“My good people, if you will all take your seats,” a herald shouted. “We will proclaim our thanks to the Lady of Magic this day.” Rebecca made her way back to her uncle’s table, which was actually Mr. Busiri’s table. Mr. Crocodile and her uncle were flanking the Nomarch while Hawk and Tori sat together engaged in avid conversation, which Rebecca was not sure if it was friendly or hostile.

“Rebecca!” Simonetta said as she gestured for Rebecca to sit next to her. She took a seat next to Simonetta and the night was so rapidly exceeding her expectations. She could not help but stare at Simonetta. From the blue dress that showed her bare shoulders, and the way her hair fell about them.

“Rebecca?” Simonetta whispered as she leaned close to Rebecca. “You are staring. Is my hair out of place?”

“Oh… I, er… No. I was just thinking how lovely you look tonight. I would not have recognized you in a dress.” Rebecca flushed. Her choice of words sounded better in her mind. Simonetta for her part, just smiled.

“Grazie. It’s not often I get to dress up like this. It really looks good?”

“Yes, very good,” Rebecca said.

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.” In the center of the room, the Vizier himself stood as another performance was being set up. Several female musicians in long flowing dresses, walked out followed by a rather underdressed guitar player, Rebecca could not help but the woman over. They were followed by a harpist, another woman with what appeared to be a double flute and a bagpiper who was the only man among them.

They started playing, one of those droning rhythms that the people of this region seemed to like, but it sounded so alien to Rebecca’s ears. As they played, a line of dancers, wearing barely enough to cover their nether bits came out in a line and started dancing. The guitarist and harpists were singing hymns to Isis that Rebecca could barely understand.

The other Europeans were scandalized and started whispering among themselves, but Rebecca was transfixed as the dancers moved about with a practiced rhythm, sweat glistening off their bodies. It was only when the music stopped did she realize that the performance was over.

“You were quite engrossed,” Simonetta said.

“It was a very good performance,” Rebecca said. “We never see things like this in England. Might they do things like this in the Fayyum?”

“I would think not,” Simonetta said. “The cities, Cairo, Memphis, that is where the real action is.”

“Too bad we shall be leaving soon,” Rebecca said.

“I’m not leaving.” Simonetta said. Rebecca looked at her with wide eyes.

“I thought you were coming with us to…”

“I was hired to bring you safely to your uncle. I’ve done that. I have more adventures in Cairo ahead of me.”

“But I thought we would…” Rebecca said.

“If you wish to stay, you should talk to your uncle.”

“He’d never allow it. My parents have sent me here so he could keep me in his care anyway.” Rebecca said.

“I’m sorry if you were confused,” Simonetta said. Rebecca felt her eyes start to sting.

“Excuse me…” she said getting up from the table. She ran for the nearest doorway, and found herself in the cool Egyptian night as the tears flowed down her cheeks. At the sound of the footsteps, she wiped her face, and realized she had probably smeared her makeup. She looked up to see Hawk Ramsey walking toward her.

“Your uncle wondered where you went,” he said.

“I needed some air,” she replied, turning away from him.

“Simonetta, isn’t it,” he said, putting his hand on her shoulder. Rebecca looked at him and he quickly pulled it away. “She is the remarkable woman, but ain’t as some would say, the tame one. You fell for her?”

“I…”

“What is the term you whites use? Invert?”

“They have called me that,” Rebecca said. “They also had called me a tribade. But I have come to terms with what I am. I know that I shall marry a man of suitable prospects when my parents find one, but I always knew I could not be happy unless I was with another woman. But then I met Simonetta…”

“Simonetta, I know…” Hawk nodded. “And you’re young.”

“I am envious of you for that, Mr. Ramsey, that you have known Simonetta in that way. I have never felt this way about anyone,” Rebecca said. “Simonetta is different. There is a… base passion. Even with Evelyn, back at boarding school, I had not felt like this.”

“Evelyn. You love her?”

“Up until we were caught together. That is why my parents had sent me off to Egypt.” Rebecca held her head up, imitating her mother’s posture. “Whilst here, their tribade daughter shan’t embarrass them any further.”

Hawk opened his mouth, but no words came out as his focus drifted away from Rebecca.

“Mr. Ramsey…?” she started.

“What is Busiri doing out here?”

Rebecca turned around and sure enough, there was the Nomarch, walking away from the banquet hall into the night. “Oughtn’t he have his entourage? Or perhaps a bodyguard?”

“He should,” Hawk said. “What is he up to?”

“Well, Mr. Ramsey, I believe we should find out.”