Lord of the Silent - Elizabeth Peters [33]
“Yes!” She threw her arms around Nefret. “Will I be able to play as well as you one day, if I practice?”
“You will play much better,” Nefret assured her.
Horus had joined us, stamping up the stairs with a tread as heavy as a man’s. Sennia began feeding him bits of biscuit and cheese, and I looked through the post, which I had brought up with me.
“Anything of interest?” Emerson inquired.
“No.”
From Letter Collection M
My dear Mrs. Emerson,
I was delighted to learn that you and your family are back in Cairo. Will you—one or all of you—do me the honor of lunching with me on Thursday next? If I should be so fortunate as to receive an acceptance, I will reserve a table at Shepheard’s for half past one, unless you would prefer another place.
With sincere regards,
Margaret Minton
My dear Mrs. Emerson,
I am so sorry that Thursday is not possible for you. Would Friday, which I understand is the day of rest for your men, be more convenient? If it is not, please suggest a date.
Sincerely,
Margaret Minton
My dear Mrs. Emerson,
You can continue to refuse my invitations, but in the small world of Cairo society you can’t avoid me altogether. I have a particular reason for wanting to see, not only you, but your husband and your son. It isn’t what you think. Won’t you meet privately with me so I can explain?
Yours,
Margaret
Margaret, indeed, I thought, after perusing this last epistle. Our letters had been whizzing back and forth with the speed of bullets; I answered hers the instant they arrived and she did the same with mine. Obviously she had not changed since the days when she first incurred my ire, initially by pursuing us mercilessly in the hope of a story, and finally by falling in love with my husband. She had actually disguised herself as a housemaid in order to gain a position in our home, and it was during this period that she had succumbed, as many women did, to Emerson’s numerous attractions. Servants are always hearing and seeing things, since one does not pay attention to them. At least one didn’t used to. I did now.
Was she still in love with him? She was a very determined woman, and few men can match Emerson. I was not in the least concerned about his being attracted to her. Not until the knowledge was forced upon him did the innocent man realize the depth of her affection, and it had embarrassed him horribly. All the more reason, I thought, to spare him additional embarrassment. I wrote a brief, forceful response in the negative and told Ali the doorman to have it sent by messenger to the Semiramis, where Miss Minton was staying.
She turned up at Giza the following day.
There were not many tourists in Egypt that winter. Citizens of the countries of the Central Powers were of course personae non gratae, the French and English were most of them deeply involved in the deadly business of war, and many Americans had been deterred from travel abroad because of the submarine threat. Desperate for work and baksheesh, the guides swarmed like flies over the visitors who did come. It was a piercing, poignant chorus of pleas that attracted my attention; I looked up from the rubble I was examining to see a crowd of the rascals scampering toward me. Not until they were close at hand did I recognize the form they surrounded. I leaped to my feet, hoping to head her off before she could get to Emerson, who was down below in the tomb. Seeing me, the guides retreated to a safe distance and Miss Minton proceeded to accost me.
“Good morning, Mrs. Emerson.” She held out her hand.
Instead of taking it I inspected her from head to foot and back again, noting that her well-cut skirt was a trifle fuller than was fashionable and that her buttoned boots had practical, low heels. Her figure was still trim and her black hair was untouched by gray; but the marks of the passing years were visible at the corners of her eyes and around her mouth.
A silent stare is often the best way of disconcerting an unwanted guest. It had no effect on Margaret Minton. Her smile broadened. “You ought to have known you wouldn’t