Chapter Twenty-Five
Lainey was nudged awake what felt like hours later. She’d enjoyed sleeping next to Julian almost as much as the sex, however she wouldn’t want to be caught in his room in the morning.
“I wish you could stay with me,” he whispered as he helped her dress. She smiled sleepily liking that he felt the same way she did. He insisted on seeing her to her room even though it was only down the corridor and around the corner.
She had wanted to have this experience and was grateful for Julian that he had given her what she wanted. But as she settled in her own lonely bed, she was already thinking of all the nights that lay before them and how much she hoped they would spend them together.
The next thing she knew it was morning and people were moving about the ship. She was a bit sore, but in the best way. She told Julian as much which caused him to pull her behind a pile of cargo to kiss her.
They spent their days above deck enjoying the warmer weather that had met them along their journey. They visited with others. Ben spent a good bit of time on deck. As did her aunt and uncle and the Leightons.
Lainey always looked forward to the evening meal knowing that afterward they would spend the rest of the evening and into the night alone together.
They were treated to pleasant weather and made good time according to the captain.
They rose early one morning to a beautiful sunrise over the Rock of Gibraltar.
She had seen it many times, but never with Julian who stood awestruck by the beauty before him.
“This is something that can never be taken from me. This memory of this perfect moment with you.” He looked around to make sure they were alone before bending to kiss the side of her neck, his arms pulled her snug against him. “I will never be able to thank you enough for allowing me to come on this trip, Elaina.”
She shrugged. “I’m not so sure about that. You have made the trip quite pleasant for me.”
He growled against her skin.
“I am not sure how you came to think I am making some great sacrifice to make love to you every night, but I shall allow you to continue to think me a gallant gentleman for it.”
A week later, they docked at the Port of Alexandria. They had dinner that night with the Visiting Consul of Egypt who had become a dear friend of Uncle Henry’s.
“I do not like the way he looks at you,” Julian complained that night when they were in bed together.
“How ever does he look at me?”
“As if he plans to have his way with you.”
“I believe you have spent too much time in the sun and heat. Your brain is causing you to see things that are not so.”
“I know what a man looks like when he is interested in a woman. If you doubt it, you have only to look at the way I look at you and compare it to the Consul and see as much for yourself.”
Lainey laughed off his accusation but the next morning as they ate breakfast in the palace, she did notice the special attention the man gave her.
Perhaps this experience with Julian was more enlightening than she’d first imagined. The man bent over her hand and kissed her knuckles as they made ready to leave for Cairo.
Watching Julian’s face when the camels were led out was a great thrill. She helped instruct him on how to mount.
“It isn’t like a horse,” she told him.
“I’m aware, Elaina. I’ve never had a horse spit at me before.”
She tried not to laugh at his disgusted expression, but some snickers escaped.
“I’m beginning to think you allowed me to come on this expedition to provide entertainment for you.”
“Lainey, it isn’t polite to laugh at Lord Melville,” her aunt chastised her.
“I am all that is apologetic for my insensitivity,” she said. It might have been received better if she wasn’t laughing through her apology.
Eventually, Julian wrangled his surly camel into obedience and they were on their way. Though they lagged far behind the others.
Lainey didn’t mind overmuch since it meant she was alone with Julian.
“I’m riding a camel in Egypt,” he said as if in disbelief. “Do you see this, Elaina? I’m on a real adventure.”
Having been to Egypt a few times before as well as many other faraway places, Lainey realized she’d come to take their adventures for granted. Here was a man who only wanted but one thing he could always claim as something he’d done.
She looked out across the desert as if seeing it through Julian’s eyes and realized how amazing this opportunity was.
“While I sometimes wish I’d had a more orthodox upbringing, I must say I’m grateful I did not. This is truly a gift.”
They made camp each night as they traveled and since they were up at first light to leave and only stopped long enough to eat and sleep, Lainey stayed in a tent with her aunt and uncle while Julian stayed with Ben.
They were not alone enough during their travels to even steal so much as a kiss, but she knew she was not the only one who suffered. She was reassured that once they made it to Dahshur and set up more permanent residences, they would have an opportunity to be alone again.
It was midday when the first pyramid came into view. They were still days away from the Bent Pyramid, but as they entered the Valley of the Gods, it was most impressive.
