The Falcon at the Portal - Elizabeth Peters [123]
Cyrus had caused the Valley of the Kings to be brought to the dock near Giza. It was only a short walk, but I accepted Ali’s offer to get me a cab, since I meant to take Katherine and Nefret on to Cairo with me. We would have a pleasant morning shopping for the child and then return for luncheon at the house. Cyrus could meet us there or go to the site.
I got it all worked out during the five-minute drive to the dock. One of the ferries was just unloading, so I had to make my way through a throng of tourists to the southern section where the dahabeeyah was moored. One of the crewmen, lounging in the bow, saw me coming and of course recognized me immediately. He hastened to run out the gangplank and emitted a shout that brought Cyrus on deck.
“Why, say now, I didn’t expect to see you so early,” he exclaimed. “Figured you’d be on your way to Zawaiet.”
“I hope I am not de trop, Cyrus.”
“You could never be that, Amelia. Come and have coffee, we’re just finishing breakfast.”
Cyrus lived in princely style; the table was set with crystal and silver and every appointment was of the best. Golden damask draperies had been pulled back from the long windows of the salon, admitting a flood of sunlight that brought out the beautiful colors of the Persian rugs covering the floor. Katherine jumped up from her chair and embraced me.
“How lovely to see you, Amelia. We intended to come by this evening since we had not heard from you for several days.”
“We have been somewhat preoccupied, Katherine. No doubt Nefret told you what happened yesterday. Where is she?”
“Why, Amelia, I have no idea.” Katherine’s smile faded. “Why did you think she was here? What happened?”
“Oh, dear,” I said, feeling as if the breath had been knocked out of me. “You haven’t seen her?”
“Now calm down, my dears,” Cyrus said in his slow, soothing drawl. “Let’s just figure out what the situation is and then we’ll know what to do about it. First things first. Did Miss Nefret say she was coming to us, Amelia?”
“No. No, what she said—wrote, rather—was that she was going to spend a few days with friends. I assumed …”
“Sure you would. But we’re not her only friends, and maybe a young thing like that would rather be with folks her own age. This was yesterday? Uh-huh. Well, we’ll track her down, don’t you worry. Now tell us what happened.”
As Cyrus later confessed, he expected “the usual disasters you folks get into.” He listened with friendly interest and occasional ejaculations of surprise, but when I had finished my tale he inquired, “Nobody dead, wounded, or kidnapped? Well, that’s a pleasant surprise! I’m relieved it’s not serious.”
Katherine, being a woman, came closer to understanding. “I am so sorry, dear Amelia. Sorry for Ramses, too. In wishing to spare you, he only made things worse, but he thought he was acting for the best.”
“Spare me what? Do not suppose for one moment, Katherine, that I doubt his word. He is incapable of doing such a thing, and if he had, which he never would, he would shoulder the responsibility like a man! He nobly and generously came to the rescue of that innocent child! And now,” I added bitterly, while Katherine made conciliatory noises and Cyrus patted my shoulder, “now he will suffer for it. If you suspect him—”
“My dear, I don’t! You misunderstood. Ramses would no more do such a thing than—than Cyrus. You think that nephew of yours is the child’s father?”
“He must be. Wait till you see her, Katherine. The resemblance is astonishing.”
Katherine had poured coffee for me. I took a sip. “Excellent coffee,” I said. “I am on my way to Cairo, Katherine, to get some things