Curse of the Kings Read online

  That was true, they agreed grudgingly. I knew they found it hard to forgive poor Oliver for not marrying me and even more difficult to forgive Sabina for being the chosen one.

  It was comforting to remember that they were there in the background of my life.

  There was a great deal of coming and going between Giza House and Keverall Court. As Sir Ralph was not feeling very well, Tybalt and his father visited him frequently. They were going into the details of the expedition. I quite shamelessly tried to be where I might catch a glimpse of them. Even Sir Edward knew me now and would give me his absent-minded smile.

  Tybalt exchanged a word or two with me—usually asking what I was reading. I longed to hear from him about the expedition but naturally I couldn't ask him about that.

  Two days before the ball a most extraordinary thing happened.

  When I emerged from Lady Bodrean's apartment and was about to go for my daily walk I found Theodosia in the corridor. I fancied she had been looking for me.

  She looked excited.

  "Hello, Judith," she said, and there was a little lilt in her voice.

  "Were you waiting for me?" I asked.

  "Yes, I've something to tell you."

  My heartbeats quickened; my spirits sank. This is it, I thought. Tybalt has asked her to marry him. The engagement will be announced at the ball.

  She slipped her arm through mine. "Let's go to your room," she said. "You will never guess what it is," she went on.

  I thought: I can't bear it. I've imagined it so many times, but I know I can't bear it. I'll have to go away ... at once. I'll go and tell Dorcas and Alison and then I'll get a post far away and never see any of them again.

  I stammered: "I know. You . . . you're engaged."

  She stopped short and flushed hotly, so I knew that although this might not be the surprise she had for me now, it was coming soon.

  "You always thought you knew everything, didn't you? Well, clever Judith is wrong this time."

  Clever Judith was never more delighted to be wrong.

  She threw open the door of my room and walked in; I followed shutting the door behind me. She went to my cupboard and opened the door. Hanging there was a green chiffon evening dress.

  "What is it!" I cried in astonishment.

  "It's your ball dress, Judith."

  "Mine! How could it be." I went to it, felt the lovely soft material, took the dress down and held it against me.

  "It's absolutely right," declared Theodosia. "Put it on. I long to see you in it."

  "First, how did it get there?"

  "I put it there."

  "But where did it come from?"

  "Oh do try it on first and I'll explain."

  "No. I must know."

  "Oh, you're maddening! I long to see that it fits. Father said you were to have it."

  "But . . . why?"

  "He said: 'Cinderella must go to the ball.'"

  "Meaning the companion?"

  "You remember he saw us dancing. That day he said to me, 'That girl Judith Osmond, she's to go to the ball.' I said, 'Mamma would never hear of it,' and he said, 'Then don't tell her.'"

  I began to laugh. I saw myself at the ball dancing with Tybalt. "But it's impossible. She will never allow it."

  "This is my father's house, you know."

  "But I am employed by your mother."

  "She won't dare go against him."

  "What an unwelcome guest I should be."

  "Only by one. The rest of us all want you to go. Myself, Evan, Hadrian, Tybalt . . ."

  "Tybalt!

  "Well,of course he doesn't know yet, but I am sure he would if he did. Hadrian knows though. He's very amused, and we're all going to have a lot of fun hiding you from Mamma, if that's possible."

  "I don't suppose it is for a moment. I shall be ordered out of the ballroom within an hour."

  "Not if you come as my father's guest, which you will do."

  I began to laugh.

  "I knew you'd enjoy it."

  "Tell me what happened."

  "Well, Father said you'd always been a lively girl, and he wished I'd show more of your spirit. He was afraid you didn't have much of a life with Mamma and he wanted you to go to the ball. That's why he wanted to know what color dress. It was secret with Sarah Sloper. I chose the material and Sarah used me as a model. You're a bit taller than I and just a little thinner. We worked on that. And I'm absolutely sure it's a perfect fit. Do put it on now."

