SILK AND SECRETS Read Free Page A

office and had almost reached the reception hall when another visitor was announced. Canning muttered a mild oath under his breath when he saw the new arrival, then smoothed his features to diplomatic impassivity. “Excuse me, Lord Kilburn. This will take only a moment.”
    Ross stayed back in the shadowed hall, momentarily struck dumb at the sight of the tall auburn-haired European woman who had just arrived. His instinctive reaction was over almost before it began, for the auburn hair was shot with silver and the strong, attractive face was lined by half a century of living. But he knew the woman, and her presence here was almost as much of a surprise as her daughter’s would have been.
    Canning stepped forward and greeted the newcomer. “Good afternoon, Lady Cameron. I’m sorry, I have heard nothing new since your last visit.”
    “But
I
have learned something, from a Persian merchant who just arrived in Constantinople. He was in Bokhara for months, and he swears that no Englishman was executed there.” Lady Cameron fixed her intense gaze on the ambassador’s face. “My son is alive, Sir Stratford. Isn’t the British government going to do anything to rescue a man who was imprisoned while on the queen’s business?”
    Patiently Canning said, “Lady Cameron, there have been a hundred rumors concerning your son’s fate, but almost all of them agree that he has been put to death.
    McNeill, the British ambassador in Teheran, has no doubt about what happened, and he is closest to Bokhara.“ His voice softened. ”I’m sorry. I know that you don’t want to believe it, but your son is beyond mortal aid, even that of her majesty’s government.“
    Ross stepped forward and joined the other two. “Lady Cameron, I could not help but hear. What has happened?”
    At the sound of his voice, the woman turned toward him. “Ross!” She stepped forward, hands outstretched and her face brightening. “You are the answer to a prayer.”
    “You know each other?” Canning asked, surprised.
    “Rather.” Ross caught the woman’s hands, then bent to kiss her on the cheek. “Lady Cameron is my mother-in-law.”
    Canning grimaced. “Then this is a doubly unlucky day for you. I gather that news of Major Cameron’s tragic fate had not reached England before you left.”
    “I have heard nothing.” It had been several years since Ross had seen Jean Cameron, but he had always been fond of her, and had been grateful that she hadn’t blamed him for Juliet’s defection. He frowned as he studied her drawn face, seeing that her usual vagueness had been replaced by the steely determination that was more characteristic of her formidable daughter. “Something has happened to Ian?”
    “I’m afraid so. He has always had the greatest talent for getting into trouble, except for Juliet. Letting her run wild with her brothers was the worst mistake of my life.” She tried to smile, but her hands clenched on her son-in-law’s. “As you know, Ian has been stationed in India. Early last year he was sent on a mission to Bokhara, to ask for the release of all the Russian slaves being held there. The idea was to remove any provocation that would give Russia an excuse to invade the khanate, since Britain prefers Bokhara to remain independent. The amir not only refused the request but took Ian prisoner as well.” She gave the ambassador a scathing glance. “Now the government that sent my son there has abandoned him.”
    Canning regarded her sorrowfully. “If anything could be done, we would do it. But, Lady Cameron, you must accept that it is too late. The Amir of Bokhara is dangerous and unpredictable and he dislikes Europeans. Your son was a brave man. He knew the risks when he went there.” The words were an epitaph.
    Lady Cameron had opened her mouth to speak, when a new group of visitors was admitted, this time richly dressed Ottoman officials. After a quick glance at the newcomers, Canning said to Ross, “I must leave now, but