The Deeds of the Disturber - Elizabeth Peters [106]
With what a pang I cannot describe I freed myself gently but firmly. ‘We are not alone, Emerson.’
‘Is that cursed – er – that girl here again?’ Emerson exclaimed. ‘Curse it, hasn’t she anything else to do? Come along, Peabody, we may as well go down. There is no privacy in this confounded mausoleum. How much longer must we stay here?’
‘Until you finish your manuscript,’ I replied, taking his arm as we reached the stairs.
‘Curse the cursed manuscript! I want you out of this, Peabody. I want you to take the children and go home to Kent.’
‘Oh, do you? And why is that, Emerson?’
‘Curse it, Peabody, you know why. (Hallo, Gargery; how are you this evening?) I don’t like the way this fellow’s mind works. He won’t attack me. No one attacks ME. He will try to strike at me through those I love, and as I mentioned earlier, Peabody –’
‘Yes, I have not forgotten. But you have never tried to hustle me out of danger before.’
‘Not true, Peabody, not true. I always try. I never succeed, but I always try.’
‘Excuse me, sir and madam.’ Gargery put a plate of soup before Emerson. ‘I know I ought not ask, but in view of the profound respect I feel for you both, I must inquire whether there is any imminent danger, and if so, what we servants can do to help.’
So moved was I by Gargery’s concern that I would never have wounded his feelings by reminding him that it was not his place to join in the conversation. Emerson was equally touched; eyes bright with emotion, he clapped the butler on the back.
‘Very good of you to say so, Gargery. Mrs Emerson and I appreciate it. You see, what happened . . .’
I finished my soup while Emerson told Gargery all about it. Gargery’s eyes flashed. ‘Sir and madam, there is not a servant in the house that would not risk life and limb in your defence. Don’t you worry, sir, we won’t let this chap get to Mrs. Emerson. Here’s an idea, sir; supposing Bob – he’s the huskiest of the footmen, sir – supposing he goes along with Mrs Emerson on her little errands and so on? I could find him a nice little revolver, sir –’
‘No, no, no firearms,’ Emerson said, shaking his head. ‘I won’t have them in the house; you know Master Ramses, he’d pepper himself or the crockery before you could say “Jack Robinson.” Perhaps a stout cudgel –’
‘Nonsense,’ I exclaimed angrily. ‘No one is going anywhere with me on any errands of any kind. Gargery, you may take away the soup and fetch the next course.’
I had barely time to say to Emerson, ‘If you set a bodyguard on me, Emerson, I will never–’ before Gargery was back, breathless and bubbling with ideas.
‘Has it occurred to you, sir,’ he said, slamming a platter of turbot with lobster sauce down in front of me, ‘that this incident may be not directed against you personally? Like those ushbers – shabters –’
‘That is a point I was about to make myself,’ said Emerson. ‘We agree, do we not, that the (temporary) abduction of Ramses was perpetrated by the same individual who sent the ushebtis?’
‘I am of that opinion, sir,’ said Gargery judiciously.
I frowned at Gargery. ‘If I may be allowed to speak, at my own dinner table . . .’
‘I beg your pardon, madam,’ said Gargery, retreating to the side-board.
‘Thank you, Gargery. I agree – if a woman’s humble opinion is of any worth in the presence of two such great intellects – that the same person is responsible for both incidents.’ Gargery and Emerson exchanged glances. Emerson shrugged and rolled his eyes; I went on, ‘It would behoove us, I suggest, to find out whether the others who received the ushebtis had anything unusual happen to them.’
Gargery remained discreetly silent. Emerson exclaimed with false heartiness, ‘An excellent suggestion, Peabody. I will go around and pay a few calls after dinner. Would you care to accompany me?’
‘No, thank you, Emerson. You and Gargery have a good time.’
At breakfast next morning I remarked to my husband, ‘You might have spared yourself the effort of paying calls, which you generally dislike, Emerson. It is all here in the Morning Mirror.’
‘What is?’ Emerson snatched the newspaper. ‘Oh, good