Wanderlust (44 page)

The Scottish driver whistled and the others looked intrigued as the Australian picked up the conversational ball with a deprecating look at his friend. That can't have been easy. She was obviously quite a woman. What did your husband say to all that? It was a question they all wanted to be sure of, particularly if she was going to be staying in Cairo for a while. It was nice to know a woman's status, and she laughed at the question.

Don't have one, I'm afraid. And then she decided to shock them. These were the people she was going to live with from now on, men just like these, day in, day out ' if Charlie let her stay ' there was always that hurdle to cross ' but she wasn't going home, no matter what he said. She had already decided that on the plane. And she was prepared to do battle with him. I have a lovely Chinese daughter though.

They all hooted at once, but the Scotsman caught her eye in the mirror with a grin. One of your orphans from Harbin? She nodded in answer. Good girl. How old is she now?

Six. Audrey smiled, ready at the drop of a hat to show them her picture, and she showed a photograph she had taken herself as Molly grinned toothlessly at her. And the men quickly responded in kind. It turned out that despite their interest in her, two out of the three were married, and between them they had seven children. Photographs changed hands and were passed around, and all of them shook hands and introduced themselves, and by the time they arrived at Shepheard's Hotel, they were old friends. There was something amazingly friendly about comrades in wartime, and she was suddenly glad she had come. She wanted to do something useful here instead of merely marking time in London.

All of them got out at the hotel, and Audrey followed them to the desk and asked for Charlie. The desk clerk checked for his key, looked at his notes and informed her that Mr. Parker-Scott was out.

Is he away, or just out? She wondered if he would even know. The man had a smooth olive skin and beautiful black eyes and she was surprised at how many Egyptians she saw were actually very handsome.

I believe he's out for the afternoon, madam. He spoke in impeccable clipped British tones and he sounded almost as though he had gone to Eton, as Audrey thanked him, and walked out onto the terrace to look around. The view was incredibly romantic as they looked out on the beauty of the city, and below them everything was teeming, as men in a dozen different uniforms raced by, calling to each other, and hurrying to their various tasks. Cairo was the center of all activity, headquarters for the Middle East and African operations, and she sat fascinated on the terrace for hours as she waited for Charles and finally dozed off, as she waited. And when she awoke the sun was setting on the horizon and she woke up with a start as someone grabbed her arm and shook her roughly. She couldn't remember where she was at first, and she looked into a face with familiar eyes, but the rest was not. And then suddenly she laughed as she realized who it was.

My God, you've grown a beard! But it was not the beard she noticed now. His eyes were dancing with fury.

What the hell are you doing here? The desk clerk had told him only that there was a lady waiting for him on the terrace, and he had found her in a corner, slumped over, her bag on the floor beside her, her camera pack on her lap, a hat pulled low over her eyes, and her cameras around her neck, wearing what he considered was a ridiculous outfit. And for one second he had been pleased by the vision she presented, and then suddenly a wave of anger had swept over him. He didn't want her here. It was a war zone, and she didn't belong here. He wanted her back in London, in relative safety.

I came to see you, Charlie. She held out her arms as she stretched and smiled angelically at him. She had known he would be angry, and she knew she could handle it. He'd calm down eventually, and she knew she had done the right thing. She could never have continued to sit the war out in London, while he trotted around the world, writing for assorted newspapers. Aren't you going to say hello? She was fighting not to laugh he looked so enraged. I like the beard.

He stood before her almost trembling with fury. Don't even bother to unpack your bags, Aud. You are leaving here on the first plane out tomorrow morning. How did you ever con them into letting you come?

I told them I was a free-lance photographer, and then she smiled at him for the clincher, and that we always work together.

What? And they believed you! The damn fools ' . He threw his own hat on the ground, and stalked across the terrace as the people closest to them smiled, and Audrey waited for him to return. He'd calm down sooner or later, and when he walked back toward her, she suggested that they have a drink. But there was something more in his eyes now.

