The Deeds of the Disturber - Elizabeth Peters [138]
Emerson’s arm tightened around my shoulders. ‘You are incorrigible, Peabody! Not only am I willing to answer the question you are about to ask, I insist on doing so.
‘I don’t know what Ayesha told you. She said you had been to visit her, and gave me her version of your conversation; but I place no more credence in that than you ought to place on the accuracy of what she said to you. What I am about to tell you is the simple truth – no more, no less.
‘I knew her – yes, my dear Peabody, I admit it – I knew her in every sense of the word. It happened during my first visit to Egypt, not as an archaeologist but as a beardless boy just down from Oxford, and as naïve about the world as poor little Ramses. I do myself the credit, however, of claiming that I soon learned to loathe the way of life to which I was introduced by so-called friends. The degradation of those poor women horrified me. It made me think less of myself and of the men who had condemned them to a life of fawning slavery.
‘It was Ayesha who really opened my eyes. She was not like the others. To see a woman like her – intelligent, beautiful, as capable as any man – reduced to such an existence only because she was a woman, beautiful, intelligent and capable . . . I believe I offered to take her away from it all, as the saying goes. She laughed at me. It was already too late for her.
‘As in your case, my dear Peabody, that first trip to Egypt convinced me I had found my life’s work and I threw myself into it with what you are pleased to call my enthusiastic exuberance. From time to time I encountered Ayesha, who was by then one of the most famous (and expensive) practitioners of her profession. A few years later she left Egypt. I heard from mutual acquaintances that she had gone to Paris with a wealthy admirer, who gave her her own establishment. Her history thereafter was a sad one. Her protector was a man of violent temper. Whether she betrayed him or not I do not know; he claimed she had, and he cast her off, after giving her a beating that scarred her for life. She had saved her money, however, and later I heard that she had moved to London and set herself up in business. But – and this I swear by everything I hold dear, Peabody – I had not set eyes on her for years. I almost dropped in my tracks the other night when I recognized her.’
‘That is what she told me,’ I said softly. ‘Poor thing. Poor, poor woman.’
‘Peabody.’ Emerson took me by the chin and looked intently into my eyes. ‘Did you really offer to help her move to the country and find solace in the beauties of nature?’
‘Why, yes. Even then I recognized her quality – Emerson, don’t squeeze me so hard. I can’t breathe.’
‘Peabody, Peabody! You are the thirteenth wonder of the world. Was there ever anyone like you?’
‘We are all unique in the eyes of Heaven, Emerson,’ I replied, smoothing my tumbled hair. ‘But, Emerson –’
‘Now what, Peabody?’
‘I am thinking of what I said a little while ago – and a cruel, unkind statement it was – about a proper burial and a monument. It is the least we can do, Emerson, don’t you agree? She did give her life for yours. Not that I am at all jealous now, and I don’t blame you, because you cannot help it if women –’
‘Wait a moment, Peabody. I am in full agreement with your suggestion, and I will see to it at once. But giving her life for mine? What nonsense is that?’
I felt he ought to know all that had transpired, so I told him what Ayesha had said, about being forced to lure me into a trap, and what I had said, trying to persuade her to accept our protection.
‘I didn’t overhear the conversation,’ he said soberly. ‘I was too far away, and concerned, besides, with keeping watch. I saw him coming, Peabody, but before I could move, she ran straight into his arms. And after that –’
‘He shot you and you fell. Oh, Emerson, I will never forget that moment!’
It was some time before I could continue. Emerson listened without comment while I described what had happened. Then he said thoughtfully, ‘It will be a very handsome monument,