“A necklace?” Comprehension dawned across hisface. “The necklace you asked me about—the one with the goldenfigure of Horus. You say that necklace brought you here?”
Hattie nodded miserably. “I think so. It isthe only explanation I can come up with. The necklace, thehieroglyphs, or both. Mayhap the hieroglyphs were some kind ofchant or spell, and when I finished copying them, the spell wastriggered. But I did not know how to read hieroglyphics then, so Iknow not what they said. And, unfortunately, though I clutched itas I fell, the necklace did not travel here with me. I am maroonedhere. I know not how to return to my own time. I have been forcedto play the part of Hatshepsut in order to survive.”
“You were never talented in art until thefuneral of your husband, the Great God. Yet now your skills rivalany artisan’s.” He frowned, tapping the drawing he still heldagainst his palm. “And in this…this ingenious tale of yours, whathas happened to the real Hatshepsut?”
“I know not. You said you thought she haddied at the funeral of her husband. Mayhap she did indeed die ofgrief. Her spirit may have left her body, which enabled my spiritto enter it. After I touched the necklace and swooned, Iencountered a ghostly figure who claimed to be Hatshepsut, though Idid not believe it at the time, and I have felt a…a presence morethan once, heard a voice whisper to me when the room was empty,give me advice.” She shrugged, staring down at the soft, slenderhands so unlike her own capable ones. “I only know that this isnot mybody, and this is not mytime.”
“Hatshepsut was ever a timid woman,” Senemutmuttered, shaking his head again. “She would not dare to look mestraight in the eye, much less seize the throne of Horus forherself. Yet, she knew well how to read and write, but I myselftaught you these things. And her spells were always small andinclined toward love potions to help her favorite servants. Nothingas ambitious as travel through time. And yet, she did have powersbeyond those of other women.” A spasm of pain distorted his face.“What of us, if this preposterous tale is true? I have allowedmyself to feel…to believe that you feel for me…” He groaned,crumpling the drawing in his fist. “Great Amun, my head spins as iffrom too much date wine.”
“Oh, Senemut, if you believe nothing elseI’ve told you, you must believe that I…” She gulped. “I…I had notplanned to tell you in this fashion, but I love you, Senemut. Withall my heart and soul.”
“Aye, so you say, but who are you? By all thegods, I swear, I am tempted to believe you. You sound sincere. Butcan this tale be true? Are you really a stranger from anothertime?”
“It is true, I swear it by…” She broke off asa look of horror crossed his face and he rose from the bed sohastily that he stumbled. “Senemut, what is it? What is wrong?”
“By Amun and Isis and all the gods, what haveI done?” He backed away from her outstretched hands, moaning andmaking the sign of the sacred eye of Horus. “What have I done? Ihave put an imposter on the throne of Egypt!” He turned and fledthe room.
“Senemut, wait!” Hattie cried. “Please, comeback!”
But it was too late; he was gone.
* * *
Senemut paced back and forth feverishly alongthe bank of the lotus pool in the garden adjoining his apartments.His mind was bleak, black; he felt like he’d been kicked in thestomach and had his heart torn out for good measure. He couldn’tthink, couldn’t speak. All he could do was walk and turn, walk andturn.
After a time, the mechanical activitysoothed him a little. He dropped down onto a stone bench, his headin his hands. Great Amun, what had he done? He had allowed himselfto be led about by his heart like a young, untried boy. He hadfallen for a pretty face, a tender smile…or, he thought bitterly ashe eyed the drawing Hattie had made, I fell for two prettyfaces.
He shook his head viciously. Nay, hecouldn’t believe, even now, that he had acted only out of lust, oreven love. Hatshepsut…nay, Hattie…was fit in every way to rule Egypt, except for her gender.And why should that keep an otherwise fit leader from the throne?Thus, he had been right to help her be crowned pharaoh.
Yet, the throne of Egypt was not a prizeto be won by intelligence or leadership or even feat of arms. Itwas a sacred position that passed from father to son, along theroyal line—and Hattie was not a member of the royal family. If heroutlandish tale were true, that is. In that case, putting her onthe throne was worse than an affront against Egypt; it was anaffront against the gods, against maat itself: truth, justice, order, stability. Withoutmaat, theuniverse would slide into chaos and disorder and the world would bedestroyed.
Senemut stood and resumed pacing. Shouldhe try to wrest the scepter from Hattie’s grasp and give it intothe hand of another? Perhaps that would restore maat. Yet, to try to unseat pharaoh was the worstsacrilege of all. Would that not destroy maat in and of itself?
“Amun help me,” Senemut groaned aloud. “Whatam I to do?”
CHAPTER 19
Day after lonely day passed. Senemut did notreappear, and Hattie missed him sorely. When he hadn’t returnedafter two days, she sent a servant, bearing an apologetic note, toinquire after him. The servant returned quickly, saying only thatLord Senemut was indisposed and would see no one. Her letter,pleading with him to listen to her, to give her a chance toexplain, was returned unread.
Hattie knew that, as pharaoh, she couldcommand his presence, yet she knew it would solve nothing. Indeed,it would be a grave mistake. He must come to an understanding ofwho she was, an acceptance of her, on his own, and she couldn’tforce it. So, she must wait, though it killed her to do so.
While she waited, there were many royalduties to keep her occupied. She presided at court, made therequired appearances at the temple, spoke with
