Lord of the Silent: A Novel of Suspense Read Free Page B

in her finest. Her blue frock was a Worth original and she wore a parure of Persian turquoises set in gold and diamonds. Not that she needed such adornments to set off her youthful beauty and her aristocratic bearing. She had done it for him-to make him proud of her. Indignation had brought bright spots of temper to her cheeks and made her blue eyes flash; even the enigmatic Mr. Smith paid her the compliment of a quick, indrawn breath. I realized she was absolutely furious with everyone-including me and Emerson. All eyes turned toward Ramses. Long fingers wrapped round the stem of his glass, he had been staring fixedly at the ruby liquid that filled it. Now he looked up. "No." "But my dear chap, you haven't even heard the proposal," Lord Edward said smoothly. "Make it, then," Ramses said pleasantly. Brows raised, Lord Edward glanced at the man who sat at the other end of the table. Smith had not spoken except to give a name that was certainly not his own. Now he said, "I cannot and will not discuss important business while women are present. If they insist on remaining we will have to arrange a meeting for another time and place."* Ramses raised his eyebrows. They were very thick and very black, and they tilted up at the corners in a way that gave his face a decidedly skeptical expression. "There would be no point in such a meeting. I was prepared to listen to your proposition as a matter of courtesy, but I cannot conceive of anything that would induce me to take on another assignment." "I'm afraid we can't accept that without an attempt, at least, to make you change your mind," Salisbury said in his calm, well-bred voice. "Your duty to your country-" "Duty," Nefret repeated. Her voice was unsteady and the pretty color had faded from her cheeks. Her eyes moved to Lord Edward. "You would know about that, wouldn't you? You were a soldier, leading your men into battle, sword in hand, with flags flying and bugles sounding the charge. I've been told it's quite exciting while it lasts, and when it's over you can bask in the admiration of the ladies and discuss the brilliance of your strategy with your fellow officers over a glass of port." Lord Edward was no fool. He didn't try to stop her. "Not at all the same," said Nefret, "as walking a sword's edge, instead of carrying one, not for a few glorious hours but for month after dragging month. No bugles, no flags; dark alleys and dirty little back rooms, never knowing, when you enter one of them, whether you'll get a knife in the ribs from someone who has found out who you are. No praise, no admiration, only white feathers from stupid women and insults from men like your friends, Lord Edward. And you. He was staring at his clasped hands, and his cheeks were a trifle flushed. "I had to do that, Miss-Mrs. Emerson. It was for his own protection." "And now you want him to do it again. Hell and damnation, you all know what happened to him when he went after the traitor your pompous lot never even suspected. How dare you speak of duty to him?" "His Majesty's government is well aware of his contribution," Lord Salisbury said stiffly. Ramses had listened without comment, his eyes on Nefret's face. Now they moved to Salisbury. "And that of David Todros? He risked far more than I, and he did it for a country that insults him and denies him social and political equality. My wife . . ." His voice lingered on the word. "My wife gives me too much credit. I just happened to have the right qualifications for that particular job. I took it on because I hoped to save lives, including the lives of the Egyptians who thought they were fighting for the independence of their country. I was, and am, in complete sympathy with their aims. I don't like violence and I'm sick to death of role-playing and deception, and of putting my friends and family at risk." "Not to mention yourself," said Emerson, who had controlled himself longer than I had expected. "Your part in that business and your real identity are