Only You (21 page)

“I’m not lying, Mother, and I’m very worried about her.”

“With good reason.  It’s a reckless stunt.”  She pointed to his bed.  “Get to sleep now.  I’ll check on Theo, then I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

“Yes, Mother.”  He wrung his hands.  “I haven’t gotten her into trouble, have I?  I like Theo so much.  I hate that she might be scolded because of me.”

“She’s not in trouble, Fenton.”  Edna’s expression was furious and determined, so Theo was in a definite predicament.  “I have to be certain she’s home safe and sound.”

She grabbed her robe and stormed out, and he walked over and stepped out onto the small balcony over the Nile.

“Sorry, Theo,” he whispered to the sky, and he sent his apology winging out to wherever she was.

Then he strolled inside and snuggled down in his bed.  For once, he felt very tired, and he dozed off immediately.

T
heo tiptoed into her
hotel suite and shut the door.  Dawn was breaking in the east, the slightest hint of morning appearing on the horizon.

She was exhausted, but exhilarated too.  Daring all, she’d reached out and grabbed for what she wanted.  She loved Soloman and had refused to let him go without a fight.  She’d demanded he bind himself, and he’d agreed!  She couldn’t believe it!

“Hello, Theodosia,” Edna suddenly said from over in the corner.  “Where have you been?”

Theo was so stunned she was surprised she didn’t collapse.  Her mind galloped at a frenzied pace, trying to devise a valid excuse, but she couldn’t think of a single one that would sound credible.

“Hello, Aunt Edna,” she murmured.

“I repeat, Theo, where have you been?”

Theo didn’t reply, and Edna rose and came over.  She yanked Theo’s veil away, then went back to her chair.  She eased down and casually stroked the veil over her knees.  The slow motion was hypnotic, and Theo couldn’t look away.  She felt sick with dread, wondering how horrid the encounter would get before it ended.

“Will you tell me?” Edna asked.  “Or will you make me guess?”

“I’ll tell you.”

Yet she couldn’t force out the words, and Edna snapped, “I’m waiting.”

“How did you discover I was gone?” she said instead.

“Fenton told me.”

“Oh.”

So…the little fiend had nearly killed her again.  This time, he hadn’t even had to push her off a boat or lock her in a pyramid.

“With you dressed as you are”—Edna gestured to Theo’s clothes—“I can only assume you sneaked off to an assignation.”

“I’m sorry,” Theo muttered, too cowardly to confirm the worst. 

When she’d been with Soloman, it had been blatantly evident they belonged together.  In his presence, she’d felt powerful and magnificent and perfectly correct in controlling her own destiny.

But with her facing her aunt and having to defend her actions, she simply felt ashamed and disgraced.

“Who was it, Theo?  Shall I start listing names of the men we’ve met since we arrived?  Or is it someone new, someone I hadn’t realized was getting too friendly?”

“It’s Soloman Grey.”

“I suspected as much.  What have you to say for yourself?”

“Nothing.”

“Nothing!” Edna huffed.  “You conceal yourself in native attire.  You travel alone across this city of savages and criminals.  You attend an illicit rendezvous with the most notorious scoundrel in the land, and you have
nothing
to say?”

“No.”

“Well, I have a few comments to share.”

“Yes, I’m sure you do.”

“When I convinced your father to let me bring you to Egypt, you complained about your banishment.  You insisted that you weren’t dishonored, that it was silly to employ such a radical solution.  You protested your innocence, Theo.  You asserted that you were possessed of the highest moral character.”

“I know.”

“What am I to think now?”

“Mr. Grey is not the man you suppose him to be.”

“He encouraged you in your folly, and you defend him to me?”

“The assignation wasn’t his idea.  It was mine.”

“Oh, so you
are
the trollop your father accused you of being.”

“No, I’m not a trollop.  I love him.  I want to marry him.”

“Soloman Grey?”  Edna looked as if she’d been slapped.  “Are you mad?  Your father would never give his consent, and as I am in Egypt acting in his place, neither will I.  You have to have recognized that fact, so what is your plan?  Are you about to elope?”

“We haven’t decided.”

“Isn’t that interesting?” Edna mused.  “He didn’t offer to rush out and have the banns called—if he could even find a Christian church in this godforsaken spot?  He didn’t put a ring on your finger?”  

“No, we didn’t get that far in the discussions.”

Edna snorted with disgust.  “You claimed—after your imbroglio with Lord Trent—that you were still a maiden.  Are you now?  Or has that horse left the barn?”

Theo flushed such a hot shade of red she could have ignited in flames.  She couldn’t fathom how to have a frank conversation about sexual matters.  The words were stuck in her throat like a tough piece of meat.

