My Unconquerable Soul by Allyson Jeleyne

Author:Allyson Jeleyne
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Fifty Forty Productions

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Linley, Patrick, and the others sat on the crowded veranda of Mena House. The hotel overlooked the pyramids, which towered just beyond the magnificent walled gardens. There, guests ate in an oasis of lush green luxury, far removed from the dirt and disarray of the desert. According to the guidebooks of Baedeker and Thomas Cook, no visit to Giza would be complete without luncheon there.

To Linley and Reginald, dining at Mena House seemed a waste of money. The food was overpriced and under-flavored, and the atmosphere equally colorless. But it was Patrick and Joanna’s first time in Egypt, and they deserved the full experience of ‘doing’ the Pyramids.

And, after all, Archie insisted.

“How often do I have my two dearest friends in all the world at my doorstep?” he asked, sponging sweat from his face with a damp linen napkin. “I’d be a horrible host if I didn’t at least offer luncheon in return for dragging you all out here.”

Linley took a long drink of ice water and sat the glass on the table. “That’s very kind of you, Archie, but you don’t have to go to any trouble on our account.”

“She’s right,” Reginald added. “This is going to be terribly expensive.”

“Call it a business expense then,” Archie said. “Linley already works for me and, if all goes well, Reginald, there’ll soon be room on board for you, too.”

Linley frowned. She hated thinking of Archie as her employer. In her mind, he still worked for her family. But in reality, she was nothing more than his research assistant.

Underpaid and easily replaceable.

No wonder Patrick hated the idea of her working for wages. Life as a low-level underling was demeaning. In the grand scheme of things, she was no better than the boys who waved fly-whisks or pedicured the feet of rich English tourists. She might as well be shining shoes in the hotel lobby for all the good she was doing in Egypt.

To hear Archie talk as if he were some kind, benevolent figure swooping in to offer her gainful employment only furthered her humiliation.

At least Reginald could always be counted on to maintain his sense of dignity no matter how pompously Archie behaved. “That is certainly something to think about.”

“Don’t think about it for too long.” Archie poured his own glass of ice water from the pitcher on the table. “Opportunities like this don’t come around very often.”

“What sort of opportunities?” Patrick asked.

“Getting in at the ground floor, for one,” Archie replied. “It’s a new world, archaeologically speaking. The old school has grown too old, and many of them are gone.” He looked up at Linley. “No offense. You know I loved your father like he was my own.” He returned his gaze to the other occupants of the table. “Even that ass Lawrence is too preoccupied with his peace talks to devote much time to excavations.”

Joanna leaned across the table. “You mean Lawrence of Arabia?”

“He’s no hero. I served on the Intelligence Staff same as him, yet you don’t see me in the newsreels,” he said, frowning.

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