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had fallen in love with Whitford Hayes. I loved him with my whole heart, despite my head telling me to have better sense. But I loved him in a way that meant forever.
“For the first time in my life, I’m choosing for myself,” he said quietly. “I’d rather marry a friend than a stranger.”
It was a big decision—the biggest of my life. “Are you sure?” “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my entire life.” “Let’s get married, then,” I said, breathless.
And I needed to get married.
He took a shaky breath, his eyes never leaving my face, and the raw emotion lurking in their depths almost keeled me over. “You’re the one I want, Inez.”
“Inez, I will honor and protect you and lay down my life for you. In sickness and in health, I will be by your side.” He gave me a faint smile. “And I promise I will never expect obedience from you.”
“You can yell at me,” he said quietly. “You can be disappointed, feel betrayed. But you do not raise your voice at my wife. If you want someone to battle, you battle with me, Ricardo.”
“Cleopatra’s tomb was ransacked. Everything has been stolen,” Ricardo confirmed dully. “The sarcophagus, all the statues, the jewelry. Gone.” “Christ.” My gaze swung to Abdullah. “Who attacked the camp?” Abdullah licked his dry lips. “It was Mr. Fincastle.”
“If the alchemical sheet isn’t here, then where is it?” Ricardo mused. That was the question that had been plaguing me every waking hour.
Father had an affair with a married woman.” She inhaled deeply, visibly fighting tears.
But there was no preparing for the depth of my mother’s deception and how badly she had betrayed Papá and me. And when Isadora spoke again, I felt her words like a kick to the teeth. “I’m your sister.”
there were four women who were rumored to be able to produce the philosopher’s stone.”
This legendary sheet is called Chrysopoeia of Cleopatra, and on it, she had drawn an Ouroboros.”
“Wait … Weren’t you searching for the same thing?” Whit shifted, the corners of his lips turning downward. “Yes, and I made the mistake of telling your mother.
“Where do you think she is right now?” Isadora frowned. “Back home, of course.” “Where is home?” “London,” she said. “We divided our time between England and Alexandria. We have an apartment there, and a house in Grosvenor Square.”
The one rejected. Again.
As a girl of nearly eighteen,
“Why are you still here?” “I know it’s hard to believe,” he said softly, “but I meant every word of my vows.”
But it didn’t matter how sneaky they thought they were being, or how quiet. I had recognized one of them.
“Were we lost?”
Isadora led the wrong way?
Though he wore a mask obscuring his face, his auburn hair glimmered in the candlelight. He was wearing a different shirt than the one I’d seen him in earlier, and while he never once looked in my direction, I could sense his ire. My rascal of a husband.
The founder peeled off his auction mask to reveal the face of Basil Sterling,
Whit shrugged and said nonchalantly, “You’d be surprised.”
Oh no, him
“More than anything, I want that alchemical sheet.” It was as if he’d dealt me a physical blow.
“What happened in the end with Cleopatra’s brother? Did she defeat him?” Whit nodded. “Thanks to Julius Caesar.” And thus, her love affair began.
“I haven’t forgotten,” I whispered. “If it were me or the Chrysopoeia, I know the choice you would make. You’ve made that clear,
He never lets her out of his sight. I can’t imagine he’s far away from her.” “Ever?” I asked softly. “I hardly believe—” “Ever,” she snapped.
Even now, I heard her voice in my head, asking me for help. I knew how to sound like her. I knew how to talk like her.
Humans can be so careless with beautiful things: lives, animals, art. Nothing is safe from our hands.”
His guilt would govern every one of his actions, and I was sure he’d bleed himself dry to be rid of it. He didn’t care about me other than to ease his own conscience.
It hurt me too much. Because I really loved you.” I hadn’t just lost a friend or a wife. I’d lost Inez’s love. Something I didn’t know that I’d had. I closed my eyes, wishing I could scrape that truth from my mind, because it was tearing me apart.
Because this is our new reality: you have well and truly lost me.”
We both watched as Lourdes crossed the street, heading directly for the bank. She was about to step inside when someone let out a sharp three-tone whistle.
Mamá loved her luxuries. Even on Philae, she insisted on bringing rugs and furniture, mirrors, porcelain washbasins, and the finest bedding made of Egyptian cotton.
My family had fallen apart, and I had foolishly tried to create another with a man I’d known for a handful of months.
shoe polish, what appeared to be different mustaches—long, short, in varying hair colors—several pairs of spectacles, bottles of tooth powder, boxes of matches, hats, empty vases, and jackets.
Disguises
But my gut clenched tight, anticipation making my blood thrum in my veins, clamoring for attention. My body was on high alert—enemy-beyond-the-hill high alert. Something was wrong.
“She wanted a new life.” “Why?” I demanded. “Her old one was killing her, and she needed to be free. From the whole lot of you.”
“Mother has a weakness when it comes to you. It’s the only time I’ve seen her make stupid decisions.”
no matter how much Mother tried to get me to see you that way.
“Inez, you are the love of my life,” Whit roared. “I will not lose you now.”
I didn’t understand him. Why risk his life for me—a woman who would divorce him? Who, for all he knew, hated him?
A part of me wanted to hold on to my anger because I was terrified of feeling anything else for him. My rage didn’t scare me as much as my love for him did.
If I have to follow you across a desert, I will. If I have to jump into the Nile, again and again, I will. If I have to leap in front of a thousand bullets, I will.” He closed his eyes, breath shuddering. “I will always love you.”
Now, more than anything, I want to find the Chrysopoeia to save a marriage I desperately want.”
At some point, Isadora snapped. She heard something that made her break character and fire her gun at you.
the tremendous work of Mahmoud el-Falaki,
to the nine muses of the arts
more priceless documents went to the daughter library at the Serapeum, an ancient temple dedicated to Serapis,”
You see, Inez, I’m the reason why you’re in Egypt at all.
