Chapter V
a€?The sheikh does not wish to defeat the French?a€? Crispin rose from his couch, digesting Alexa€?s news the following morning while they broke their fast on yoghurt and dates.
Alex relayed what Susannah had told him the night before. a€?Sheikh Bitar sees the French as an affront to the traditional way of life. But more than that, Bitar sees al Qadir as a tyrant. Those who do not come to his standard willingly will be subjugated. That makes Qadir no better than the French in the sheikha€?s eyes.a€?
a€?But perhaps more resistible,a€? Crispin surmised the implications quickly. a€?It would be easier to undermine the emira€?s efforts and take a chance on the French being unable to control what really went on in the desert.a€?
Alex nodded, that had been his conclusion last night as well. a€?It would be an incredible feat to join the tribes into a unified force. The emira€?s efforts are unlikely to succeed. The tribes have spent their histories fighting each other and now the emir wants them to be friends.a€?
If the sheikh prevented the English from offering support to the emir, the army he was raising might not defeat the French. There was nothing like defeat to dampen the willingness of men to fight. Without an army, al Qadir was nothing, just a powerless potentate, and Bitar was betting the French would leave the Bedouin alone in the desert.
Crispin sat back down, pushing his hands through his long dark hair. a€?Therea€?s a good chance the sheikha€?s right. The French can claim to own the territory on a map, but in actuality, it will be difficult to impose rule in such a vast and harsh land. Hea€?d rather take his chances with the French than with Abd al Qadir.a€?
a€?Ita€?s too bad. If anyone can unite the tribes, ita€?s the emir. From what I know of the man, hea€?s a holy man, a decent man. Innovative too. Hea€?s styled his army after the European fashion. He wants his people educated in western ways. The people who have joined him see the merit of these additions.a€?
a€?But Muhsin Bitar does not.a€? Crispin sighed. a€?It would be best if he doesna€?t suspect our real reason for being here, although two Englishmen wandering in the desert is bound to raise questions.a€? Crispin thought for a moment. a€?Wea€?ll tell Bitar wea€?re horse traders. A moussem is perfect for discovering new horses. Perhaps that will give us alibi enough for being here and persuade him wea€?re not politicking.a€?
He winked at Alex. a€?I do hope to make the alibi a fact in truth, however. The sheikh has a prime goer, the black. The blasted horse sleeps in the sheikha€?s own tent. Can you imagine that?a€?
Alex smiled at the look on Crispina€?s face. a€?Ita€?s because of the camels. Horses cana€?t stand the smell of them, it makes them high-strung, hard to handle.a€?
a€?Like a woman,a€? Crispin commented wryly. Alex chose to let the deliberate hint slide. Beyond political necessity, he wasna€?t ready to talk about Susannah and what had transpired last night.
a€?I must start thinking of a way to charm it out of him, persuade him to make a gift of it.a€? Crispin mused out loud.
a€?I think there are better a€?giftsa€? to ask for. It goes without saying that she wants to come with us.a€? Alex interjected.
Crispin fixed him with a knowing stare. a€?I was wondering when wea€?d get around to this. Can we trust her?a€?
Alex shrugged. a€?Does it matter? Shea€?s an English captive being held against her will. But yes, therea€?s little reason not to trust her.a€?
Crispin gave a cynical laugh. a€?Shea€?s a woman, Alex, you cana€?t really trust any of them. But leta€?s hope youa€?ve found the rare gem. After all, she knows now that wea€?re here to discover where allegiances lie. All she has to do is tell the sheikh and wea€?re on the run. And shea€?ll have whatever it is the sheikh has promised her. Her freedom perhaps?a€?
Alex bristled at Crispina€?s implication. a€?We can trust her. She only knew about our mission because it was her fathera€?s mission before it was ours. She needs us alive.a€?
Crispin nodded, content to accept Alexa€?s analysis. a€?Assuming youa€?re right, how are we going to get her out of here?a€?
Alex grinned. a€?Therea€?re only two options, really, Cris. Either we convince Bitar to give her to us as a gift or we steal her and ride like hell.a€?
a€?I was afraid you were going to say that. I guess we might as well take the horse while wea€?re at it. In for a penny, in for a pound. Do you think the Crown will ever forgive us for this one? Stealing women, stealing horses. Our skills grow illustrious, dear friend.a€?
