CHAPTER FIFTEEN

She watched as Cairo slowly receded, the boat moving out into the wide river and picking up a little speed as it got clear of other river traffic. Charlotte stood up and moved towards the side to get a better view, still holding Libby. She had to admit that Evy had been right. So far the motion of the boat wasn't at all bad, merely little dips and rises as opposed to the great surges the ship had made when it was at sea. Her stomach remained calm for now, but she would wait for an hour or two to make sure she would be capable of eating.

Ardeth and Rick started talking about old times again and Evy joined in, adding little bits of information about the dig they were going to. Charlotte listened with one ear as she gazed at the waters passing by and the greenery at the sides of the river, enjoying the sight of the people going about their business, tending crops and fishing. It was very peaceful.

She glanced up as Evy took Libby from her with a smile and then Ardeth came to stand next to her. "It is beautiful, is it not?" he asked, indicating the view as they chugged slowly along.

She nodded, taking a deep breath of the warm air. "It's lovely. I never realised there was so much greenery along here. I thought it was all desert."

"Many westerners have that belief when they come here. But this is a fertile land, especially near the river. Many farmers work here and produce crops that are sold to the entire country. It is not all sand and dust, Charlotte, nor is it all dangerous and hostile." He smiled down at her and then turned his eyes away to stare at the banks of the river again. "I hope you will allow me to show you the Egypt I know, show you how beautiful it can be?"

"I'd like that," she replied shyly, gripping the railing a bit tighter as her stomach flip-flopped at his soft tone. "What's your village like? The people?"

"You will like them, and I am certain they will like you, too. The village is large, houses built of sandstone are everywhere. Once we used to be nomadic, but over the last twenty years, we have settled. The oasis suits us."

"Who will be looking after the children?"

He smiled. "My mother and my aunts will take on the responsibility, and they will enjoy it. It is some years since they have had a child to pamper," he said.

"You don't have any children?" Charlotte asked, trying to look nonchalant. She knew that these men could marry many times and she didn't know if he had a wife at home. She didn't think so, hoping that someone would have mentioned it to her, considering the way he had been with her.

"No. Not yet," he answered softly, reaching out a hand to take her chin and draw her face around so he could look into her eyes. "I am not married, if that is what you are asking."

"It's not....I didn't..."

"Despite what you may have heard about my countrymen, I do not believe in having more than one wife. Were I married I would never have touched you in the first place and so dishonoured my wife. I have more honour than that," he told her, looking deadly serious.

"I didn't mean..." she began, feeling uncomfortable again.

He smiled, his features softening. "It is alright. Come, let us take a walk around the deck. Is your stomach feeling ill yet?"

He took her hand and tucked it into the crook of his arm, guiding her around the deck in a very gentlemanly fashion whilst Evy and Rick took the children. "I feel fine, at the moment."

"Hmm," he said, looking down at her, amused by the disparity in their heights. She barely came up to his shoulder. "I would imagine if you were going to be ill, you would already have begun to feel it. Perhaps you will be able to enjoy this trip?"

"I hope so," she murmured, trying to keep her legs from trembling at being so close to him again.

"Would you care for a drink of some sort? Tea?" he asked her as they neared what looked like a makeshift bar. A short, fat man stood behind the counter, setting out cups and saucers. The delicate china looked out of place on such a boat and Charlotte gave a small giggle at the sight before she could stop herself.

Ardeth's eyebrow rose up. "Something amuses you?"

"It just looks...funny," she said lamely, still smiling. The short, fat man looked up and beamed at her, showing a few stumpy teeth that were hideously discoloured. But he was obviously friendly and she smiled back. "I would like some tea, if that's alright?"

Ardeth bowed slightly and led her to a small table at the front of the boat, leaving her for a few moments to fetch two cups of tea. She noticed that he didn't exchange money with the other man and wondered why.

Ardeth read her curiosity correctly and sat down opposite her. "The man is a friend of the Med-jai. He would never charge us for the tea, or for anything else. We have helped him in the past," he explained, lifting his tea to sip slowly at it.

Charlotte studied him over the rim of her cup. "You've killed a lot of people haven't you?"

He nodded grimly. "I have killed a lot of bad people, Charlotte, there is a difference."

"I know. I've just never really had anything to do with death, only my parents and those were of natural causes. Well, maybe not natural, but they weren't killed by anybody. My life was very dull until I came here," she said wryly, managing to smile now after what had happened.

Ardeth stared at her until she lifted her eyes to his. "You are very strong. You are already recovering from your ordeal," he said, smiling.

