Chapter 14
Ardeth was wondering how he was going to escape attending this dinner. He had Miss Evans in his arms not even a week ago, and Ardeth just couldn’t get over his desire to do so again. And Jonathon Carnahan… how was Ardeth not going to punch the rat bastard? He was ashamed to say that he had given into the temptation of looking into Jonathon Carnahan. Jonathon was a drunkard and always in the arms of a different woman… and he had the audacity to continue to court Miss Evans. Ardeth was afraid he would snap and use him for knife practice. And yet, Ardeth found himself dressing with more care than usual and in colored robes for once with no head covering.
“Ardeth! Thank you so much for coming!” Evelyn welcomed Ardeth in. He handed her a fragrant bag of coffee.
“Thank you for having me.”
“Thank you so much! O’Connell and Hermione haven’t arrived yet. Why don’t you sit with Jonathon while I make you some tea?” Ardeth smiled, but felt like cursing: as did Jonathon. The old chap’s glares had not let up their entire acquaintance. Jonathon felt like a bug that Ardeth wanted to crush. Usually, Jonathon was able to win people over with time, but it seemed he had done something to seriously offend him. Jonathon immediately stood up and poured himself a generous amount of scotch.
“Do not drink too much, Jonathon!” Evelyn warned with a threatening finger. “Or I will put Hermione in charge of getting you to bed.” Jonathon shivered from the memories. Hermione was not a nice person to get you to bed after a night of heavy drinking. She had no patience and wouldn’t hesitate to do anything short of kneeing you in the groin. Unless, of course, you got handsy and suddenly that was on the table as well.
“I shall behave myself, dear sister.” Jonathon nearly wet himself when he turned again to see the desert warrior frowning so hard at him Jonathon thought his face would break. “How’s Hamunaptra… old chap?”
“Still buried,” Ardeth said emotionlessly.
“No mummies have risen since our last meeting?” Jonathon continued, desperate for any topic of conversation.
“No.” Jonathon felt like he could hear crickets all the from the Nile.
“So…” Jonathon took a fortifying gulp. “... you married, old chap?”
“No.” Ardeth said with a raise of an eyebrow. Jonathon’s attempts at conversation were far from impressive. And, Ardeth decided to just go for it and ask what he wanted to know. “And when will you be marrying Miss Evans?” Ardeth said as casually as possible. Jonathon’s mind spluttered to a stop. Marrying Hermione? As it turns out, Hermione had decided not to tell Jonathon anything about the general misunderstanding of their upcoming nuptials. Far better to spring it on him…When he least expected it.
“Wh-when…” Jonathon flustered while turning red. He was spared continuing by a knock on the door. Evelyn quickly placed Ardeth’s tea next to him, stole Jonathon’s glass of scotch to pour it in her potted plant and rushed to the door only narrowly avoiding face planting along the way. “If a gentleman deserves a drink, it’s when he finds out he is engaged!”
“Jonathon, what ARE you babbling about?” Evelyn frowned. O’Connell and Hermione had arrived at about the same time to a very confused group of people. Ardeth was completely flummoxed. Finding out they were engaged? They had been talking about it non-stop! They were clearly engaged! Jonathon was making his way back to the bottle of scotch. He didn’t care if Hermione kneed him the balls or poked him in the eye… Dammit, he was drinking. And Evelyn was trying to greet the two of them while stopping Jonathon from drinking anymore. “Rick,” Evelyn kissed him on the cheek. “I’m so happy to see you. Hermione, you look positively lovely. Jonathon! Put down that bottle this instant!” Hermione walked in wearing a silk gold dress and Ardeth lost his breath. It was the first time he had ever seen her wear anything other than her usually black and red ensemble and she was stunning. Hermione froze the minute she saw Ardeth.
Frankly, Hermione had not gotten a good glimpse of Ardeth in three years. He was always wearing that head covering of his and other than an embarrassing crying session; Hermione hadn’t really beheld him in all that time. Ardeth was just as attractive as Hermione had known he would become. Just… in general a damn fine specimen of a man that Hermione immediately had lost all ability to converse with just by looking at him.
