The Last Princess by Cynthia Freeman

Author:Cynthia Freeman
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Romance
ISBN: 9781850576495
Publisher: Berkley
Published: 1988-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 34

AFTER A MONTH IN Israel, Harry knew he had only scratched the surface, but he felt he had absorbed enough history to feel initiated. He was anxious to get back to Safed to begin translating his impressions into manuscript while Rafi and Tony continued their research.

Now was the time to make her move, Valerie knew—but she was slightly taken aback when Harry called Lily the night of their return. She was so impatient to know what was being said that when he placed the call, she quietly lifted the receiver in her bedroom and listened.

What she heard reassured her enormously.

“Lily, I’m sorry. I would have called before this, but it has been impossible. We’ve been to Masada and down to the Dead Sea, and to the Golan Heights…. You wouldn’t believe what I’ve seen. This is the most incredible country—the more you learn the less you know. I swear that I could be here ten years and still not know everything.”

Foolishly, Lily had hoped that maybe being separated from her for so long now would have impelled him to say, “I miss you so…. I wish you were here.”

She bit her lip and managed to murmur, “I’m glad that the work is going well.”

“We’re going to Mount Carmel day after tomorrow,” Harry continued, “and I don’t know how long that will take. I want to speak to the descendants of the Aaronsohn family who came here from Rumania in, oh, 1867 or so. You know, I mentioned that I was very interested in Aaron Aaronsohn, the agriculturist.”

Had that been mentioned during one of those numbing dinner-table conversations where he and Valerie went on and on, nearly ecstatic over their Genesis-related research? “That sounds wonderful,” Lily said rather blankly.

As he continued, she found herself thinking, Harry hasn’t asked once how I am or what I’m doing.

Finally, belatedly, he paused. “How is everything going for you, Lily?”

“Everything’s fine.”

“I’m glad. Well, I’ll be in touch again soon.”

“Yes, I’d like that.”

Valerie was filled with new confidence as they said their good-byes. There had been no endearments, only a one-sided conversation. Harry could have no idea how neglected Lily must feel.

Harry, on the other hand, had hung up feeling frustrated and misunderstood. Lily had shown little interest and no enthusiasm for his discoveries. He just couldn’t share anything with her.

Unconsciously comparing her with Valerie, he thought, What a difference! Valerie had entered into his world fully and completely. She was as thrilled as he about everything that was going on. But what impressed Harry most was that she had an extraordinary feeling for the scope of the work he was attempting.

It had really been tough, with the heat up there in Masada, and Valerie had shown her mettle. She never once complained.

By the time they sat on the terrace the next evening at sunset, he found himself thinking that she seemed different from the image he had always carried of her. She had more depth, more soul, more maturity and insight than he had ever given her credit for.

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