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When monarchs and military commanders and madmen altered the course of history, when they stole relics and moved them willy-nilly, with no regard for provenance or future study for the benefit of all mankind, it was so wrong. The present translations of the stone were incomplete. The world needed the stone to unlock the remaining mysteries of Egyptian hieroglyphics.
She couldn’t trust Ravenwood to find the stone. She must find it herself.
She glanced up to find Edgar and Mari watching her with matching furrows between their brows.
Indy drew a calming breath. She knew they cared for her, and that’s why they worried.
She forced a smile to her lips. “Please don’t concern yourselves unduly. I can defend myself. Ravenwood leads a dissipated life of luxury and hires servants to do the real work. He’s never had to face an attack in a dark alleyway, as I have, and lived to tell the tale.”
“No one’s impugning your bravery, Lady Danger, we’re only concerned because we love you. And we were rather hoping the children’s favorite auntie might have a long, if not peaceful, life,” said Edgar.
“Where are the twins?” Indy asked. She always loved spending time with the irrepressible and precocious Adele and Michel.
“They’re with my father at the toy shop,” said Mari. “They’ll be sorry they missed your visit. Won’t you stay for tea?”
“Can’t I’m afraid. I have several arrangements to conclude before I depart for Paris.”
Robertson, her brother’s butler, entered the room. “Mr. Peabody from theObserveris here for your interview, Your Grace. I placed him in the Gold Parlor.”
Edgar rose. “I won’t be but a few moments.”
“Why the newspaperman?” asked Indy.
“He’s interviewing me about the steam engine I’ll be racing in the speed trials in Lancashire next month.” He kissed Mari on the cheek and they exchanged another heated glance that spoke of rumpled bedsheets and other such intimate things.
Indy had been instrumental in making their match, and she was very happy for them, but sometimes all the tenderness and moonstruck gazing made her feel uncomfortable.
When love went wrong it festered like an infected wound, threatening the body with gangrene. She would never expose her heart to the dangerous condition again.
“I wonder,” said Mari, after Edgar left the room. “There’s so much emotion in your voice when you speak of Ravenwood. I observed your argument at the antiquities exhibition before Edgar and I were married. It seems to me that since you and the duke have so many shared interests a partnership might be more productive than a rivalry.”
“We may have shared aims but we have opposite methods of achieving them. He does no actual archaeological excavating—he simply purchases stolen antiquities.”
“Shameful,” murmured Mari.
“Reprehensible in the extreme.”
“Edgar won’t tell me what happened between you two—only that you’re sworn enemies. Were you ever thus? Or was there a time when you were friends?”
“I should be going,” said Indy hastily. “I must make arrangements to leave my household early.”
Mari smiled. “You’re more similar to your brother than you know. Both of you are stubborn as mules. Sometimes talking about something painful gives it less power over you.”
“Who said it was painful?”
“I can see it in your eyes when you speak of Ravenwood. Such a degree of anger can only be born from pain. Won’t you sit down and tell me all about it?” Mari patted the chair next to her.
“I’ll stand, thank you,” said Indy. “I must be going soon.” She turned toward her brother’s large desk that dominated one side of the library. “I only came to ask Edgar to oversee the change of travel plans. And to say farewell.”
“I see,” said Mari.
She saw too much.
You must learn to hide your feelings better.
“Ravenwood and I were childhood companions,” Indy finally said, avoiding Mari’s eyes. “Betrothed since birth by our parents. My father threatened to end the engagement once but he never legally did.”
“Edgar never told me any of this. Do you mean that you’re still betrothed? How extraordinary.” Mari sat up straighter. There was a strange glint in her eyes.
