The Deeds of the Disturber - Elizabeth Peters [69]
His lordship laughed heartily. ‘Bravo, Mrs Emerson. It is so refreshing to find a woman – or an individual of either sex – who doesn’t mince words. Your blunt candour suits me. Yes, I am heartily ashamed of some episodes in my past. Time mellows us and improves us, if we are wise. It is time I settled down. I am discovering the pleasures of learning; I am looking for a good woman with whom I can glide smoothly and peacefully into middle age.’
‘Miss Minton, perhaps?’
‘Good heavens, Mrs Emerson! Miss Minton’s path will never be smooth and peaceable. I require someone more tranquil, more aware of life’s simple pleasures.’ He leaned forward and placed his cup and saucer on a table. ‘That is one of the reasons why I ventured to call, Mrs Emerson, to explain my caddish behaviour yesterday. I have known Margaret since childhood; our families come from the same part of Gloucestershire. I feel quite like a brother to her and I can’t get over the habit of teasing her in a brotherly fashion. The poor little dear takes herself so seriously! But it was too bad of me to expose her secret – though it can hardly be secret from most people . . .’
‘It was too bad of you. (Will you be pleased to hand me your cup, your lordship? Thank you.) But it is Miss Minton, not I, who deserves your apology. And if that is the important matter on which you wanted to consult me –’
‘No, not at all. Though your good opinion, Mrs Emerson, is important to me.’ His lordship smiled in a friendly way at the housemaid who had passed the tray of sandwiches. She blushed furiously; she was very young and quite pretty, and since this was the first time I had noticed her, I assumed she had just been promoted to a higher position in the household following the departure of the girls Mrs Watson had mentioned.
Time was getting on; Emerson would soon be returning, and although I found his lordship’s conversation interesting in the extreme, I was forced to indicate that he ought to be getting on with it. ‘Then –’ I prompted.
‘I wanted to consult you about the odd incidents at the Museum, of course. Is it true that you and the professor are investigating the case? I would not venture to ask, except that as a patron of the Museum and a friend of Mr Budge –’
‘You need not explain your interest. But it would be an exaggeration to claim that we are investigating anything. Like others, we are curious. The matter is very odd. However, we have not been formally approached by the authorities.’
‘I have reason to believe you may be, in the near future.’
‘Indeed?’
‘Mr Budge is . . . well, to be quite honest, he is frightened. This notion of a vendetta, or feud, against Egyptologists –’
‘So I am not the only one to whom this interpretation has occurred,’ I exclaimed. ‘Ha! It is the only sensible explanation, your lordship; but has anything else happened that would support my theory? Any murderous attacks, any threatening letters?’
‘Not to my knowledge,’ his lordship said slowly. ‘But the recipient of an anonymous letter might not make it known, for fear of ridicule.’
‘True. Yet I have every reason to believe –’
We were interrupted, at this juncture, by the last person I had expected to see – my errant offspring, Ramses. He flung the door open and stood panting, too short of breath to speak.
I sprang to my feet. ‘Ramses, you were told to remain in your room.’
‘I took it for granted . . . the usual exceptions . . . prevailed,’ Ramses gasped. ‘Mama, my room –’
‘Go back upstairs at once.’
‘My room is on fire,’ Ramses said.
And indeed it was. The truth of Ramses’ statement was confirmed as soon as I reached the hall, by the outcries abovestairs, and by a pervasive smell of scorched linen. Rushing up the stairs – closely followed by his lordship and Ramses – I found a gaggle of agitated servants clustered in the doorway of the boy’s room, while one of the footmen, ably assisted by Percy, tore down the blackened and smouldering curtains.
A quick examination assured me that no great damage had been done, but that only quick thinking and quicker action