Chapter 9

Elizabeth had rushed into the mansion and quickly explained everything to a horrified Lina and Nana. Lina called to the servants to pack up all of their clothing and other necessities and quickly arranged for transportation.

Elizabeth was distraught as she clasped Eleth to her. "Lina, where can I go?"

Lina answered her with a business-like tone. "We can go someplace where he might not think to look."

Elizabeth gasped. "Cairo?" she said breathlessly.

"Not exactly there, dear, but in the same country. My late husband, the dear Mr. Trent, had bought a piece of property with a modest house on it in Alexandria. We'll go there for a while and see if we can't lose this monster."

"But you don't understand, Lina. I will never be able to come back to this town again. Clive will set up guards or something, and have them watch for me until he gets me."

'Now, don't you worry about anything. Go help pack up Eleth's clothing and toys, while I make the rest of the arrangements." Lina shooed Elizabeth up the stairs and organized the rest of the staff in a timely fashion.

It was barely an hour later when the three women plus Eleth were loaded into an automobile with their belongings. Eleth was excited by the hustle and bustle of activity and cooed in delight as they sped off down the driveway. They took the back roads out of Vincennes and in to Paris, where they boarded a train bound for Marseille.

It was a long trip across France by train, and they had to make a number of stops. Lina had them switch trains several times, just in case Clive tried to follow, hoping that it would put him off the track. After a week, they made it to Marseille, where they boarded a ship bound for Alexandria, Egypt. Eleth had never been on a ship, much less seen such a great expanse of water, and he ran Elizabeth and Nana ragged, as they chased him up and down the decks. Elizabeth's tension began to ease up the further they got from the coast of France, and she set about trying to enjoy the voyage, showing Eleth all over the ship. The passengers would smile when Elizabeth and Eleth walked into the dining room, recognizing the beautiful little boy that had terrorized them earlier in the day by running in-between the deck chairs, playing an unwanted game of hide and seek with his Nana. It was difficult to be angry with the boy, for he had a charm that could turn a punishing word into a smile of defeat, thereby turning aside any reprimand. When he was safely tucked in his bunk at night and sound asleep, Elizabeth walked up to the main deck to look out over the ocean at the distant horizon. Alexandria, she mused. It wasn't very far from Cairo, and a small part of her whispered to her to try and find Ardeth. She sighed at her foolishness, knowing that he would be married by now and have children of his own, so what use was it to search for him?

Nana came up to her, bringing her wrap. "Here, Elie, you forgot this." She placed the sweater around her shoulders and Elie smiled at the old nurse.

"Thank you, Nana, you always do take good care of me."

They both looked out at the water in silence, lost in their own thoughts. Finally, Nana spoke. "Are you thinking of trying to find him?" she questioned.

Elizabeth smiled wistfully. "It had crossed my mind."

"We'll be close enough. Maybe you should."

Elizabeth gave a slight frown. "No, we've taken separate paths now. And besides, it's been three years since we were together, and only then, for a brief amount of time. He's probably forgotten all about me."

The old nursed smiled. "You never know until you find him."

"Thanks, Nana, for the encouragement, but I think I'll wait and see what fate has planned, and not try to connive anything on my own."

Nana sighed. "You know the old saying, 'the Lord helps those that help themselves'." She paused for a moment, as she gazed at the woman who was dearer to her than anyone else on the earth. "Well, you will know what to do when the time is right." Nana touched her briefly on the cheek, and then headed below to their cabin.

Elizabeth stayed on the upper decks for a while, looking up at the stars that had just begun to come out. One star in particular, shone more brightly than all of the rest.

"Starlight, starbright,
first star I see tonight.
I wish I may, I wish I might,
Have the wish I wish tonight."

What was her wish this time? Last time had started an adventure that had changed her life forever. But what should she wish for now? The thought came to her out of the blue, and she knew the wish she should speak. "Please, in whatever he's doing, however his life has worked out, keep him safe for me, and bring him all the love and happiness he deserves." The star seemed to wink at her, making her smile big. She stood there for a few more minutes, and then slowly headed down to her cabin.

Clive arrived in Vincennes and got in touch with Carter. They met in the lobby of the small hotel where Carter had put up.

"Well," demanded Clive, "Where is she?"

"It's been quite a bit of detective work I've had to do, sir. The baker put me off on the wrong street all together, and most of the townspeople here are siding with her. But I finally found someone who gave me her address," faltered Carter.

Clive looked at him closely. "And?"

Carter sighed. "Well, sir, it seems she's left Vincennes."

"What?" roared Clive.

"I spoke with the servants of the estate of Lady Jacquelina Trent, and they told me that yes, Caroline Goodwin lived there and that she'd be back later that day. Well, it's been several days that I've watched the place, and the only people to come and go from that mansion are the servants. I'm sorry sir, but this leads me to believe she's escaped."

Clive fumed as he paced around the small lobby. "The people here must have warned her then. Clever little witch to get them on her side! Are there any train stations here in Vincennes?"

"No sir."

"Hmm....so they drove away, but where?" Clive was thoughtful for a moment, then came up with a plan. "Carter, pack up your things. You're going to start searching in Paris. They have a large train station there, going to many different destinations. If they left from there, someone will recognize her picture and we'll pick up the trail."

"What about you, sir?"

"I'm going to stay here for a while and see if I can learn anything. Wire me if you discover anything." Carter went up to his room to pack, while Clive checked into the hotel.

