Under A Desert Moon. Laura Martin

       Chapter Seven

      Emma fastened her bonnet under her chin and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. The desert was going to be an unforgiving place. Within minutes her skin would redden and freckle, her throat would become parched and she would start to perspire. She knew all of this and more. She knew one wrong turn and they could be lost for weeks amongst the sand dunes, without water or hope of rescue. She knew there could be bandits eager to rob them for any money they carried or even just for a flask of water.

      Emma knew of all the dangers but she still couldn’t help but feel a thrum of anticipation for the expedition. All her life she had been sheltered, shielded from the real world. And all her life she had listened to her father’s stories of Egypt, of the adventures he’d shared with her mother when she was alive. Now here she was, about to set off on an adventure of her own.

      ‘Are you ready, my dear?’ Colonel Fitzgerald asked as she hurried down the stairs to the hallway.

      Emma glanced behind her, wondering whether she was making a mistake. It would be so easy to call the whole thing off, to spend the next month enjoying civilised Cairo, but she would regret her cowardice for the rest of her life.

      ‘I’m ready.’

      Colonel Fitzgerald was taking her to meet Sebastian. Mrs Fitzgerald still had no idea Emma was about to set off into the desert with just Mr Oakfield as her guide. Emma knew it was cowardly, but she was glad she wasn’t going to be there when Mrs Fitzgerald found out. No doubt Colonel Fitzgerald would be subjected to a long lecture on how irresponsible he’d been to allow her to go gallivanting off into the desert with no female chaperone. Maybe the old colonel would claim he’d hired someone for the occasion.

      Ahmed came hurrying down the stairs carrying her small bag. She had packed light, forgoing all the luxuries she had brought with her to Egypt. She knew they would be riding all day and camping at night. There would be no spare water to bathe in and no spare horses to carry her baggage. She had packed just one change of underclothes and one clean dress, the lightest garment she possessed. The bundle Ahmed carried weighed hardly anything and Emma was confident she would be able to transport it all the way herself if required.

      Just as they were about to leave, Dalila came hurrying towards them with a soft bundle over her shoulder.

      Colonel Fitzgerald turned to Emma and explained, ‘Dalila is going to visit her family for a few days, but if anyone asks she is to be your chaperone whilst you are in the desert.’

      Emma nodded, understanding how the colonel’s mind worked. He might be happy to trust Sebastian Oakfield with her virtue, but he wasn’t silly enough to think other people had the same high opinion of him. This deception would protect her reputation.

      Colonel Fitzgerald led their little procession out of the house and up into the carriage. Emma found herself unable to sit still; she was nervous, she realised, and it wasn’t entirely because of the nature of the trip. Her mind kept skirting around the real issue that was bothering her, unable or unwilling to admit that she was nervous about spending such a long time in Sebastian’s company.

      The man did things to her brain she couldn’t explain. Ever since that ill-advised night with Freddie, and the disastrous morning after, Emma had built up her defences. The charms of men no longer worked upon her. She could see a lingering look or dazzling smile for what it really was: flirtation with no real meaning. She had continued to socialise, despite all the disgusted looks and whispering behind hands, but she had done so with her defences firmly up.

      But Sebastian was another matter altogether. Ever since the first moment their eyes had met over the sparkling waters of the Nile, Emma hadn’t been able to get the man out of her head. She seemed to lose all reason when she was around him. A smile or a fleeting touch set her heart pounding in her chest and made her want to smile or touch back. She found herself thinking of him even when he wasn’t around, imagining his response to a comment in a conversation, or his smile when something amusing was said.

      It was ridiculous, when she thought about it. She’d only met the man three times and now she was imagining him everywhere.

      Emma supposed it was inevitable, really. Sebastian was a good-looking man, in an unconventional way. He didn’t look or act a single bit like Freddie, or the other men of her acquaintance back in England, and she supposed that was part of his appeal. Whereas most Englishmen would be ashamed of bronzed skin, which showed they spent most of the day outdoors, Sebastian probably rolled his sleeves up at every opportunity. And his shock of blond hair wasn’t cut or styled to the latest fashion, it just flopped over his eyes like an unruly mane. His personality, so carefree and happy, was also a contrast to the men of the ton, who seemed to want to pretend they were bored and tired of everything. Sebastian was a man who looked as if he could enjoy himself.

      Emma shook her head ruefully. She shouldn’t be thinking of him that way. Sebastian Oakfield was her guide, nothing more. She was paying the man to escort her through Egypt. She shouldn’t be thinking about his unruly hair or bronzed skin or the way his eyes sparkled in the sunlight like the most precious of jewels.

      She was a mature woman, not a girl any longer. Sebastian might be handsome and funny and kind, but any involvement with him other than the strictly professional would be a bad idea, and so she would just have to put his charming smile from her mind.

      The carriage slowed to a stop and Emma took a second to compose herself before getting down. She allowed Colonel Fitzgerald to take her hand and assist her to the ground, and had to force herself not to cling to the old man. This was her adventure and she was going to enjoy every second of it.

      ‘Miss Knight.’ Sebastian’s low voice in her ear made her shiver with anticipation. ‘Are you all ready for our expedition?’

      The croak that came from Emma’s throat made her wish the ground would just open up and swallow her whole. Taking a deep breath, she coughed, then turned to face Sebastian.

      ‘I’m very much looking forward to getting started,’ Emma said.

      ‘It’s not going to be an easy two weeks,’ Sebastian warned as he turned back to one of the beautiful horses and adjusted the harness.

      ‘I’m prepared for that.’

      ‘Most nights we will sleep under the stars.’

      Emma tried not to look too excited. She’d always dreamed of sleeping under the stars in the desert, like a true adventuress.

      ‘I am looking forward to falling asleep with nature around me.’

      ‘And it’s going to be unbearably hot, in the day.’

      ‘I like the heat.’

      ‘And freezing cold at night.’

      ‘That’ll be a nice respite from the warmth of the day.’

      ‘The desert is filled with dangerous creatures and bandits.’

      Emma smiled sweetly at Sebastian. ‘I’m confident you’ll protect me.’

      ‘So you haven’t changed your mind?’ Sebastian studied her face for a long few seconds.

      ‘I haven’t changed my mind,’ she confirmed.

      Sebastian broke out into a full grin. ‘Good, I’m looking forward to the next two weeks.’

      He turned away and shouted an order in Arabic. Two boys came scuttling towards them and stood to attention before Sebastian.

      ‘Miss Knight, can I introduce you to our travelling companions?