Flora's War Read Online Free Page B

surprisingly, parties made up entirely of women.
    Frank met us in the lobby. He followed my gaze. ‘They’re nurses,’ he said. ‘There are British nurses here, and I believe some Australians and New Zealanders too.’ The women wore sober grey dresses with high, primly buttoned collars and cuffs, a sharp contrast to the delicate, pretty evening gowns other women were wearing. But uniformed or not, the nurses were having a good time, dining in the hotel’s smartest restaurant, talking and laughing together.
    The rest of the Travers family were waiting for us in a lounge room. A string quartet played rippling music in the background while drinks were served by waiters in long white robes, with red sashes around their waists and red fezzes on their heads. Mrs Travers bustled over and kissed me soundly on the cheek. ‘It’s lovely to see you, Flora, dear,’ she said. ‘And don’t you look so grown up! Such a pretty dress.’
    It was blue and cream, my favourite of the evening dresses Aunt Helen had ordered made for me, but I was eclipsed by Gwen in delicate daffodil-yellow and a hemline shimmering with beads. Gwen sparkled as she walked. I just had to get to that dressmaker of hers, I thought. I wanted to sparkle too.
    In the British restaurant, we were shown to one of the best tables near a terrace overlooking the Nile. Mrs Travers was very conservative and had no love for Egyptian food. It wasn’t quite dark and I could still make out graceful white-sailed feluccas gliding like ibis on the river.
    As soon as we had ordered, Fa and Professor Travers sank deep into conversation about the tomb Professor Travers was excavating on the Giza plateau. I listened, interested.
    ‘It’s a mastaba tomb, of course, from the third dynasty,’ Professor Travers said. ‘We’ve hardly started, we’re still clearing the sand above it, but I have great hopes it hasn’t been looted. So far we’ve seen no signs of forced entry but we could be disappointed further down.’
    ‘Is there any indication for whom it was built?’ Fa asked.
    ‘It’s early days,’ said Professor Travers. ‘And you? What will you be working on?’
    ‘Much the same, I believe,’ said Fa. ‘Khalid tells me it’s a third dynasty mastaba. He seems confident it’ll be an interesting excavation. It appears to be a large tomb, so possibly minor royalty.’
    ‘Here’s to a productive season,’ said Professor Travers, raising his glass to Fa. We all raised our glasses as well. For the first time, Gwen and I had been allowed wine. Just half a glass, but still – actual wine! ‘And to professional rivalry!’ added Professor Travers. We all laughed.
    Fa had a competitive gleam in his eye. Each season, he and Professor Travers had a bet running as to who would uncover the most interesting objects from their excavations. Last year, Professor Travers had won with an intact funerary statue of a high official from the pharaoh’s court. Fa was on his mettle this year.
    Mrs Travers turned to me. ‘Flora, I wonder if you’d be willing to help with a little project of mine,’ she said. I glanced at Gwen. I knew Mrs Travers’ little projects of old. They were often improving, educational visits to museums and libraries. Gwen raised her shoulders slightly. Clearly, she hadn’t been warned about this one.
    ‘If I can,’ I said warily. ‘What is your little project?’
    ‘Lady Bellamy is setting up a committee of British ladies to help the soldiers,’ explained Mrs Travers. ‘She has asked if I can suggest some ladies to staff a rest and recreation centre for soldiers.’
    I knew of Lady Bellamy. She was married to a high-ranking British officer and was very much a social leader in Cairo. ‘The soldiers need rest and recreation?’ I asked.
    ‘They do indeed,’ said Mrs Travers. She was clearly enthusiastic. ‘Lady Bellamy wants men on leave to have the opportunity for wholesome rest and recreation when they come to Cairo. Some pleasant place where