Tomb of the Golden Bird - Elizabeth Peters [149]
“Peabody!” Emerson exclaimed. “Did you?”
“Curse it,” I said. “I did say something of the sort. But it was…it was an expression of regret, not an order.”
“You shouldn’t expect Daoud to make such distinctions,” Sethos said. “‘Who will free me from this turbulent priest?’ was good enough for the minions of Edward II.”
“What does bloody Edward II have to do with this?” Emerson demanded. “And stop smirking!”
“I beg your pardon.” Sethos’s smirk vanished into the limbo of lost smiles. “Daoud did harbor a few doubts. You may have noticed he has kept out of your way the past few days. You mustn’t blame him, he thought he was doing as you wished.”
“I don’t blame him,” I said. “Or the driver, who, I do not doubt, obeyed Daoud’s orders to stay in hiding. Where did he take her? Not to his house, Kadija would have let me know.”
“We decided, Daoud and I, that we couldn’t risk that,” Sethos said. “Margaret resides at present with one of Daoud’s innumerable kinsmen. He’s deaf as a post and somewhat feeble-witted, and his wife is a sour old beldam who is at odds with every other woman in the village. She has been well paid to look after Margaret, however, so I believe my dear wife has every possible comfort.”
“Don’t you know?” I asked in horror. “Haven’t you been to see her?”
“Well, you see I had a plan,” Sethos explained, leaning comfortably against the wall. “It occurred to me that Margaret might be in need of wooing again. Though she would never admit it, she has a fondness for romance. After you pointed out that she might reasonably resent my failure to do something dashing, such as having her carried off—”
“Are you blaming this on me?” I demanded.
“Not at all, Amelia dear. You made a sensible suggestion, which I duly followed. I intended to stage a daring rescue, sword in hand—supposing I could get hold of one—and carry her away from her captors.”
“Good Gad!” Emerson exclaimed. “Are you telling us that Margaret’s abduction has nothing to do with the—the other business?”
“That is correct,” Sethos said. “I had to tell you, in order to relieve Nefret’s mind. It is possible that David got wind of my impulsive gesture and set out, like a knight of old, to free the captive princess.”
“It is possible,” Nefret said hopefully. “David has kin in Gurneh, and they all love and trust him.”
“I’ll go and find them,” Emerson said, jumping up.
“And free poor Margaret,” Nefret said, with an indignant look at Sethos.
“Dinner is served,” said Fatima.
I took hold of my head with both hands, for it felt as if it were bursting with confusion and conjecture.
“Wait, Emerson,” I said. “We must discuss this.”
“Dinner is served,” Fatima insisted. “What shall I tell Maaman?”
It was necessary for someone to keep her head. They were all about to rush off on a hypothetical quest, while Maaman wept into the soup and Sethos…I was not finished with Sethos.
“We may as well dine,” I said. “No, listen to me, Nefret. Ramses and David may already be on their way home. Premature action will only confuse the situation.”
As usual, mine was the last word. We seated ourselves, and Fatima served the soup. Nefret took one sip and put her spoon down.
“Is it not good?” Fatima asked.
“It’s fine. I’m just not hungry.” Nefret met my inquiring gaze and smiled faintly. “No, Mother, I’m not having one of my premonitions. If I were, I wouldn’t be sitting here. He isn’t in imminent danger. I only want to see him. To be sure.”
“I understand, my dear,” I said sympathetically. “And we will take action soon. First, however, a few matters require clarification.”
I waited until Fatima had removed the soup plates and served the fish course. The delay was meant to get her out of the room, but it had another effect, which I had, of course, intended. Sethos seemed to have lost his appetite. He stared fixedly at his fish, which stared back at him with blank white eyes, until I addressed him.
“You got us off the track, with your customary skill, by your long-winded story about Margaret. I don’t doubt it was the truth. You never lie when you can be easily caught out. However,