‘All right,’ he said softly. ‘Time to go in.’
She followed his lead into the hotel, not speaking. At the door to her room she turned a puzzled gaze on him.
‘Goodnight,’ he said. ‘Sleep well.’
She backed into her room, still not speaking, not taking her eyes from him. When the door was closed Jackson turned away, prey to a wild confusion of thoughts and feelings.
But then, to his annoyance, he saw the last thing he wanted to see. Tommy was standing there in the corridor.
‘What the hell are
you
doing here?’ Jackson snapped.
‘Look, I just came to apologise. I didn’t mean things to happen like they did. I didn’t know that you and she were—you know—a couple—’
‘Shut up!’ Jackson told him. ‘Do you hear me?
Shut up!
’
Tommy didn’t reply. One look at the murder in Jackson’s eyes was enough to make him flee.
* * *
Janine came to Freya’s room early next morning as she was getting dressed.
‘Amos has already gone downstairs,’ she said. ‘He wants to look over the tourist shop again. I can tell that he’s got something fixed in his mind, but he won’t tell me what.’
‘He really enjoyed yesterday,’ Freya observed.
‘Yes, I haven’t seen him so cheerful for a long time. He was on the phone last night to England, I think. I didn’t hear everything, but what I did hear sounded businesslike.’
‘He’s not still doing business, surely? Isn’t he retired?’
‘He still has a lot of investments, and he likes to stick his nose in. I don’t know—I’ve just got a funny feeling.’ She looked curiously at her daughter. ‘Freya, are you listening?’
‘Yes—yes, of course.’
‘You look as if your mind was on another planet.’
‘Sorry, I just got distracted.’
‘Are you all right, darling?’
‘I’m fine,’ she said quickly. ‘It’s just that it’s going to be a busy day and there’s a lot to think of. Shall we go downstairs?’
Once downstairs she might escape her mother’s all-seeing eye. To say that she was distracted was putting it mildly. She been devastated ever since she’d left Jackson the night before.
It had all seemed to go so well. They had cracked jokes with each other, just as in the past. The resentment that had once smouldered in her had faded and it had seemed that their friendship was being restored.
Then he’d kissed her and everything had changed.
The touch of his lips had sent tremors through her, making her heart beat with a force that had taken her by surprise. She’d wanted to cry out in protest. Such things no longer had a place in her life. She was resolved on that and no man was to be allowed to change it.
But the pleasure that had surged through her body couldn’t be denied. It had prompted her to yearn towards him, returning the kiss, increasing her own desire and seeking to inspire it in him.
Yet he’d uttered those ominous words.
‘Act of friendship.’
She’d agreed—‘Yes—yes...’—but the words had been spoken mindlessly.
When he’d released her she’d somehow kept control of herself, walking and talking like an automaton until she was in her room and the door was safely closed between them. But inside she had been shattered by what had happened to her feelings. Jackson had acted as a kind friend. He’d been careful to make that clear. But her own reaction had been everything she didn’t want it to be—everything she didn’t want to admit.
Had he sensed her response? The thought made her cringe with humiliation. Whatever it cost her, he must never be allowed to suspect.
It won’t last,
she told herself.
Just a momentary reaction. It’ll pass and things will be all right.
She was still repeating this assurance to herself as she went downstairs with Janine.
The route to the breakfast room lay past the tourist shop. Through the glass door they could see Amos, talking earnestly to an assistant. He saw them, waved, and came out empty-handed.
‘You didn’t buy anything, then?’ Janine said.
He grinned. ‘Let’s say I’m thinking about it. Shall we go?’
He went ahead to the breakfast room, walking with the lofty air of a man who had a victory to celebrate. Janine and Freya exchanged baffled glances before following him.
Jackson was there ahead of them, indicating for Freya to sit beside him.
‘My leg’s still hurting a bit,’ he murmured. ‘You couldn’t bear to give it another rub, could you?’
‘You don’t need me,’ she said. ‘I’m sure the hotel has a good doctor.’
‘Just a little rub?’ he pleaded.
Once she would have agreed without question. Now the thought of touching him like that made her inner self back off. She
must
not touch him. She didn’t dare.
‘Sorry, Jackson, I won’t have time. I’ve got to stay close to Amos.’
‘He seems fine to me.’
‘That’s when I have to be most careful. I think I’ll go and sit beside him.’
He clasped her hand, preventing her from leaving.
‘Have I offended you?’
‘Of course not. Don’t be silly.’
