Page 76 of Kismet

“I just want to forget, Cordelia,” she said quietly as she crossed the drawing room floor to her secretaire. “Discussing the matter will only bring it all back, and I simply want to forget what happened.”

“If you’re sure….”

“I’m quite sure, dearest. Now hurry before all of those scones are gone.”

With a grimace, Cordelia nodded and left the salon, leaving her alone with her thoughts. Nassar’s face was still vivid in her head, and she forced herself to focus on her mail, determined to put the man’s visage out of her mind. It would take a few minutes to crush the bad memories and destroy the images of Nassar. It always did after a bad dream. She drew in a deep breath to quell the queasy sensation in her stomach. Her nightmares always left her feeling weak and helpless. She hated it. Hated it because when she felt that way, Nassar won.

Restlessly, she sifted through the letters strewn about her desk. Several of her friends had written to say they would come fetch her back to London if she didn’t return soon. They all meant well, but she had no intention of returning to town anytime in the near future. Not with things the way they were now. She sighed as she picked up the letter from Charles. Briefly skimming its contents, she smiled. His amusing anecdotes about life in town provided an excellent view into his thoughts, and it pleased her that he was taking an interest in women again.

He’d mentioned several ladies in a conversational tone, but it was the anonymous lady he’d referred to several times that piqued her interest. Especially when he referenced the woman as needing someone to tame her shrewish tongue. She tapped the missive against her fingertips. What woman in their circle of friends had enough of a silver tongue as to set Charles on edge? Lenora Haywood. That had to be who Charles was describing. But Lenora was much older than him. She wouldn’t bother to give him the time of day, let alone a sharp riposte. No, it had to be someone else.

A quiet knock on the drawing room door interrupted her train of thought, and she looked up to see Jamal enter with tea.

“Miss Cordelia said you didn’t want tea, but Millie refused to listen.”

His gaze that of an indulgent father, he crossed the floor and set the food-laden tray on the oval table in front of the couch. Almost three months ago, Jamal had arrived at Fairfield Oaks unannounced and to the distinct consternation of Millie.

That the Amazigh had been willing to give up his home to follow her longtime friend to England spoke volumes as to his feelings for the maid. As she watched Jamal pouring her a cup of tea, she marveled at the way Millie had the man wrapped around her finger. Completely enamored of his new wife, Jamal did almost anything she told him to do. That is until he’d had enough, and then it was Millie who was jumping to the man’s orders.

“She insists that you eat again, anasi,” he said as he handed her a cup of tea.

“Good heavens, Jamal, can’t you control the woman?” She heaved a sigh. “I couldn’t eat another thing after that immense lunch she had Mrs. Barfield put in front of me.”

“Perhaps I should feed some of this to the dogs?” he asked with a mischievous wink.

“That’s an excellent idea,” she exclaimed. “I know Millie means well, but I’ll soon be able to float down the Thames if she keeps this up.”

“Is there anything else I can get for you, anasi?”

There was an unspoken question layered beneath his words that made her heart skip a beat. Was he offering to share news of Shaheen if she were to ask him? She shook her head and took a sip of her tea.

“No, thank you, Jamal.”

He hesitated for a moment, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw him grimace as he tried to make a decision about something. When she didn’t look at him, he removed a plate of food from the tea tray and went through the French doors into the garden. When he’d moved outdoors, she turned her head to stare after him.

What if she’d asked him about Shaheen? Would he have news? It had been Millie who’d accidentally revealed Shaheen had returned to England to see his father. Her friend had been mortified when she’d blurted out the news. Although she’d managed to reassure Millie that she was fine with knowing Shaheen was so close, inside she’d been anything but. When he didn’t come to her, the knowledge only served as a painful reminder that she meant nothing to him. But still she’d held out hope, torturing herself with dreams of Shaheen suddenly appearing on her doorstep. But as each day passed without any sign of him, her dreams had died one by one. Everything inside her was gone.

She took another sip of her tea, just as she heard the sound of a carriage pulling up in front of the house. Leaning back slightly, she peered out of the window and saw Charles climbing the front steps. Delighted her friend had come to pay her a surprise visit, she rose from the desk and returned her cup to the tea tray. Behind her, the salon door opened and she turned toward the door with a smile.

“Charles, how lovely to see you,” she exclaimed with a smile as she extended both her hands to him.

“I’m not staying, I was in the area to inspect a piece of property I’m thinking about buying, but I wanted to look in on you.” He kissed each of her cheeks then stepped back and smiled at her.

“Perhaps you can come back for supper?” she asked.

“No, I think you’ll be otherwise occupied, or at the very least not speaking to me.”

“What a peculiar thing to say. Why on earth would I stop speaking to you?” She tipped her head to one side in a quizzical look.

“Because I convinced Charles, under duress, to bring me with him.” Shaheen’s words echoed quietly from the salon doorway, and she jerked her head toward the sound of his voice. Their gazes met as he stepped deeper into the room. Trembling, her hand flew to her throat, and he immediately knew his appearance had thrown her off balance. She was far too pale, and his gut wrenched as that vulnerable expression of hers flickered across her face.

God, she was beautiful. More so than the last time he’d seen her. There was a glow to her skin that made her radiant. Soft and feminine, her curves simply enhanced the picture of sensuality she made. Her surprise ebbing, he could almost see the tension streaking through her until a mask of polite indifference settled on her features. Her body was stiff and rigid as she turned back to Charles.

“You won’t stay?” The desperation in her soft plea cut deeply into him as he watched his cousin shake his head. God, did she despise him so much that she needed Charles to serve as a buffer between them?

“I really do have some property to inspect, my dear.” Charles kissed her check. “So I’ll say my good-byes, but I know that Robert has several things he’d like to discuss with you.”

Not even waiting for her response, his cousin stepped away from her and barreled his way to the door. He understood the man’s desire to flee. If he were any less desperate, he’d be fleeing as well. Allegra turned to look at him, her green eyes fiery. There it was, the anger he’d expected. But there was something else mixed in with it. Fear?