“As you wish, Majesty. Nesi will attend you.When you are ready, she will lead you to the throne room.”
“The throne room? Why?”
Senemut looked puzzled. “You are Regent now.Today, you and young Tuthmosis must hear the case brought by Merisuthe potter against Ahmose the soldier, and render judgment.”
“A case?” Visions of Perry Mason in acourtroom swirled through her mind. “I know not how to handle acase. What must I do?”
“Listen, Majesty. Listen and judge. Amun willguide your heart to the truth.”
“I hope so,” Hattie murmured. “Very well.Shall I see you there?”
Senemut shook his head. “I must return to myduties as tutor. I have neglected them for far too long.” Heflashed her a smile, then bowed and left the room.
After a moment, Nesi stepped in. “Majesty,”she said, bowing.
Hattie smiled at her but made no move. Abewildered frown creasing her brow, Nesi gestured in the directionof the doorway with no curtain. Hattie nodded and preceded her intothe room.
A large, sloping stone slab occupied themiddle of the floor. There was a small hole in the lowest corner ofthe slab, and tall pottery jars filled with water flanked it on allsides. Off in an alcove, a small portion of the room was walledoff, the entrance hidden by a curtain.
“Before my bath, I must…” Hattie falteredto a stop. Where was the toilet? Was there a toilet? Hattie added modern bathroom facilities toher mental checklist of things she missed already.
Nesi appeared to understand. She led Hattieto the alcove and thrust open the curtain. Inside, what appeared tobe a hand-carved wooden toilet seat teetered precariously atop twopiles of mud bricks. Directly under the hole in the seat was alarge bowl, half-filled with sand. A basket next to the seat wasalso filled with sand and had a scoop of some type thrust intoit.
Nesi looked at Hattie questioningly. When shemerely lowered her eyebrows and frowned, Nesi pantomimed sitting onthe seat, then scooping fresh sand into the bowl underneath. Hattierolled her eyes. It looked like the best bathroom facilities in thecountry were the equivalent of a cat-box. Oh, what she wouldn’tgive for her own cozy bathroom complete with glassed-in tiledshower, fluffy towels, and heat lamp! Sighing, she shooed Nesi awayand resigned herself to her fate.
When she finished, Hattie returned to thelarger portion of the room where Nesi patiently awaited her.
“Majesty?” Nesi gestured toward the slab.Hattie stepped onto it and before she could say a word, Nesigrabbed the linen sheet she had wrapped around her and whisked itaway.
“What are you doing?” Hattie cried.
“Your bath, Majesty,” Nesi said simply. Shepicked up one of the tall jars and upended it over Hattie’s head,sending a waterfall of lukewarm water gushing over her.
“This is not a bath…this is a shower!” Hattiesputtered in shock. “And a cold one at that.”
Nesi was silent.
“Where is the…um…” Confused, she lapsed intoEnglish. “Soap?”
“Soap, Majesty?” Nesi was plainly puzzled.“What is soap?”
“Cleaner? Detergent? You rub it on your skinand it cleans you?”
Nesi shook her head. “I am sorry, Majesty, Iknow not…”
“Never mind, never mind,” Hattie sighed.“Pour the next one more slowly, will you?”
Nesi poured, and Hattie scrubbed, until allthe jars were empty. Nesi produced piles of snowy linen towels andrubbed Hattie’s body until it glowed, then massaged sweetly scentedoil into her skin.
She led Hattie back to the bedroom anddressed her in the scandalous transparent gown that left one breastbare. Hattie almost objected, but her common sense took over. Suchgowns were customary here, and if she made a fuss, she would standout as an intruder. Besides, it didn’t seem like her own body thatwas scandalously clad. It still felt like the body of a stranger.Who was she to complain if Hatshepsut chose to dress in thisfashion?
Nesi slipped leather sandals on Hattie’sfeet, clasped bands of gold around her upper arms and fastened anecklace made of lapis lazuli and gold beads around her neck. Thenshe gestured for Hattie to sit on the stool.
Hattie sat while Nesi created row upon row ofintricate braids in her hair. Next, she took several alabaster potsand ivory sticks from one of the baskets and proceeded to drawthick lines of black kohl along Hattie’s eyebrows and above hereyelids all the way out to her temples, matched by lines of greenkohl under her eyes. She reddened her cheeks and lips with rouge,and then held up a small, highly polished bronze mirror forHattie’s inspection.
The reflection was a little fuzzy andindistinct, but staring back at her Hattie saw an exotic beautywith an oval face, high forehead, deep brown, almond-shaped eyes,and a delicate pointed chin.
“You are pleased, Majesty?” Nesi asked.
“Oh, aye…Nesi, I am very pleased,” Hattiebreathed, tearing her eyes away from the mirror. She had just beengiven the most complete makeover any woman ever experienced. Howcould she be anything but pleased?
“Come then, Majesty. I will lead you to thethrone room.”
Suddenly, an enormous snake of panicslithered through the pit of her stomach. Playing at dress-up wasone thing. Serving as the ruler of an entire country was another.What if she did something wrong? Could she make a mistake bigenough to change history? Was it even possible to change history? Hattie moaned. Why had she onlyskimmed the books on ancient Egypt that Tom had pressed on her? Ifonly she’d paid more attention! A sheen of sweat broke out acrossher forehead. She should have looked for the necklace instead ofthe clothing and maybe she’d have been home by now.
“Majesty?”
Hattie clenched her fists. She was trapped,and there was no way out. Holding her head high, she followed Nesiout of the room. She felt as if she were climbing the scaffold toher own execution.
CHAPTER 6
Nesi wound her way through a maze ofcorridors, Hattie close on her heels. She knew if she lost sight ofNesi for an instant, she’d be lost. At every twist and turn, inevery doorway, painted and scantily-clad Egyptians bowed low as shepassed. She tried not to let them terrify her, nodding in what shehoped was a regal manner. She had no idea if that was the