“Hermione, may I introduce Ardeth Bay.” Evelyn said with a big smile.
“Ahhh… we’ve.. mmm-hmmm…” Hermione desperately cleared her throat. “We’ve met.” Hermione slightly blushed in embarrassment.
“Yes. I know he’s probably followed you before, but you didn’t know his name,” Evelyn reasoned.
“Actually, she did,” Ardeth interjected. Ardeth glanced over to a shocked Jonathon challengingly, and Evelyn immediately understood.
“Oh,” Evelyn said with sudden understanding. THAT’S why Ardeth didn’t like Jonathon! However, Hermione was completely oblivious.
“I’m going to put the dessert in the kitchen.” Hermione walked quickly into the kitchen where no one could see her and leaned against the counter to calm her pounding heart.
“Oh, what?” O’Connell whispered into Evy’s ear. Evelyn tried to point to three of the other occupants discreetly to convey the clear jealousy struggle going on, but only confused O’Connell even further. “What?!”
“Oh…. Never mind you’ll see.” As soon as Hermione had collected herself, she walked back into an immediate inquisition from Jonathon.
“WHY does this fellow think we are engaged, Hermione?” Jonathon said hysterically. Hermione tilted her head in confusion. Truth be told, Hermione had completely forgotten about it. She had thought one of the men in black would have made a comment long ago, and Hermione eventually just figured they had forgotten about it; and proceeded to forget about it herself. But then, Hermione remembered her conversation with Ardeth that day he delivered the blanket. And what started as a suppressed giggle immediately turned into full blown hysterical laughter. Hermione caught sight of Jonathon’s face and began laughing even harder.
“Wait…” O’Connell interrupted. “Are you two not engaged?” Hermione struggled to breathe as her laughing only increased. Ardeth looked to O’Connell and then to a Jonathon downing another glass of scotch and finally went over what had happened that day. Hermione had laughed then too. ‘I’m as engaged as I’ve ever been.’ Ardeth rubbed his face in his hands. They were never engaged. Hermione finally stopped laughing long enough to take the bottle of scotch away from Jonathon and lock it into the cabinet. Jonathon tried to snatch the key from her until Hermione tossed it at Ardeth who instinctively caught it. Jonathon looked at Ardeth calculatingly, but finally sagged in defeat. Hermione was incredibly grateful for the incident. She no longer felt like a tongue tied school girl. Ardeth was shaking his head in disbelief as he tucked the key into a pocket in his robes and finally everyone was settling down.
“You are a cruel woman, Hermione Evans,” Jonathon said darkly as he took the tea offered to him by Evelyn.
“I suppose no chocolate croissants for you then,” Hermione said with a mischievous grin.
“Now, now,” Jonathon backtracked. “Let’s not be hasty.”
“That’s what I thought.” Now that Ardeth observed them, he felt absolutely stupid. The two of them never touched. And certainly didn't act the way that O’Connell and Evelyn were. Ardeth had simply thought it was cultural. “In case you were wondering, Ardeth.” Hermione felt a swoop in her stomach as Ardeth turned to stare at her intently. “Jonathon is more of a brother, and what your window seal soldier heard was merely a long standing joke between me and Jonathon.”
“Hermione isn’t lucky enough to snare a catch like me,” Jonathon said cockily.
“Yes,” Hermione said sarcastically. “I definitely envy the woman who has to pick you up drunk at the local kasbah, manage your gambling, and compete with every not so reputable prostitute that catches your eye.”
“Oh,” Jonathon grabbed his heart. “You wound me. And I thought our romance could withstand any trial!” Ardeth smiled with relief. Now that it had been pointed out to him, he couldn’t believe he hadn’t understood. Ardeth would blame it on the cultural differences. Now, he could see the sarcasm and over-all silliness of their grandiose conversations. Ardeth had honestly thought that they were hopelessly lost on each other, and could not contain his overwhelming jealousy. He looked at Hermione laughing and joking with him. What would being loved by her be like if it wasn’t what she had with Jonathon? Thankfully the rest of the night went swimmingly. With the tension between Jonathon and Ardeth pushed out of the way, they all had a good time eating and retelling the comical situations the lot of them had gotten into.
