Curse of the Kings Read online

  "Some might," I said calmly.

  "Then they must be mad."

  "So mad that they might think you're mad to prefer Evan."

  "It's good to talk to you, Judith. We don't like to tell Father, you see. You know what families are. Evan's people were very poor and he's worked his way up. There was some relative who helped him and Evan wants to pay him back every penny he's spent on him. And we're going to do that. I think it's to his credit that he's come so far. It's nothing to be ashamed of. Why Tybalt inherited all sorts of advantages, whereas Evan worked for his."

  "It's very laudable," I said.

  "Judith, you like Evan, don't you?"

  "Of course I do; and I think you and he are ideally suited."

  "That's wonderful. But what do you think Father will say?"

  "There's one way of finding out. Ask him."

  "Do you think one could do that?"

  "Why ever not."

  "But if he refuses."

  "We'll stage an elopement. A ladder against the wall, the bride-to-be escaping down it and then off to Gretna Green or as that's rather a long way from Cornwall, perhaps a special license would be better."

  "Oh Judith, you're always such fun. You make everything seem a sort of joke. I'm so glad I've told you."

  "So am I," I said with heartfelt conviction.

  "What would you do?"

  "I should go to your father and say, 'I love Evan Callum. Moreover I am determined to marry him.'"

  "And suppose he says no?"

  "Then we plan the elopement."

  "I wish we could do that now."

  "But you must ask your father first. He may be delighted."

  "He won't be. He's got this fascination for the Traverses. I believe he would have gone to Egypt if he'd been well enough."

  "You'll probably go some time with Evan."

  "I'd go anywhere with Evan."

  "What does Evan say?"

  "He says that we're going to be married whatever happens."

  "You may be cut out of your father's will."

  "Do you think I care for that? I'd rather have Evan and starve."

  "It won't come to that. Why should it? He has a good job at the university, hasn't he? You have nothing to fear. Even if you don't inherit a vast fortune you will be a professor's wife."

  "Of course. I don't care about Father's money."

  "Then you're in a strong position. You must fight to marry where you please. And you can't begin too soon."

  She hugged me again.

  I was so happy. How pleasant it is to work for someone's happiness when doing so contributes to your own!

  Theodosia was right when she had said that her father would not be pleased about the wedding.

  When she broke the news there was a storm.

  Theodosia came to my room in tears.

  "He won't have it," she said. "He's furious. He says he'll stop it."

  "Well, you have to stand firm if you really want to marry."

  "You would, wouldn't you, Judith?"

  "Do you doubt it?"

  "Not for a moment. How I wish I were like you."

  "You can be."

  "How, Judith, how?"

  "Stand firm. No one can make you marry if you won't say the appropriate words."

  "You'll help me, won't you, Judith?"

  "With all my heart," I said.

  "I have told Father that he can cut me out, that I don't care. That I love Evan and that I'm going to marry him."

  "That's the first step then."

  She was greatly comforted and she stayed in my room while we made plans. I told her that the first thing she must do was write to Evan and tell him the state of affairs. We would see what he would say.

  "I shall tell him that you know, Judith, and that we can count on you."

  I was surprised to receive a summons from Sir Ralph. When I went to his apartments he was in an armchair in a dressing gown and Blake was hovering. He dismissed Blake and said, "Sit down, Miss Osmond."

  I obeyed.

  "I have the impression that you are interfering in my daughter's affairs."

  "I know that she wishes to marry," I said. "I cannot see that I have interfered."

  "Indeed! Didn't you tell her to come and deliver her ultimatum to me?"

  "I did tell her that if she wished to marry she should tell you so."

  "And perhaps ask my permission?"

  "Yes."

  "And if I did not give it, to defy me?"

  "What she will do is entirely a matter for her to decide."

  "But you, in her position, would not think of obeying your father?"

  "If I decided to marry then I should do so."

  "In spite of the fact that you went against your father's wishes?"

  "Yes."

  "I guessed it," he said. "Propping her up. That's what you've been doing. By God, Miss Osmond, you have a mighty big idea of your importance."

  "I don't know what you mean, Sir Ralph."

