The Ape Who Guards the Balance - Elizabeth Peters [118]
“Not a great deal.” Nefret planted her elbows on the table, a rude habit she had got from Emerson and of which I had been unable to break her. “She was so tired she kept falling asleep while I bathed her and got her into bed. She kept insisting we were not to blame Daoud, that it was all her doing. She left a note for her parents—”
“Good Gad!” I cried. “How could I have forgot about them! Poor souls, they must be beside themselves.”
“I expect they are already on their way here,” said Ramses.
This proved to be the case. We located the messages Mustafa had brought over from the telegraph office; finding us engaged when he returned, he had left them on the table in the parlor. The first had been sent early that morning, after Walter and Evelyn discovered Lia was missing. The second announced that they and Selim were taking the next express. It would arrive in Luxor around midnight. The next question was who would meet them. Emerson settled that at once.
“Ramses and David and I. No, Peabody, contrary to your opinions on the subject, we do not need you to protect us. Need I caution you to remain in the house? Should you receive a message written in blood asking you to rush to my rescue, you may assume it did not come from me.”
Then followed a period of rushing about, as on the eve of Waterloo. Lia had certainly disrupted our plans to an amazing degree; but when I saw the tumbled curls and pale little face I could not find it in my heart to be angry with her. She was curled up in Nefret’s bed, sound asleep. David had pulled a chair close to the bed. When I saw how drawn and anxious his face was, I put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
“Go and have something to eat, David. There is nothing to worry about now, she is safe, and Evelyn and Walter are on their way. Selim is with them. Emerson wants you to go with him to meet the train.”
“Yes, certainly. You won’t—you won’t scold her, will you, Aunt Amelia?”
“Perhaps just a little,” I said with a smile. “Your brotherly affection does you credit, David, but don’t be concerned; I am too relieved to be angry. One must admire her courage, if not her good sense.”
After observing her color and listening to her quiet breathing, I concluded there was nothing wrong with the child that rest would not put right. My medical experience informed me that she would sleep through until morning unless she was disturbed, so, leaving the lamp alight and the door ajar, I went in search of the others. The sitting room was deserted except for Fatima—and Sir Edward, who listened with an expression of intense interest as she spoke.
She broke off when she saw me and bustled out, muttering about bed linen and towels and water in the basins.
“She has been telling me about your niece,” said Sir Edward. “I look forward to meeting Miss Emerson; she appears to be as adventurous and independent as the other ladies in the family.”
“A little too independent for a girl of seventeen,” I replied. “However, all’s well that ends well. If you will excuse me, I must go and see that the guest room is got in order.”
“And I will clear my belongings out of my room.”
“There is no hurry about that. Lia will share Nefret’s room tonight, and it may be that Walter and Evelyn will turn right round and take her back to Cairo tomorrow.”
“It might be advisable for them to do so. Mrs. Emerson—”
But he was interrupted by Emerson bellowing my name, and I exclaimed, “Good Gad! He will wake the child. Excuse me, Sir Edward.”
Another had had the same thought; when I went to Nefret’s room I met David coming out. “She is still sleeping,” he reported.
“Good. Now go along, Emerson is waxing impatient. And don’t forget to tell Selim he must not be hard on Daoud.”
Emerson had wanted my assistance in locating his coat, which was hanging on a hook in plain sight. I helped him into it and smoothed the lapels and bade him take care; and indeed,