Виктория Холт - Curse of the Kings

I thought a great deal about Sir Ralph. I was really quite fond of him.

When Alison and Dorcas heard the news they were astounded.

"Theodosia to marry Evan Callum! How very strange! You were so much better at all that work that he's so keen on than she was."

I could see that they were nonplused. Another attempt to marry me off had failed.

Evan and Theodosia were married on Christmas Day with Oliver Shrimpton performing the ceremony. I sat at the back of the church between Dorcas and Alison; Sabina was with us.

When the bride came down the aisle on her husband's arm, Sabina whispered to me: "It'll be your turn next."

I noticed that her eyes went to Hadrian in the front pew.

Good Heavens! I thought. Is that the way some people are thinking?

As for myself I had always looked upon Hadrian as a brother. I laughed to myself to think of what Lady Bodrean would have to say if she knew that. She would think it highly presumptuous of the companion to think of Sir Ralph's nephew as a brother.

The bridal pair were spending the Christmas and Boxing nights at Keverall Court. After that they were going to a house in Devon which one of the dons at the university had lent them for their honeymoon. I was allowed to spend the day at Rainbow Cottage, returning early next morning. I wondered at this concession; then it occurred to me that Lady Bodrean probably thought that Sir Ralph, who now quite clearly had become a kind of protector to me, might invite me to the evening's entertainment which was being given to celebrate both Christmas and the wedding.

I spent a quiet day, and in the evening Alison and Dorcas invited one or two of their friends and we had a pleasant evening playing guessing games.

Two days later the radiant bride left with her husband. I missed her. Everything seemed flat now that the excitement of the wedding was over. Lady Bodrean became peevishly irritable and complained continually.

I had an opportunity to talk with Hadrian who was as usual worried about money.

"There's only one thing I can do," he said, "and that is find an heiress to marry me as Evan has."

"I am sure that did not enter his mind," I said hotly.

Hadrian grinned at me. "With the best intentions in the world, he must have a feeling of relief. Money's money, and a fortune never did any harm to anyone."

"You're obsessed by money!"

"Put it down to my lack of it."

At the end of January he left and it was about that time that Lady Bodrean was indisposed for a few days and I had a little freedom.

Sir Ralph sent for me and said that since Lady Bodrean did not require my services I might read the papers to him.

So each morning I sat with him for an hour or so and read The Times; but he would never let me get very far. I realized that he wanted to talk.

He told me a little about the expedition.

"I should have gone with them, but my doctor said No." He tapped his heart. "Couldn't have it giving out, you know. I'd have been a nuisance. Heat would have been too much for me."

I was able to reply intelligently because of the little knowledge I had acquired.

"It's a pity we couldn't send you up to the university. You'd have done well, I think. Always had a feeling for it, didn't you? That's what's needed—a feeling. I always had it myself, but was never anything but an amateur."

I said that there was a great deal of pleasure to be found in being merely an amateur.

"With Sir Edward it's a passion. I reckon he's one of the top men in his profession ... I'd go so far as to say the top."

"Yes, I believe he is considered so."

"And Master Tybalt's the same."

He shot a quick glance at me and I felt the telltale color in my cheeks. I remembered his insinuations about us in the past.

"He'll be another like his father. Very difficult man to live with, was Sir Edward. His wasn't a very happy marriage. There are some men who marry a profession rather than a wife. Always up and off somewhere. When at home buried in his books or his work. She didn't see him for days at a stretch when he was at home. And he was nearly always away."

"I suppose she wasn't interested in his work."

"His work came first. With those sort of men it always does."

"Your daughter has married an archaeologist."

"That fellow! I've got his measure. He'll be talking in a classroom all his life, theorizing about this and that. And when his day's work is over he'll go home to his wife and family and forget all about it. There are men like that—but they're rarely the ones who rise to the top of their profession. Would you like to see some reports of what is happening in Egypt?"

"Oh, I should enjoy that."