She looked over to Julian who was silent as he took them in.
“I knew they were immense. I’d seen paintings, but you can’t imagine this. It can only be understood when seen with one’s own eyes.”
She nodded.
“I don’t know if I’ve thanked you, Elaina.”
“Only about a hundred times,” she mused.
“I am forever grateful you allowed me to come,” he said. “Whatever happens, my father cannot take this moment from me.”
Lainey planned to do whatever she could to give Julian an experience he would never forget. And she hoped he wouldn’t forget her either for she would never forget him.
*
It had takennearly a month to get to their expedition sight near the Bent Pyramid. The tents were put up in a cluster, but Lainey managed to keep hers closer to Julian’s and further away from her aunt and uncle.
It was an easy enough thing to sneak into his tent when the camp fell quiet that first night. His bed was larger than hers since he was a proper lord of some size.
Like hers, his skin smelled of exotic oils from his earlier bath as he removed his shirt and pulled her closer to him.
“We must be quiet,” she warned. “We are on the edge of the other tents, but we are only separated by fabric.”
He smiled and kissed her. “As I recall it isn’t me who makes so much noise as to wake an entire ship.”
She smacked him playfully and moaned softly as he kissed down her neck and pulled her shirt over her head. Perhaps he was right. She would need to be cautious of the noises she made.
It proved to be one of the most difficult things she’d ever done as he slipped inside her body and began rocking them together in earnest. She’d missed him horribly and worried what would happen when they returned to London and she would go back to her life as a spinster. How would she manage?
When her body reached the critical point when she lost complete control over herself, Julian set a scalding kiss on her lips which served to muffle her climax. He was better suited for such a tryst as he made the smallest sound during his release and then held her close until he calmed.
She would need to learn how he managed such a thing so they wouldn’t be caught. She lived in fear of such a thing, but wasn’t willing to miss the chance to be with him. It was a reckless game she played. For there could be no offer of marriage if they were caught in a compromising position. Julian had obligations to the people who depended on him.
He needed to marry a proper countess and the very fact that Lainey had sneaked into his tent to have an illicit affair with Julian was more than enough proof she was not proper.
They lay together until sleep pulled at them. Then she left his tent for her own.
That first night, as she lay alone in her smaller bed, finally sated since they’d left the ship, she allowed a few tears to fall. For she wished things could be different. She wished things could be forever.
It seemed both of them had only this short adventure to create a lifetime of memories. And she wouldn’t miss a single one.
*
When Julian walkedinto the tent for breakfast the next morning, Lainey watched him searching for her. When he found her, he winked and offered that devilish grin she’d come to desire. She couldn’t stop the answering smile on her face as he moved in her direction.
After so many years of avoiding Julian at balls and soirees, it was strange that her stomach fluttered with excitement whenever she was near him now.
“Good morning, Miss Bantham. I trust you slept well?”
“Yes, my lord. Very well. And you?”
He looked around as if to make sure no one was close enough to listen in before he leaned closer and whispered.
“I had a beautiful woman in my bed that needed tending so I barely slept a wink.”
“Poor man.” She pouted in mock sympathy and he let out a low groan.
“Don’t put your lip out like that, Lainey, you are too enticing.”
“But I should stay in my tent tonight so you won’t lose sleep.”
Another growl before he said, “Vixen,” and went to collect his breakfast.
“I’m glad to see the two of you are getting along better,” Uncle Henry said from behind her causing Lainey to choke until he slapped her back.
“I didn’t realize you were there.”
“I only just walked in as Lord Melville was walking away, but he was smiling, so you couldn’t have been rude.”
She laughed. “We had a misunderstanding before, but it has been addressed. I find it easier to be friendly now.”
Friendlywasn’t the correct word for the way she felt in Julian’s presence, but it was the word she would use when discussing the situation with her uncle. She felt her cheeks grow warm.
“Are you well? You seem flushed.”
She cleared her throat again.
“It is the desert, uncle. I’m simply acclimating to the warmer temperatures,” she said, hoping she’d get better at keeping their secret.
*
Julian tried tokeep his distance from Lainey as others entered the tent for their morning meal. Even if Julian had wanted to sit with Lainey it would have been difficult with Comte Dumast taking up the seat next to her.