‘You’re acting like you’re cross with me. If it’s about—’
‘It’s not about anything. Stop being melodramatic.’ Her sense of humour came to her rescue. ‘Or I shall do something violent.’
‘I dare you.’
‘Don’t. You’ll regret it. Now, let me go. I have to go to my patient.’
‘But I’m your patient too.’
‘You’ll be a patient with singing in his ears in a minute. Let go.’
‘Oh, all right.’ He leaned a little closer to whisper, ‘Bully.’
‘Not a bully. Just a woman who can take very good care of herself and doesn’t need anyone else.’
She slipped away to the next table, where Amos was sitting. But she couldn’t resist glancing back at Jackson, and was both dismayed and enchanted to find him watching her with a look of confusion.
CHAPTER NINE
F
OR
THE
REST
of that day Amos’s behaviour was mysterious. When the others were ready to leave he delayed them while he paid another visit to the tourist shop. Once more he emerged smiling mysteriously, refusing to tell anyone what he was up to. Plainly he was enjoying himself.
At the temple he wandered off alone, insisting that now he knew the place well enough to cope. It seemed to be true, for when Freya and Janine went looking for him she found him before the carved wall picture that they had seen on the first day.
There was Horus, the man with a falcon’s head. There was his wife, Hathor. There was the King, respectfully offering them gifts. And there was Amos Falcon, regarding them all with a look of blissful self-satisfaction.
Even as they watched he burst into a laugh that was half a giggle, giving a thumbs-up sign to the wall. Something was making him almost dance with glee. Which wasn’t necessarily a good sign.
His cell phone rang. He seized it.
‘Yes? Yes? It’s all right? You’ve got it? Great. Let me know when— OK...fine, fine!’
He thrust it back into his pocket, then rubbed his hands with delight and satisfaction.
‘Let’s go,’ Freya muttered, drawing Janine away. ‘I can’t believe he’s actually doing business deals out here.’
‘It’s more than that,’ Janine said. ‘It’s not just business. He’s up to something.’
‘Yes, you’re right. Come on, Mum. I’ve got other things to think about than Amos and his carry-on.’
‘Lucky you!’
On their return to the hotel Amos again vanished into the tourist shop, then hurried upstairs before they could join him. When it was time for the meal he insisted on going down alone, and they next saw him seated at the table.
Janine went over, but Jackson took Freya’s hand.
‘What’s up with him?’ he murmured in her ear.
‘He’s your father,’ she murmured back. ‘Surely you know him well enough to read his mind?’
‘I think Janine understands him better than anyone.’ He gave a wry smile. ‘That’s why she sometimes gives him a hard time. She knows the best way to deal with him is to stand up to him.’
‘That’s the best way to deal with any man,’ she said lightly.
‘Ah, yes, kick him in the teeth at regular intervals, whether he deserves it or not.’
‘Some men
always
deserve it,’ she observed.
‘Why doesn’t that surprise me?’
‘I can’t think. I’d better go now. Amos is waving for me to go and sit with him and Mum.’
It was a cheerful meal. The trip was going well, and only a couple of days were left before they would leave.
At last Amos rose to his feet.
‘Before we say goodnight I have something to say.’
They all regarded him with curiosity. Amos took a moment to be sure he had everyone’s attention, then began to speak.
‘Yesterday we all met Hathor, wife of the falcon god. Naturally she made a huge impact on me.’ As he’d done before, he inclined his head towards Janine. ‘I particularly noticed her splendid jewellery,’ Amos continued. ‘So appropriate for a woman of her power and magnificence. It must have been a gift from Horus. And, since he and I are undeniably connected, I felt it was only right to follow his example.’
Amos leaned down, drew a large box out from under the table, and opened it to gasps from everyone at dinner. Inside was a large necklace of gold, studded with rubies, emeralds and sapphires. One look was enough to make clear that they were genuine. The falcon god didn’t waste time on imitations.
‘Stand up, my dear,’ Amos commanded Janine.
Dazed, she did so, and stood while he draped the necklace about her neck, then stepped back and made a flourishing gesture towards her.
‘For Hathor, queen of heaven and queen of goddesses,’ Amos declared. ‘In tribute to her beauty and greatness. She lives by Horus’ side, and it is only with her help that he can rule the world.’
Everyone applauded, and some of them cheered. Janine blushed and seemed overcome.
Amos leaned towards her and Freya could just make out that he’d murmured, ‘Say something.’
She replied softly, ‘In front of all these people?’
‘Of course. Everyone must know how much you matter to me.’
