Lord Summerfield," she said," this is my palace; and now we must go and seek the royal bedchamber."
Elliott walked to the door of the bar with Pitfield." I can't thank you enough for coming immediately."
"Have every confidence, old boy, and do see if you can get some word to your friend. Of course, I can't advise you to - "
"I know, I know. Let me handle that." Elliot went back into the bar, settled down into the leather chair and picked up the gin. Yes, definitely he would slowly drink himself to death when this was over.
He would go out to the country, stock the finest sherry and port and Scotch and gin, and just drink day in and day out until he was dead. It would be very simply wonderful. He saw himself there, by the great log fire, one foot on the leather ottoman. The image shimmered; then faded. The sickness rose in his throat, and he was near to breaking down completely.
"Get Alex home; get him home and safe," he whispered, and then he began to tremble almost uncontrollably. He saw her again, moving through the museum with her arms out. And then in the bed looking up at him: he felt her caress, and the bare bones in her side as she'd pressed against him. He remembered the crazed look in Ramsey's eyes when he'd fought her.
The trembling got worse. Much worse.
No one noticed in the dark bar; a pianist had come in - a young man, who began to play a slow ragtime.
He had helped her with her fine dress of green satin. He laid it over the chair; and when the lights went out, she saw the city through the pale curtains. She saw the river.
"The Nile," she whispered. She wanted to say how beautiful, this gleaming strip of water winding through the built-up city; but a shadow fell over her soul. An image came to her like all the rest; descending complete and entire and then vanishing; only this one had been so quick. A catacomb, a priest walking before her.
"What is it, Your Highness?"
She lifted her head slowly. She'd moaned; that's what had frightened him.
"You're so tender with me, young Lord Summerfield," she said. Where was the inevitable unkindness in this boy? The inevitable need to hurt which all men evinced sooner or later?
She looked up and saw that he was now naked as well, and the sight of his strong, youthful body pleased her intensely. She placed her hand on his flat belly, and then gently on his chest. It was always the hardness of men all over that excited her; even the hardness of their mouths, that they tensed their mouths when they kissed; she liked even to feel their teeth behind their lips.
She kissed him roughly and pressed her breasts against him. He could hardly control himself; he wanted to carry her to the bed; he tried to be gentle.
"Such an unearthly thing," he whispered." Wherever did you come from?"
"From darkness and coldness. Kiss me. I am only warm again when I'm kissed. Make a fire, Lord Summerfield, to burn both of us."
She went back against the pillows, tugging him down on top of her. Her hand plunged, grasped his sex and stroked it, pinching the tip. When he moaned, she opened his lips with her own, licking at his tongue and his teeth.
"Now," she said." Into me. The second time is for the slow song."
Julie's suite. Samir set the newspapers down on the table. Julie drank a second cup of the sweet Egyptian coffee.
"You mustn't leave me tonight, Samir. Not till we hear from him," she said. She stood up." I'm going to change into my robe. Promise me you won't leave me."
"I'll be here, Julie," he said," but perhaps you should sleep. I'll wake you as soon as I hear anything."
"No, I can't do that. I want only to get out of these tired clothes. I won't be but a minute."
She went into the bedroom. She had sent Rita off an hour ago to her own room, and thank God for that; she wanted only to be with Samir. Her nerves were worn thin. She knew Elliott was in the hotel, but she could not bring herself to ring him. She did not want to see him or talk to him. Not until she knew what Ramses had done, and she could not break the feeling of foreboding.