Egyptian Woman by Hilary Wilson

Author:Hilary Wilson [Wilson, Hilary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781782432883
Publisher: Michael O'Mara

CHAPTER EIGHT

Fourth Month of Winter

SATRA’S GOOD HUMOUR DID NOT LAST. NEDJEMGER CALLED LESS AND less frequently and she visited the temple gardens less often. No one dared to ask why, at least not of Satra herself. Nebet pointed out, to anyone who did ask, that there were many reasons why the two might not be able to see each other as often as they liked.

For example, the busiest time of the year for gardeners was just beginning. Trees and vines needed pruning, the annual flowers needed coaxing to extend their blooming period and the constant battle against weeds in the vegetable plots grew fiercer, and Nedjemger had never been one to sit back in the shade while watching his underlings doing all the hard work. Since he was out of practice in the courtship game he probably did not realize that the reduction in the time he could devote to his lady-love, necessary though it undoubtedly was, might be interpreted as evidence of cooling ardour.

Equally, with so much going on in the temple gardens, Satra found visiting there hardly worth the effort. She had said so, loudly, in the hearing of most of the household and the family next door, which only made her listeners think she was making too much of the matter. If she understood and accepted the circumstances that had taken Nedjemger from her side, there was no call to make such public excuses for their separation. In temper, having improved markedly during the height of Nedjemger’s attention, she was rapidly returning to the volatile, unpredictable nature that all knew and feared. Nebet found herself wondering how much longer she could keep silent, knowing that speaking to Satra was likely to stir up all the old resentments.

Meanwhile Khaemwase was learning so much from Nedjemger that Nebet allowed him to practise one of his new skills by pruning the vine in her garden. While watching him tending the plant his mother asked him, ‘You probably think I don’t have a right to know, but have you brought any messages for Satra recently?’

Khay was so good-natured that he had readily agreed to be the intermediary between Satra and his boss. He knew how much it meant to the rest of the family to keep Satra happy, but he had soon discovered what an unenviable task he had taken on. If the message he bore to Nedjemger received no reply at once, he was accused of forgetting to deliver it, of losing it or of deliberately withholding it out of spite. On the occasions when he had brought a message for Satra, she somehow managed to blame him if the letter was too short, or if its content was not to her liking. Nebet was proud of the way that, despite the aggravation and in the face of all Satra’s accusations, Khay remained cheerful and smiling. He was smiling now, and humming gently to himself, totally absorbed in his work. She decided that he had not heard her question and felt bad about asking it again.

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