Blushing, Janine put her arms around him and gave him a kiss. At once the others rose and crowded around her, gazing entranced at the valuable jewels.
‘However did you afford those?’ Larry asked, dumbfounded.
‘No problem!’ Amos declared loftily. ‘The falcon god can do whatever he chooses.’
More applause.
Then Amos continued, ‘And that’s not all. There are also these.’
He produced two large earrings and a bracelet, all of them matching the fabulous necklace. There were more gasps as he draped them about his wife and stood back with a flourish.
‘Thank you, my dear,’ she stammered, apparently overcome. ‘They are beautiful—so beautiful.’
‘Take them as a tribute to the best wife in the world,’ he declared loudly. ‘No, not the world—the universe.’ He threw out his arms. ‘From Horus to Hathor, until the end of time.’
He stretched out a hand and Janine laid her own hand into it. He led her around the table so that everyone could have a good look, then swept her out of the room.
There were astonished murmurs. Most of the people around the table were very impressed. Only Jackson looked wry and thoughtful. And Freya was still a little unsure of her own feelings. She couldn’t be sure of anything until she’d talked to Janine.
She slipped away. Upstairs, she went to the room shared by Amos and Janine and knocked. Amos opened the door.
‘Doesn’t she look wonderful?’ he trumpeted, standing back to let her in.
‘Marvellous,’ Freya agreed as Janine paraded for her. ‘Those jewels are so beautiful.’
‘And worthy of Hathor,’ Amos proclaimed.
Janine twisted and turned into positions that showed off the glittering stones. She was smiling, but Freya could sense something was not quite right. She offered extravagant admiration, embraced her mother, then Amos, and escaped.
It was no surprise when a knock at her door an hour later announced Janine’s arrival.
‘I slipped out when he’d fallen asleep,’ she said. ‘I hope I didn’t wake you?’
‘It doesn’t matter. I had the feeling that you might want to talk. What an evening!’
‘Yes, it was lovely. Such a wonderful, generous thing for him to do.’
‘But...?’ Freya queried. For there was something in Janine’s voice that was more doubt than pleasure.
‘But—oh, I don’t know, darling. I feel guilty for not being happier about it. I’m a really ungrateful cow.’
‘That’s all right. Hathor is the cow goddess.’
‘Yes,
she’s
a cow—but I’m not Hathor. I’m Janine. And Amos isn’t the falcon god. He’s just my husband. If only he saw it that way.’
She spoke with a sigh that made Freya sit beside her on the bed and say, ‘You didn’t really enjoy it, did you? Most women would have loved being given such a magnificent gift like that in front of everyone.’
‘But that’s just it.
In front of everyone.
If we’d been alone, just the two of us, and he’d spoken from his heart, it would have meant so much more.’
‘Perhaps he thought you’d enjoy being in the spotlight?’
‘No, the spotlight was all for himself. He was making a grand gesture and he wanted everyone to know it. What you saw tonight wasn’t about Hathor receiving a gift. It was about the falcon god making a splendid gesture in the eyes of the world.’
‘But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have feelings about it,’ Freya protested. ‘It’s nice that he took the trouble and spent all that money.’
‘The money’s nothing to him. As for trouble— the shop assistant did all the real work. That’s what was going on all day.’
‘Mum, why are you so determined to see this in a bad light?’
‘Perhaps because I want so badly to believe he did it out of true feelings. But I know Amos too well for that.’
‘Maybe there’s more to him than you think. Maybe his feelings are true and this is just his way of expressing them.’
‘Thank you, darling, but it’s not that simple. Ever since I discovered what he did about Dan I’ve seen him in a different light.’
‘But why? You already knew what he was like.’
‘Yes, but that seemed to cast an extra cloud and I can’t shake it off. It’s terribly confusing. I simply never know what’s going to happen next.’
‘Mmm...’ Freya nodded.
‘Goodnight, darling. I won’t keep you awake any longer.’
When Janine had gone Freya sat by the window, too restless to sleep. Her mother was right. With Amos you never knew what would happen next. Which was also true of Jackson, she reflected. Recent events had taught her
that
with a vengeance.
* * *
The next day work at the temple proceeded well, and suddenly Larry came up with a sizzling idea.
‘Horus is a falcon,’ he told Jackson. ‘You’re a Falcon. Your father is a Falcon. The viewers will see the connection between Jackson Falcon and the falcon god, so we’ll have to say something. And we’ll bring your father on for a quick mention. It won’t take over the show, but you can interview him in front of the statue and we’ll have a little innocent fun. Do you think he’ll be up for it?’
