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Ramses realized that if he went on talking to Sebastian he would say something rude。 〃If you'll excuse me；〃 he began。 〃My wife …〃
〃That's she； isn't it？〃 Sebastian's head turned。 〃Lovely woman。 Hope you don't mind my saying so。〃
Ramses did mind； but though Sebastian's tone was mildly offensive； he could not take exception to the words themselves。 Sebastian went on； 〃There's a delicious little creature。 Is she available to anyone； or is Vandergelt keeping her for himself and Bertie？〃
For one incredulous moment； Ramses thought the fellow was referring to Nefret。 Then he realized that Sebastian was looking at Jumana。
Nefret had been on her way to join them when she saw Ramses's face freeze。 It wasn't the old 〃stone pharaoh〃 face that concealed his thoughts； but a sign of fury so consuming it canceled thought and reason and everything else except a primitive need to act。 She crossed the remaining distance in two long steps； slipped her arm through that of her husband； and caught hold of his hand。 Under the pressure of her fingers his own fingers slowly uncurled。 〃You must be Mr。 Sebastian Albion；〃 she said lightly。 〃I've just been talking with your mother。 I'm Nefret Emerson。〃
〃How do you do。〃 Albion hadn't missed Ramses's reaction。 He took a step back。
〃Katherine wants to ask you something； Ramses；〃 Nefret went on。 〃Will you excuse us； Mr。 Albion？〃
〃Just a minute；〃 Ramses said。 〃We need to get something straight； Albion。 The lady to whom you referred is a protégée of Mrs。 Vandergelt's and a member of our family。〃
〃Your family？ But surely she is …〃
〃A member of our family；〃 Ramses repeated。 〃And a young； respectable girl。 Where the hell did you get the idea that an Egyptian woman is free to any man who wants her？ In the Cairo brothels？〃
〃Ramses；〃 Nefret murmured。
Albion had gone white。 He mumbled something that might have been an apology； nodded at Nefret； and walked off。
〃What on earth did he say？〃 Nefret asked。 〃You were going to hit him！〃
〃I was； wasn't I？〃 His fingers twined with hers。 〃In a way I'm sorry you stopped me。〃
〃It would have ruined Cyrus's party；〃 Nefret said practically。 〃I was watching you； and I could see it building up。 Something about Jumana？〃
〃You can probably guess what。〃
〃Yes。 Bastard；〃 she added。
〃What were you talking about with his mother？〃
〃Him。 And his father。 That's all she can talk about！ She refers to the old boy as 'my husband； Mr。 Albion。' I thought women stopped doing that fifty years ago。〃
Her amusement reduced the Albions to the eccentric nuisances they were and made Ramses ashamed he had let Sebastian rouse his temper。 〃What does she call the bastard？〃
Nefret chuckled。 〃Well； I don't think he is； literally。 He is always 'my son Sebastian。' The way she pronounces the words； they sound like a royal title。〃
〃When can we go home？〃
Nefret squeezed his hand。 〃Anytime； poor darling。 You've been a very good boy and deserve a reward。〃
He smiled and her heart skipped a beat； as it always did when he looked at her in a certain way。 I'm hopeless； she thought。 Hopeless； and glad of it。
Emerson wasn't ready to leave。 He still had a few things to explain to Bertie； and then he had to go over the whole thing again with Cyrus； who had joined the group。
〃Go on； if you like；〃 he said amiably。
〃May I e with you？〃 Jumana asked。
〃Of course；〃 Nefret said； reproaching herself for having neglected the girl。 In pany like this she needed all the support she could get。
Ramses gallantly offered Jumana his arm； and didn't even wince when she giggled and hung on to it。 He was making it up to her for an insult she didn't know she had received； and his infatuated wife was reminded again of how utterly she adored him。
She took his other arm； and they made their way to the door。 Then she felt the muscles under her hand harden。 He would have hurried them on if Sebastian had not intercepted them。
〃I misunderstood；〃 he mumbled。 〃I beg your pardon。〃
Whose pardon？ Nefret wondered。 He had addressed Ramses； hadn't even looked at her or Jumana。
Ramses nodded brusquely and led his ladies to the waiting carriage。
〃Who was that？〃 Jumana asked curiously。 〃He was very polite。〃
〃A tourist；〃 Ramses answered。 〃Very boring； as Sennia would say。〃
Jumana laughed； and began to chatter； repeating what Emerson had said about Deir el Medina。 She had an excellent memory。
Nefret leaned back and let her talk。 Young Albion had had to nerve himself for that encounter。 Why had he taken the trouble？ To ingratiate himself and his family with the Emersons？ Ignoring Jumana was probably the most sensible thing he could have done。 He certainly couldn't request an introduction to a girl he hoped to seduce from the man who had warned him off。
At breakfast Emerson droned on and on about his plans。 He had arranged to meet Cyrus and Bertie at Deir el Medina so he could go over the whole thing again with them。 Nothing Ramses and I had said had had the slightest effect on the stubborn man； and when I realized he meant to go ahead with his ridiculous scheme； I had to take a firm grip on my temper。 I had no intention of allowing him to do any such thing； but a loud argument at the breakfast table would have been ill…bred； especially with Sennia present。
〃If that is what you plan to do； you won't need me；〃 I announced。 〃I am going to Luxor。 Nefret； you had better e with me。 Thanks to the selfish demands of certain persons； you haven't had a chance to purchase anything you need for the house。〃
Instead of objecting to the oblique reference to him； Emerson looked relieved。 He didn't want to listen to a lecture from me any more than I wanted to listen to one from him。 I had a brief discussion with Miss Sennia； who wanted to join the shopping expedition； but I finally got them all off。 Nefret and I then went to her house so that I could make a few useful suggestions about necessities。
Everything appeared to be in order。 I knew it would be； since Fatima was in charge； but there was no harm in seeing for myself。 Najia was already busy in the parlor； sweeping and dusting。 The birthmark was not really disfiguring … only a reddish stain that covered most of one cheek … but she kept her face averted while we conversed。 She had tried； clumsily； to conceal it with a layer of whitish paste； which in my opinion was more conspicuous than the birthmark。 I reminded myself to ask Nefret if there was not some cosmetic that would do a better job。
The other girl； Ghazela； was her cousin； they were all cousins to some degree。 The name was not especially appropriate； she was no slender…limbed gazelle； but a round…cheeked sturdy young person of perhaps fourteen。 She was delighted to have been chosen to work for Nefret and told me so at some length。 Like most of the younger generation； even the girls； she had had some schooling。 We were chatting about her plans and aspirations … and I was making a few small； tactful suggestions about cleaning the stove … when Nefret； who had gone to get her handbag and a more suitable hat； came in。
〃I thought I'd find you here； Mother。 Is everything satisfactory？〃
〃I see you have used the stove。〃
〃Only for morning coffee。 Najia ma