Free Only You by Cheryl Holt Page A

thinking,” he said, “with our both being at the hotel, it might be simple to socialize once in awhile.”
    “I’m certain it would be.”
    “In fact, if you were cautious, you could just come to my room.  We could relax and revel without interruption.”
    Susan’s heart pounded with alarm, but with excitement too.  She was eager to demonstrate that she could be the woman he needed her to be.
    “I could do with a bit of relaxing,” she blithely said.  “You can’t imagine how stressful it’s been to travel with my mother.”
    “Yes, I can.”  He took a final puff of his cheroot, then crushed it under his heel.  Casually, he mentioned, “I eavesdropped on your mother when she was chatting with Valois.  She’s meeting him tomorrow afternoon to discuss your journey down the river.”
    “Is she?”
    “That sort of planning is quite involved.  It will take an enormous amount of time to hash out the details.”
    “It probably will,” she agreed.
    “If you remain at the hotel while she’s with Valois, you might have several hours to yourself.  Could you convince her to leave you behind?”
    “Absolutely.”  Susan grinned.  “And if I call on a new friend after she departs, there’s no one to know that I kept my own appointment.”
    He grinned too.  “No one to know at all.  I’d never tell.”
    “Neither would I.”
    “Until tomorrow then,” he said.  “Around three?”
    “Three sounds perfect.”
    He clasped her hand and bowed over it, and as he drew away, she realized he’d slipped her a piece of paper.  He winked, then went inside, and she glanced at it, seeing his room number was written on it.  They were housed on the same floor, although his room was in the opposite wing of the building.
    She crumpled the note into a ball and threw it into the ferns.  Then she strolled inside too. 
    If there was a loud voice shouting in her head, warning her not to proceed, she didn’t have to listen.  From the minute her mother had announced she was a widow and was rushing to England to bring them together as a family, Susan had been livid.
    She’d explained to Edna that she was an adult and could make her own decisions.
    The entire trip to Egypt had been a bore and a slog.  If she could jump into a clandestine romance with Mr. Price, at least she’d have some delectable memories to carry home to England once they were able to flee the desolate place.  And it was always possible that the relationship would turn out to be more than a romance.  She wouldn’t know if she didn’t try.
    She peered across the parlor to find Mr. Price snuggled in a corner with Mrs. Valda.  At the sight, she was shockingly jealous, and if she’d had any reservations about engaging in a flirtation, they were swiftly tossed away.
    Tomorrow afternoon at three, Preston Price would definitely have a visitor.

CHAPTER FOUR
    H ow far is it?”
    “To Cedric’s camp?”
    “Yes.”
    Edna stared at Valois, trying to look firm and confident.  She didn’t trust the French, and he was much too elegant and urbane in all the ways she detested.  She was convinced, should she show the slightest weakness, he’d take advantage of her.
    She’d run her husband’s household in India like the most miserly sergeant.  She was an expert at counting her farthings and, before leaving for Cairo, she’d investigated the costs of a Nile voyage.  She knew what she should pay, and she wouldn’t pay a penny more.
    “It’s a three-day journey,” Valois said.
    “Long days?”
    “Yes, but travel on the river can be very luxurious—if you can afford to hire experienced people.”
    “I can afford it, but I won’t be cheated,” she vehemently stated.
    “Well, of course you won’t be cheated.  That’s why you retained my services, isn’t it?”
    He flashed such a smooth, ingratiating smile that she had to brace herself against it.  He was a wily scoundrel, and she wouldn’t be tricked by his smooth manners or placating