  I did so. The transformation was miraculous. It was indeed my color. I let down my thick dark hair, and with my eyes shining and color in my cheeks I would have been beautiful I thought but for my nose which was too large. Hadrian always used to laugh at my nose. "It's a forceful one," he said. "It betrays your character. No one who was meek could ever have such a nose. Your powers, dear Judith, are not in your stars but in your nose." I giggled. In such a beautiful gown I could forget that offending feature.

  "You look quite Spanish now," said Theodosia. "Your hair ought to be piled high on your head and you should have a Spanish comb. You'd look marvelous then. I wish it were a masked ball. Then it would be so much easier to hide you from Mamma. But she will know it is Father's wish and will say nothing ... at the ball at least. She wouldn't want a scene there."

  "The storm will come later."

  I didn't care. I would face that. I was going to the ball. I should have a little dance program with a pink cord and pencil and I would keep it forever, because I was certain that Tybalt's initials would be on it.

  I seized Theodosia in my arms and we danced round the bedroom.

  The night of the ball had come. Thank Heaven, Lady Bodrean would be too busy to want to be bothered with me. "My goodness," Jane had said, "we're going to have a session. There's her hair to do and I've got to get her into her gown. When it comes to what jewels she's to wear it'll be this and that—and that's no good and what about this. It's a good thing I know how to handle her."

  So I was free to dress myself in the close-fitting green satin sheath over which were yards and yards of flowing silk chiffon. Nothing could have been chosen to suit me better. And when I had come up to dress I found that Theodosia had laid the Spanish comb on my dressing table. Hadrian was there to support me too. I felt that the position had changed since he had come back. I really had friends in the house now.

  And on this night of the ball I prepared to enjoy myself.

  Sir Ralph and Lady Bodrean stood at the head of the great staircase to receive their guests. Naturally I did not present myself. But what fun it was to mingle with the guests who were so numerous that I was sure I could escape Lady Bodrean's eye. In any case she would hardly recognize me in my finery.

  I danced with Hadrian who said it was rather like some of the tricks we used to get up to in our youth.

  "We were always the allies," he said, "you and I, Judith."

  It was true.

  "I'm sorry," said Hadrian, "that it's my aunt you have to work for."

  "Not more sorry than I. Yet it gives me a chance to be at Keverall."

  "You love the old house, don't you?"

  "It seems like part of my life. Don't forget I was here almost every day."

  "I feel the same. Theodosia's lucky. It'll be hers one day."

  "You sound envious."

  "I sound as I feel then. You see I'm a bit of a charity boy myself."

  "Oh, no, Hadrian. You're Sir Ralph's nephew, almost a son."

  "Not quite."

  "Then, I tell you what you should do," I said lightly, "marry Theodosia."

  "My cousin!"

  "Why not? Cousins marry often. It's a very useful way of keeping the property well within the family."

  "You don't think she'd have me, do you? I fancy now her gaze is fixed in another direction."

  "Is that so?"

  "Have you noticed her being eagerly intent every time anyone mentions the subject?"

  "What subject?"

  "Archaeology. She's so ex
cited about this expedition. You'd think she was going on it."

  "Trying to impress someone. Perhaps it's you! After all it is your subject."

  "Oh no. Nothing of the sort. I'm not the chosen one."

  I couldn't bear to talk of Theodosia and Tybalt so I said quickly: "Don't you wish you were going out to Egypt with the party?"

  "I'd enjoy it in a way. I hear that Sir Edward is very much a lone wolf. He keeps his team in the dark. It's the way some people work. I was talking to Evan about it. We should have been flattered if we'd been asked to join the party of course. But at our stage it would only be in a minor capacity."

  "And Tybalt?"

  "Well, he's the great man's son. I daresay he won't be kept entirely in the dark."

  "I suppose one day he'll be as great as his father."

  "He has the same passionate absorption."

  "I saw him dancing with Theodosia but I didn't see Sir Edward."

  "He'll probably look in later."

  The band had stopped; the dance was over. Hadrian led me to a seat sheltered by pots of palms.

  "I feel like a fox in his lair," I said.

  "You mean a vixen," corrected Hadrian.