“You should really come over again sometime, Ardeth.” Ardeth was munching on the croissants Hermione had made blissfully, and looked to Evelyn regretfully.
“I don’t come into Cairo often, I’m afraid. But, I will visit you next time I do.”
“Oh,” Evelyn was disappointed. More so because of how she saw the aloof Ardeth glancing at Hermione when he thought she wasn’t looking.
“My tribe needs me to fulfill my duties with them. I really only come when I have business with my Uncle.” Ardeth looked at Miss Evans regretfully. He almost wished she was marrying Jonathon (if he didn’t possess so many vices). Now… Miss Evans was a possibility he wasn’t free to explore. Ardeth had to go back. And he knew, there was very little chance he would want to marry someone else when she was shining in the back of his mind.
“I promise to keep your uncle… company within your absence,” Hermione grinned mischievously.
“I look forward to hearing about it.” Ardeth finally stood to prepare to leave. And Hermione walked into the kitchen and came back with the rest of the croissants, and handed them to Ardeth.
“For your parents.” Hermione’s heart spluttered at his warming grin.
“My thanks. May Allah smile down on you.” Hermione let out a huge breath as soon as the door closed behind him, and immediately startled as Evelyn launched herself onto her.
“He likes you!” Evelyn said excitedly, and Hermione looked at her in disbelief.
“What?”
“That man is smitten with you,” Jonathon reaffirmed.
“Ardeth definitely looked like he wanted to castrate Jonathon at any given moment when he thought the two of you were engaged,” Rick agreed.
“And… you don’t think that has anything to do with the fact that Jonathon was running around with a bunch of women AND thought we were engaged AND MIGHT not have thought well of Jonathon because of it?”
“How would he have known?” Rick reasoned.
“They’ve been following me for five years, Rick,” Hermione said with her best no shit expression.
“Forgot about that,” Rick conceded. Hermione nodded firmly.
“There you go,” Hermione collected her leather coat.
“Oh, come now,” Evelyn followed Hermione.
“He is 23 years old. I am 29. It’s a ridiculous thought.”
“It’s not that significant a difference,” Jonathon said. “Us young men find the maturing woman very alluring.” Hermione flicked Jonathon in the back of the head. “Ow.”
“And he lives somewhere off in the desert. This is the sixth time I have seen him in five years. You will drop it, Evelyn.” Hermione pulled on her coat. “Dinner was lovely. It was nice getting to know you, Rick.”
“Likewise.” And Hermione left.
“Why is she so stubborn?” Evelyn sighed.
“Just because you had your very own love story, doesn’t mean everyone else can,” Jonathon said cynically. He looked longingly at the liquor cabinet and then shrieked with horror. Rick pulled his gun and Evelyn startled terribly.
“What! What! What is it?!” Evelyn said frantically.
“That cad took the liquor key! OW! Keep your hands to yourself, O’Connell.”
“Then don’t give other people a heart attack over a glass of whiskey!”
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Hermione was just about to apparate when Ardeth literally popped up out of nowhere and she nearly fell on her ass to stop herself. Ardeth grabbed hold of her arm to keep her from toppling over.
“Maybe I should go easy on Mister Bay if that’s how it feels to have me popping up on him all the time,” Hermione held her startled heart.
“My apologies,” Ardeth’s smile was beautiful and Hermione gulped. Evelyn just had to open her big mouth and make Hermione completely self conscious again.
“Why are you back? Did you forget something?” Hermione sounded cagey. She really wished she could kick her own butt to get herself to be normal again. Ardeth nodded and held up a small key. Hermione snorted before taking it. “I’ll give it to them later. A little abstinence will do Jonathon good. And if he really can’t handle it, he’ll just go out.” Ardeth just stood there as Hermione placed the key in her purse. Miss Evans really was beautiful. He breathed in her delicious smell. Hermione didn’t know what to do. Should she turn around? Or more likely go to the lady’s room in the lobby of Evy’s expensive accommodations and apparate out of there.