As long as I'm only staying one night, we might as well celebrate a little bit. She eyed him in just the way that always melted his heart, but he only growled and slipped uneasily into a chair. He knew better than to trust her. She was far less docile than that, and if she had said she was leaving the next day, he wouldn't have believed her. Molly sends you her love.

How is she? His eyes softened just a little bit, but he was not going to let down his guard, he told himself.

She's fine. She's with Alexandra and James at James's father's place in the country, and she seems to love it. He breeds Saint Bernards, and she's found one she loves. She wants to bring one home with her when she comes back to London. Audrey and Charlie exchanged a smile, the first genuine one since he had discovered her sleeping on the terrace.

We'll have to let a flat just for the dog. He laughed softly. But his eyes were filled with worry. He couldn't keep it from her anymore, and it was part of why he didn't want her in Cairo. He assumed that she should still be taking it easy. Though in fact, the trip to Cairo was the best thing that had happened to her since the miscarriage. There's something you didn't tell me about, Aud ' before I left ' . Her heart pounded, wondering how he had heard, and then suddenly she knew ' James ' .

Oh? She tried to look nonchalant as she turned away and ordered another drink. Not really.

Yes, really. He took a firm hold of her arm and waited till her eyes met his again. Why didn't you tell me?

In spite of herself her eyes filled with tears. I didn't want to worry you. Her voice was barely more than a whisper. And without another word he took her in his arms and held her as she began to cry. I'm so sorry. It's all my fault. I keep thinking that if I hadn't done this or that ' maybe ' She couldn't go on, but he understood.

You can't do that to yourself, my love. It happened ' and I'm so sorry ' but there will be another time. I promise you that. He smiled tenderly at her, his own eyes damp. Next time I hope you'll tell me. She nodded and smiled as she blew her nose in the handkerchief he gave her. And then his brows knit again. In a way, it was a relief to see her. He had been so worried about her ever since he'd seen James. James said it was pretty awful. Are you all right?

She didn't deny it. I'm fine. And Vi was wonderful.

I can imagine. He touched her cheek with his long fingers, and gently kissed her lips, suddenly happier to see her than he would have cared to admit. I'm so sorry, Aud ' I'm sorry I wasn't there.

You couldn't have done anything. She took a deep breath and wiped her eyes again. It's been awfully hard ' with you and Molly gone ' that was all I could think of. She turned sad eyes up to him, and he could see that it had taken its toll. I had to come. He nodded. He understood, and perhaps she hadn't been wrong. He signed for their drinks after that and they went upstairs. He carried her bags, and when they reached his room, he carried her over the threshold and deposited her on the bed.

Welcome home, to the future Mrs. Parker-Scott. He grinned, and she raised an eyebrow.

Do you know something I don't? Have you heard from Charlotte? She didn't even dare hope and he shook his head.

No. But James had an interesting little tidbit. Did he tell you? She shook her head. It appears that my charming wife has an interesting secret.

Oh? Audrey was intrigued and he grinned more broadly. He had been in high spirits since James told him, except for his worry about Audrey. But it would be wonderful if they could get married as a result of his applying a little pressure on Charlotte.

Apparently the dear lady has peculiar taste. She prefers women.

She's a lesbian? Audrey was not as shy as Lady Vi and she looked at Charlie in amazement. Are you sure?

Fairly. Apparently Vi saw her kissing some woman on a back street. I'm surprised she didn't tell you.

It may have been at the wrong time, which of course it had. That's amazing. Now what?

I threaten to take an ad in the London Times if the bitch doesn't give me a divorce, what do you think? They both laughed and Charles settled down on the bed next to her with a smile and a moment later they forgot everyone ' Charlotte and James ' and Lady Vi ' they remembered only each other and how happy they were to be together again.

The next morning, Charlie was more serious again, and he had qualms about letting Audrey stay. This is a war zone after all. And Mussolini has started to invade Egypt.

