“I’ll see to it they do,” Diana replied.“Will I be able to explore the inside of any of the pyramids?”
Omar displayed a moment of surprise.“You are not deterred despite your experience in Khufu’s tomb?”he asked.
Diana blinked.“Not in the least.”
“You were not...frightened?”he asked in surprise.
She shook her head before her eyes widened with understanding.“Iwas not the one who was frightened, sir.My cousin had a bit of a scare when a young boy appeared as if out of nowhere.Mere momentary fright is all,” she explained.
“You are not deterred by claims of curses cast upon those who would enter a pharaoh’s tomb?”he pressed.
She shook her head.“I am an educated woman, sir, and I am not superstitious.”
Omar and Mahmood exchanged worrisome glances.“Perhaps you should be, my lady,” Omar commented.“The heat inside the Red Pyramid is nearly intolerable, the air is very poor, and there is nothing to be found there but an empty chamber.”
Will cleared his throat.“Exactly how many pyramids can we see in one day?”he asked.“If we don’t go inside?”He directed an apologetic glance at Diana.
“I will take you to Saqqara and Dashur where you will stand next to three pyramids...well, four if you count the small mound near one of them,” he replied.“We shall see some off in the distance.And then there are many tombs and the remains of temples in Saqqara.What you call Memphis.”
“I don’t have to go inside a pyramid,” Diana murmured.
Will furrowed a brow.“You’re sure?”
She lifted a shoulder.“I’ve read the descriptions of these pyramids’ inner tunnels and chambers.They are much like the one I was inside of at Giza.”
“Very true,” Omar said, waving a finger.“These were the first of many pyramids to be built, though, so they are not as...perfect,” he added, wincing as if he knew he had chosen the wrong word.
“All the better,” she said.She turned to Mahmood.“When might we be able to eat breakfast?And might you be able to make a luncheon we can take with us?We’ll need water as well.”
Will and Mahmood exchanged glances of amusement.“Here I thoughtyouwere the planner, my lord,” Mahmood commented.He turned to Diana.“Your morning meal is ready, my lady.”He waved to the table set up at the top of the ship.“I will have Ahmet prepare food for your travels and flasks of water.”
“Shukran,” she replied by way of thanks.About to say she would see to waking the rest of their party, she turned to discover most members of the two families were already making their way up the stairs to the dining table.“We shouldn’t be long,” she said, directing her comment to Omar.
“I shall have our transports ready when you are, my lady.”He turned to Mahmood.“We shall meet you at the dock near Dashur late in the afternoon.”
“I’ll be there,” Mahmood replied.
From their casual manner, Diana realized the two had taken other travelers on a similar trip in the past.Although the others would be grateful their dragoman was experienced, she knew Omar wouldn’t allow her the freedom a younger guide might.
An hour later
“I didn’t realize the ground would be so hard out here,” Tom said.Next to him, his brother was lounging in the buggy, his gaze directed at the horizon.Off in the distance, several triangular shapes interrupted the flat line of the desert.
“Me, neither,” Randy replied.He had opted to ride with Tom so Diana and Helen could ride together.David would have been left alone in a carriage except he had talked Helen into allowing Bradley to ride with him.
Although they had expected the babe to be left on board with the nurse, Helen had put voice to a protest, claiming it was important he join them and that she would see to him.
The look on Helen’s face had been almost comical when David lifted the boy into the buggy and then stepped up to sit next to the toddler.
Bradley beamed in delight, obviously not the least bit concerned he wouldn’t be seeing his mother or sister for a half-hour or more.
“You’re not funning me?”Helen had asked in alarm.
David shook his head.“I have two younger cousins I’ve taken on rides,” he claimed.“At some point, I’ll have one or two of my own babes I’ll need to take in a curricle or a barouche.”
“You’ll have to hold onto him,” she argued.
“I know,” David replied, an arm reaching behind the boy so he could pull him closer.“Don’t worry.I’m only going to teach him some new words.”Before she could scold him, he winked and said, “Don’t worry.I won’t teach him how to curse.”