  "I admit to a kindred spirit with that creature on certain occasions but at the moment I'm far too mellow."

  Evan came up with Theodosia and sat down with us. Theodosia looked at me in my green dress with great pleasure.

  "You are enjoying the ball, Judith?" she asked anxiously.

  I assured her I was.

  Then Tybalt appeared. I thought he had come to claim Theodosia but instead he sat down. He did not seem the least bit surprised to see me.

  Evan then said that he believed Theodosia had promised him this dance. They went off and Hadrian said he had a partner to find; that left Tybalt and myself alone.

  "Are you enjoying the dance?" I asked.

  "It's not much in my line, you know."

  "I saw you dancing a little while ago."

  "Most ungracefully."

  "Adequately," I assured him. "You will be gone very soon," I went on. "How you must be longing to set out."

  "It's a most exciting project of course."

  "Tell me about it."

  "You really are interested, aren't you?"

  "Enormously."

  "We'll go by ship to Port Said and overland to Cairo. We shall stay for a while and then make our way towards the ancient site of Thebes."

  I clasped my hands ecstatically.

  "Do tell me more about it. You're going to the tombs, aren't you?"

  He nodded. "My father has been preparing for this project for some time. He was out there several years ago and he's always had the impression that he was on the verge of some great discovery. It's been in his mind for years. Now he's going to satisfy himself."

  "It'll be wonderful," I cried.

  "I think it's the most exciting project that I've ever undertaken."

  "You have been there before?"

  "Yes, with my father. I was very inexperienced then and it was a great concession for me to be there at all. My father's party discovered one of the tombs which must have been prepared for a great nobleman. It had been robbed, thousands of years ago. It was very disappointing as you can imagine. All the hard work, the excavating, the probing, the hopes . . . and then to find that the tomb has been so completely cleared that there is nothing left which would help to reconstruct the customs of this fascinating country. I'm getting carried away with my enthusiasm, but it's your fault, Miss Osmond. You seem so interested."

  "I am, tremendously so."

  "So few people outside our little world understand a thing."

  "I don't feel myself to be exactly outside it. I was very fortunate. I took lessons at Keverall Court and as you know Sir Ralph has always been interested in archaeology."

  "Fortunately, yes. He is helping us a great deal."

  "It was he who engaged Evan Callum to give us lessons. Then, of course, there was what was going on at Carter's Meadow. I sometimes gave a hand there ... in a very unprofessional way, as you can guess."

  "But you caught the fascination, didn't you? I can hear it in your voice and see it in your face. And I remember how excited you were when you came to the house for books. And I do believe, Miss Osmond, that you are not one of those ridiculously romantic people who believe that this is all digging and finding wonderful jewels and the remains of old palaces."

  "I know such finds are few."

  "It's true. But I am sure you would like to dance. So if you don't mind a little discomfort?"

  I laughed and said: "I'll bear it."

  And there I was, dancing with Tybalt. It was like a dream come true.

  I loved him all the more because he kept putting his feet in the wrong places. He apologized and I wanted to cry: Your treading on my toes is bliss.,

  I was so happy. Alison and Dorcas had said that I had the gift of shutting out everything but the moment and enjoying it to the full. I was glad of it on that night. I would not go beyond this glorious moment when Tybalt's arms were about me and I was closer to him than I had ever been.

  I longed for the music to go on and on but it stopped of course and we returned to our alcove where Theodosia was seated with Evan.

  I danced with Evan who said how glad he was to see me there. I told him about how I had found the dress in my cupboard and Sir Ralph had wished me to come to the ball.

  We laughed and talked about the old days and later we went to supper and were joined there by Theodosia, Hadrian, and Tybalt.

  How gay I could be on such an occasion. I sparkled and made sure that the conversation circled about me. Theodosia was very gentle and did not mind, any more than she had in the schoolroom, the fact that I drew attention from her.

