The workman darted a glance up at her. Shesmiled encouragingly.
“First, Majesty, we chisel and smooth therock walls,” he said, pointing to another area of the temple wherethe walls were still rough and jagged. “Then, the wall must becoated with a thick layer of white plaster.”
“I see,” Hattie murmured. “What comesnext?”
“An artist draws the subject onto the whiteplaster, Royal One. When he has finished, a master artist correctsand adds details to the drawing.” He glanced up at her again andcontinued in a stronger voice, warming to his subject under herinterested gaze. “Next, the sculptor chisels out the image, givingit depth and a lifelike effect. And finally, a master painter addsthe colors and finishing touches.”
“So it is a group effort, is it not?” Hattieasked.
The workman beamed. “Aye, Your Majesty, itis. We are honored to work on pharaoh’s house of eternity, and weshall do our best to make it reflect your glory.”
“You are doing a wonderful job,” she said.“Please, do not let me interrupt your work any further. Thank youfor educating me.”
Blushing, the workman retreated, bowing lowas he went.
Hattie turned to Senemut. “It is verystriking! I had no idea it would be so…so overwhelming in scope anddesign. You are truly a talented architect, Senemut.”
Senemut smiled. “It is my great honor andprivilege to create a temple that befits Your Majesty in every way.As I said, it will take many seasons to complete.” He looked aroundand dropped his voice. “Once you are crowned pharaoh on New Year’sDay, you must begin your reign with a suitably impressive deed.Then the workmen can record it on the walls of your temple.”
Hattie’s stomach lurched and her smile faded.“Aye, I suppose you are right, though I know not what theimpressive deed shall be.” For a few minutes, she had forgotten thereason this temple was under construction—and it had been the mostcarefree time she’d had in a long while. But now, the burden ofassuming the crown settled onto her again.
Senemut had done his work well over the pastyear. He’d had inscriptions carved, arranged for Hattie to maketemple dedications and have her royal father’s monuments restored,and lined up support of vassal states—with Nubia the first to fallin line, thanks to Hattie’s fair treatment of them after theiruprising. He’d spoken the correct words in the proper ears, and wonover much of the priesthood and the army. Hattie was amazed at bothhis ingenuity and his tenacity. He’d refused to give up until hehad garnered support for Hatshepsut’s crowning from nearly everyhigh official in the land.
Hapuseneb, the high priest of Amun, hadselected New Year’s Day as her coronation day. Unlike Hattie’simages of New Year’s Eve at Times Square, the Egyptian New Yearbegan in late June, when the star they called Sopdet rose justabove the horizon at dawn during the time of the annual flooding ofthe Nile.
At first, Hattie chafed under the delay untilthe next New Year’s celebration. If she were forced to do the thingat all, she would prefer to get it over with quickly. But Senemutassured her it was both an auspicious and a practical choice, whichallowed her regnal years and the civil calendar to coincide. “It iswell,” he had commented, “to begin your new life as pharaoh on thefirst day of a new year, when the Nile overflows and brings us herbounty. The gods will bless your reign.”
Hattie wasn’t so sure, but she didn’t appearto have any choice in the matter. Once she’d suggested heraccession to the throne would eliminate the threat againstTuthmosis, the decisions were removed from her hands. All she hadto do was smile, follow Senemut’s suggestions, and await theinexorable progression.
Suddenly, Hattie was no longer interested inwatching the work progress on her temple. “I have a headache,Senemut,” she whispered. “Please, take me home.”
CHAPTER 17
Nesi came to prepare Hattie on the day of hercoronation. Hattie was already awake, and had been tossing andturning since before dawn. “Come, Majesty. I have prepared yourbath.”
Hattie groaned. She had been dreading thisday, and she wanted nothing more than to pull the sheet over herhead and refuse to come out of her room until it was over. But timemoved inescapably forward, and there was nothing she could do tostop its flow. Sighing, she arose and allowed Nesi to lead her intothe bath chamber.
Before long, Nesi had worked her magic again.Hattie was dressed in a gossamer gown, gold and jewels around herneck and upper arms, and heavy rings on her fingers. Anointed withexotic perfumes, her hair dressed and face painted, she lookedevery inch the eighteenth dynasty Egyptian queen, and nothing likeHattie Williams from Chicago.
Hattie gulped and turned away from herreflection in the polished bronze mirror. What if sheneverreturned to her own time? Whatif she were marooned here for the rest of her life? She had notbeen able to find the necklace, and had nearly given up looking forit. She’d spent hours poring over scrolls of magic incantations andcharms, and had consulted—without revealing her trueobjective—priests and sorcerers, but to no avail. Her duties asRegent were now second nature to her, and she had adapted to thehardships of life in this era almost completely. Each day shebecame fonder and fonder of little Neferure, and even proud PrinceTuthmosis had wormed his way into her heart. And, though she wasloath to admit it, each day she fell more deeply in love withSenemut. Would it be so bad, then, if she were to remainhere?
I have to find a way to returnhome, she told herselfwith an impatient shake of her head. She firmly ignored the littlevoice in her heart that asked, Why?
Perhaps it was a mistake to continue to keepthe truth from Senemut. His advice had always been sound, so mighthe not be able to advise her in this matter as well? Certainly, heknew more of the “magic” of the era—curses, magic spells andpotions, amulets, love philters. Perhaps he knew of another waythan the necklace to return her to her own time. Would he not wanthis own Hatshepsut back? Which Hatshepsut was he in love with?
The curtain to her bedchamber flew aside andSenemut