"It could have been worse," she said, frowning as she thought of what the men had wanted to do. "Do you know yet who they were working for?"

Ardeth shook his head. "Not yet, but we will know shortly, my men will not fail," he said confidently.

Charlotte remained silent, drinking her tea and thinking of what his village might be like.

The next morning Charlotte went up on deck and joined the others at a table near the bar, thanking Evy as she pushed a plate in front of her. "Eat. How do you feel?"

"Very well, thank you. I'm a bit surprised really, not getting sick at all, and I slept like a baby."

"No dreams?" Ardeth asked, pinning her with a dark look.

She blushed as she remembered what had happened last time she had slept badly, and Ardeth gave a small smile at her heightened colour. "No...er...no dreams at all," she mumbled, biting into a roll and hoping she could distract her wayward thoughts.

Thankfully, the conversation went on around her as they travelled up the Nile towards their destination, and Charlotte relaxed and ate her breakfast, smiling at Billy as he monopolised Ardeth.

The morning passed fairly quickly, Charlotte sitting with Evy and listening with interest as her cousin read some legends from a book she had with her. Evy always seemed to be carrying a bundle of books with her wherever she went, Charlotte noticed, finding it quite amusing that even in the desert Evy would be found reading. Shortly before lunch Billy came rushing along the deck, wearing a sheet around him like the Med-jai robes, smears of colour on his cheeks denoting him as a warrior.

Charlotte laughed as he stood next to her. "What's all this?" she asked him, pointing to what actually looked like smudges of chocolate on his cheeks and forehead.

"I'm a woryer!" Billy said proudly, puffing up his small chest and putting his hands on his hips to strike the appropriate pose. "Ardeth said I can have a sword. Can I have a sword now?"

Ardeth walked up beside him and crouched down, turning the boy's face in his big hand. "You have the marks of a warrior?" he asked him, smiling.

"Yes, I'm a woryer like you." Billy said, gazing at Ardeth's face.

"Not quite yet. When you receive the marks, they will be because you have earned them. As for the sword, you may have one when we reach my village and not before."

Billy surprised Charlotte by nodding and not being too disappointed. She had expected him to whine and plead, but he was acting very grownup at the moment, probably to impress Ardeth. "Come," Ardeth said, taking the boy's hand. "I will show you how to wear your 'robes' in the proper fashion. Then we will fetch food for everyone." He gave a slight bow and a smile to Charlotte before walking away with Billy, the boy chatting excitedly to the man as they disappeared from sight.

"Ardeth's very patient with him," she mused.

Evy nodded. "Yes, he's good with children. He was always good with Alex and now I'm sure he'll be the same with Libby. That's if Rick ever puts her down!" Evy said, watching her husband parading around the deck with their daughter on his shoulders.

Ardeth and Billy returned after a while, laden down with trays of food that they placed in front of the women. Billy was very proud that he had managed to carry a tray all by himself without dropping anything. Rick joined them and they all sat to have a pleasant lunch, chatting about the forthcoming dig.

"An old friend of mine from the museum is in charge of the dig at the moment, second only to me of course!" Evy said cheerfully. "His name's Grayson Johns, but everyone calls him Gray. You'll like him, I think," she said, looking at Charlotte. "He's very olde worlde English gentleman."

"How old is he?" Ardeth asked, trying not to sound too interested. If Evy thought Charlotte would like him, was it because he would be a match for her? He did not like that thought.

"Gray? Oh, he must be about...53? 54? He taught me a lot of what I know today." Evy said, smiling as she remembered times past.

"Yeah, I remember him. Bit of a womaniser, by all accounts," Rick said, frowning. "I'm glad I'm going to be with you on this dig. I wouldn't want you to be alone with that man."

Ardeth frowned at Rick's response. "A womaniser? he treats women badly?"

"Not too badly, no. He just likes them a lot, any women at all, short, tall, fat, thin...he isn't fussy, put it that way," Evy said dryly.

Ardeth shot a glance at Charlotte and Evy could see he was worried. "He's easily warned off," she said quietly and Ardeth nodded. Charlotte was oblivious to what they were going on about and continued with her lunch.

Ardeth watched with amusement as she ate a huge amount of food and washed it down with the sweet, mint tea he had brought her. "Had enough?" he asked her, arching one eyebrow.

Charlotte blushed as she realised she was being watched by everyone. "I didn't really eat a lot over the last few days," she mumbled, dropping her gaze to her plate.

"Well, you sure made up for that now," Rick remarked, grinning as his wife slapped him.

"I don't normally eat that much," Charlotte tried to defend herself.

