Whispers in the Sand (39 page)

Sir John was in the saloon on his own when Louisa walked in. He stood up hastily. “My dear, you look beautiful!” He eyed the midnight silk and, as though unable to stop himself, took her hand and kissed her fingertips. “Louisa, m’dear. I fear I have some disappointing news. Roger has had to leave us. He had a message that there was a problem with one of the crew on his own boat, and he has had to go back. He asked me to beg your forgiveness for leaving so abruptly.”

“I don’t think it was leaving he was begging forgiveness for!” Louisa said tartly. She sat down on the cushioned seat near him. “Is Augusta joining us soon?”

He shook his head. “Alas, the excitements of the day have proved too much for her. She has retired early. So I have asked Abdul to serve dinner early for us.” He reached for the decanter. “Allow me to pass you a drink, m’dear. And let us toast our ascent of the cataract and its happy completion tomorrow.”

She sipped from the glass he gave her and then put it down. “John, I’m afraid I must ask you not to allow Lord Carstairs to set foot on this boat again. He came to my cabin this evening and behaved with shocking impropriety.”

Sir John stared at her, his pale blue eyes huge above his moustache. She saw him drum his fingers on the table. “Louisa, I find this hard to believe. My dear, he is a respected man. A gentleman in every way.”

“No, not a gentleman.” Louisa clenched her fists. “Had Jane Treece not interrupted, he would have ravished me! He has some strange power, some ability to use mesmerism on me, which rendered me incapable of fighting him off. And he is trying to persuade me by underhand means and by threats to part with my little scent bottle. No, I cannot allow you to let him come back! I didn’t want to mention it in front of Augusta. I know she likes him, but this is outrageous behaviour, you must agree!” She fell silent as she reached with a shaking hand for her glass once more.

Sir John was staring at her. “You say he tried to ravish you?”

She nodded.

He licked his lips. “He forced his way into your cabin?”

She nodded again.

“And touched you improperly?” His eyes left her face and dropped to the neckline of her gown. Suddenly he was breathing very heavily. “My dear Louisa, you must remember that you are a very attractive woman. And in this heat, even the most august person might feel his blood race in your company.” He half stood suddenly, and moved closer to her. “I myself have felt strongly attracted to you. Strongly!” He put out his hand and touched her wrist with hot fingers.

“John! What are you doing?” Augusta’s voice interrupted him as she sailed into the saloon.

He leapt back as though he had been scalded. “My dear! I didn’t hear you! How fortunate you are here. Louisa has told me such terrible things. Terrible.” He was babbling with terror. “My dear, Carstairs has proved to be the most awful painted sepulchre. A cad. A dreadful disgrace to our sex.”

Augusta had seated herself at the table. With commendable calm, she reached for the decanter. “I thought it was exceedingly foolish of you to go out with the man unchaperoned, Louisa,” she commented. “Did you appear for him, too,
en déshabille?
”

Louisa found herself blushing slightly in spite of her anger. “I did not, I assure you. I have found Lord Carstairs’s behaviour totally unspeakable. I hope very much you will forbid him to set foot on the
Ibis
again.”

Augusta leant back in her seat and sipped thoughtfully from her glass. “I don’t think we can do that. The man is a peer of the realm. I have to admit that he has made me, too, feel uneasy, but I had thought his ambitions fixed on Venetia Fielding, so I have to say I am surprised he should jump on you.”

Louisa raised an eyebrow. “You make it sound as though I am unworthy of his attentions.” She was indignant in spite of herself.

Augusta gave a dry smile. “Not so much unworthy, my dear, as probably not rich enough. David Fielding has a large fortune, and he has let it be known Venetia’s dowry will be considerable.”

She glanced at her husband. “Is there a reason for his interest in Louisa?”

Sir John was sitting meekly with his hands on the table in front of him. “He wants her little perfume jar.” He shrugged. “God knows why, but I think it has to do with his study of Ancient Egypt. I wish you would give it to him, Louisa, and have done. It can mean very little to you in real terms, and you can name your price. The man will pay whatever you ask.”

Louisa glanced at him. “It is not for sale. I have told him that. And for me it is also now a memento of Hassan, who bought it for me, and whom you so unjustly dismissed—” She caught herself in mid-sentence about to say more and bit her lip. “He was my friend, and that makes it doubly precious to me. I assure you, I will never part with it. Not as long as I live.”

Anna put down the diary. She frowned. Was that a sound outside the door? She stared at the handle nervously, straining her ears, and nearly jumped out of her skin as she heard a quiet knock.

“Who is it?” She cleared her throat anxiously.

“It’s me, Toby. I didn’t want to wake you if you were asleep. I was just checking you were OK.”

