becoming fashionable in England.

"Oh, you'll love them," Evy said, indicating her own black ones she was currently wearing.

"Aren't they a little...tight?" Charlotte asked her, seeing how they clung to Evy's slim legs.

"They don't feel tight, just comfortable. I've got lots of spare pairs you can have." She glanced at Charlotte as they climbed the stairs. "Don't tell me you're worried about showing your figure a little bit?"

"I'm not sure," the other girl admitted, wondering what she'd look like in the sort of get up Evy was wearing. Evy was obviously more unconventional than she was, a free spirit, not concerned by what was currently fashionable or seen as decent to wear in public.

"Well, let's just try some and see what they look like. They should fit okay, although you're a bit shorter than me," she said, shrugging. "We can always roll up the ends if necessary."

They went into Evy's bedroom and the older woman quickly sorted out a few outfits she thought would be suitable for her young cousin, laying them on the bed and matching belts and boots that she had previously found a bit tight.

"There," she said, handing one of the outfits to Charlotte. "Try these on in the bathroom and come out and show me."

Charlotte dubiously took the clothes and hurried off to change, staring at herself in the full length mirror with a touch of worry. The trousers did cling, but weren't too bad as she had a smaller build than Evy. The blouse was black, as were the trousers, and she had tucked it in to the waistband, the thin material flowing loosely over her curves. A large belt and knee length boots completed the picture and she had to admit that she now looked more like an adventurer than the typical British lady she had been. She exited the bathroom and Evy looked her up and down and smiled.

"Oh, yes, that's much better. They fit you far better than they did me, even the boots. Come on, we'll pack these things and then get Billy's stuff ready."

"What about your clothes?" Charlotte asked as she was hustled out of the room.

"Oh, I always have a few bags packed for when we go out to a dig. I even have some of Libby's things put together, so I'll be ready in a jiffy. Let's just get you ready so we don't keep the men waiting!"
Sooner than Charlotte would have thought possible they were walking down the staircase carrying medium sized soft bags to meet Ardeth and Rick, who were talking in the hall holding a child each. Ardeth seemed incredibly at ease with Billy, and the young boy seemed to be content with the man.

"Are you all ready?" Rick asked, leaning down to kiss Evy and hand over Libby.

"Yes, all set," Evy replied, indicating Charlotte. "What do you think of Charlie's new outfit?"

Charlotte felt the heat of Ardeth's gaze sweep over her, lingering on her curvy hips and slim legs.

"She looks like she'll be much more comfortable," Rick said, eyeing Ardeth. "Nice fit, huh?"

"The clothes fit her very well," Ardeth managed through a suddenly tight throat. In truth he could think of nothing else to say after getting a good look at such an enticing figure. Charlotte blushed at his perusal and tore her eyes away, smiling at her little brother. "Excited?" she asked him, reaching out to stroke his hair out of his eyes.

He nodded and played with Ardeth's hair. "Can we go now?"

"It is a little early," Ardeth said, looking at the large clock in the hallway. "But since we are all ready, we can take a slow journey to the port. The boat will be there a good hour before it sets off, so we will be able to board."

"Don't you need a ticket?" Charlotte asked and then a thought occurred to her. "Do we actually have tickets for all of us?"

"We've got tickets for some of us," Evy said. "We can get more at the port, don't worry."

"Are you sure? What if they're booked up or..."

"We will have no problem with the tickets, I assure you," Ardeth said, putting Billy down and reaching to take her bags from her nerveless fingers. "The Med-jai are well known in Cairo."

She supposed he meant that he could basically get anything he wanted, but she didn't feel like she should ask, so she remained quiet and nodded. "So, how long will it take to get to your village? Is it along the Nile? Are we going there first?" Once she'd asked the first question her brain started working properly again and she tried to voice all the niggling little things that were plaguing her.

Ardeth actually laughed and she stopped talking to stare at him, not noticing that she wasn't the only one doing any staring. Evy and Rick weren't used to the sound of an amused Ardeth and they both stared and then smiled.

