Chapter Four
Good heavens but Scarborough is quite potent, even from one little kiss.
“For the moment, gloves aren’t necessary but will be once I begin work on the translation.
” How amazing it was to hold a book that had survived centuries!
The yellow color of the linen cover had faded, of course, and was crumbling at the corners and a bit on the spine.
Some of the gold lettering had flaked away. “How astonishing.”
“I thought so, too. The thought that something this old has been hidden away in this very townhouse?” The duke shook his head. “And now it’s seeing the light of day again?” A sound of awe escaped him. “Incredible.”
“Agreed.” Carefully and with gentle fingertips, Cate looked through the book, pausing here and there on a few pages.
“It’s interesting they used colors for some of the drawings.
” The red had faded to the color of brown dried blood, while some of the blues and greens were quite muted but still beautiful.
True, some of the more graphic drawings put heat in her cheeks, but she was anxious to translate the text.
“I’m sure it’s a wonderful book, whatever the subject. ”
And she admitted to herself that experimenting with some of the positions indicated within the pages would be quite exhilarating and exciting.
“Would you have any idea of how old the book is?”
“Oh, well, look at this cartouche.” She pointed to the drawing at the top of one of the pages:
“This is the name of Akhenaten. Some have said he was a heretic and a revolutionary, the world’s first ‘individual’, and his reign—known as the Amarna period—is vigorously studied and debated.
Will probably still be hundreds of years from now.
” She shrugged, and then settled into the familiarity of the subject matter. “Shall I continue?”
“Yes, please.” When he removed a pair or round spectacles from his interior jacket pocket and then popped them on the end of his nose as he looked at the inscription, flutters went through her lower belly, for a man with spectacles was another of her weaknesses.
Shoving that thought away, Cate went on. “Akhenaten was a pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty. Before he gave himself that name, however, he had been Amenhotep IV, son of the great Amenhotep III, who—along with the female pharaoh Hatshepsut a century earlier—made this period a golden age for Egypt.”
“This is all so fascinating,” he said in a lowered voice as he traced the cartouche with a fingertip. “And to think we’re gazing upon the same parchment as people of that period.”
She nodded. “From all accounts or theories—and do bear in mind this could all just be speculation or stories until we definitely know the truth—his wife was Nefertiti and one of his children the boy king, Tutankhamun. Though all of this, of course, is argued between scholars and archeologists.” A sigh escaped, for she wished she were out in the field.
“Akhenaten reigned from 1353 to 1336 BC, although as with everything in Ancient Egypt, there are doubts and uncertainty until more relics and tombs are discovered.”
“Imagine being on a dig like that, finding something that will definitively change our knowledge of the world.”
“It has long been a dream of mine, actually.” Then she frowned as she turned another page in the book.
“When his older brother died, he assumed rule where he continued his father’s building projects, worshipped the usual gods, married had children.
After only a few years on the throne, Amenhotep IV celebrated his sed festival, a form of jubilee normally reserved for a pharaoh’s 30th year.
According to some scholars, in his fifth year, he rejected the chief deity of the pantheon, Amun, in favor of the Aten.
Unlike the other gods, the Aten was not anthropomorphic but depicted as a solar disk shining down rays with hands at the ends. ”
“And he instructed all to worship one god,” the duke said as he held her gaze with fascination shining in the blue depths. “That must have caused an uproar.”
“Perhaps in some circles. Change is difficult no matter the century. To show his loyalty to the Aten with the particular cult or religion who held power throughout the land, Amenhotep changed his name to Akhenaten—meaning some variation of beneficial to the Aten—and announced his intention to build a new capital. After, he moved the religious center of Egypt from Thebes. By his ninth year, Akhenaten made unprecedented radical steps to establish his religion—he proscribed the old gods entirely, declaring the Aten to be the only god. For this, he has been described as one of the first to institute monotheism. Everything changed under his reign, and I can only guess that made him a target to those subjects who dissented.”
The duke nodded. “Power and politics were always changing in Egypt. The area, for centuries, was always held in the grip of such struggles.”
