Soul and Shadow Read Free Page B

This is incredible, " I breathed. " Your grandmother should write a book. I don ' t know what she thinks I could possibly add. "
    Kent didn ' t seem to know either, but he was too tactful to say so. " She must sense a kindred spirit, " he said.
    " Or maybe she just enjoys my paintings. She ' s seen some of my work. " I studied the end of the treatise Ursula had given me. " She ' s invited me to come over and discuss it with her. Please, tell her that I ' m very flattered, but explain that I ' m just not qualified. "
    " I think you may be selling yourself short, " Kent said unexpectedly. " Gram is a good judge of talent. But I understand that you don ' t want to make a commitment. I ' ll tell you what. You look over this information. She ' ll be disappointed if you don ' t, and it will be interesting for you. Then we can have dinner next week and discuss it. I ' d love to see some of your work. It would make a wonderful birthday present for Gram. "
    It might have been a strange situation, but no artist passes up the chance for a sale. Especially to a Dame ' s grandson. The fact that Kent was a very good-looking man may have influenced me too. But I didn ' t throw all caution to the wind. " If I can have your number, I ' ll check my schedule and let you know, " I replied.
    " Fair enough. " He scribbled on a scrap of paper from his pocket. " Here ' s my mobile. If I don ' t answer, just leave a message. " He pressed the information into my hand. " I hope I hear from you, Lily, " he said. Really, those were extraordinary eyes. I dragged my gaze away from them.
    " It was nice to meet you, " I said. " Goodnight. "
    I turned back into the museum after he had gone, but didn ' t stay much longer. The exhibit seemed anti-climactic now. In a kind of daze, I went out to my car. When I started it up and switched on the radio, Walk Like an Egyptian came warbling out at me.
    I laughed aloud and drove the twenty minutes to my home. I rented some rooms in a huge old Victorian house. My pet, Cleocatra, was waiting for me as I entered. She swished her long tail as if to ask how the evening had gone. " You wouldn ' t believe it, " I said as I bent down to stroke her back. I gave her a treat, then headed straight to the computer. I had some research to do on Dame Ursula Allingham.

 
    Chapter Three
     
    " Lily! "
    I started as Katy dropped a heavy volume of medieval history on my desk. The thud of the book and the irritation in her voice brought me out of my reverie.
    " What? " I asked. " Is the coffee maker broken again? "
    This was usually the cause of bad temper in the otherwise affable Katy. But this time, her hostility was directed at me.
    " When are you going to tell me what happened last night? You ' ve been mooning around all morning, torturing me with wild hints about mummies and handsome English lords. I want details, and I want them now . "
    " I promised I ' d fill you in at lunch, " I defended myself. " I have to finish verifying these quotations for Briggs... "
    " Baloney, " Katy said. " You ' re not working, unless staring into space constitutes work. So spill it, and maybe then you can concentrate. "
    She was right. I hadn ' t gotten very far with the information that Dr. Briggs needed for his latest paper, and he could be an impatient man.
    Being a research assistant to a noted Egyptologist was a job I loved, but today it could not hold my interest, no matter what the work. The events of the night before seemed to be taking up all of the room in my brain. I decided that Katy was right, and I needed to tell my story.
    " All right, " I said, giving in. " But open up that book of yours and pretend we ' re consulting if he comes by. "
    " Okay. I need to know about Tutankhamen ' s influence on Lancelot. Now, come on. " Katy had pulled up a chair and was looking at me expectantly.
    " Well, " I began. " First of all, Kent ' s not a lord. Ursula ' s title is honorary, given for her services to archaeology. She ' s a Dame of the British