Alex chuckled. a€?Your brothera€?s an earl, theya€?ll forgive you anything. Ita€?s me Ia€?m worried about.a€?
a€?Ha, youa€?ll be the prince charming in all this, riding out of the desert with the missing diplomata€?s daughter riding pillion behind you. Ita€?s the stuff of ballads. I can see it now, a€?The Lay of Alex and Susannaha€? sung in all of Londona€?s finest pubs.a€?
a€?Leave it, Cris, shea€?s a diplomata€?s daughter.a€?
a€?Being a diplomata€?s daughter doesna€?t make her a nun.a€? Crispin countered.
a€?She is not a houri. She is Susannah Sutcliffe, Lord Sutcliffea€?s daughter, and Ia€?ll thank you to speak about her with respect.a€? Alex bristled.
Crispin looked at him sharply and raised an eyebrow. a€?Hmm. I dona€?t think Ia€?ve ever heard you so on edge about a woman. It rather sounds like therea€?s more to you and Miss Susannah than meets the eye.a€?
Alex rose, blithely ignoring Crispina€?s comment. a€?I need to take care of some things. Ia€?ll see you shortly at the sheikha€?s tent. I think he has some competitions lined up for today.a€? Crispin and he had worked together for two years. His friend was eminently trustworthy and quite the finest man hea€?d ever partnered with, but for some reason Alex did not want such crass witticisms slandering his encounter with Susannah.
Alex wandered the moussema€?s souk, pausing every so often to admire the merchanta€?s booths and their goods on display at the fair. He stopped at a booth selling creams and purchased a small pot. The rose scent reminded him of Susannah.
Ah, Susannah. Shea€?d occupied a fair share of his thoughts since last night. Their interlude had been entirely other-worldly, but increasingly it was hard to keep the real-world implications from intruding.
He was on difficult ground. Alex had lain awake long after Susannah had left. Hea€?d meant to spend the night thinking over diplomatic issues, but his thoughts had continuously drifted back to her. When it had been a game of desire, of bodies speaking to one another in the timeless language of seduction, who she was had not been a consideration. Shea€?d simply been a woman, passionate and bold. Hea€?d been a man, answering the lure of her body. It had been simple and primal in the darkness of the tent.
Then hea€?d asked her name and reality had struck. She was an Englishmana€?s daughter. Not just any Englishmana€?s daughter. There were Englishmen and then there were Englishmen. Her father had been of the latter category.
Lord Sutcliffe was no meager player in British affairs. Hea€?d been considered a top-notch diplomat when it came to the Empire in North Africa. Alexa€?s father had met with him on occasion over Egyptian affairs. Alex had admired him as a hero during his years growing up in Cairo. No other man in the Empire had possessed Sutcliffea€?s depth of knowledge concerning the varied peoples of North Africa.
To be set upon by the mercenaries of Sheikh Bitar was an ignoble death for anyone, particularly one so decorated in life. For Sutcliffea€?s daughter to be made a captive and subjugated to who-knew-what atrocities was an intolerable slap in the face to the Empirea€?s pride, but Alexa€?s body burned for a personal vengeance against Bitar and Bassam. What had they subjected Susannah to during her captivity? A woman did not have to be bedded to be debased and therea€?d been a moment of fear in her eyes last night when hea€?d grabbed her.
Seldom had a womana€?s attentions claimed him so completely. Alex was struck anew with the power of his desire, his desire not only to possess her but to be the first and only one to do so. That desire brought him full circle in his thoughts.
She was Sutcliffea€?s daughter and he was an Englishman bound by certain codes of conduct. In the throes of pleasure, hea€?d taken her virginity. By the nature of her birth and status in society, she could not be like his other casual encounters, enjoyed and cast aside when the excitement ebbed. She would surely demand from him a level of commitment hea€?d given no other woman. The strange thing was that, for the first time in his life, making that commitment didna€?t sound like such a ridiculous idea.
A horn blew in the souk announcing the beginning of the games. Alex turned his direction towards the big tents of the sheikh, where men were gathering for the traditional competitions. He could see Crispina€?s tall frame among them. It was time to act. Before he could think of what the future might hold with Susannah, he had to win her first.