[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.A man stood there, just off to the side, tall and elegant, against the lush backdrop ofthe steep, grassy hill.The afternoon grew late, and the shadows long, but how could shenot have seen him before? A shadowy thrill rippled through Mina, from the top of hercrape-trimmed bonnet to the square point of her black leather shoes.It was a highlyinappropriate response, given the event of the moment.but no one else needed toknow. Miss Limpett, he repeated, approaching in measured steps.He wore a precisely cut suit of rich cloth, the sort only the wealthiest of gentlemencould command from the tailors of London s famed Savile Row.His silk top hat rose highand gleaming.Opaque, blue-lensed spectacles prevented her from directly meeting hisgaze.She glanced toward her uncle, Lord Trafford, who stood just a few paces away,speaking to one of the funeral guests.Moments before she d politely excused herselffrom the conversation and wandered off the path to view the striking beauty of HighgateCemetery. Have we been introduced? Mina inquired.She knew they had not.He was notsomeone she would forget. Forgive my breach of etiquette. His voice was rich, and warm.He deftly removed hishat to reveal jaw-length blond hair, streaked an even paler shade of moonlight. I am.Alexander.I saw the newspaper announcement and knew I must come to offer mycondolences. You knew my father? The gravel shifted and crunched beneath her soles.Not a single one of the professor s professional or academic peers had seen fit toattend his funeral service.The guests, who presently made their way toward the rows ofwaiting coaches, were society acquaintances of Lord and Lady Trafford, all strangers toMina.They would have been strangers to her father as well. I dabble in languages.A personal interest, really.Nothing on the level of your father sexpertise. Alexander., she murmured.Had her father ever mentioned the name? I ve found myself in possession of something and wanted you to have it. Oh, yes? What is it?Again she looked toward her uncle, who remained engrossed in conversation.Her auntand cousins had disappeared into the funeral carriage.Mina returned her attention to Alexander, who produced a dark, rectangular objectfrom his hip pocket.He solemnly offered his gift.Their gloved hands briefly touched.Arush of heat coursed high into her cheeks.She lowered her chin, purposefully retreatinginto the shadow of her bonnet, at the same time, considering the leather case in her hand.She slid her thumb against the clasp and inside found a tintype of two men crouched sideby side atop an immense slab of stone.Her breath caught in her throat.For the first time since her father s coffin had beensealed in Bangladesh, tears rushed against her lashes.They blurred her vision of thephotograph an image of her father as a young man, his hat cocked aside, and his facebeaming with excitement.He had never lost that fervor, that zeal for adventure.Not evenin the final moments, when they had said their good-byes.Lord Alexander murmured,  The photograph was taken at the ruins at  Petra.Yes.He took me there, once.Who is this man with him? She pointed, liftingthe frame for a closer look. His face is blurred. Unfortunately. He favors you though.He is your father, is he not?Alexander cocked his head. Thank you, Mina whispered. We traveled so much, from place to place.By necessity,I collected few mementoes.I shall treasure this always. I am glad. He pressed his lips together, as if pondering the words he would speaknext. Miss Limpett. Yes? I hope I do not overstep the bounds of propriety in choosing this moment to broacha particular subject, when the pain of your loss must still be so fresh.In that moment, she wanted nothing more than to reach up and pull the spectaclesfrom his face.She wanted very badly to know the color of his eyes. Please speak freely.He nodded. The professor, I know, possessed an extensive personal collection aboveand beyond the one he curated at the museum.In particular, I know he owned two veryrare Akkadian scrolls.Unease, feather-soft, spiraled up Mina s spine.She stared down into the case, into herfather s eyes. Perhaps now that your father has passed, you might be willing to part with them?She shut the case. I m afraid that s not possible. I m prepared to pay handsomely for them.She shook her head, and attempted a polite, easy smile, while her mind threw outoptions for quickly extricating herself from his company a necessary reversal, given hisline of questioning. The scrolls are not available for purchase. Perhaps you have already sold the scrolls to someone else?He edged closer so close she could hardly breathe for the magnitude of his presence.The boning of Mina s tightly laced corset pressed uncomfortably against the undersidesof her breasts.His voice lowered and grew almost hushed. If you could simply provide a name, Iwould be more than happy to approach them myself.Mina s heart pounded.There had, indeed, been offers [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]