Lion in the Valley - Elizabeth Peters [144]
“You may do with it what you like after you have finished reading it, Emerson.”
“Bah,” said Emerson. “Very well, then. . . . ‘Henceforth you and yours are safe from my avenging hand. You may refrain from assaulting elderly ladies whom you suspect of being Sethos in disguise; you may leave unpulled the luxuriant beards of suspicious gentlemen. You will see me no more. I am leaving Egypt forever. Think of me sometimes, Amelia, as I will think constantly of you. What could we not have achieved together!’ ”
“I wonder if he means it,” I said, as Emerson methodically converted the letter into confetti.
“Humph,” said Emerson.
“I really wish you had not destroyed that letter, Emerson. It was not very sensible.”
Emerson’s hands stopped moving. “What did you say, Peabody?”
“You are making a mess on my nice clean doorstep, and the time may come—I hope it does not, but it may—when we might want a specimen of Sethos’ handwriting.”
“Peabody,” said Emerson, looking at me strangely.
“Yes, Emerson?”
“That is the first time in three days you have criticized or reprimanded me.”
“Indeed? Well, I am sorry, Emerson, but if you persist in—”
“No, no, you don’t understand.” Emerson grasped me by the shoulders and gazed into my eyes. “I was beginning to fear you had turned into one of those boring females who can only say, ‘Yes, my dear,’ and ‘Just as you like, my dear.’ You know very well, Peabody, that our little discussions are the spice of life—”
“The pepper in the soup of marriage.”
“Very aptly put, Peabody. If you become meek and acquiescent, I will put an advertisement in the Times telling Sethos to drop by and collect you. Promise me you will never stop scolding, Peabody.”
Ramses and the cat were both watching with intense interest, but for once I did not care. I put my arms around Emerson’s neck. “My dear Emerson,” I said, “I think I can safely promise that.”
About the Author
Elizabeth Peters was born and brought up in Illinois and earned her Ph.D. in Egyptology from the University of Chicago’s famed Oriental Institute. She was named Grandmaster at the inaugural Anthony Awards in 1986 and Grandmaster by the Mystery Writers of America at the Edgar Awards in 1998. She lives in an historic farmhouse in Western Maryland with six cats and two dogs.
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Books by Elizabeth Peters
HE SHALL THUNDER IN THE SKY*
THE FALCON AT THE PORTAL*
THE APE WHO GUARDS THE BALANCE*
SEEING A LARGE CAT*
THE HIPPOPOTAMUS POOL*
NIGHT TRAIN TO MEMPHIS
THE SNAKE, THE CROCODILE AND THE DOG*
THE LAST CAMEL DIED AT NOON*
NAKED ONCE MORE
THE DEEDS OF THE DISTURBER*
TROJAN GOLD • LION IN THE VALLEY*
THE MUMMY CASE*
DIE FOR LOVE • SILHOUETTE IN SCARLET
THE COPENHAGEN CONNECTION
THE CURSE OF THE PHARAOHS*
THE LOVE TALKER • SUMMER OF THE DRAGON
STREET OF THE FIVE MOONS
DEVIL-MAY-CARE • LEGEND IN GREEN VELVET
CROCODILE ON THE SANDBANK*
THE MURDERS OF RICHARD III
BORROWER OF THE NIGHT • THE SEVENTH SINNER
THE NIGHT OF FOUR HUNDRED RABBITS
THE DEAD SEA CIPHER
THE CAMELOT CAPER • THE JACKAL’S HEAD
*Amelia Peabody mysteries
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of either the author or the publisher.
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