The Ape Who Guards the Balance - Elizabeth Peters [67]
“I can’t recall where I got that impression,” I replied evasively. “No doubt I misinterpreted some bit of gossip. If you will excuse me, Sir Edward, I must head Emerson off before he—”
“One other question, Mrs. Emerson, if I may.” I stopped, perforce. He had taken my arm in quite a firm grip preparatory to escorting me to a chair.
“Once again I am seeking employment,” he went on, and his courteous social smile broadened as he saw my look of surprise. “Not because I am in need of it—that little inheritance I mentioned has made me financially independent—but because I want something to occupy me. Mine is not the sort of temperament that enjoys idleness, and I have always been keen on archaeology. I don’t suppose your husband is in need of a photographer, or any other sort of assistant?”
I was not taken in by this disingenuous explanation. Sir Edward was about to make his move! He would get no help from me. I explained, with perfect truth, that we had all the staff we needed at present.
“Yes, I understand.” His raised eyebrow and half-smile made it clear that he did understand. “If he should change his mind, please let me know.”
I had observed Emerson talking with a lady who was unfamiliar to me. His handsome head was bent attentively and his well-cut lips were wreathed in a smile. The lady was elegantly dressed and extravagantly bejeweled. A diamond ornament as big as my hand crowned the coils of her dark hair. It was shaped like a cluster of roses with the flowers and leaves set en tremblant, so that the slightest movement of her head made the roses sway on the thin wires. They sent off sparks of diamond fire as she tilted her head to gaze up at Emerson.
“Ah,” said Emerson. “Here is my wife now. Peabody, allow me to introduce Mrs. Marija Stephenson. We were talking about cats.”
“A fascinating subject,” I said, bowing politely to the lady. She bowed politely to me. Rainbow fire glittered atop her head. A diamond necklace and matching bracelets glittered too, if not as extravagantly. I blinked.
“Quite,” said Emerson. “She has one. A cat. Its name is Astrolabe.”
“An unusual name.”
“Your husband tells me you favor Egyptian names for your cats,” said Mrs. Stephenson. She had a pleasant voice, marred only by an unfortunate American accent.
We exchanged conventional questions—“Is this your first visit to Egypt? How long are you planning to stay? Is your husband with you?”—and conventional answers—“Yes, I am enjoying it excessively; two weeks longer in Luxor and then back to Cairo; unfortunately he was unable to get away from his business.” I was conscious throughout this exchange of the lady’s dark eyes examining my own simple ornaments. The faience and carved stone amulets did not make much of a show compared with that galaxy of diamonds.
After introducing Mrs. Stephenson to someone else—for I hope I have better manners than to leave a stranger alone—I drew Emerson away.
“ ’Pon my word, Peabody, you were cursed inquisitive,” Emerson remarked. “Did you have one of your famous premonitions about the lady? I thought her very pleasant.”
“So I observed. You haven’t asked me to dance, Emerson. They are playing a waltz.”
“Certainly, my dear.” His strong arm caught me to him and swung me onto the floor.
I looked round for Nefret. I had been pleased to note that the boys had rather monopolized her that evening, taking most of her dances and preventing her from stealing out into the gardens unchaperoned. She was now dancing with Ramses, who was demonstrating more panache than he had with me. Her full skirts swung out as he spun her in a sweeping turn, and she smiled up at him.
Emerson was deep in thought, his manly brow furrowed.
“You are uncommonly taciturn, Peabody. Was it the diamonds? I saw you staring at them. You can have all you want, you know. I didn’t think you cared for such things.”
His sensitive perception and generous offer made me feel ashamed of myself. “Oh, Emerson,” I murmured. “You are so good to me.”
“Well, I try to be, curse it. But if you won’t tell me what you would like, how am I supposed to know?