The Deeds of the Disturber - Elizabeth Peters [29]
I had completed most of the arrangements for a departure the following day by the time Emerson made his appearance. He was accompanied by Ramses; from the smiles that wreathed both faces, even the saturnine countenance of my son, it was obvious they had made it up.
But it was not from his father that Ramses learned of the imminent arrival of his cousins. No; he got that information, and a painful pinch on his thin cheek, from James. ‘Won’t that be fine, young fellow?’ he wheezed. ‘High time you had some kiddies your own age to play with. My boy Percy is a fine little chap; he’ll help put some roses in those pale cheeks, toughen up those muscles of yours . . .’
Ramses endured the squeezing and prodding of his upper arm with more equanimity than I would have expected. ‘How old are my cousins, Uncle James, and what is their number? I am forced to confess that I have scarcely been moved by the thought of them, and am uninformed –’
‘Be still, Ramses,’ I said. ‘How can your uncle answer your question if you go on talking?’
‘Er – hmph,’ said James. ‘Let me see. There are two of them – Percy and little Violet. I call her “little” Violet because she is her daddy’s precious girl. Their ages? Let me see . . . Percy is nine years of age, I believe. Or perhaps ten. Yes. And dear little Violet is – er –’
Emerson’s curling lip betrayed his opinion of a man who could not remember the age of his precious girl, or his heir, but he said nothing; he never addressed James directly the entire time.
Ramses rose from his chair. ‘I beg you will excuse me. I have finished breakfast and I must take something to Bastet. She is behaving rather oddly this morning; perhaps, Mama, you would have a look at her, for I would not want –’
‘I will come in a little while, Ramses.’
After he had gone James shook his head. ‘Never heard a child talk like that in my life. But my Percy will soon whip the little chap into shape. He’s a regular boy, is my Percy. Healthy outdoor exercise, that’s the ticket; soon get your boy back to health. Counter that unfortunate family tendency towards consumption, eh, Amelia?’
He returned to his gobbling of breakfast and I regarded him with silent contempt. There has never been any tendency towards consumption in my family. James had only mentioned it to imply he was doing us a favour, instead of the reverse.
After he had eaten everything on the table, James took his departure, which was a relief to all concerned. He had informed me he would bring the children to us by the end of the week. As he climbed into the cab that was to take him to the railroad station, he was smirking in a way that raised serious doubts in my mind as to the wisdom of my decision. However, the die was cast; and Amelia Peabody Emerson is not the woman to turn her shoulder from the wheel or abandon a task when it is once begun.
James being gone, Emerson’s humour improved, but unfortunately it was adversely affected by the morning paper, which contained a story by Miss Minton about her encounter with us the night before. The young lady had