Suzanne Robinson (19 page)

“At last you’ve found your way to my bedchamber. And without my even inviting you.”

His laughter pursued her all the way back to her own room where she slammed the door shut. There was no bar to seal the count out, so she settled for stacking two heavy chests against the door She spent the night restless, wakeful, and all too aware that Seth could invade her chamber and that no one would stop him. But he never did.

At midmorning on the third day after her arrival, Anqet prowled the sprawling garden that stretched over two acres. Uni was there too. He went wherever Anqet did. The grounds were divided into square and rectangular plots. Seth’s ancestors had brought trees from throughout the empire to augment the native stock. In addition to sycamores and date and coconut palms, there were sidder, persea, pomegranate, acacia, and yew trees. Anqet could see tamarisks and willows as well as several balonos trees from which came an oil used in perfume. In a special section she spotted myrrh trees from the land of Punt.

Anqet wandered down paths that ran beside beds of flowers and vines. Some led to fragile pavilions where food and drink were served. Three pools, one large enough to accommodate a small boat, were fed by narrow canals. Water lilies floated on the surface of each pool, and they were stocked with fish and ducks. Wooden shelters with leafy roofs were scattered throughout the grounds. These
protected porous water jars that kept drinks cool by evaporation.

Although more luxurious than many gardens, Seth’s still adhered to the formal arrangements of Egyptian tradition, except for one area in the northwest corner. There, behind a screen of climbing vines, Anqet found horticultural chaos. There was no plan; trees and shrubs grew where they willed. Vines tangled up the trunks of saplings. She could inhale the aromas of wet soil and crushed, damp leaves. Beneath the shade of a thick stand of trees grew exotic flowers of brilliant violet and blue-green.

Used to orderliness and balance, at first Anqet found this jumble of vegetation disturbing. However, as she roamed the secluded spot, she grew to appreciate its natural wildness. She resolved to ask Seth why he kept such an odd place in his garden.

Anqet was headed back to the house along a path that ran by the largest pavilion when she heard a cry of annoyance. Rennut sat inside the structure holding one of many papyrus rolls from a case on the floor.

Anqet strolled over to the woman. “Is anything wrong, Lady Rennut?”

“My accounts,” Rennut said with a wail. “Nothing balances. I’m supposed to check the steward’s figures, but who can make sense of all these numbers? I don’t see why I can’t just take the man’s word that everything is correct. Why do we have him if I have to do all his work for him?”

Anqet ran her eyes over the sheet in Rennut’s hand. “Would you like me to look at them? I’m used to keeping records. I did for my own estate.”

Rennut’s pale hands snapped the papyrus closed.

“Would you do that?” She stood up. “I am so grateful, child. Seth gets furious each time we go over the records, and it takes so much effort to unsnarl the messes I make.” Rennut wasted no time. She smiled at Anqet and scurried back into the house.

Grateful for something to occupy her time, Anqet took up a reed pen and started adding. The sun was high overhead when she finished the linen inventory. The rumble
in her stomach reminded her of how long she’d been working. She was about to go in search of food when Seth appeared at the pavilion steps. Eschewing heavy pleated court robes, he wore a plain kilt and no wig or jewelry. To Anqet it seemed that his eyes outshone any jewels he chose to wear.

Seth leapt up the steps of the shelter and halted before her “Anqet? I was expecting my stepmother What are you doing?”

“Helping Rennut. From the looks of these inventories and ledgers, she needs it. Seth, the woman can’t add.”

“I know.” Seth sighed. He waved a dismissal at the ever-present Uni and held out his hand for the papers. “Give them to me. I’ll have to go over them myself.”

“No need. I’ve done most of them already.”

Seth felt to his knees and lifted his arms to her. “Thoth has blessed me. I thank you, learned lady. You’ve saved me from hours of listening to Rennut whine and howl about her burdens. Name your recompense.”

“Send me home with a company of warriors.”

The count rose. He drew Anqet to her feet. “I can’t. Certain things are going to happen soon, and I must know where you are and that you’re safe. You don’t know Merab. The man is an insect, but a deadly insect. Shhh. We’ll speak of going home when my business in Annu-Rest is finished. Come. Time to find something to eat.”