She laughed gently at Charlie then and squeezed his hand on the table. You know how the Italians are, sweetheart. It could take them years to get this far. And she had no intention of leaving. And day by day he got more used to having her there. A month later they were still waiting for the Italians to attack, and there was a kind of festive atmosphere everywhere. She had become friends with many of the men, and she and Charlie spent hours sitting on the terrace of Shepheard's Hotel, drinking with the other correspondents. The others had all gotten used to her, and Charlie had even stopped pushing her to go home. He loved having her there, and she really wasn't in any danger. The only unpleasant thing they ever had to deal with were the occasional sand storms they encountered when they were out on the desert. Others had gotten lost in the violent storms, and Charlie and Audrey had been severely warned by General Wavell, the commanding officer. They had no interest in losing war correspondents to dust storms in the desert. But most of their time was spent in Cairo proper, and the skirmishes with the Italians seemed halfhearted at best. Things were so much in control that Audrey even spoke of going home to Molly briefly for Christmas, but she was afraid that if she went, Charlie wouldn't let her come back, and Violet had written that she was spending Christmas with the children, with her father-in-law and James, and she assured Audrey that Molly was as happy as could be, so she decided to stay on with Charlie in Cairo.

And in December, the British got serious about the Italians, and decided to run them out of Libya once and for all. On January twenty-first, 1941, the British forces took Tobruk, and on February seventh, the Italians surrendered to the British.

But there was something much more interesting going on at that time, which Charlie and Audrey had been hearing about for weeks. Apparently, the Germans were more than a little displeased with the way the Italians had handled the Libyan campaign, and they were sending a German general, and a German corps over to take command, and give the British a run for their money. Rumors were flying everywhere by the time Tobruk fell, and when the Italians surrendered, everyone was talking about the mysterious German general due to arrive at any moment, and no one in the British High Command knew who he was. It was two days after the Italian surrender that Wavell invited Charlie to dinner, and he was vague with Audrey when he came back about what had been discussed.

Did he say anything about the German general coming in? Have they heard who it is yet? It was all anyone spoke of, and even among the other correspondents she'd dined with that night, that had been their main topic of conversation. Everyone wanted the scoop, especially the British.

No, nothing yet. But he avoided her eyes while he was undressing.

Do you think Wavell's worried? He thought he was very worried, but he didn't want to tell Audrey. What he had to tell her now was that he was going away for a few days and he couldn't tell her where. He was thinking about what to say when she suddenly stood before him. You're not listening to me, Charlie. Her eyes searched his face. She knew him too well. It was exactly what he was afraid of. He could have faced a German general more easily than this woman.

Yes, I am, Aud. I was just thinking about dinner. Good meal for once. They had some marvelous Egyptian thing for dessert.

Don't give me that. She sat on the edge of the bed and eyed him suspiciously. You've got something up your sleeve, Parker-Scott. What is it?

Oh for heaven's sake. Dammit, I'm tired, Aud, don't interrogate me tonight. If I knew something about the Germans, I'd tell you. He turned his back on her, pretending to be annoyed, and he did the same once they were in bed, but she was in a playful mood that night and she kept running a hand between his thighs as he tried not to laugh, with his back turned to her in their bed. They had been living at Shepheard's for months now, and it was beginning to feel like home. But he was seriously worried now about what to tell Audrey.

You're not very friendly tonight, Charlie. She whispered to him and he rolled over and looked at her with a rueful smile.

You know, you're a terrible pest sometimes. Has anyone ever told you that?

She grinned at him, their noses almost touching on the pillow. No one's had this kind of opportunity before. He smiled at her. He knew he was the only man she'd ever slept with.

Don't you want to get some sleep tonight, Aud? He had to get up early the next day, but he didn't want to tell her that now.

I want to know what it is you're hiding from me. Did you fall in love with someone tonight? We already know what happens to you in Cairo. What's up, Charlie? She propped herself up on her elbow and looked down at him. You know, you'd make a terrible spy. I can always tell when you're lying.

That's an awful thing to say, Aud. Her words sent a chill down his spine, and he hoped she never said as much to the Home Office. I never lie to you.