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They arrived without further incident at the port of Alexandria and took a cab out to Lina's property. The house was nothing like the one in Vincennes, but it was still large, with plenty of room. They were met at the front door by the small household staff and shown to their respective rooms. Elizabeth was delighted by the fact that her room was joined to Eleth's, and adored the simple yet elegant Egyptian furnishings of both rooms. There were large glass doors that opened out to small balconies, very much like what she had back in France. Eleth was excited by the newness of it all and went running throughout the house, finding his way around and discovering the kitchen.

When Elizabeth finally found him, he was seated up to the chopping block, being fed little morsels by the cook. "I hope he's not in your way," she said contritely.

"Not at all, Madame. He is merely a boy, and boys like to eat!"

Elizabeth laughed at the cook, as she recognized this fact. The cook looked at her oddly, comparing her looks with her sons.

"He must look like his father, yes?" asked the cook politely.

Elizabeth looked over at her son, as he gazed up at her adoringly. "Yes, he looks exactly like his father."

"His father is Egyptian, or something very close to that."

This statement startled Elizabeth. "How did you know?"

"Look at me, Madame," said the cook.

Elizabeth finally took a look at the old cook and realized that she was Egyptian herself. "You are Egyptian!" gasped Elizabeth.

"All of the staff are," replied the old cook. "We keep the house in good order when Madame Trent is not here. She has been away a long time, though, and it is good to have her back with us." She paused for a moment. "I see her, you, an old nurse, and the boy only. Where is the father?" inquired the cook.

Elizabeth walked over and stood behind Eleth, stroking his hair as he ate his snack. "His father is somewhere out in the desert." Elizabeth shocked herself by revealing this information, but for some reason it felt good to speak about it to someone of Ardeth's culture.

"Ah, I see. Was he a bandit that possibly took you against your will? They are known for doing that, especially to foreigners," said the cook sympathetically.

"No," sighed Elizabeth. "He is a great warrior among his people, the Medjai. He is even their leader."

"I have heard of the Medjai, but have never had the honour of meeting one. Are you taking the boy to see his father then?"

"No. We are just here trying to escape from my dreadful family that doesn't acknowledge children of mixed heritages."

The old cook nodded her head. "It is a difficult thing to overcome. I am glad that you have looked beyond culture and love him for who he is."

"He is my son," replied Elizabeth simply.

The old cook smiled in agreement and continued preparing the evening meal. Elizabeth wiped up Eleth's messy face and picked him up.

"Come, Eleth, let's go walk into town and see what we can see." Elizabeth began to walk out of the kitchen when the old cook stopped her.

"Madame, you are in a different culture now. You cannot walk alone without an escort." She yelled something in her native tongue and a man came in from the gardens. "This is Rasheed. He will accompany you whenever you want to venture past the main gates. Remember, Madame, you must never go past the gate without a male escort."

Elizabeth remembered back to Ardeth's dire warning of a woman alone in Cairo and gave in to the old cook. "All right. Does Rasheed speak English?"

Rasheed bowed his head. "Yes Madame, I do."

Elizabeth smiled and headed towards the front door with Rasheed a step behind her. He escorted her down the driveway and past the main gates into the streets of Alexandria.

Elizabeth was delighted with the city of Alexandria, for it reminded her greatly of Cairo. The three of them walked by numerous vending stalls as they took in the activity of the street people, who called out to each other and to possibly customers. Eleth's eyes were big as he gazed at everything in awe, while his mother carried him through the streets of Alexandria. Rasheed helped Elizabeth interpret as she spoke with different vendors, getting to know them as easily as she did with the shopkeepers in Vincennes. As the sun set, they headed home, with Rasheed guiding them back through the throng of people who were busy closing up shop for the day.

When they got back to the house, Eleth ran straight to the kitchen, looking for the old cook. Elizabeth sighed, thanked Rasheed for escorting her, then took off after her wayward son. This time she found Eleth in the arms of the old cook, both of them laughing at some private joke. The old cook noticed Elizabeth in the doorway.

"Did you enjoy your first walk through our city?" she inquired.

"Yes, very much so. Eleth, let's get cleaned up for dinner, shall we?"

"He is fine here with me, if Madame wishes to freshen up by herself."

"Where are Lina and Nana?" asked Elizabeth.

"They are up in their rooms, resting from the long voyage. You have plenty of time to bath before dinner, if you wish."

Elizabeth smiled at the old cook, feeling very secure in leaving Eleth with her. "I think I'll do just that," she said, and she left the kitchen and went up to her room. She took a long, leisurely bath and then dressed for dinner. By the time she got down stairs, both Nana and Lina were seated at the table, with Nana holding on to Eleth.

"I'm sorry I've kept everyone waiting," Elizabeth said anxiously.

"Not at all, my dear, in fact, we just sat down ourselves," smiled Lina.

Elizabeth went over to Nana and took Eleth from the old nurse, placing him in his adjusted chair next to hers. Now that they were in Egypt, their food was spicier and more ethnic than what they were used to in France. Elizabeth worried that Eleth might not like the cuisine, but he took right to it, devouring everything on his plate, when he wasn't busy feeding it to the dog. He finally fell asleep at the table and Elizabeth gently picked him up and carried him to his room. She undressed him and put on his little nightshirt and sat in the rocking chair with him for a while, wanting just to hold him before she put him down for the night. What Elizabeth didn't realize was how tired she was herself, and it was barely an hour later when Nana came to check on them, only to find both mother and son asleep in the chair.


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