"We will stop at the dig site briefly and drop your bags off. Then we will continue on to my village on horseback, if you are not too tired," Ardeth replied patiently, still amused by the questions she suddenly fired at him.

"How long will it take to get to the dig site then? Evy said it was just overnight, so why should we be tired?"

Evy gave an amused frown as she stared at her cousin, wondering where all the bashfulness had gone. She realised that, given the chance, Charlotte would actually be quite a lot like she was, it was just that she'd never had the chance to break free from her slightly stuffy upbringing and be herself.

Ardeth continued answering questions as they exited the house, loading the bags into the back of Rick's big car. "The boat trip is overnight, it is true, but it will also take up most of tomorrow. We will not arrive at the dig site until near sunset. If you wished to stay there for the night that would not be a problem." He opened the car door for Charlotte and held her hand as she slipped inside, taking Billy with her. "Was there anything else?"

"Your village? Is it on the Nile?"

He shook his head. "No, it is far from the Nile. It will take us some time to ride there, but the journey is best done overnight, when it is cooler. You will like my village, I think. It is centred around an oasis and is very beautiful, very relaxing. The boy will like it too, once he has some company of his own age."

Charlotte nodded and Ardeth shut her door, moving around to the front passenger side. Evy sat in the back with Libby on her lap, leaving the front seat for the men. "What about Jonathan?" Charlotte asked her.

"He knows where we're digging, he'll join us there when he arrives, or sometime soon after," Evy replied, smiling at Charlottes animation. "Are you, by any chance, excited by this coming adventure?"

Charlotte smiled. "A little bit, yes. I've never really been anywhere before, except to that Hamunaptra place, and I didn't see much of that."

"Nor will you ever," Ardeth assured her, leaning over the front seat to talk to her as they set off towards the port. "It is an evil place, not somewhere for an innocent girl to be. I am grateful that we were watching you."

"So am I," Charlotte said quietly and turned her attention to the streets they were driving through.

Rick took the more scenic route to the port, pointing out things that Charlotte had not yet had a chance to discover for herself. It took them an hour to drive to the boat, after having stopped briefly to take in the vista of the pyramids.

Ardeth helped her out of the car, taking Billy from her arms and swinging the boy high up onto his shoulders, much to the child's delight. Charlotte smiled at the picture they made, the dark warrior acting so carefree and treating the boy like he was his own child. The dazzling smile he suddenly turned on her made her knees tremble and she hurriedly busied herself with taking her bags from the car.

"Allow me," Ardeth said from just behind her, having moved so quickly that she was shocked by his proximity. He took the bags from her hands, still balancing Billy on his shoulders, and led the way towards the large boat they would be travelling on. After a few words and several smiling exchanges with a man whom Charlotte assumed was the captain, they were taken below decks and shown into two spacious cabins.

Rick and Evy had a room with a small cot in it and a double bed, and Charlotte was given a room with two beds in it. She eyed Ardeth as he set her bags on the bed and put Billy down, automatically holding his hand when the boy refused to leave his side.

"Where are you going to sleep?" Charlotte asked quietly.

"I will sleep up on deck, under the stars," he replied, his eyes narrowing in amusement. "Did you think that I intended to take one of these beds?"

Charlotte blushed under his intense scrutiny and averted her eyes. Billy had no such problems, tugging at Ardeth's hand. "You can stay in my bed with me, can't you?" he asked, all big eyes and hope.

Ardeth crouched down next to him and ruffled his hair. "I would enjoy staying with you both tonight, but it would be wrong of me to do so. I do not think your sister would wish me to stay," he said, glancing up at Charlotte as she continued to keep her eyes averted.

Billy turned and grabbed his sister's hand. "Charlotte, you want Ardeth to stay don't you?"

She looked at Billy, wondering what to say. "He can't stay in here Billy, it wouldn't be right," she said finally.

"Why not?" he insisted. "Uncle Rick is staying with Aunt Evy."

"Yes, but they're married, it's different," Charlotte tried explaining.

"Can't you and Ardeth be married as well?" Billy asked with his childish logic.

