Diamonds & Deceit (32 page)

“Yes, ma’am—a telegram.”

Mrs. Cliffe ran into the house, Mary rushing along behind her with an armful of parcels. She saw the telegram at once, stark and white on the hall table. Her hands shaking, she snatched it up. Egypt was an Ottoman protectorate, and the Ottomans would be on the side of Germany; she knew that. Egypt could easily become a battle zone. She tore open the envelope and scanned the message.

WE ARE SAFE STOP NO SHIPS DEPART PORT SAID FOR FORESEEABLE FUTURE STOP PLEASE DO NOT WORRY STOP LOVE ROSE STOP

Mrs. Cliffe breathed out a sigh of relief. Tears trembled in her eyes. The butler came up to her, concern on his face.

“Madam, is everything—?” he began. Mrs. Cliffe understood that he was too tactful and aware of his position as her servant to finish the question.

“She is safe for now.” Mrs. Cliffe dabbed the tears from her eyes with her handkerchief. “But I do not know when we shall see her again.”

LEILA RASHEED
is the British author of the middle grade novel
Ships, Beans and Limousines
and its sequels. She was previously a children’s bookseller in Brussels, but now writes and teaches creative writing full-time.