Tomb of the Golden Bird - Elizabeth Peters [105]
“Striking out at him,” I said, looking back at Sethos. “Well, I forgive you this time, Emerson. I must admit that Miss Minton is an exasperating woman, and I cannot say we accomplished anything this afternoon. Ah well, we have done our duty.”
We were followed into the lobby by Kevin. “What was that all about?” he asked.
“None of your damned business,” growled Emerson.
I poked him with my parasol. “Miss Minton asked us to tea, and we accepted, in the belief that she intended it as a friendly gesture. As it turned out, she was only hoping to gain information from us.”
“You didn’t tell her about your secret visit to the tomb?” Kevin asked, trotting to keep up with Emerson’s long strides.
“As you observed, we parted acrimoniously,” I replied.
“Carter is reopening the tomb tomorrow.” Kevin offered this like a dog wagging its tail in the hope of reward.
Emerson stopped. “I know that. How do you know?”
“I have my sources.” Kevin winked. “Will you be there, sir?”
“No,” said Emerson. “Come along, Peabody.”
When we reached the house the twins were waiting for us, brushed and scrubbed within an inch of their lives. Looking as if no naughty thought had ever entered her pretty head, Charla begged all our pardons for her outburst of temper. The picture the two made was quite charming: hand in hand, blue eyes and dark raised imploringly; black curls and golden locks mingling, so close did they stand. They had missed tea with the family, which was one of the worst punishments we could devise, so I decided no further action was necessary. Making David John suffer for his sister’s bad manners was unfair, but he preferred it that way. As different as they were in appearance and behavior, they shared that strong bond one often finds between twins, and joined ranks when either was in trouble. They went off, still hand in hand, and I heard David John say, “If you like, I will read more to you from the fairy book, Charla, since you apologized so nicely.” She did like, as her vehement response made evident. Perhaps David John’s influence would be more effective than my lectures—if he could learn to be less patronizing.
At my insistence we all assumed proper attire for dinner with the Vandergelts. It is virtually impossible to force Emerson into formal evening garb, but he looked very handsome in the nice tweed suit I had selected (flecked with blue to match his eyes). The garments I had ordered, ostensibly for Ramses, had arrived, and Sethos was formally attired in a dinner jacket and black tie. I assumed he had done so in order to annoy Emerson. Nefret’s frock glittered with gold and silver beads from neck to hem. Sennia studied it enviously. “I wish I could have a dress like that,” she said.
Nefret gave her a hug. “Not until you are a little older. That frock becomes you very well.”
It had, in my opinion, too many ruffles. Sennia favored ruffles. However, it was suitable for a young girl, and the pale pink set off her black hair and brown cheeks.
In honor of the newcomers, Cyrus and Katherine had gone to some effort; porcelain and crystal, flowers in silver vases graced the table. This was Sennia’s first outing as a grown-up, and Bertie himself led her in to dinner. Spreading her skirts, she seated herself and surveyed the glittering rows of utensils with an air of great complacency.
“I know which fork to use,” she said to Bertie, in what my old nurse referred to as a pig’s whisper—the reference being, I supposed, to the pig’s manners rather than its vocalization.
“Then you can show me,” Bertie said. They were great friends, for she had nursed him during his postwar illness. Observing her smiles and flirtatious looks, I wondered if she had transferred her youthful affections to him. She had at one time been determined to marry Ramses when she grew up, but that had only been a childish fantasy, born of her great affection and gratitude. Now she was thirteen, the age at which a young person’s fancy turns to thoughts of the opposite gender.
“And you can show me,” said Jumana, across the table. She and Sennia both laughed