 “Tell me the truth, Theo!”

Edna shouted the remark, which woke Susan.  She staggered in from the bedchamber.  “What’s wrong?  Mother, why are you in here, and why are the two of you quarreling?”

“This is none of your business, Susan,” Edna fumed.  “Go back to bed.”

“How can I when you’re noisy enough to rouse the entire hotel.  If you’re not careful, we’ll have the manager banging on the door.”

“If I wanted your opinion, Susan, I’d ask for it.  Go away while I talk to your cousin.”

Susan turned to Theo.  “Why are you fighting, Theo?”

“I love Mr. Grey.  I went to see him.”

“In the middle of the night?  Are you insane?”

“No, I just missed him.”

“You
are
insane.  And you’re caught too.  What were you thinking?”

Theo was desperate for an ally, but Soloman was the one who might have filled the role.  She yearned to get Susan on her side, to have Susan provide an explanation that would calm Edna down.  Susan was pursuing her own affair.  She knew how easy it was to grow enmeshed beyond all logic or sense.

“Your mother hates Mr. Grey,” Theo said.

“With good reason from what I hear.”

“You’re aware of how acquaintance can blossom into a deeper connection.”

“I have no idea what you mean,” Susan replied, “and it’s certainly never happened to me.”

“If a woman meets a man who’s perfect for her,” Theo tried again, “she can’t help herself.”

“Of course she can,” Susan countered.  “Why would a female deliberately attach herself to a man her family can’t abide?  It’s only asking for trouble.  If that’s what you’ve done, you’re deranged.”

Theo glared at Susan, and Susan glared back, visually apprising Theo that she would never support her.  Theo thought of all the nights Susan had snuck out to be with Mr. Price, all the nights Theo had looked the other way and sworn not to tell.  She was horridly crushed by her cousin’s disloyalty.

“Susan,” Edna said, “go to bed, or I will drag you there.”

“All right, all right,” Susan huffed, “but keep your voices down.”

She stomped off, diligently avoiding Theo’s pleading gaze, and Theo very clearly understood that Susan had never been her friend, would never be her friend.  She was all alone in the world—just as she’d always been.

She turned to Edna, and she felt as if she was about to face a firing squad.  Theo was twenty-three, but she wasn’t an independent person and she had no money of her own.  What was Edna’s authority over her?  What could Edna command?  What power had she to force Theo to obey?

Theo had to contact Soloman.  She had to inform him that they’d been discovered. 
He
would know what to do. 
He
would come and take her away.

“What now?” she asked her aunt.

“Pack your things.”

“Why?”

“I’m moving you over to my suite.”

“I don’t wish to do that, and I won’t do that.”

“Why won’t you, Theo?  Are you supposing—the minute I leave—you’ll rush to Mr. Grey?”

“Yes.  You never liked me.  Why would you care?”

“You are my brother’s only daughter, my brother’s only child.  I went to school with your mother. 
I
encouraged your parents to wed. 
I
spoke to my own father and persuaded him it would be a terrific match.  I have always had your best interests at heart, the family’s best interests at heart, and you have the gall to sass me?  Now, Theo?  When you are completely disgraced yet again?”

Edna was so angry she was trembling.  She pushed herself to her feet, and though she wasn’t an overly large woman, when she was riled, she was definitely a sight.

“Get your things.”  She pointed into the bedchamber.  “Immediately.”

“I won’t.”

“Fine, then.  I shall stay here with you, for whatever you imagine is about to occur, you will
not
go to Soloman Grey.”

“How will you stop me?  Will you wrestle me to the ground?  Will you tie me to the furniture?”

“Yes, Theo.  That is precisely what I shall do.”

Theo couldn’t envision such a hideous scene, and her spurt of bravado fled, exhaustion sweeping over her. 

“Let’s not quarrel, Aunt Edna.  It’s late, and I’m weary.”

“Yes, I hear trysting can be exhausting.”

“We’ll talk tomorrow—when cooler heads will prevail.”

“Trust me, Theo.  My head is very, very cool, so you climb into bed while I compose the necessary letter to your father.”

“You don’t have to write to Father,” Theo protested.

“Don’t I?  I am in charge of you during this journey.  How do you predict he’ll view your…
fling
?”

“It’s not a fling, Edna.  Soloman wants to marry me.  It’s all arranged.”

“Is it?” Edna snidely retorted.  “Have you picked a date for the wedding?  Have you decided where you’ll reside?  Have you discussed your finances?  How much of a dowry will he require—for I must warn you that I doubt your father will be coerced into coughing up a penny.”