He regarded me with that familiar shake of the jaw.

I read some of the reports to him and we discussed them. How that hour used to fly!

I had slipped into a new relationship with Sir Ralph which surprised me sometimes but it had all come about so gradually. That interest which he had always shown in me had become the basis of a friendship which I should not have thought possible.

It was in early March that the news came of Sir Edward's mysterious death and the speculation arose about the Curse of the Pharaohs.

Sir Ralph was deeply shocked and this shock resulted in another stroke, which impaired his speech. It was then that rumors circulated about the significance of his illness. It was the Curse of the Kings, said these rumors, for it was known that he had backed the expedition financially. He was unable to attend the funeral but a few days later he sent for me and when I went to his room I was surprised to see Tybalt there.

It was pitiful to see the once robust Sir Ralph the wreck he now was. His efforts to speak were painful and yet he insisted on attempting to do so because there was something he wanted to say.

He indicated that he wished us to sit on either side of him.

"Ju ... Ju ..." he began and I realized he was trying to say my name.

"I'm here, Sir Ralph," I said, and when I laid my hand on his he took it and would not release it.

His eyes turned towards Tybalt, and his right hand moved, for it was with his left that he held mine.

Tybalt understood that he wanted his hand so he laid it in that of Sir Ralph. Sir Ralph smiled and drew his hands together. Tybalt then took my hand and Sir Ralph smiled faintly. It was what he had wanted.

I looked into Tybalt's eyes and I felt the slow flush creeping over my face.

Sir Ralph's implication was obvious.

I withdrew my hand but Tybalt continued to look at me.

Sir Ralph had closed his eyes. Blake had tiptoed in.

"I think it would be better, sir," he said, "if you and Miss Osmond left now."

When the door shut on us Tybalt said to me: "Will you walk to Giza House with me?"

"I must go to Lady Bodrean," I replied. I was shaken. I could not understand why Sir Ralph should have placed us in this embarrassing position.

"I want to talk to you," said Tybalt. "It's important."

We went out of the house together and when we had walked a little distance from it, Tybalt said: "He's right you know. We should."

"I ... I don't understand."

"Why, Judith, what has happened to you? You are usually so forthright."

"I ... I didn't know you knew so much about me."

"I know a great deal about you. It's a good many years since I first met you disguised as a mummy."

"You will never forget that."

"One doesn't forget one's first meeting with one's wife." But . . .

"It's what he meant. He was telling us that we should marry."

"He was wandering in his mind."

"I don't think he was. I think it has been his wish for some time."

"It is becoming clear to me. He thought I was Theodosia. He had hoped that you and Theodosia would marry. You did know that, didn't you?"

"I think it was talked over with my father."

"So . . . you see what happened. He had forgotten that Theodosia was married. He thought that I was his daughter. Poor Sir Ralph. I'm afraid he is very ill."

"He is going to die, I fear," replied Tybalt. "You have always been interested in my work, haven't you, vitally interested?"

"Why yes."

"You see, we should get on very well. My mother was bored by my father's work. It was a very dismal marriage. It will be different with us."

"I don't understand this. Do you mean that you will marry me because Sir Ralph has implied that he wants you to?"

"That's not the only reason, of course."

"Tell me some others," I said.

"For one, when I leave for Egypt, you could come with me. You would be pleased by that, I'm sure."

"Yet, even that does not seem to me an adequate reason for marrying."

He stopped and faced me. "There are others," he said, and drew me close to him.

I said: "I would not wish to marry because I would be a useful member of an expedition."

"Nevertheless," he replied, "you would be."

Then he kissed me.

"If love came into it ..." I began.

Then he laughed and held me tightly against him.

"Do you doubt that it does?"

"I am undecided and I should like some sort of declaration."

"First let me have one from you because I'm sure you will do so better than I. You're never at a loss for words. I'm afraid I am . . . often."

"Then perhaps I shall be even more useful to you. Writing your letters, for instance. I shall be a good secretary."