The only bright spot in her life was littleNeferure. The princess radiated delight, enthusiasm, and simple joyin life, and always brought a smile to Hattie’s lips. As she heldthe child on her lap or sang her to sleep at night, she vowed shewould never tell the truth to Neferure. Though it would be a weighton her soul until the day she died to impersonate the child’smother, she would not take away one ounce of the little girl’shappiness and security, just to ease her own conscience.
Tuthmosis had been shipped off with GeneralSnefru to train with the army, far to the south, where he wouldremain for several years. Any guilt Hattie might have felt atsending the boy away was instantly erased when Tuthmosis came toher before he left and gave an awkward speech of thanks, carefullyprepared and memorized. He even smiled at her briefly, the firstgenuine smile he’d bestowed since her arrival. As always, Senemutwas right. Sending Tuthmosis away had been the proper thing to do.What would she do now, without Senemut’s counsel and advice?
Hattie was seated in her bedchamber,disconsolately practicing her hieroglyphs, when the curtain flappedaside and Senemut strode in. “Majesty,” he said, noddingbriefly.
“Senemut!” She flew to his side and reachedout for him, tears of joy welling in her eyes. She could scarcelybreathe and her heart felt like it would burst.
He held up a hand to stop her advance. “Ihave things to tell you, things I must say. Pray, do me thecourtesy of listening to them without interruption.”
The hope within her quickly withered at hisgruff tone. “Of course,” she whispered, sinking down onto thestool.
“I have thought long and hard on all you havetold me,” he said, pacing back and forth across the small openspace in the room. “I did not wish to accept it. I tried to findanother explanation for your story, any explanation at all. Butalas, I fear you spoke the truth. I believe you are not Hatshepsut,but instead a woman from another time and place. I know not how youcame here or why, but it is plain that you are who you claim tobe.”
Hattie sagged with relief. At least heaccepted her story, for good or ill. She felt like a tremendousburden had been removed from her shoulders.
“Since you are not the real Hatshepsut, Ihave made a grievous error in having you crowned. I have placed astranger, a woman—and one not of royal blood!—on the throne ofEgypt. I know not if the gods will forgive me for this…thisabomination.”
She opened her mouth to speak, but he held uphis hand again.
“What is done cannot be easily undone, Ifear. I cannot take the crown from your head, any more than I canraise the dead. The only way to remove you from the throne of Horusis through your death.”
Hattie shifted uneasily on her stool. Thisone-sided conversation was not going as well as she had hoped. WasSenemut still angry with her? Angry enough to have her killed, orto kill her himself? Had she been mistaken about his ability toabsorb and accept her revelation?
“Amun preserve me, but I cannot wish for yourdeath.” When he met her gaze at last, an electric shock coursedthrough her. “You are a helpless toy of the gods, as am I. I knownot what they have in mind, but I must trust there is a plan, elsethey would not have brought you here.”
“I hope so,” she murmured, dropping her gaze.Her cheeks were flushed and her heart raced. Now the conversationwas venturing into safer territory.
“Aye, mayhap it is best thus,” Senemut said,resuming his pacing. “The gods have not struck me down yet andmayhap they will not. Tuthmosis is too young to rule. Were you noton the throne, a Regent would be appointed and I cannot imagine oneof his advisors in that position. Between them, they have thewisdom of a single, obstinate donkey.”
Hattie giggled at the image his wordspresented. After a moment, Senemut’s rich laugh joined hers. Thetension in the air dissipated, and she relaxed a little. Perhapseverything would be all right after all.
Senemut crossed the floor to her in twosteps, seized her by the arms, and hauled her upright. Her heartthudded in her chest as he held her so close to him that she wasenfolded by his spicy, masculine scent as the warmth of his bodyradiated and enveloped her.
“By the gods, I have missed your laugh,” hesaid, staring down into her face with a strange expression shecouldn’t quite decipher. “I have realized something else these dayspast. If you are not Hatshepsut, then I can touch you. I can holdyou. I can love you.”
She held her breath for a moment beforeshe let it out on a soft sigh. “Aye,” she whispered. “And I canlove you, too, Senemut. I do loveyou.”
A small eternity passed, a moment frozen intime, as she stared up at him. Then Senemut pulled her even closer,one arm around her waist, the other hand cupping the back of herhead. “My love,” he breathed, then slanted his lips down overhers.
Fire leapt through Hattie’s veins as shereturned his kiss, feeling a passion she hadn’t known shepossessed. She wrapped her arms around his neck, her knees suddenlyweak and trembling. He lifted her easily and carried her to thebed. As his body covered hers, a surge of delight shot through her,which was instantly replaced by a deeper, more intense feeling thanshe had ever experienced. It was a sense of rightness, of…ofmaat. All waswell with the world, and she was where she belonged: in Senemut’sarms.
CHAPTER 20
“Hattie?”
“Hmm?” Hattie raised her head sleepily fromSenemut’s chest and opened one eye.
“We must talk.”
She closed her eye. “Later, after we sleep.”She nestled close again and pressed a kiss onto his collarbone.
“You should marry again.”
Hattie
