“I am sorry,” she replied swiftly before she was able to help herself. “I was under the impression that you loved the heat.”
Tbubui lifted one bare shoulder prettily and laughed. “I do indeed love it,” she admitted, “for it compels me to eat less and thus maintain my weight.”
One blow for you, Nubnofret thought, looking at the slim and faultless body. She smiled without warmth, a courtier’s smile, and, cocking her head to one side, deliberately waited for Tbubui to go on. She was determined not to bring up the matter of the marriage, and for a moment there was an impasse. I can play this game better than you, Nubnofret thought again. I was born to it. I could have forgiven you your beauty, for that is not of your own making. I could have forgiven you for stealing Khaemwaset’s heart away from me. But I can never forgive you your common, cheap, bad manners. As she had expected, it was Tbubai who gave in first.
“‘Highness, we were once friends,” she broke the silence, “but today I detect a small withdrawal on your Highness’s part.” She took a step towards Nubnofret and spread her hands in an appealing gesture. “My protestations of respect and affection are honest. I have no intention of interfering in matters of your authority.”
Nubnofret raised her eyebrows. “I fail to see how you could interfere even if you wanted to,” she said. “I have lived with Khaemwaset for many years. I know him as you do not; moreover, the ordering of the household and the regulating of the lives of other wives and concubines belongs to a Chief Wife. Any changes are made by me. As to your respect and affection, well …” she paused, … “if you are wise you will work towards acquiring both from me, or your life could well be a trifle uncomfortable. We must learn to live together, Tbubui. I think we should agree to a polite truce. Let us begin with honesty.” She accented the last word. Tbubui was watching her warily, the veneer of coyness gone and replaced by a critical coldness. Her face had become mask-like. Nubnofret folded her arms. “I do not think you are good for my husband,” she went on with a deliberate steadiness she did not really feel. “He has neglected his work and his family and has been in some agony of mind because of you. Do not forget that the violence of infatuation can turn to disgust very quickly, so I advise you to tread carefully around me. Khaemwaset cares little for the running of this estate. He has always left that to me. He will continue to do so. If you attempt to interfere, if you run to him with petty grievances, you will first bore and then annoy him. If you co-operate, you will be welcome here. I certainly have more to do than worry about your comfort. Do you understand?”
Tbubui had listened intently, her skin paling to a sallow tightness so that she gradually seemed to become all eyes and thinning mouth. But when Nubnofret had finished speaking she took two more gliding steps that brought her face inches from Nubnofret’s own. Her breath when she spoke was cold and unpleasant.
“What you fail to understand, Highness, is the depth of your husband’s obsession with me,” she said in a low, forceful voice. “It is no infatuation, I promise you. I am in his vitals, not you. If you try to discredit me you will come to grief. From now on, no one will be able to speak against me to him, for I have his complete trust. He is mine, body, mind, and ka. I have my hands between his legs, Princess, just where he likes it. If I caress, he will purr. If I squeeze, he will yelp in agony. But make no mistake, he is mine to do with as I wish.”
Nubnofret was almost faint with shock. She had seldom seen such venom in her life, or heard such words. This woman was something wild, something completely lacking in human conscience or decency, and for the space of one breath Nubnofret was shaken by a gush of terror. She knew that what the woman said was true. Then she rallied. “I do not believe that you care for my husband at all,” she said coldly. “You are nothing but a greedy peasant with the heart of a whore. You are dismissed.”
Tbubui moved away and bowed. She was smiling now, though her attitude was deferential. “It is not a whore’s heart that I have, Princess,” she remarked as she backed down the room. “I seem to have offended your Highness. I do apologize.” Wernuro had scrambled to her feet and was holding the door open. With a last bow Tbubui straightened and glided out of sight
15
I speak of a great matter,
and cause that ye shall hearken.
I give unto you a thought for eternity,
a rule of life for living in righteousness
and for spending a lifetime in happiness.
Honour the King, the Eternal …
A SUBDUED AND QUIET Ptah-Seankh left for Koptos the following day, armed with Khaemwaset’s written instructions on the procedure he was to follow, and the family settled into the period of mourning. Their loss had not brought them together, indeed without music, entertainments or the feasting of guests, the bare bones of their estrangement from one another began to show through, stark and cruel. Nubnofret had completely withdrawn from them all. Hori, too, had retreated into his private hell where even Sheritra, though they spent much time together, could not follow.