In the end, Seth had to excuse himself from their meal, for he had a visitor Directing that the newcomer be placed in a room in the back of the house, he stayed closeted there for several hours. Uni reappeared as soon as the count left her side. He was still with her when Anqet decided to take a ride in the boat in the great central pool. The Nubian stood quietly beneath the shade of a willow. Anqet floated about, dodging water lilies. She contemplated an insect as it slid across the surface of the pool.

A dark head popped to the surface in front of her. Water splashed in her face. Anqet gasped as Seth bobbed in place and clung to the boat.

“You!” Anqet placed both hands on Seth’s head and pushed down.

The count sank, taking in a mouthful of water, but as he went down, he grabbed Anqet’s wrists and pulled her out of the boat into the water after him. Seth pulled Anqet to him. She could see that familiar blaze of desire in his face. Taking advantage of her body’s buoyancy, she shot up and out of his grasp before Seth realized what she was doing.

Despite her long skirt, Anqet swam quickly to shallow water at the edge of the pool. She grasped the tile ledge that framed the basin and hoisted herself up. Hands fastened around her waist. She was hauled back and twisted around. Seth imprisoned her between the side of the pool and his wet body. As Anqet squirmed, trying to slip away, Seth gave a gasp of pleasure that made her realize what she was doing to him. Chest to chest, thigh to thigh, their bodies thrust against each other. Seth busied his mouth in exploring hers while he ran his hands up and down her rib cage and thighs.

Anqet felt her muscles quiver The water, waist high, felt cold on her warm skin. Through the thin linen of their soaked garments she could feel Seth’s erection pressed between her legs. An answering knot of tightness formed in her groin, and Anqet perceived the danger of her own weakening resistance.

She tried to prevent it, but her legs seemed to open of their own will. Her hips drove into Seth’s groin as if impelled by some thought-erasing force. Gods, she was losing control. And soon she wouldn’t care.

Seth’s tongue darted in her mouth. He sucked at it, trying to swallow her as his hand sought that knot of tightness between her legs. He found it and stroked. Anqet gasped and pressed her breasts hard against the moist brown muscles of Seth’s chest.

A heady mist of passion enveloped her but Anqet had the will to pant two words. “Your pledge.”

Seth’s hands paused only a moment. Anqet repeated
the words, louder, even as she fastened her hands on his buttocks.

“Your pledge. Your pledge of silence. To whom did you give it?”

Seth’s hands stopped their tantalizing motions. He lifted his mouth from her neck and glared at her.

“No,” he said.

“Yes.”

Seth tried to pull away, but Anqet gripped his buttocks and ground him to her.

“Let go. You’re torturing me, curse you!”

Seth pulled away from her He faced Anqet, his hands balled into fists, water swirling around his hips. Anqet eyes dropped to the hard bulge there. She blushed but lifted her eyes to his. Seth’s anger was gone. He searched her face, and what he found there made him wade back to her. He stood with his body just touching hers.

“Sweet one, don’t worry so,” he said. “You and I are like bottle and stopper.” He gave a soft laugh and found her mouth again.

Anqet put her fingers On his lips. She gathered her courage. “I will not make love to a thief and a defiler of eternal houses.”

“Damnation of the gods! Won’t you now?” Seth’s voice echoed across the pool. His fingers pressed into the flesh of her arms. He sneered the words at her. “And if I were honest? The agent of Pharaoh, the high and puissant legate of his revenge? If I were his spy, sent to ferret out the hyenas that befouled his kingdom’s dead, and even his own brother’s tomb, then would you couple with me?”

Seth released her so abruptly that Anqet fell back against the side of the pool. “I think not. I think some underworld fiend sent you to make my life an abyss of misery.”

The count was out of the water before Anqet had time to answer He stood above her The wet film that clung to his skin accented the lines of his body. He pointed at her and spoke in a voice of suppressed fury.

“I was named for the god Seth. He’s not only the
ruler of desert and storms. He is also the lord of carnality, governor of the sensual pleasures. He and I wont wait upon your haughty honor much longer.”

Self-righteous and bristling with offended pride, Seth turned away.

Anqet collected her wits. She called to him. “You mean you’re not a criminal?”

Seth didn’t look back. “I don’t rob the dead. Demons take me if I intend to defend my integrity to a young witch of a beauty who knows nothing of me or my responsibilities.” Seth kept walking until he passed out of sight behind a stand of palms.

Anqet spent a while adjusting her thoughts. Then she clambered out of the pool. Uni appeared. It was a mark of Seth’s power over her that she hadn’t once considered where her bodyguard might have been during the last few minutes.

