Falcon at the Portals by Elizabeth Peters

Author:Elizabeth Peters [Peters, Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781780334486
Publisher: Constable & Robinson

From Letter Collection B

Dear Lia,

I am peppering you with letters, aren’t I? I had to respond at once to your last, for it seemed to hold a certain note of reproach. My darling Lia, no one will ever replace you as my confidante; certainly not Maude Reynolds! If I have mentioned her often, it is only because the confounded girl is always here! So it feels, at any rate. I’ve told you why. She and I could never be friends; we have nothing in common; but I feel so sorry for her I can’t bring myself to keep her entirely at arm’s length. She’s head over heels, Lia; it’s one of the worst cases I’ve ever seen. She has sense enough to know he prefers women with intelligence and spunk, but her desperate efforts to impress him are so pitifully inept! I told you about the time she followed us down into the pyramid; it took a lot of courage, because she was absolutely petrified with fear, and of course it backfired the way such gestures often do. When she saw Ramses on Risha she insisted on trying to ride, and made a perfect fool of herself bouncing up and down in that stiff style. It’s impossible to fall off Risha unless he wants you off, but she came close.

Ramses is handling it well – he’s had plenty of practise! – but he’s hating the whole business. You know, he’s really very sensitive under that stony exterior. It’s that quality that really attracts women, isn’t it? Especially when the man in question is also tall and strong and handsome.

But I meant to tell you about our Christmas. You were sadly missed, my dears. Aunt Amelia and I did our best, but our decorative skills couldn’t begin to match David’s. Your parcel arrived in good time, somewhat battered, but intact – you shouldn’t have taken the trouble, darling, but I loved the Greek earrings . . . [Several paragraphs of miscellaneous gossip omitted.]

The only other news of mild interest is that I have had two proposals of marriage – that makes three this season, including Percy’s, which is of course the one I cherish most. Yes, Jack Reynolds took the plunge, emboldened, I do not doubt, by Mr Vandergelt’s champagne. I refused him cheerfully and amiably and he informed me, cheerfully and amiably, that he would try again. Why can’t men take no for an answer? He was a perfect gentleman, though, so I let him kiss me – on the cheek.

I’m not going to make fun of Geoffrey even to you. He didn’t so much propose as tell me he knew I wouldn’t accept him; nor should I, he wasn’t nearly good enough for me, no one was . . . You know the sort of thing. I’ve heard it before. There was something oddly impressive about him, though – his quiet, well-bred voice and pale, controlled face. ‘I only want you to know,’ he said, ‘that if you ever need me, for any reason, at any time, it would be the greatest honour and pleasure to serve you.

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