  Tybalt was naturally a little aloof from our frivolous chatter. He was more mature than the rest of us and I could not help noticing how insignificant Hadrian and Evan were in comparison. When Tybalt was talking of archaeology he glowed with an intense and single-minded passion which I was sure only a man who could feel deeply would experience. I believed then that if ever Tybalt loved a woman it would be with the same unswerving devotion which he gave to his profession. Because I wanted to see Tybalt animated, glowing with that enthusiasm which thrilled and excited me, I introduced the subject of archaeology and almost immediately he was the center of a fascinated audience.

  When we paused Theodosia said: "Oh, you are all so clever . . . even Judith! But don't you think this salmon is delicious?"

  Hadrian then told us a story of a fishing expedition he had enjoyed on the Spey, in the Scottish Highlands, where, he said, the best salmon in the world was caught. He was explaining how he had plunged into the river and pulled in the struggling fish, showing us the size of it at which we all laughingly expressed disbelief, when Lady Bodrean walked past our table in the company of several of the guests.

  I was saying: "Of course, you know that all fishermen double the size of their catch and it wouldn't surprise me if Hadrian trebled his."

  And there she was, her eyebrows raised in astonishment as slowly her outraged feelings were visible in the expression on her face.

  There was a silence which seemed to go on for a long time; then she took a step towards our table. The men rose, but she stared incredulously at me. I attempted to put on a calm smile.

  One of her guests said: "Oh, it's Mr. Travers, I believe."

  Tybalt said yes it was; and then Lady Bodrean recovered herself. She made introductions, leaving me until last and then: "Miss Osmond," she said, almost making my name sound obscene.

  Nobody noticed and there were a few moments of polite conversation, and then Lady Bodrean and her party passed on.

  "Oh dear!" said Theodosia, very distressed.

  "I somehow felt it would happen," I added, trying to pretend that I was not really perturbed.

  "Well," said Hadrian, "Sir Ralph has to answer for his guests."

  "What's happened?" asked Tybalt. />
  I turned to him. "I really shouldn't be here."

  "Surely not," he said. "Your company has made it such an interesting evening."

  That made everything worth while.

  "I may well be sent packing tomorrow morning."

  Tybalt looked concerned and I felt absurdly happy.

  Theodosia started to explain. "You see my father thought Judith should come to the ball and he and I put our heads together. I chose her dress and Sarah Sloper made it ... but Mamma did not know."

  Tybalt laughed and said: "There is always some drama surrounding Miss Osmond. If she is not dressing up as an embalmed body and getting into a sarcophagus she is dressing up in a beautiful gown and coming to a ball. And in neither place it seems is she expected to be."

  Hadrian put his hand over mine. "Don't worry, Judith. You'll weather tomorrow's storm."

  "Mamma can be very fierce," said Theodosia.

  "But," put in Evan, "Judith came as the guest of Sir Ralph. I don't see how Lady Bodrean can object to that."

  "You don't know Mamma," said Theodosia.

  "I assure you I do and the outlook seems stormy, but since Judith came at Sir Ralph's invitation I can't see that she has done anything wrong."

  "In any case," I said, "this storm is for tomorrow. At the moment it's a beautiful night. There's salmon which we hope was caught in the Scottish Highlands and champagne from the appropriate district. The company is invigorating, so what more could we ask?"

  Tybalt leaned towards me and said: "You live in the moment."

  "It's the only way to live. Tonight I'm a kind of Cinderella. Tomorrow I return to my ashes."

  "I'll be Prince Charming," said Hadrian. "The music's starting. Let's dance."

  I did not want to leave Tybalt, but there was nothing else I could do.

  "Congratulations," said Hadrian as we danced. "You were the calmest of the lot. You put up a good show. I suppose you're really quaking in your glass slippers."

  "I'm resigned," I said. "I have a feeling that very soon I shall be back in Rainbow Cottage writing humble letters to prospective employers."

  "Poor Judith. It's hateful being poor."

  "What do you know about that?"

  "Plenty. I have my troubles. I have to crave my uncle's benevolence. My creditors are yapping at my heels. I must speak to him tomorrow. So you see, like you tonight I want to eat drink and be merry."