my lord, but I am very familiar with your work. I’ve been following your exploits for years and have read all of your reports with great enjoyment.’
‘Have you now. And what did you think of tonight’s presentation?’
‘Fascinating. I only wish I could have been at Dendera with you.’
‘As do I,’ Mr Dustin spoke up. ‘Might have been too, if it wasn’t for this blasted leg.’
‘Which I told you to have reset after you broke it the last time,’ Bonnington said drily. ‘But would you listen to me? Oh, no! Told me what I could do with my advice, as I recall.’
‘Well, what did you expect?’ Dustin muttered. ‘You’re an archaeologist. Not a bloody surgeon.’
Laurence smiled, recognising the friendly bickering for what it was. No doubt Mr Dustin, having either been a rival of Bonnington’s or a one-time member of his team, had been rendered incapable of travelling by a series of unfortunate accidents; something he no doubt lamented every day of his life, especially on evenings such as these.
‘The desert does get into one’s blood,’ the older man murmured now.
‘Volney’s Travels, eh?’ the earl said, turning back to Laurence. ‘Not an easy volume to find.’
‘No, but I have an excellent source for such books and have been able to amass a fairly substantial library.’
‘Which is more than I can say for some of the shops I visited,’ Lady Joanna said. ‘The clerk at the last one was quite relieved when Mr Bretton offered to lend me his copy.’
‘On the contrary, he would have been more than happy to help,’ Laurence said, remembering the look of infatuation on the young man’s face and aware of feeling much the same way at the time. ‘But given that I had the book at home, I saw no point in making him go to the trouble.’
‘Bretton,’ Captain Sterne said slowly. ‘That name’s familiar. Why do I know it?’ He tapped one finger against his lip and then smiled, a little too innocently. ‘But of course, you’re that writer chap. The one all the ladies chatter about. Lang, isn’t it?’
‘Lawe,’ Laurence said, aware of the patronising tone. ‘Valentine Lawe.’
‘That’s right, Valentine Lawe. What a coincidence. I went to see your play last Season,’ Sterne said. ‘Quite good for what it was.’
Laurence smiled, amused by Sterne’s condescension in light of the play’s runaway success. ‘Thank you. The response has been gratifying.’
‘Still, I wonder, sir, what brings you here tonight? I cannot suppose you to have become lost on your way to the theatre, but neither can I think of any reason why a playwright would be attending a lecture such as this.’
Laurence heard a few snickers from the gentlemen standing close by, but ignored them. He’d run into Sterne’s type before. ‘As Lady Joanna said, we discovered a mutual interest in Egypt whilst browsing in a shop and she extended the invitation at that time.’
‘Really. And I suppose a man like you would think a mutual interest in a subject like that reason enough for approaching a lady with whom one is not acquainted,’ Sterne drawled. ‘And whose social consequence is so vastly superior to one’s own.’
‘Actually, no,’ Laurence said, recognising an adversary and wondering if Sterne tried to intimidate anyone who attempted to speak to Lady Joanna in such a way. ‘But in hearing Lady Joanna’s conversation and recognising an interest as keen as my own, I decided the circumstances warranted the offer being made. It was only after I did so that I became aware of the lady’s identity.’
‘Indeed, the first thing he asked after I told him my name was if I was related to you, Papa,’ Lady Joanna said quickly.
‘Did he indeed? Well, I’m not about to find fault with a gentleman whose intentions are so obviously good. If you’ve a mind to talk about Egypt, Mr Bretton, feel free to come by the house,’ Bonnington said. ‘My door is always open to young men who share a passion for the field. Captain Sterne, perhaps you would care to join Lord Amberley and myself for dinner tomorrow evening? I’ve begun making plans for a trip to Abu Simbel and I remember you saying you would be interested in going.’
‘I would indeed,’ Sterne said. ‘I regretted having to miss Dendera, but it was necessary that I be in America at the time. There were business concerns that needed attending to.’ His glance shifted, coming to rest on Lady Joanna. ‘I hope we will have the pleasure of your company once again, Lady Joanna? I have yet to meet an expedition artist more talented … or more beautiful.’
Laurence saw two bright spots of colour appear in the lady’s cheeks. ‘You are too kind, Captain Sterne. Yes, I hope to be included, but it is Papa’s decision to make.’
‘Actually, I suspect your aunt will have a say in it too,’ her father said. ‘She doesn’t hold with the idea of you travelling abroad. And given that this trip is to be of a longer duration than the last, it may not be appropriate. There are matters here at home that need attending to.’
The remark hung in the air, pregnant with meaning. Laurence saw the expressions on the faces of the men around him and knew what they were thinking. Lady Joanna needed a husband and she wasn’t going to find one on an expedition to Egypt. Unless Sterne intended putting himself forwards as a candidate, and judging by the way he was looking at her, that wasn’t unlikely.
‘Well, I must be off,’ Lord Amberley said. ‘Excellent presentation on Dendera, Bonnington. I look forward to talking to you and Sterne about Abu Simbel tomorrow evening. Shall we say seven o’clock at my club?’
‘Fine by me,’ Bonnington said.
‘And me,’ Sterne replied. ‘I’ve business earlier in the day, but it should be concluded by then. Good evening, Lady Joanna.’
‘Captain Sterne,’ Joanna said.
Laurence thought her expression looked a little strained as she smiled back at the man, but Sterne seemed not to notice and left the room in the company of several other gentlemen, their laughter and backwards glances in Laurence’s direction leaving him in no doubt that he was the source of their amusement.
Finally, only Mr Dustin, Mr Penscott, Lady Joanna and her father remained.
‘Well, come along, Mr Penscott, let’s get packed up,’ the earl said. ‘I’ve no wish to be here until midnight. You may as well go home, Joanna. There’s no point in you waiting around.’
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