“I need to think,” she said.

Uni bowed.

Leaving a trail of water droplets behind her, Anqet retreated to her room. Her maid helped her change into one of the simple gowns Rennut had given her Her own wardrobe was depleted by the adventures of the past few weeks. As she pulled the wide straps of the sheath into place to cover her breasts, Anqet pondered Seth’s confession.

No wonder he’d been so reluctant to confess the truth. He worked so hard at appearing evil and depraved. Anqet shook her head in bewilderment. She’d never met anyone who pursued a bad reputation.

“Ridiculous,” she said aloud. She blinked. “It is ridiculous. That’s why he’s embarrassed.”

Perhaps that curious pride of his made him prefer that she succumb to his physical lures rather than admit that he was in love with her.

“He loves me,” Anqet said.

Her maid called from across the room.

“No, I don’t want anything. You may go.” Anqet began to comb her hair, muttering to herself. “Do I believe him? He could lie to the gods at judgment and get
away with it. How do I know he’s telling the truth? How?” She frowned.

“Think. Like Dega told you to,” she said to her reflection in a hand mirror “Could he be so evil and yet take such loving care of his little brother? What about Dega? Could Seth command his loyalty and affection if he were as despicable as you thought? Would he be so embarrassed about the truth if he weren’t too proud to ask for your understanding and admiration? Whoever heard of anyone refusing their claim to honor?”

The mirror slipped from Anqet’s hand. A spy. He was Pharaoh’s agent. That meant he was engaged in a lethal pastime, for Merab and his gang would kill Seth at the least hint of betrayal. Merciful Isis, what was Seth up to? He said something about urgent business. He expected to catch the tomb robbers. If this was so, she hoped he would send for Dega and his warriors.

Anqet twisted her hands together It was knowing so little that drove her to distraction. If Seth was going to risk his life on some mysterious quest for the king, she wanted to know about it. The high-handed wretch. He had no right to make her love him and then run around taking chances with his life. She’d lost too many loved ones already.

She had talked herself into accepting Seth’s innocence, and at the same time she was irritated with the man for deceiving her. Anqet hopped from her chair and charged out of the bedchamber At the door, she snapped at Uni.

“Where is he?”

“Gone, lady,” the Nubian said.

“The coward. Where?”

“To the marshes. The master hunts with the little lord, his brother.”

Anqet fumed. Finally, she smiled a mischievous smile that made Uni shuffle his feet.

“Come on, Uni. I want to speak with Lady Rennut about my wardrobe.”

Seth relinquished the reigns of the chariot to Khet. The boy gave an ecstatic whoop and urged the horses into a gallop. They raced down the avenue toward home, leaving the bearers and others of their party behind. Seth saw the deep rut long before they were upon it. He grasped one side of the chariot and braced his feet but said nothing to Khet. They hit the trough broadside. Khet hurtled over the front of the vehicle. His head nearly caught a blow from a rear hoof, but Seth seized his brother by the neck and pulled him back to safety. Pulling the horses to a walk, Seth let Khet lean back against him, his face pale, his eyes round.

“You will watch next time?” Seth asked sweetly.

“Y-yes. I don’t feel well.”

“Near-death has that effect. Breath deeply. I’ve got you. You aren’t going to fall.”

Khet clung to the chariot and inhaled.

“I said you had a great deal to learn about being a warrior.”

Khet whipped around to face Seth. “You knew I’d hit that hole. I could have gotten killed!”

“Not with me to catch you. You needed a lesson. Perhaps now you’ll admit it’s too soon to give up on your scribe’s lessons.”

Seth paused to listen to an epithet concerning himself and a hippopotamus. Khet stared ahead and refused to speak to his brother for the rest of the journey.

Khet’s stiff back and lifted chin filled Seth with remorse.
He hadn’t meant to frighten the boy so. It was Anqet’s fault. She frustrated him so that his body and his heart screamed for relief from the tension. He had sought release by punishing his beloved Khet.

Back at the manor house, Seth had no chance to apologize. Khet jumped out of the chariot and charged inside. Seth followed at a slower pace but caught up with his brother in the entryway before the reception hall. Khet stood motionless with his arms stiff at his sides and his back to Seth. Voices came from the room beyond. Seth came up behind Khet and placed his hand on the boy’s shoulder Only one person evoked that expression of diffidence and anxiety. Seth gave his younger brother a quick hug of reassurance.