‘Oh, yes,’ Jackson said fervently. ‘I think he’ll be up for it.’
As expected, Amos was enthusiastic. The scene was set up quickly, with only a slight hiccup when he tried to insist that Janine should be included.
‘If Horus is there Hathor should be there too,’ he declared.
Larry would have yielded, but it was Janine who killed the idea.
‘You do it, darling,’ she told Amos. ‘I just wouldn’t feel easy in front of the cameras.’
‘Oh, nonsense! I’ll be there to look after you. You must be part of this.’
‘I said no. I don’t belong in this. That’s it. Finished.’
Janine walked away, leaving him thunderstruck.
‘You’d think nobody had ever said no to him before,’ Freya murmured from the sidelines, where she was standing with Jackson.
‘They’ve tried, but without success,’ he replied. ‘Janine can mess with his head so that he doesn’t know if he’s coming or going. And nobody’s ever done that before.’
Things calmed down enough for the project to go forward. The camera was put in place, Jackson conducted a brief, good-natured interview with his father, and everyone was pleased.
But when Freya went looking for Amos afterwards she couldn’t find him. Nor was there any sight of him until it was time to leave for the hotel. As soon as he was aboard the coach he appeared to go to sleep—not with his head resting on Janine’s shoulder, but turning the other way, leaning against the window.
Freya wondered how much asleep he really was.
She wished she knew what was really going on between her mother and Amos.
Back at the hotel, Amos vanished again. There was no doubt that he was avoiding everyone, but most of all he was avoiding his wife.
Freya found him at last in the garden, drinking coffee alone at a table beneath a tree.
‘Can I join you?’ she asked, sitting beside him without waiting for an answer.
He nodded and made an unconvincing effort at a smile.
‘What’s the matter?’ Freya asked. ‘Tell me what’s troubling you, Dad?’
He sighed. ‘It troubles me when you call me Dad—after what I did to you.’
‘Did to me?’ she asked carefully.
‘Don’t pretend you don’t know—about Dan, how I tried to make him back off. If I’d had the sense to keep quiet and— Well, everything would be better.’
She stared, wondering if she could have heard right. Amos, famed for his bullying and self-righteousness, was actually admitting that he’d got something wrong? Impossible.
‘You do know what I mean, don’t you?’ Amos persisted. ‘Jackson told you, and you told your mother.’
‘How do you know that?’
‘I was just outside the door.’
‘You were—?’
‘I couldn’t tell anyone what I’d heard, but I’ve wanted to tell you I’m sorry. I know how much in love with him you were, and but for me he might have proposed for the right reasons.’
‘No, I don’t think he would,’ she said.
‘Then you must really resent me for the way I’ve made you suffer.’
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Jackson appear and move slowly towards them, remaining in the shadows.
‘But I don’t resent you,’ she said. ‘I’m over Dan, and I’ve even begun to wonder if I was ever really in love with him.’
‘That’s kind of you, but—’
‘No, I mean it. He dazzled me. Suddenly all the lights seemed to come on in my life and everything was different, more exciting. I really enjoyed that, but it’s not love. It’s a bit like going on an exotic holiday, but it comes to an end and you return to reality. Don’t worry about me. My heart’s not broken.’
‘You don’t know how glad it makes me to hear that. And, my dear, before we go back, I’d rather your mother didn’t know that I was listening when—well, you know.’
Freya understood perfectly. Janine had spoken frankly about the doubts she sometimes had about him, and he cringed at the thought of admitting that he’d heard that.
‘Don’t worry,’ she said. ‘I won’t tell her.’
‘Promise?’
‘Promise.’
‘Word of honour?’
‘Word of honour,’ she repeated, struck by his intensity. ‘Ah, here’s Mum.’
Janine appeared, laying her hand on Amos’s shoulder. ‘I wondered where you’d vanished to,’ she said. ‘Time to go in.’
Before leaving Amos gave Freya a significant look, to remind her of the secret she’d promised to keep. She smiled and nodded. Reassured, he turned away.
When she was alone Jackson appeared from behind the tree where he had been lingering.
‘I had a feeling you were there,’ she said.
‘I’m glad I was,’ he said. ‘I can hardly believe what I’ve just heard. He actually admitted that he could have been wrong. Who’d have thought he’d ever admit to hearing that talk you had with your mother?’
‘Especially given what she said about him.’
‘Why? What did she say? I knew he’d eavesdropped that night, because I saw him. But I don’t know what he heard.’