“Still is, if you truly think about it.” Carefully, Cate closed the book.
“This was perhaps written for the pharaoh or his wife, or the pharaoh and a mistress, perhaps even designated to be left in his tomb for the afterlife. Since his tomb hasn’t been found yet, this is, of course, speculation on my part, and even then, no one would believe any theories if they come from a woman.
And the questions of why this book was left out of a tomb is still a large one.
” She frowned. “I don’t even know if this was supposed to be for a tomb. ”
He huffed. “Poppycock. Women are perfectly capable of having intelligence and learning things on every subject, truth be told.” He tapped the book still sitting in her lap. “Perhaps he commissioned the book for a second, younger wife?”
“Could be, depending on how that particular society was structured.” She shrugged, and when she did, her shoulder brushed his chest leaving heated tingles behind.
“Age doesn’t mean a woman wouldn’t be interested in trying new things or wouldn’t embrace adventurous carnal activities.
From everything we’re learning about Ancient Egypt, we’re discovering they were quite progressive and open with sexual congress.
For them, it was merely another way of expressing themselves through affection.
Not like the scandal it is apparently now. ”
Interesting, that, how society became more prudish as time went on.
“Ah.” Scarborough’s eyes darkened slightly.
“That is quite true. My wife was interested in such things until she was too ill and too weak.” When a tiny waver entered his voice, her chest tightened in sympathy.
“I’ll admit, the longer a person is with another, said relations have a tendency to grow…
stale even if the couple enjoys each other. ”
As surprise gripped her, Cate’s eyebrows rose. “Perhaps, but I’ll wager the act is that much sweeter because of the familiarity.”
“At times.”
Such a scandalous topic of discussion. How did things like this happen to her?
She flicked her gaze over his form. What must he look like sans clothing?
That first kiss they’d shared, impromptu as it was, lit fires in her blood she couldn’t ignore.
A throb of heat went through her, something she hadn’t known for far too long.
Why had he done it? And more to the point, would he do it again?
“My father tells me it’s folly to connect with men on that level, that I should keep myself aloof and let someone court me, because that is what society demands.”
Silence reigned between them for a handful of seconds, then the duke nodded.
“What do you think?”
No one had ever asked her that before. Warm pleasure went through her chest as she shrugged.
“I can discover far more about a man through carnal acts than I can with months of verbal conversation or drives about Town. I’m afraid I’m not the type of woman to cool my heels, waiting on a man for anything.
I’ve always thought if he can’t make up his mind about me and a possible future together within a few weeks or so, then he’s not for me.
” Her cheeks burned at the blunt admission.
“I shouldn’t have said that, so if you’d like to find a different translator, I’ll understand. ”
Would the actions from her past and her candid way of speaking hinder this new position?
“Bah.” He held her gaze with his own. “We should be allowed to utter our truths, regardless of rank or society’s rules or subject matter. I appreciate the fact you feel comfortable enough in my company to share.” Then he removed his spectacles and placed them on a nearby table.
“Thank you.” In some relief, Cate nodded, and again focused on one of the pages in the slim volume. “Upon initial inspection, the ancient language is flowery with a cadence of poetic prose; a veritable love letter from a man to a woman.”
“Interesting.”
“Indeed.” She turned the book over in her hands, but there was nothing inscribed on the back cover.
“In many ways, as someone who studies ancient cultures and skips through history in the books I read, eavesdropping, as it were, around the great love affairs from movers and shakers makes me feel like an outcast, since I can never make a relationship go the distance.”
“Not necessarily.”
She frowned. “How so?” Why she admitted these very deep secrets to a veritable stranger, she couldn’t fathom.
“On the contrary, it makes you compelling and interesting. It matters not what your past relationships have consisted of.” His gaze flicked from the book to her face, and those intense blue pools threatened to drag her under, made even more compelling when he scooted a tad bit closer to her on the sofa.
“Forbidden words in that book or not, your future is yours to build how you wish.”