The Ape Who Guards the Balance - Elizabeth Peters [13]
“I wonder if Sethos knew she would be there this afternoon,” David said.
“I am convinced he did not know,” Ramses said. “Mother had had very little to do with the WSPU, and her decision to attend this particular demonstration was made on the spur of the moment.”
“He must have seen her there, though.”
“It is difficult to overlook Mother.” They exchanged knowing smiles, and Ramses went on, “However, by the time she arrived it was too late to cancel the operation. No, David, I’m certain the encounter was accidental. He’ll be careful to stay out of her way hereafter.”
He fell silent. After a moment, Nefret said, “What does he look like? She’s a good observer; if she spent so much time alone with him, she ought to have noticed something.”
“Not a great deal. His eyes are of an indeterminate shade; they can appear black, gray or hazel. The color of his hair is unknown, thanks to his skillful use of wigs and dyes. The only facts of which we can be relatively certain are his height—a trifle under six feet—and his build, which is that of a man in the prime of life and excellent physical condition. Though he speaks a number of languages, Mother is of the opinion that he is an Englishman. Not very useful, you must admit.”
“Yet she recognized him tonight,” Nefret said.
“That was odd,” Ramses admitted. “I would think she had invented it, but for the fact that something unquestionably struck her at the time. She started to ask me if I had noticed anything unusual, and then thought better of it.”
“You didn’t?”
“I had not seen the fellow for years, and—”
“That’s quite all right, my boy, you needn’t make excuses. Six feet tall, in excellent physical condition . . . Hmmmm.”
“Just what are you suggesting?” Ramses demanded, stiffening.
She put a slim hand on his shoulder. “Calm yourself, my boy. I assure you I meant no insult to Aunt Amelia. But if she was attracted to him, however unwillingly, the counterreaction will be even stronger.”
“What counterreaction?” David asked.
Nefret gave him a kindly smile. “You don’t know much about women, either of you. A woman may forgive a man for abducting her, and she certainly will not blame him for falling in love with her. What she will never forgive is being made to look like a fool. That is what Sethos has done to Aunt Amelia.”
“I wish you wouldn’t spout aphorisms,” Ramses grumbled. “You sound like Mother.”
“That is not an aphorism, it is a simple fact! Don’t you see—the way Sethos used the suffragist movement struck a blow at a cause dear to Aunt Amelia’s heart. It will give fresh ammunition to those male supremacists who claim women are too naive and childlike to deal with the real world. The WSPU will be mercilessly ridiculed for admitting a pack of criminals into their ranks—”
“That isn’t fair,” Ramses protested. “Sethos has deceived the keenest criminal investigators.”
“Fair, unfair, what difference does that make to the press? And just wait until some enterprising journalist discovers Aunt Amelia was there. ‘Mrs. Amelia P. Emerson, the noted archaeologist and amateur detective, attacked a constable who was attempting to prevent a gang of thieves from entering the house!’ ”
“Oh dear,” David exclaimed, paling visibly. “They wouldn’t!”
“She didn’t actually attack the fellow,” Ramses mused. “But it wasn’t for want of trying. Oh dear indeed. Could we find an excuse to leave town for a few days, do you think?”
•
Two
•
I am a rational individual. My emotions are under firm control at all times. Being only too familiar with the lies and exaggerations of journalists, I knew what to expect from those villains once the story of the robbery got out. I was prepared for the worst and determined not to lose my temper.
Nor would I have