She climbed to her feet and went to open the door. “I am fine. Thank you.”

He was standing, leaning against the wall, one arm casually raised behind his head. He grinned at her, making no move to come in. “I was just a bit worried when I saw you weren’t at supper. I rather hoped Andy hadn’t dragged you off to his lair.”

She smiled. “Not a chance.”

“I have to say, I’m glad. OK. Goodnight. Sleep well.”

She stood in the doorway as he walked back along the corridor and watched as he turned the corner. Then, thoughtfully, she went back into the cabin.

She refused to allow herself to read any more that night. Exhausted, she had a quick shower and climbed into bed. Her last thought was of the charm around her neck. With it there, she still felt strangely safe.

And she slept well until the early hours. Then she half awoke, thinking of Louisa. She dozed again, woke again, and slept. When she awoke the next time, almost before her eyes were open she found herself reaching for the diary again. To know what had happened to Louisa was becoming an obsession.

Louisa had slept late after her uncomfortable conversation with the Forresters, and Augusta was alone in the saloon the next morning, when she left her cabin, dressed in a cool blouse and skirt. Augusta led the way on deck, where they sat sipping lemonade in the shade of the draped sail. “Sir John and I have been talking, Louisa,” she began. She gave the younger woman a quick glance. “We believe we may have been too hasty in dismissing Hassan. I think perhaps we were misled by Roger. Unintentionally, of course,” she added hastily. The
reis
thinks Hassan has not yet gone downriver. He and Sir John have gone ashore to try and locate him. The men will be back soon to pull us up the rapids, but it will be easy for Hassan to find us should he wish to, when we are lying at Philae.”

Louisa held her breath. She closed her eyes, trying hard to keep her expression composed. Her heart was beating very fast.

“That would please you, my dear?”

She became aware suddenly that Augusta was studying her face. She nodded. “That would please me very much.”

“John is a good man, you know, my dear.” Augusta bit her lip. “He sometimes gets a little excitable. But he means no harm.”

Louisa smiled. “I know that.” She was touched. Augusta must have found it hard both to ask forgiveness for her husband and to warn her off. She had managed both with infinite tact.

There was only one bone of contention left. “And Lord Carstairs?”

“If Hassan is here, there is no need for you to be alone with him, my dear. I believe Roger was probably a spoilt child and has continued to behave as one now he is an adult. If he wants something, he believes he should have it and nothing must be allowed to thwart his desires. We will have to show him that, though he is still welcome on the
Ibis
, in this case, he is not going to get what he wants.”

Louisa spent the rest of the morning sketching the cliffs and rocks. It was midday before the men began to return, ready to drag the boat up the last part of the cataract. With them came Sir John and Lord Carstairs.

Louisa had withdrawn to the far rail so that she could watch the proceedings from the boat. She didn’t greet the two new arrivals, staring instead at the men forming up on the rocks, getting ready to heft the great ropes like tug of war teams preparing themselves to do battle against the elements. After a few moments, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Sir John and Carstairs go below into the saloon, where Augusta was sheltering from the sun.

It was a while before any of them emerged, then at last Augusta appeared. Her eyes were sparkling as she hurried aft and sat down beside Louisa.

“Such wonderful news! You are not going to believe it!”

“Sir John has found Hassan?” Louisa felt her heart lift in excitement.

“Hassan?” Augusta looked vague for a moment. “Oh, no. I believe John has left word for him to follow the
Ibis
if he wishes to have the job back. No, no, far better than that. My dear, Roger Carstairs has asked John if he might call on you. My dear, he wishes to ask for your hand!”

Louisa stared at her. For a moment, she was too stunned to react. An icy clamp seemed to have fastened itself over her lungs so that she could not breathe. Her mouth had gone dry.

Augusta clapped her hands. “Of course, Sir John said yes. He knew you would be thrilled! Roger was so apologetic about frightening you yesterday. He said that his love for you completely overrode his sanity. He has brought you the most beautiful gift, Louisa—”

At last Louisa managed to move. As stiff as a wooden doll, she rose to her feet. Pencils and brushes cascaded to the deck and rolled away as she stared at Augusta. “How dare he!” Her voice was so dry it rasped in her throat. “How dare he come and try to inveigle his way onto the boat? Why should he ask Sir John? He is not my father! How dare anyone presume I should be pleased?”

Augusta looked stunned. For a moment, she didn’t appear to know what to say. She raised her hands and let them fall to her sides in a gesture of total bewilderment. “He asked John because he is your host. This is his boat. We are caring for you, my dear.” She sounded near to tears. “We thought you would be so pleased. Think of it. His title—”