The Ape Who Guards the Balance - Elizabeth Peters [91]
Everyone had known of Layla’s return; it had been a subject of interest, particularly to some of the men. However, when they dropped by to renew old acquaintances they had been turned away. They were indignant but not surprised; Layla had always been unpredictable, as one of them put it, adding philosophically, “That is what comes of letting women have their own money. They do what they wish instead of what men tell them to do.”
“Damned right,” said Nefret, after this last witness had taken his leave. “I beg your pardon, Aunt Amelia and Mrs. Vandergelt.”
“Granted,” said Katherine with a smile. She had got accustomed to hearing Nefret use bad language, and I had more or less given up hope of stopping Nefret from using it. She had learned a good deal of it from Emerson.
Aside from the unhelpful information about Layla, the majority of the witnesses had nothing much to say, though some of them said it at considerable length. Strangers had been seen coming and going from Layla’s house; they were unfriendly people who would not stop and fahddle or answer questions. Finally Emerson put a stop to the proceedings with a vehement comment.
“This isn’t getting us anywhere. If any of the Gurnawis knew those fellows they won’t admit it. Layla is our best lead. We must find her. Where can she have gone?”
Sir Edward had come with us, since no one had told him not to. He cleared his throat. “Doesn’t it seem likely that she would have crossed over to Luxor? The villages on the West Bank are small and close-knit; strangers are noticed. There is a certain part of Luxor . . . Forgive me. I ought not to have referred to it while there are ladies present.”
“Oh, that part of Luxor,” I said. “Hmmm.”
“The thought had occurred to me,” Ramses said, with a hostile look at Sir Edward, who smiled amiably back.
“Well, you are not to go there,” I declared. “Nor David.”
I did not forbid Nefret to go, because it would never have occurred to me that she would. Autopsies and mangled bodies, yes; the abodes of hardened criminals, certainly; but a house of illicit affection . . .
I cannot imagine how I could have been so dense.
Sir Edward took leave of us at the place where we had stabled our horses with one of Abdullah’s innumerable young relatives. He did not renew his offer of assistance, but the meaningful look he gave me was sufficient assurance that it held and would hold. He looked very well on horseback, and Nefret’s eyes were not the only ones that followed his erect figure as he rode off toward the ferry.
We turned our horses in the direction of home and Cyrus said, “I don’t want to speak out of turn, Emerson, but darned if I can understand why you didn’t jump at Sir Edward’s offer. He’s a husky young fellow and a smart one, too.”
“I won’t have him hanging about making eyes at my wife,” Emerson growled. “Or Nefret.”
“Well, now,” said Cyrus, in his quiet drawl, “I don’t recollect that there’s any law against a fellow paying polite attentions to a lady so long as she doesn’t object. And I have a feeling that if Miss Nefret did object she’d let him know in no uncertain terms.”
“Damn—er—absolutely right,” said Nefret. “Don’t talk like a Victorian papa, Professor darling. We need Sir Edward. Especially if Lia and Aunt Evelyn and Uncle Walter join us.”
“There won’t be room in the house,” Emerson muttered. It was the last dying rumble of the volcano; Emerson has his little weaknesses but he is not a fool, and he recognized the inevitable.
“There will be ample room if we can prevent our loved ones from coming,” I said. “Sir Edward is at the Winter Palace, is he not? We will call on him, or leave a message, accepting his offer.”
For once there was no argument about what we should do next. It was imperative that we attempt to locate Layla, and the sooner the better. In my opinion Luxor was her most likely destination and it was there we stood the best chance of finding a trace of her. My suggestion that Ramses should go home and rest was met with stony silence on his part and a critical comment