The Sekhmet Bed by L. M. Ironside Read Free Book Online Page B

slid over Ahmose’s skin. She shivered. “What do you mean?”
     
    “ Oh, the dangers of childbirth, the risk.” Mutnofret’s voice was light, unconcerned. “You know what they say about all that terrible business.”
     
    “ Well…of course it’s dangerous, sometimes. But you don’t think Aiya is really in more danger than most, do you?”
     
    “ But Ahmose, she’s so young.”
     
    “ She’s not that much younger than you.”
     
    “ You don’t see me with a big belly. I’d never risk my life that way, until I was sure I was old enough to survive.”
     
    Survive? “Nonsense, Nofret! Plenty of women have babies at Aiya’s age.”
     
    “ Plenty of women die having babies at Aiya’s age. But let’s talk of more pleasant things. I don’t want to upset you.”
     
    Shaken, Ahmose cast about for a change of subject. “I’ve never been as good with clothing as you, Nofret. What should I wear to our wedding?”
     
    “ Green, definitely,” she said, unhesitating. “It looks glorious against your skin. It brings out your eyes well, too. You’re stunning in that color. You have a green gown, yes? I know I’ve seen you in one.”
     
    The green gown was the plainest one Ahmose had, except for her ratty old red tunic. It was serviceable and comfortable, but there was nothing especially fine about it. “My green dress? But it’s so ordinary.”
     
    “ Silly, you don’t need to look like you’ve rolled out of a jewel chest be beautiful. If you load yourself with fine fabrics and gold and gems you’ll only look insecure. A queen should look confident, don’t you think? Naturally strong.”
     
    Ahmose chewed her lip. Mutnofret wouldn’t steer her wrong. And Ahmose had never paid much attention to trends. Maybe all the women were dressing in a quieter way these days. Ahmose certainly could not say. At court she was more likely to mind what the politicians were discussing than what anyone was wearing.
     
    “ All right. What about my jewelry?”
     
    “ Hardly anything. Keep it simple. Understated is very elegant. That’s what I’m going to do.”
     
    “ Oh, thank you, Nofret. I just never know how to make myself look my best. It’s so good of you to help me.”
     
    “ I’ll help you any way I can, dear little Ahmose. We’re still sisters, above all.”
     
    Ahmose squeezed Nofret’s hand. “Always sisters.”
     
    Mutnofret’s body servant arrived and laid out a towel on a long, high bench. The bench stood below a wall muraled in faience. Ahmose lay back and studied the scene, wincing, to keep her mind off the ordeal to come. She hated being plucked, but she hated being hairy even more. She kept her eyes on the mural: nude women swam and played in a secluded river pool screened by tall, bright papyrus leaves. A man’s face peeked out between the leaves, spying on the bathing girls. Mutnofret must have found the mural amusing, but to Ahmose it was distasteful. She looked away, groped for conversation while the woman rubbed a soothing ointment into her legs and groin. Anything to distract her from the task at hand.
     
    “ How long do you suppose the feast will last?”
     
    “ Oh, hours, I’m sure.”
     
    “ I’ve never been to a wedding before. Well – I’ve been when I was a little girl, but I don’t remember much of it.”
     
    “ I remember both the weddings I’ve seen. There’s a lot of music, and ever so many courses for dinner. And gifts for the brides and groom.”
     
    “ Will we dance?” Ahmose loved to dance.
     
    “ Not us. We will have to be dignified. But I’m sure the stewards will hire the best dancers in the kingdom. And there will be plays and acrobats and poetry recitals. Most of the nobles will drink too much. That’s always fun to watch.” Mutnofret had slipped into a fresh gown, soft white linen. She tied it, smiling slyly. “And then, after the celebration, the wedding night.”
     
    “ The wedding night?”
     
    Mutnofret laughed. “Oh,