The Master's Wife (32 page)

‘How are you now?’

‘Better.’ Dropping the comb on the table she went to him. As his strong arms closed around her she knew this was where she belonged. ‘I missed you so much.’

‘When I saw the smoke and the flames –’ Feeling the shudder ripple through him, she held him tighter. ‘All I could think of was finding you.’

She put a finger against his lips. ‘I am with you so I am safe.’ She reached up and laid her mouth on his, felt his arms tighten around her.

‘Dinner, Cap’n, Missus,’ Martin yelled through the door.

‘Dammit,’ Jago murmured against her lips. He drew back. ‘Wait until I get you home.’

Caseley gazed at his beloved face, saw new lines scored by anxiety. When they left Cornwall she had been unable to picture being happy ever again. But she was, beyond anything she could have imagined. She smoothed a lock of hair back from his forehead. ‘Must I?’

‘Must you what?’

‘Wait?’ Feeling a blush burn her cheeks she turned away to open the door, catching her breath and feeling herself quake as he gently bit her neck.

His hand rested, warm and possessive, on her waist as they entered the saloon where Martin had just removed the lid from a steaming pot of stew.

Caseley’s mouth watered at the savoury aroma. ‘Martin, that smells delicious.’

Footsteps clanged on the brass stairs. Nathan came in followed by Hammer.

‘Jimbo got the helm, Cap’n,’ the mate said.

Jago nodded. ‘Hammer, are we carrying any spare timber? The berth in my sleeping cabin –’

‘Be done by sundown, Cap’n.’

While they ate and Caseley answered their questions she was acutely aware of the man at her side, his knee touching hers. Her husband. Her beloved.
Jago.

C
laims in the British Press that rising unrest in Egypt might endanger the Suez Canal brought the British and French fleets to Alexandria in May 1882. In June there was a riot in the city during which the trusted body-servant of British Admiral Sir Beauchamp Seymour was killed.

Admiral Seymour issued an ultimatum ordering reinforcement work on the forts to cease immediately. Responsible for ensuring the city was adequately defended, Colonel Arabi, the nationalist leader who was also minister for war, could not stop work on the forts without orders from the khedive. These were not forthcoming. Refusing to take part in an unprovoked act of aggression, the French admiral removed his fleet.

British naval guns opened fire at 7 a.m. on 11th July, their supposed aim to destroy the forts sited along the coastline of the city. But when the bombardment ceased at 5.30 p.m., the wealthy cosmopolitan heart of Alexandria had been totally destroyed.

Nominated for the 2016 RONA award for Historical romance

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© 2
016 Jane Jackson

The right of Jane Jackson to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

The story contained within this book is a work of fiction. Names and characters are the product of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the written permission of the copyright holder.

Published by Accent Press Ltd 2016

Paperback ISBN: 9781909624085

Ebook ISBN: 9781909624023