“So, how did you escape out of here without me or my men being able to catch you?” Ardeth smiled teasingly.
“It wouldn’t be a trade secret if I told you,” Hermione laughed. Ardeth reached forward and took her hand the way that he had seen British gentlemen occasionally do. He turned her hand over and kissed her wrist savoringly. Hermione stopped breathing. Ardeth enjoyed the feeling of her skin, but when he opened his eyes; he noticed crude writing on her exposed arm. Ardeth frowned and reached to touch the word carved into her arm.
“Mudblood?” Ardeth was frowning and confused, and Hermione immediately came back to herself. She tried to tug her arm out of his hold, but was unfortunately met with a gentle and strong hold. Ardeth continued to touch it, but Hermione started to have trouble breathing for completely different reasons.
“A title I wear proudly. Please let go,” Hermione said while trying to swallow down the panic. Ardeth glanced at her face sharply. Fear. It was the first time since what happened with Laknah that he had seen that emotion on her face… and he had caused it.
“I’m sorry.” Ardeth let go of her arm and Hermione clenched and unclenched her hands in an attempt to release some of the tension. Ardeth watched as she smoothed down the front of her dress with an incredible amount of agitation and he swallowed. He had just wanted to touch her and he had made her this upset. Ardeth turned around and fled.
Hermione felt horrible. Ardeth really hadn’t done anything wrong. She wasn’t ready to be touched, or to answer questions about her scars. The awful thing about being under the constant eye of the wizarding public was the incessant questions. The requests for “battle stories.” The complete lack of understanding that Hermione was completely destroyed from what had happened. The paparazzi continued to hound and harass her until Hermione didn’t want to leave her house anymore despite her stubbornness and continuing to move forward despite the effect it had on her in the long run. Hermione had embraced the Auror fashion because it covered EVERYTHING. No scar was on display. Hermione could pull up her hood and be invisible for a short time. And, Hermione could see what Evelyne had been talking about. Ardeth seemed… to savor touching her. But he was young. Had the world open to him. Would Ardeth really want her once her pandora’s box of issues burst open? Hermine walked a bit back up the hall, made sure no one was looking, and apparated back to her home.
The minute that Hermione got home, Harry was immediately snuggling and rubbing against her legs. She picked him up and he immediately started purring up a storm. Hermione walked up the stairs and collapsed onto her bed and Harry settled into a ball on her chest. She smiled. Harry always knew when something was wrong, and be her ball of warmth when Hermione couldn’t get through on her own.
“Al’umu,” Basma looked up as Ardeth offered her a bag of… heavenly smelling bread.
“What is this? I thought you would be in Cairo for several days to arrange everything for your Uncle’s funeral.”
“Uncle is alive,” Ardeth smiled widely. Basma’s mouth dropped and she hugged Ardeth with exuberance.
“I knew that old bat of a man wouldn’t go down so easily! And the bread?”
“Miss Evans,” Ardeth’s smile dimmed a little. “Miss Evans sent them.” Basma looked at her son carefully.
“Did she barter them for your first born son? Why do you look so sad, Ardeth?”
“I did… something stupid.” Ardeth looked incredibly downcast. Basma sat him down and made him some coffee.
“Tell me about it,” Basma ordered. Adham walked in on them an hour later.
“I thought you were in Cairo?” Adham questioned sadly.
“Oh, Terrence is alive,” Basma said distractedly. Adham smiled big and hugged his son happily.
“That’s wonderful! Why does our son look like someone died?” Adham asked Basma.
“Because he found out Miss Evans is not engaged to Mr. Carnahan, and managed to upset her.” Ardeth immediately sighed as his Father immediately took a seat next to Al’umu and looked at Ardeth expectantly. This was going to be a long night.