Desert Song (DeWinter's Song 3) by Constance O'Banyon Page B

Cairo."
    She stood in an arched hallway with mosaic walls, feeling no kinship with her new surroundings, and wanting to cry. "Where are they?"
    "I only know they took ship down the Nile. They did not inform me of when they would be returning or where they were going." He cast her a sympathetic glance. "I am sure they would not have gone had they known you were arriving."
    She glanced on the hall table and saw a stack of letters. Rifling through them, she found one from Cousin Phoebe unopened. This was not the welcome she'd envisioned. Her heart ached and she felt yet another rejection. But her mother and father had not known that she was coming when they left. That at least was a comfort.
    "I am very weary," she told the servant. "Have you a room for me?"
    He bowed respectfully. "I am most happy to meet his lordship's and her ladyship's honored daughter, and I will be most happy to serve you. My good wife will show you to your room, and I shall see to your belongings."
    Mallory was shown to her quarters by Safwat's wife, Inna, who it turned out could speak no English. She was given a suite that was beautifully decorated in bright yellows. It was certain her parents did not suffer from lack of funds. She remembered how poor Cousin Phoebe had been forced to economize just to put food on the table, and felt betrayed.
    As Inna unpacked her trunk, Mallory pushed open a latticework door that led onto a balcony. Here, in this hidden luxury, far from the bustle and noise of traffic, she settled into her new home with a heavy heart.
    Later, in the cool of the evening, Mallory walked in the courtyard that was filled with tropical plants of brilliant colors. There were also orange trees and olive trees with exotic birds perched in the branches. One would never suspect from the other side of that wall that a paradise existed inside.
    Mallory did not know that in the tall branches of a cypress tree, treacherous eyes carefully watched her every movement.
    * * *
    Michael stood before Mehemet Ali, meeting the insolent gaze of the Turkish viceroy of all Egypt.
    "Lord Michael, I want no incident with your country, for we have only a fragile understanding between us," Mehemet said with a curl of his lip.
    "Do not mistake me for a diplomat, Your Excellency. I only came to find my father, and I seek your help because I hoped you could tell me how best to proceed."
    Mr. Abrams, who had accompanied Michael, started to speak, but the viceroy silenced him with the wave of his hand. "We have heard nothing new of your father's disappearance. It saddens us that he may have fallen prey to foul means in our country. But understand it is not our responsibility."
    Michael gritted his teeth. "You must understand that I have to know, one way or the other, what happened to my father."
    "Are you aware of your father's mission?"
    "Not in detail. I know only that I won't leave without him."
    Green, defiant eyes bore into brown, imperious eyes, and the brown eyes looked away first. Mehemet reached a jeweled hand into a bowl, selected a sugared date, and popped it into his mouth. "Your father knew he walked into danger when he chose to come here. He should not have gone into the desert without my protection." His eyes hardened even more. "Did your government send the son to complete the father's mission?"
    Michael heard Abrams gasp, and knew the little man was having an attack of nerves. But Michael realized that the viceroy was playing a game of strategy and intimidation. "You are viceroy of all Egypt. Why would you need my help? I have not the power or the knowledge of my father," Michael stated with assurance. "And I don't have Her Majesty's ear."
    "Your queen would like to see one of her choosing on the throne of Egypt."
    Michael looked the man in the eyes. "If that were so, Your Excellency, you would already have been unseated."
    Grudging respect glowed in the viceroy's eyes. "You are a bold one. I have heard it said that your queen is not entirely pleased with