Rather than risk giving the man a piece of his mind, he left the tent to prepare. He wasn’t very hungry as it was. Not with his stomach planning a revolt.
“Are you ready for your first day?” Lainey asked as they gathered their tools. She must have left the Comte sitting alone with his food. It might have brought a smug smile to his face, if he weren’t so worried.
“No,” he answered, trying to hide his nervousness, and failing.
She gave him an encouraging smile.
“You will do fine. I’ve trained you well and you won’t let me down,” she said with a smirk that made Julian want to drag her back to his bed.
“You trained me for the wilds of Scotland, not this…” He gestured toward the large monument that was thousands of years old.
“The basics are the same. You know what all the tools are and what they are used for. We start the day at the site on the west side of the pyramid as it is in shade during the morning.”
“Outside the tomb?”
“Yes. There is next to nothing left inside the tombs. They’ve been looted many times over the years. However, the sand and wind cover things quickly here. It’s common to find pieces of treasure outside of the tombs. Things that were dropped as the trespassers scurried away after taking their haul.”
“I see.”
“We spend the afternoon inside the tomb studying the paintings for clues of hidden chambers and interpreting hieroglyphics. Then we move to the site on the east side of the pyramid later in the day when the pyramid provides shade to that area.”
He nodded. It seemed a perfectly reasonable plan.
“Here.” She handed him a large canteen and a smaller flask. “Drink plenty of water. And use this.”
He pulled the stopper and sniffed the stringent scent.
“What is this?” He winced.
“It is moringa oil, a native plant here that keeps pests at bay.”
“I should poor it in my boots to ward off scorpions?” When she’d warned him to check his shoes before putting them on in the morning because of unwanted and incredibly large insects, Julian had almost wanted to run back home to Scotland. Almost.
“No. You should apply it to your skin every few hours. It’s not as harsh smelling after a while.”
She held up her arm and he leaned closer to take in the scent of her skin.
“Hmm. Perhaps we can help each other apply it.” He leaned closer to her ear and whispered. “Everywhere.”
She giggled. “Perhaps tonight. But for now, we must get to work.”
“Yes, of course.”
And work they did.
The next few weeks were filled with days spent sifting through sand, and nights spent making love to Lainey in secret. It was perfect. Even Ben was helping and enjoying himself.
Every once in a while, someone would call out when they found something. The group would gather round to watch as the treasure was revealed. It was exciting, even if the treasure turned out to be a bit of broken pottery or a scrap of leather.
Those simple discoveries thrilled him to no end and he and Elaina would discuss them as they lay in his bed together.
“Are you disappointed that we’ve not found anything of great value?” she asked.
“I have not been disappointed a single moment since stepping foot on the ship. I find myself trying to remember every detail. For these memories, they are a treasure beyond value.”
She smiled. “I fear I have taken this life for granted for some time. Perhaps even resented it. But experiencing it with you has been wonderful.”
“I can’t imagine having such an opportunity. To do this for the rest of my life.” He kissed her hair. “With you. I wish things were different.”
“I wish your father had not been such a vile, heartless, bugger.”
He laughed.
“I do love the names you come up with for him. It’s most entertaining.”
When their laughter died down, she fell silent for a little while. He could almost feel her thinking.
“What is it?” he asked when curiosity got the best of him.
“I was only wondering…” She paused. “No. It doesn’t matter. Never mind.”
“What is it?” he repeated, wanting to know what thoughts had stolen the lightness from their moment together.
“Would things be different, do you think? If your father had not made such a demand. That is to dictate that you marry someone proper?” She shook her head. “Please don’t answer. It is silly. Of course, it wouldn’t matter. You would still want someone proper as your countess regardless. I should go. I’m rather tired and I don’t want to fall asleep here. We cannot be caught.”
“Elaina,” he said but she had already gathered up her things to leave.
She paused before her exit. “I know how you must feel, trying to remember every moment to recall later. I will treasure each memory I’ve made with you.”
With that, she was gone and he was left alone to consider what she had asked, but not allowed him to answer.
If he could choose anyone to be his wife. If he could live the life he truly wanted…
He would most assuredly pick her and the life they had here.