"Do not worry. It is good to see you eating a substantial meal for once. I should be pleased to see you do so again," Ardeth said reassuringly and Charlotte relaxed somewhat.

She still found it strange being amongst people who spoke their mind and joked about odd things, but she was slowly getting more used to it. That didn't stop it being a relief when Billy managed to take some of the attention away from herself.

She managed to remain inconspicuous for the remainder of their voyage and soon Evy pointed out the place they would be making land. There were temple ruins in the distance, dotted in amongst the endless sands, and Charlotte could see groups of men wearing traditional robes digging in amongst them, tents set up a short distance from the river bank.

"Will we be staying in one of those tents?" Charlotte asked, looking toward the white billowing canvas shapes.

"Yes. You'll have your own, of course, and me and Rick will have our own."

"What about Ardeth and his men?"

"They'll have their own tents, as well, although some of them will have to share. They usually arrange their own lodgings for wherever they stay, as you must know," Evy said, smiling.

Charlotte nodded and refocused her attention back on the rapidly approaching river bank. This would be a whole new adventure, she thought, and hopefully one without danger this time.

Professor Grayson Johns met them as they disembarked from the boat, shaking hands with everyone. When he got to Charlotte he grasped her hand warmly in both of his and stared intently down at her, his eyes glinting as he took in her face and figure. "Charming," he said, raising her hand for a kiss that she attempted to tug away from. "Simply charming," he continued, his eyes glittering into hers.

There was something she didn't like about him, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. He wasn't bad looking, very distinguished and not a hair out of place. But his eyes had been strangely cold as he looked at her, despite his general appearance of being enchanted. It made a shiver work it's way up her spine.

"Allow me to show you to your tent, Miss Carnahan. Or may I call you Charlotte?" he asked smoothly, taking her elbow in a surprisingly strong grip and leading her away.

Ardeth noticed the slight panicked look in her eyes and stepped in front of them, taking her arm away from the professor and pulling her near him possessively. "Do not trouble yourself, professor. I promised Miss Carnahan that I would take care of her whilst she was in my country, and I intend to keep that promise." He nodded curtly at the professor and walked away, still holding on to Charlotte, who breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank you," she said quietly, looking back once over her shoulder to find the professor watching them with those oddly cold eyes.

"It is my pleasure. You did not seem to appreciate his advances," Ardeth replied, pulling back the flap of the tent that would be hers and escorting her inside.

"I don't think he was making advances...."

"Believe me, Charlotte, he was making advances. I could see his intentions clearly in his face. Do not ever let yourself be alone with him."

At any other time Charlotte might have felt annoyed at his possessiveness, but after having met the professor it was welcome. "I won't," she said softly and tore her gaze away from his, examining the tent.

"It's bigger than I thought it would be," she mused, comparing it to the tent she had stayed in when Ardeth rescued her. "It's very hot in here though."

Ardeth smiled. "You will get used to it in time. Now, let us prepare for the next stage of our journey. I am looking forward to showing you my village."

"You are?" Charlotte said, secretly delighted that he wanted her to see where he lived.

He smiled at her. "Yes, I am. Come, my lady, I will show you to your horse."

They spared enough time to have a bite to eat and to load the horses with the children's bags, then Ardeth helped her up onto the horse. She had expected him to simply boost her into the saddle, but instead he lifted her by her waist and sat her on the horse with ease.

Rick rode with Libby in front of him, holding on to her tightly, and Ardeth picked up Billy, placing him in front of him in a similar fashion, showing the young boy how to hold the reins and control the animal. Billy enjoyed the ride for a while, Ardeth letting him steer the horse this way and that and indulging his curiosity, but before long he started to droop a bit in the saddle and his eyes slowly closed.

Patient as always, Ardeth cuddled the small body against him and took the reins, pulling part of his robe around Billy's shoulders as he slept. Charlotte rode nearby, feeling vaguely jealous that it wasn't her sitting in the saddle in front of Ardeth. But then she remember the last time she had been in such a position, and of how painful her backside had been because of his beating. She still had the bruises and this ride was only marginally more comfortable on her rear, but it was bearable. Why then did she have such soft feelings for the man now? She should hate him. In truth, she felt anything but hatred towards him, and her eyes softened as they looked at his tall, proud figure on the horse.

Ardeth turned and caught that stare, giving it back in equal measure, his eyes doing a quick sweep of her body before returning to her face. He gave her such a devastatingly beautiful smile that she found she couldn't continue looking at him, her heart doing flip flops in her chest. She heard him chuckle as she quickly looked away, her cheeks heating at the intensity of his stare.