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‘I know – right!’
‘It says here,’ Emily started reading the news feed below the press conference, ‘that he was due at the conference to speak about the new exhibition of artefacts from the tomb. They’ll be displayed in a museum at Cambridge University before the new exhibition moves to London.’
‘So, where is he?’ Clarissa asked, watching the news conference live.
‘According to the newsfeed, they’re not sure where their star guest is, and why he hasn’t turned up. So the curators at the British Museum are pressing on without him to talk about the new find and the exhibits that will be coming to London soon.’
Emily paused. ‘It sounds as though it’s caused quite a stir – there’s a lot of press there hoping to be the first to get an interview with him.’
Clarissa said, ‘Check the name of your new guest. Are you sure it’s—’
‘I’m positive.’
Clarissa and Emily turned to look at one another as a car drew up outside the guest house.
They both rushed to the window. ‘Is it … is it him? The Egyptian?’ asked Clarissa.
They both watched a tall, older man, who had to be in his sixties, get out of the taxi. He was wearing a Panama hat and a cream-coloured suit. ‘I think it’s Hercules Poirot without the pot belly,’ Emily joked. He suddenly looked up.
‘Oh, god – I think he spotted us.’
They both quickly withdrew from the window. Clarissa looked at Emily, wide-eyed. ‘It’s him, isn’t it?’
Emily grinned and nodded. ‘It’s the famous archaeologist. Oh, my god. I’m so excited. You know what this means, don’t you? You could be the first to secure an exclusive interview and get the inside scoop about the new exhibition.’
Clarissa stared at Emily without comment.
Emily looked at her. ‘That’s what you want – don’t you? Your big news story?’
Clarissa looked at her thoughtfully. ‘What I’m more interested in is what he is doing here instead of at that press conference in London.’
Emily glanced at the book in her hands. ‘I better take this back to reception.’
‘I’m coming too,’ Clarissa stood up. ‘I want to meet the Egyptian.’ She grinned mischievously. ‘Shall we knock on Alice’s door and see if she is back from her walk and let her know he’s arrived?’
‘Absolutely not.’
‘Oh, Emily, you’re no fun.’
‘I tell you what we better do before we go downstairs.’
‘What?’
‘Change out of our pyjamas!’
Chapter 38
Alice glanced at her watch as she walked down the stairs. She’d just make it for breakfast after taking Hester for a walk and changing out of her wet clothes. Unfortunately, she’d been caught out in a rather heavy shower with no umbrella. But she didn’t think going downstairs just in time to catch breakfast was a bad thing. It would be quieter with no one around but herself. Joss, probably nursing a hangover like her, perhaps wouldn’t be down at all. That left the other guest – Clarissa.
Alice frowned. She’d much rather she didn’t bump into the budding journalist, not after what she’d told Joss last night. What had she told Joss? Alice’s frown deepened. She still couldn’t remember. She wished she hadn’t drunk so much wine. What if she’d told Joss everything? And he’d told Clarissa?
Alice swallowed. Perhaps it was time to pack her bags, and her pets, and get out of Dodge. She rolled her eyes at the cowboy analogy. She’d sat through far too many old westerns with her husband in her youth. But maybe she really should leave. She knew she shouldn’t have gone there in the first place.
What about Wendy?a little voice in her head said as she stepped from the stairs into the reception hall. She glanced at the bookshelves containing those bound ledgers. She’d been interrupted by Joss before she’d had a chance to look at them all. Emily’s mum was sitting at reception that morning. Alice stole a glance, hoping Joss hadn’t remembered anything from the previous night and hadn’t told Emily’s mum.
Alice doubted it. Even so, she gave her a wide berth and dismissed any thoughts of finding Wendy. Now she wished she hadn’t sent that note demanding that Jeffrey came here. This was the last place she wanted to be. Alice decided it was time to cut her losses and head home. She imagined with snail mail he probably hadn’t even received her letter yet. She decided she could have breakfast, and head home, before the letter had even arrived.
Alice walked into breakfast with a plan for the day, little realising it was about to be thrown into complete disarray when she saw who was sitting at breakfast. Alice blinked in surprise when she saw she wasn’t the only one in the conservatory. It wasn’t Joss, or even Clarissa, but a new arrival.