“I don’t expect Father will give me permission, nor will I beg him for money.  I’m certain he’ll be quite vexed with me.”

“Vexed!  Child, you have no idea.  Now tell me, what sorts of
arrangements
have you and Mr. Grey made?”

With Edna seeking details that Theo couldn’t provide, some of her confidence slipped.  “I simply mean that he proposed and I accepted.  We’ll work out the rest.”

“You’ll live on love, will you?”

“If we have to, but Soloman owns a business.  He ferries people up and down the Nile.”

“Yes, I’m sure that will keep you in grand style.”

“I don’t need grand style.  I’ve never needed that.”

“We’ll see what you need, won’t we?  Have you demanded he part with his mistress?”

Theo scowled, not having considered Mrs. Valda for a single second.  Pretending confusion, she pasted on an innocent expression.  “What mistress?”

“Mrs. Valda, you fool!  His name has been linked to hers for years.  Her husband abandoned her in Cairo.  Guess why?  He went home to Paris, and she refused to leave Mr. Grey.  Will you be the one to finally separate them?  When her own husband couldn’t accomplish it, what success will you have?”

Theo had no answer to the question, and Edna had her greatly unnerved.  What did she really know about Soloman?  She was aware of his relationship with Mrs. Valda and couldn’t deny they were very close.  Would he give her up?  Could Theo ask him to?  What if he didn’t?  What if he wouldn’t?

Suddenly, her pulse was racing, and panic flared, but she shoved it away.  She loved Soloman, she trusted him, and she wouldn’t let Edna fan any negative thoughts.

“I won’t stand here and listen to you denigrating him.”

“You won’t?”

“No.”

“What if we learn tomorrow that he’s sailed down the river without you?”

“He wouldn’t.”

Edna was like a dog at a bone.  “What if he’s planted a babe in your belly, and you have to carry on alone and unwed in Cairo?”

“He wouldn’t do that to me!” she responded more vehemently.

“He wouldn’t?” Edna snidely inquired.  “He’s already done it to four British girls—and that’s just the ones there are rumors about.”

“That’s a lie.”

“They were tourists like you, on holiday with their families.  He ruined them, then blithely traipsed down the river afterward.  There may be dozens of others, but the scandals were kept quiet.”

“He wouldn’t treat a female that way.”

Edna scoffed with disgust.  “Gad, you are too naïve to live.  Are you thinking you’re special, so it can’t happen to you?  Is that it?”

“I’m not special in the least.  I’m merely tired of this bickering.”

“I will send a message to Valois’s first thing in the morning,” Edna said.

“Please don’t.”

“I’ll request that Mr. Grey show himself at the hotel and properly ask for your hand.”

“I won’t have you forcing him over here.”

“Why not?  Are you ashamed of him?  Or do you feel the rules of society don’t apply to you?  Should your kin have no say in what’s about to occur?”

“No, Edna, you don’t get to have a say.  Father never cared about me, and until you returned from India, I was barely acquainted with you.  So pardon me if I’m leery of your interference.”

“We shouldn’t offer an opinion?”

“No, for I won’t heed it.”

“I’ve never heard such a shocking attitude.  If I left you to your own devices, it would serve you right.”

“My
devices
are just fine.  I will make my own choice in this matter.  Soloman Grey is who I want.”

“A brother-killer.  A child-killer.  An earl’s by-blow.  An actress’s bastard!  You’re making your own choice and that’s who you pick?  Get out of my sight.”

Theo spun away, sick at heart over how grueling the next few weeks would be. 

She had to send a note to Soloman.  She needed his help and support, needed to be reassured that his promises were genuine.  They would marry.  They would be so happy.

As she reeled toward the bedchamber, her fatigue was so extreme she could hardly move.  She probably should have marched out, should have pushed past Edna and raced to Valois’s villa, but what if Edna wrestled her to the floor as she’d threatened?  The prospect was too hideous to contemplate, so she’d nap for an hour or two, then she’d go when her mind would be clearer.

Or more likely, Edna would summon Soloman, and
he
would come to her.  He’d understand from Edna’s message that Theo was in trouble.  He’d whisk her away so she never had to spend another second in Edna’s awful company.

“How could you be so stupid?” Susan asked once Theo settled herself on the mattress.

She’d forgotten her cousin was in the room.  “I won’t discuss it with you, Susan.”

“Mr. Grey, Theo?  Honestly!”

“You might have stuck up for me out there.”

“And incur Edna’s wrath?  No thank you.  Besides, she’s correct.  You were insane to involve yourself with him.”