Page 35

Conversations Near Karnak

T he following afternoon

Anticipation was in the air as The Dendera drew closer to El-Karnak, the closest village to the columns and pylons of the huge Karnak temple complex visible from the south bank of where the the Nile curved sharply to the west.

Grinning when he saw that nearly all his passengers were up on the deck watching their approach, Mahmood joined them.

On the table, David had Volume III of La Description de l’égypte opened to an illustration of the entire Karnak site. Next to him, Tom was leaning over to study the drawing. “It’s practically a city unto itself,” he murmured.

“You are right to be impressed by this temple, for it is not just one, but many,” he said, waving a hand in the direction of the ruins. The setting sun cast the sandstone blocks in a golden-red wash. Against the blue sky, the effect was magical.

“That would make a most impressive painting,” Randy mused.

Diana glanced in his direction, a grin teasing her lips. “I already have it in my mind’s eye,” she replied. “But I have to decide how large a canvas to use.”

“If I promised it could hang in the dining room of Gisborn Hall, would you make it six feet wide?” he asked in a low voice. “Maybe even eight feet?”

She gave a start. “What, pray tell, is hanging there now that has you wanting such a large depiction of Karnak to replace it?”

“A naval scene, I think. Apparently it’s been there since my father’s uncle’s father’s grandfather won it in a game of cards.”

Grinning, Diana was about to reply when Will leaned toward him and said, “Gisborn won it from my three times great-grandfather. The ship was captained by him over a hundred and thirty years ago.”

Randy blinked. “Are you joking?”

“I am not.”

“Then why isn’t it hanging in the dining room at Devonfield House? Or at Ellsworth Park?” Randy asked, referring to Will and Barbara’s estate near Gisborn Hall.

“Why, indeed?” Will countered.

Diana tittered. “I shall do a large painting and hope it does not offend your mother,” she whispered. “For if you recall, she is his sister,” she said, indicating Will, “So her three times great-grandfather was the same man.”

Randy blinked.

Will barked a laugh and turned to his wife. “What say you, my beautiful countess?”

Barbara blushed. “I do believe a painting of a naval scene will be perfect in the dining room at Ellsworth Park. It will be far better than that atrocious portrait of who-knows-who is hanging there now.”

“Very well,” Diana said. “But don’t expect me to paint it before we return to England. It would be most difficult in such small quarters as these,” she added.

When he saw they were done with their conversation, Mahmood continued his talk.

“The Egyptians called this temple complex Ipet-isut , meaning ‘The Most Select of Places’. Unfortunately, it is not as preserved as Dendera, nor as colorful. But what it lacks in color, it makes up for with over one-hundred columns, several monoliths, and a number of statues,” he explained.

“Now, we shall go there in the morning after you have eaten your breakfast. We must take water and some food, for there is much to see.” He paused a moment.

“If I may suggest the ladies wear shoes that are not mere slippers. Wear boots if you have them, for the terrain is uneven.”

“I know what I’ll be wearing,” Diana murmured, referring to her breeches and boots.

Randy chuckled softly. “I would expect nothing different, but I must tell you the gown you are wearing right now is especially fetching on you.” Although she had worn it many times during the fortnight they had spent on the river, the sky blue sprigged muslin set off her blonde hair and blue eyes to good effect.

Diana lifted a brow, fairly sure he meant she would be even more fetching if the gown was off of her.

“Will we walk from the boat?” Will asked, noting how the dhahab?yeh continued its trek on the river and was nearly past the site of the temple. Even as he asked the question, the main sail dropped and the boat noticeably slowed.

“Indeed. We are nearly to the dock. There is a path that will take us to a sphinx and then to the first pylon,” Mahmood replied. “From there, we will walk through the center of everything, but we must take care not to trip or turn an ankle.”

“Bradley is staying on board tomorrow,” Harry stated, his comment directed to Stella.

“I would not think to take him,” she said. “Although he missed Helen terribly yesterday.”

Tom displayed a grimace at hearing the countess’ comment, but when he noticed Helen glance his way, he quickly recovered to ask, “Will we require torches? Or a shovel?”

“No. Very little of any roofs remain, so the sun will be providing our light,” the captain replied. “As for shovels, there is far more sand filling the inside of these temples than we can ever hope to remove.”

Leaning toward Diana, Randy said, “Your satchel will certainly be lighter.”

She nodded. “I’m taking my sketchpad and measuring tools, though.”

“Enjoy your dinner,” Mahmood said, the same moment the sun set completely and the boat came to a halt at the dock.