"No," Charlotte said slowly, aware that Ardeth was staring at her with those intense dark eyes.

"Why not?" Billy asked again, not to be put off so easily.

"Well, because, when two people get married, they..." she began, then stopped clearing her throat. How to explain this to a four year old? "When people want to get married, they're usually in love with each other and..."

"You love Ardeth, don't you?" Billy asked, staring up at her and then looking up at his hero with worshipful eyes. "I love Ardeth, so you can be married, can't you?"

Charlotte blushed as Ardeth chuckled. "Do you love me Charlotte? Is Billy correct?"

She started to feel irritated at his arrogant attitude and the fact that she couldn't keep the colour from her face. "No, no I do not love you!" she burst out, just as Rick and Evy stepped into the room.

Rick raised his eyebrows and grinned at Ardeth, receiving a wide smile in return. "What's all this talk about love?" he asked, giving Charlotte an amused look.

"Miss Carnahan is fighting her feelings toward me," Ardeth said, his tone light.

"I don't have any feelings towards you!" Charlotte denied, gasping at his arrogance.

"No?" he said, arching an eyebrow over his dancing, amused eyes. "Are you quite sure?" His voice had lowered and something about his tone made her think of that morning and what had occurred between them. Her face grew even hotter and she turned away from everyone, pretending to be absorbed in the view from the porthole, even though the boat was not moving.

Evy smacked Rick's arm and then did the same to Ardeth, receiving a shocked stare from him. Women simply did not attack him in this country and he was finding it hard to come to terms with the fact that these two British women found it permissible to strike him. Not that it had hurt, he thought, but still.

Evy laughed. "Don't look so surprised! You men need to be kept in line somehow, and this is the best way I know. Now, shoo, both of you and take the children with you. Leave me and Charlotte alone for a while!"

She waited patiently until the two men left, obediently taking a child each. "There, now we've got rid of them you can tell me exactly what you were talking about when we came in the room!" Evy said eagerly, sitting on one of the beds and staring at Charlotte expectantly as she turned from the window.

"Not what you probably think. Billy wants Ardeth to stay in here tonight, and he couldn't understand why I said no. He thinks we should be married so he can stay with us, and he said he loves Ardeth so it will all be fine!" Charlotte shook her head.

"I see. But why were you telling Ardeth you didn't love him?"

"Because Billy asked if I loved him and then Ardeth asked the same. He is so arrogant!" Charlotte fumed, thinning her lips.

"Hmm, I know exactly what you mean. Him and Rick could be twins with the way they act sometimes." She looked at Charlotte thoughtfully, went to say something and then obviously thought better of it. "Come on, let's go up on deck, it's nearly time to cast off."

They joined the others at a table near the railings and Charlotte was shocked by the array of weapons Rick had spread out in front of him, cleaning them whilst Ardeth held both children.

Evy smiled at her husband, reminded of when they had first been on this trip together and he had brought out a similar amount of weaponry. She had gotten used to the wicked looking blades and guns since then, and knew how much they were needed.

"Here," Ardeth said, motioning to the chair next to him. "Come and sit down and take one of these children. I find I am being attacked by this small one," he said, smiling at Libby as she pulled his beard.

Charlotte sat down slowly and took the pudgy little girl, cuddling her as she found her own face being explored by the little fingers. She ignored Ardeth, smiling once at her brother and then examining the weapons on the table.

"Do you really need all of these? Do you use them?" she asked Rick, frowning at a curved blade with a serrated edge.

"I've used them in the past," Rick replied, concentrating on rubbing down one of his guns. "I like to be prepared for whatever might come at me. Luckily, we've got Ardeth too, so we shouldn't have any problems."

"Do you think we might have, then?" Charlotte asked, worry clearly evident on her face. She jumped when Ardeth put his hand over hers, squeezing it comfortingly.

"We cannot guarantee that we will be entirely safe. But I can guarantee that the children will be," he said.

She nodded and withdrew her hand from his, feeling uncomfortable with his display of affection, if that was what it was. She saw him smile out of the corner of her eye and was glad when movement on the dock below distracted her. They were casting off.