The Deeds of the Disturber - Elizabeth Peters [13]
James’s forced smile trembled in the balance, but he managed to hold on to it. ‘Ha, ha! My dear Radcliffe, your sense of humour . . . Upon my word, it is the most . . .’ He offered his hand.
Emerson eyed it for a moment, lips pursed, then seized it in a grasp that brought a squeal of pain from my brother. ‘Soft as a baby’s,’ said Emerson, flinging the member aside. ‘Come along, Peabody.’
However, we were not to be rid of James so easily. He stood his ground, smiling and nodding, while the rest of us exchanged those charmingly inconsequential bits of domestic news that mark the meeting of friends after a long absence.
Rose continued to hold Ramses (and the cat) in a close embrace. She had a quite unaccountable attachment to the boy and was one of the few people who defended him on all occasions. Such cases are not unknown, I believe; Rose had no children of her own. Though her official position was that of parlourmaid, she was the mainstay of our household and cheerfully performed any service requested of her. She had come up to London for the express purpose of watching over Ramses for the few days we intended to remain in town. Not that she was really capable of controlling him; but then, as Emerson said, no one was.
John – who could not control Ramses either – had been out to Egypt with us one winter, and he was full of questions about his friends Abdullah and Selim and the rest. The look of surprise and contempt on James’s face at seeing us so friendly with a mere footman was very amusing; but at last a slight cough from Evelyn reminded me of the damp weather, and we took an affectionate leave of John, who was returning immediately to Kent with our baggage.
There were too many of us for the carriage, so Walter suggested the ladies make use of it, while he and his brother followed in a cab. I did not hear him mention my brother; that did not prevent James from joining them. Emerson was already inside the cab, so I was spared seeing his reaction.
Ramses and Rose went with us in the carriage. He immediately launched into one of his interminable monologues, describing his winter’s activities, to which Rose listened with a fatuous smile. I turned to Evelyn, who was seated beside me.
‘How long do you mean to stay in London, my dear?’
‘Only long enough to welcome you, dearest Amelia, and persuade you to spend the summer with me in Yorkshire, at Chalfont Castle. I have missed you and dear little Ramses so much; his cousins constantly ask for him –’
‘Ha,’ I said sceptically.
Ramses interrupted his speech long enough to give me a long, direct stare; before he could comment, I continued, ‘I am not certain of Emerson’s plans, Evelyn, but I expect he will have to be in London a great deal of the time. I am trying to help him finish the first volume of his History of Ancient Egypt; the Oxford University Press has become quite insistent, and no wonder, since he promised them the manuscript a year ago. Then there is our excavation report to prepare for the printer –’
‘That is what Walter said,’ Evelyn remarked. ‘So I have concocted a little scheme I hope will please you. We mean to keep the town house open, so that Radcliffe can stay there instead of at a hotel. But I had hoped you –’
‘Oh, Emerson cannot get on without my help,’ I said. ‘Much as I would prefer to rusticate in the tranquillity of the country, and greatly as I enjoy your companionship, my dear, I cannot – I never will – abandon my dear Emerson at such a time. Without my assistance and my little reminders he will never finish that book.’
‘Of course.’ A smile played about the corners of Evelyn’s delicate lips. ‘I understand.’
‘Aunt Evelyn.’ Ramses leaned forward. ‘Aunt Evelyn, I am in particular need of information, so I beg you will excuse me for interrupting you and Mama –’
‘Ramses, I forbade you to discuss the subject,’ I said firmly.
‘But, Mama –’
‘You heard me, Ramses.’
‘Yes, Mama. But –’
‘Not under any circumstances, Ramses.’
‘Now, Amelia, do let the dear child speak,’ Evelyn said with a smile. ‘I cannot imagine that he could say anything that would