Guardian of the Horizon - Elizabeth Peters [6]
“Obviously I can’t be in two places at once.”
She put out her tongue at him. “Why?”
“I need some formal grounding in the language, formal recognition. A degree from Berlin would give me that.” The speech came glibly; he had practiced it a number of times, preparatory to delivering it to Emerson. “I’ve learned a lot from Uncle Walter, but Erman is one of the best, and his approach is different. He thinks I can earn a doctorate in a year, given my past work. I enjoy excavating, but I’ll never be as good as Father. Philology is my real interest.”
“Hmmm.” Nefret stroked her rounded chin, in unconscious imitation of Emerson when deep in thought. “Well, my boy, that is a stunner! But I don’t understand why you’ve been so secretive. It’s a reasonable ambition.”
Ramses hadn’t realized until then that he had been hoping against hope she would object. Obviously the idea of a long separation didn’t disturb her unduly. Friends want what is best for friends.
“I’m glad you agree,” he said stiffly.
She raised candid blue eyes and smiled at him. “If it’s what you want, my boy, then you shall have it. You haven’t got up nerve enough to tell the Professor, is that it?”
“Yes, well, cowardice is one of my worst failings.”
David’s elbow dug into his ribs and Nefret’s smile faded. “I didn’t mean that. You’re afraid of hurting him. That’s what I meant.”
“Sorry,” Ramses muttered.
“We all feel that way,” Nefret assured him. “Because we love him. But sooner or later he’s got to accept the fact that you—and David and I—are individuals with our own ambitions and wants.”
“What is it you want?” Ramses asked.
She shrugged and smiled. “Nothing I don’t have. Work I love, a family, the best friends in the world…I’ll help you persuade the Professor. We’ll miss you, of course, won’t we, David? But it’s only for a year.”
She got to her feet. “Just leave it to me. I’m going to break it to Aunt Amelia first. Then it will be all of us against the Professor! If worse comes to worst, I’ll cry. That always fetches him.”
He had risen when she did; they were standing close together, only a foot apart. She put out her hand, as if to give him a friendly pat on the shoulder. He took a step back and said, “Thank you, but I don’t need anyone else to do my dirty work for me. I’ll tell Father tonight, at dinner.”
She let her hand fall, flushed slightly, and left the room.
“Ramses,” David began.
“Shut up, David.”
“Damned if I will,” David said indignantly. “She was offering to help, in her sweet, generous way, and you froze her with that cold stare and speech. What did you expect, that the idea of being parted from you for a year would miraculously arouse latent passions? It doesn’t work that way.” After a moment he added, “Go ahead and hit me if it will make you feel better.”
Ramses uncurled his fists and turned to the desk. He opened a drawer, looking for a cigarette.
“I’m sorry,” David said. “But if you don’t get over your habit of bottling up your feelings, you’re going to explode one day. For God’s sake, Ramses, you’re barely twenty, and the family wouldn’t hear of your marrying anyhow. Give it a little more time.”
“Always the optimist. You don’t see it, do you? You wouldn’t, though; you don’t want anything more from her than she is capable of giving you. What I want may not be there at all.” He offered the packet to David, who took a cigarette and leaned against the desk.
“Are you still harping on that? Far be it from me to deny that you have to beat women off with a club, but there must have been a few who didn’t react. Nefret is one of them—so far. It doesn’t mean she’s incapable of love.”
Ramses felt himself flushing angrily. “Believe it or not, I’m not that egotistical. Maybe you’re right. I hope so. But doesn’t it seem strange to you that a woman of twenty-three has never been in love, not even once? Lord only knows how many men have been in love with her. She flirts with them, practices her little wiles on them, makes friends with them, and then turns them down flat when they get courage enough to propose