Egyptian Honeymoon Read Online Free Page A

though she felt she never wanted to eat again. Her mouth was dry as she watched Steve prowling about the room, commenting upon this and that. He was used to luxury and critical; she was not, and felt a little overwhelmed.
    Their luggage had been taken into the bedroom through another door and she went to unpack. The bedroom too overlooked the Nile and was opulently furnished, the dresser having triple mirrors supplemented by a pier-glass; the wardrobes were built in, the whole decorated in white and green. There were twin beds, but each was large enough to accommodate a couple; the quilts were decorated with a lotus, flower design. Involuntarily Noelle's eyes kept straying towards them. An early dinner, Steve had said, and then… the night together. Mechanically she unpacked her cases, shaking out her trousseau dresses. The wardrobe space was all hers, for Steve's luggage was in the dressing room, where apparently he would change. Her own things disposed of, she hesitated. Should she unpack his? It seemed a liberty, but the man
was
her husband and might expect her to do so.
    She decided to bath first, and selecting clean nylon underwear went into the gleaming bathroom. The bath was of what looked like white marble, the taps glittered like silver. There was an array of white Turkish towels on the heated rail and an assortment of crystals and bath essences, for the hotel catered for the rich and charged accordingly. The white purity of the room was relieved by a mosaic on the wall beside the bath depicting Cleopatra's arrival at Cydnus to meet Mark Antony. She was shown reclining on cushions in her barge, amidst a wealth of black hair, the traditional gypsy queen, though being a Macedonian she could well have been fair. Recalling that tragic love story, Noelle wondered vaguely if a man could be so infatuated as to lose a kingdom for love of a woman. Certainly Steve never would. If she threatened his business prestige she would very quickly be discarded, she thought wryly. He expected her to enhance it by acting as a gracious hostess and make herself beautiful to impress his friends. That part would not be so difficult, her training would help, but he would also expect reciprocation in bed. Throughout the day he had seemed like a polite stranger, and yet tonight… She dragged her thoughts away from the ordeal ahead, and tried to relax. The warm, scented water drew the fatigue of the journey out of her. She had made her bed and she must lie on it… with Steve, but she would not think of that until the dreaded moment came.
    The dress she put on had wide oriental trousers, with a sequin top that left her arms and shoulders bare. It was in old gold many shades darker than her hair. It was a little daring, but Steve would like that. With it she wore the pearls he had given her, pearl studs in her ears, and the not at all valuable gilt bracelets—Simon's present, the best he could afford, but treasured for his sake. If only her brother were with her now instead of… her husband. She coiled her hair on top of her head, encased her narrow feet in gilt sandals, and completed her ensemble with a chiffon scarf, flecked with sequins and gold-fringed. Standing in front of the long glass, she surveyed herself critically. She had put artificial colour on to her cheeks, but had no need of mascara, for by a freak of nature her brows and lashes were dark. She looked a little like an escapee from a harem, she thought, but the exotic touch was suitable to her surroundings.
    'Ready to go down?'
    Noelle started violently. Steve had come in on noiseless feet and was standing behind her. She must have taken a long time over her toilet, for he was bathed and dressed in a white dinner jacket which showed up his tan, and complemented his black hair. The contrast of his steely eyes in his dark face was always a little disconcerting, and they always seemed to mock. Her first reaction was surprise that he had come unheralded into her room, until she