  "At least you admit to some ignorance. I'm glad to see you have a little humility."

  I was silent.

  He went on: "You know that my daughter Theodosia wishes to marry this penniless fellow."

  "I know that she wishes to marry Professor Evan Callum."

  "My daughter will be a very rich woman one day . . . providing she obeys my wishes. Do you still think she should marry this man?"

  "If she is in love with him."

  "Love! I didn't know you were sentimental, Miss Osmond."

  Again I was silent. I could not understand why he had sent for me.

  "You are advising my daughter to marry this man."

  "I? She had already chosen him before I was aware of her intention."

  "I had a match arranged for her, a much more suitable one."

  "Surely she is the one who should decide its suitability."

  "You have modern ideas, Miss Osmond. In my day daughters obeyed their parents. You don't think they should."

  "In most matters. But in my opinion marriage is something which should be decided on by the partners concerned."

  "And my daughter's marriage does not concern me?"

  "Not as closely as it does her and her future husband."

  "You should have been an advocate. Instead of which I believe you have a fancy for the profession of the man my daughter would marry ... if I permit it."

  "It's true."

  I saw the movement in his jaw and my spirits rose because again I was amusing him.

  "I believe you know that I wanted another marriage for my daughter."

  "There has been a certain amount of speculation."

  "No smoke without fire, eh? I'll be frank. I wanted her to marry but to a different bridegroom. You have your ear to the ground, Miss Osmond, I'm sure."

  "I heard suggestions."

  "And you don't think it's a bad idea that my daughter chose this one? That's it. In fact, Miss Osmond, are you just a little pleased about it?"

  "I don't know what you mean."

  "Don't you? This is the second time you've admitted ignorance. That's not like you . . . and especially to feign it. You will help my daughter to disobey her father, won't you? You will be pleased to see her become the wife of this young fellow. You're a wily one, Miss Osmond. You have your reasons."

  He lay back in his chair, his face suffused with color.

  I could see that he was laughing. I was overcome by confusion at the insinuation in his words.

  He knew that I was delighted that Theodosia was in love with Evan Callum, because I wanted Tybalt for myself.

  He waved a hand. I was glad to escape.

  A few days later Sir Ralph declared that he would permit an engagement between his daughter and Evan Callum.

  Theodosia was in a state of bliss.

  "Who could have believed, Judith, that there would have been such a complete turnabout."

  "I think your father is really rather a sentimental man and you're so obviously in love."


  "It's strange, Judith, how little one knows of people who have been close to one all one's life."

  "I don't think you're the first to have discovered that."

  The marriage was to be at Christmas time and Theodosia was plunged into a whirl of preparations.

  Lady Bodrean did not approve. I heard her arguing with Sir Ralph about it. I hurried off to my own room but Jane reported afterwards, and I quite unashamedly listened to her account which I suppose was as bad as eavesdropping myself.

  "My word," said Jane, "did the fur fly! They seem to think he's not good enough for our heiress. 'Have you taken leave of your senses?' asks Lady B. 'Madam,' says he, 'I will decide on my daughter's future.' 'She happens to be my daughter too.' 'And it is fortunate for her that she has not turned out like you or I'd be sorry for this young man she's going to marry.' 'So you're sorry for yourself,' says she. 'No, madam, I know how to look after myself,' he says. 'You knew how to scatter your bastards all over the countryside.' 'A man must amuse himself somehow,' he said. Oh he's the master all right. If she'd got hold of a meek man, she'd have ruled him. But not our Squire. Then she said, 'You told me that she was to marry Tybalt Travers.' 'Well, I have changed my mind.' 'That's a sudden turnabout.' 'She's in love with this fellow.' 'Love,' she snorted. 'Something you don't believe in, madam, I know, but I say she shall marry this fellow she's chosen.' 'You've changed your mind. How long is it since you said: "I want my daughter to marry the son of my old friend Edward Travers?'" 'I've changed my mind, that's all that's to be said . . .' And on and on they went throwing insults at each other. My word, we do see life."

  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.

  IV

  Tybalt's Wife

  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 faintl
y. 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."