fashion, it just flopped over his eyes like an unruly mane. His personality, so carefree and happy, was also a contrast to the men of the ton, who seemed to want to pretend they were bored and tired of everything. Sebastian was a man who looked as if he could enjoy himself.
Emma shook her head ruefully. She shouldn’t be thinking of him that way. Sebastian Oakfield was her guide, nothing more. She was paying the man to escort her through Egypt. She shouldn’t be thinking about his unruly hair or bronzed skin or the way his eyes sparkled in the sunlight like the most precious of jewels.
She was a mature woman, not a girl any longer. Sebastian might be handsome and funny and kind, but any involvement with him other than the strictly professional would be a bad idea, and so she would just have to put his charming smile from her mind.
The carriage slowed to a stop and Emma took a second to compose herself before getting down. She allowed Colonel Fitzgerald to take her hand and assist her to the ground, and had to force herself not to cling to the old man. This was her adventure and she was going to enjoy every second of it.
‘Miss Knight.’ Sebastian’s low voice in her ear made her shiver with anticipation. ‘Are you all ready for our expedition?’
The croak that came from Emma’s throat made her wish the ground would just open up and swallow her whole. Taking a deep breath, she coughed, then turned to face Sebastian.
‘I’m very much looking forward to getting started,’ Emma said.
‘It’s not going to be an easy two weeks,’ Sebastian warned as he turned back to one of the beautiful horses and adjusted the harness.
‘I’m prepared for that.’
‘Most nights we will sleep under the stars.’
Emma tried not to look too excited. She’d always dreamed of sleeping under the stars in the desert, like a true adventuress.
‘I am looking forward to falling asleep with nature around me.’
‘And it’s going to be unbearably hot, in the day.’
‘I like the heat.’
‘And freezing cold at night.’
‘That’ll be a nice respite from the warmth of the day.’
‘The desert is filled with dangerous creatures and bandits.’
Emma smiled sweetly at Sebastian. ‘I’m confident you’ll protect me.’
‘So you haven’t changed your mind?’ Sebastian studied her face for a long few seconds.
‘I haven’t changed my mind,’ she confirmed.
Sebastian broke out into a full grin. ‘Good, I’m looking forward to the next two weeks.’
He turned away and shouted an order in Arabic. Two boys came scuttling towards them and stood to attention before Sebastian.
‘Miss Knight, can I introduce you to our travelling companions? This is Akil and this is Akins.’
The two boys saluted.
‘Nice to meet you, missus,’ Akil said.
He was nudged hard by his brother who whispered something in his ear.
‘Miss,’ he corrected himself.
‘It is a pleasure to meet you, too.’
The two boys looked almost identical apart from their heights. Emma surmised they were brothers, maybe a year apart in age. Both had a shock of dark hair, round dark eyes and were covered in bruises on their arms and legs. She guessed they were probably a handful.
Sebastian said something else in Arabic and the boys scuttled away, each to a horse who was far too large for their small frames.
‘We travel light. It will be just the two of us, the boys and Ahmed.’
Emma swallowed. The next couple of weeks were going to be intimate, to say the least.
‘Where’s your luggage?’ Sebastian asked, turning to look into the carriage.
Emma motioned to the small bundle by her feet.
Sebastian’s eyes widened with surprise.
‘That’s all you’ve brought?’
Emma nodded.
He picked up the bundle and opened it. Emma started to protest but he silenced her with a stern look.
‘I need to make sure you’ve got what is needed to survive for two weeks in the desert.’
‘I packed light,’ Emma said quietly as he examined the contents of her bundle.
‘Good.’ He held up the dress she’d brought. ‘It covers up most of your skin. An hour in the desert and you can burn so much your skin blisters.’
Emma felt a small measure of accomplishment that she’d managed to pack the right dress.
Sebastian continued through her bundle, rifling through the contents. Suddenly Emma froze; the only other things she’d packed were her undergarments, which meant Sebastian was now handling them.
She snatched the bundle back and tried to fight the blush she knew was rising to her cheeks. Sebastian didn’t look even a little abashed.
‘The dress is good,’ he said, ‘and I’m no expert in whatever women insist on wearing under their dresses, but as long as it’s comfortable that’s fine. What I don’t see is something for the night-time.’
Emma frowned. Surely he didn’t expect her to change into a nightgown and slippers to sleep under the stars.
He laughed at her expression. ‘Something to keep you warm at night. No matter, I’m sure I’ve got something that will do.’
He winked at her then turned back to the horse before she could even think of a response.
‘This mare will be yours. Her name’s Wadjet and she’s a little headstrong, but treat her with respect and she’ll be the best horse you’ve ever ridden.’
Emma inched forward and gently placed a hand on Wadjet’s neck. She cooed softly and began to stroke the chestnut mare.
‘You have ridden before?’ Sebastian asked, as if it had only just occurred to him to enquire.
‘I’ve ridden before.’
In truth Emma loved riding. There was something rather liberating about being on a horse. She liked the freedom, the idea that she could just gallop off into the distance and be completely on her own. She’d started riding more since the incident with Freddie, using the pastime as an escape from the unwelcome stares and comments from the rest of her social group.
‘There is still time to change your mind,’ Sebastian said, moving in closer towards her, closing the distance between them in a single
