Death Comes as End - Agatha Christie [65]
‘I know.’
They could say no more. Esa’s little maid came running to her mistress. Hori relinquished her to the girl’s care and turned away. His face was grave and perplexed.
The little maid chattered and fussed round Esa, but Esa hardly noticed her. She felt old and ill and cold…Once again she saw the intent circle of faces watching her as she spoke.
Only a look–a momentary flash of fear and understanding–could she have been wrong? Was she so sure of what she had seen? After all, her eyes were dim…
Yes, she was sure. It was less an expression than the sudden tension of a whole body–a hardening–a rigidity. To one person, and one person only, her rambling words had made sense. That deadly, unerring sense which is truth…
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
SECOND MONTH OF SUMMER 15TH DAY
‘Now that the matter is laid before you, Renisenb, what have you to say?’
Renisenb looked doubtfully from her father to Yahmose. Her head felt dull and bemused.
‘I do not know.’ The words fell from her lips tonelessly.
‘Under ordinary conditions,’ went on Imhotep, ‘there would be plenty of time for discussion. I have other kinsmen, and we could select and reject until we settled upon the most suitable as a husband for you. But as it is uncertain–yes, life is uncertain.’
His voice faltered. He went on:
‘That is how the matter stands, Renisenb. Death is facing all three of us today. Yahmose, yourself, myself. At which of us will the peril strike next? Therefore it behoves me to put my affairs in order. If anything should happen to Yahmose you, my only daughter, will need a man to stand by your side and share your inheritance and perform such duties of my estate as cannot be administered by a woman. For who knows at what moment I may be taken from you? The trusteeship and guardianship of Sobek’s children I have arranged in my will shall be administered by Hori if Yahmose is no longer alive–also the guardianship of Yahmose’s children–since that is his wish–eh, Yahmose?’
Yahmose nodded.
‘Hori has always been very close to me. He is as one of my own family.’
‘Quite, quite,’ said Imhotep. ‘But the fact remains he is not one of the family. Now Kameni is. Therefore, all things considered, he is the best husband available at the moment for Renisenb. So what do you say, Renisenb?’
‘I do not know,’ Renisenb repeated again.
She felt a terrible lassitude.
‘He is handsome and pleasing, you will agree?’
‘Oh yes.’
‘But you do not want to marry him?’ Yahmose asked gently.
Renisenb threw her brother a grateful glance. He was so resolved that she should not be hurried or badgered into doing what she did not want to do.
‘I really do not know what I want to do.’ She hurried on: ‘It is stupid, I know, but I am stupid today. It is–it is the strain under which we are living.’
‘With Kameni at your side you will feel protected,’ said Imhotep.
Yahmose asked his father: ‘Have you considered Hori as a possible husband for Renisenb?’
‘Well, yes, it is a possibility…’
‘His wife died when he was still a young man. Renisenb knows him well and likes him.’
Renisenb sat in a dream while the two men talked. This was her marriage they were discussing, and Yahmose was trying to help her to choose what she herself wanted, but she felt as lifeless as Teti’s wooden doll.
Presently she said abruptly, interrupting their speech without even hearing what they were saying:
‘I will marry Kameni since you think it is a good thing.’
Imhotep gave an exclamation of satisfaction and hurried out of the hall. Yahmose came over to his sister. He laid a hand on her shoulder.
‘Do you want this marriage, Renisenb? Will you be happy?’
‘Why should I not be happy? Kameni is handsome and gay and kind.’
‘I know.’ Yahmose still looked dissatisfied and doubtful. ‘But your happiness is important, Renisenb. You must not let my father rush you into something you do not want. You know how he is.’
‘Oh yes, yes, when he gets an idea into his head we all have to give way to it.’
‘Not necessarily.’ Yahmose spoke with firmness. ‘I will not give way here unless you wish it.’
‘Oh, Yahmose,