Chapter 2

“Sir? If I may? I would suggest you do not deliver the goods until you have received the payment. Sir Harry is not famous as a quick payer. He is six months in arrears with my salary.”

“Really? Thank you my dear. As you surmise, no incentive to pay me once the, umm, the goods, have been delivered.” He smiled at the pretty governess, and wondered what had possessed her to give him information that was likely to result in her being held in Jiha for longer.

The ladies were all encouraged to wash the dust and dirt off their bodies. None were keen to remove all their clothing in association with each other. Yet washing was a nice idea. They carefully stood with their backs to each other and washed each part separately, only uncovering parts. They removed their dresses, keeping their underskirts on. The two ladies looked round for a servant to take their dresses and brush them down, and failed. Sponges were carefully soaked and their hands slid up under their upper shifts, wiping over their breasts which were hot and sweaty. Then, even more careful to avoid displaying anything, they slid their hands up under their skirts. Aware that even in washing, these regions should not be touched more than necessary, they wiped themselves quickly, keeping the white linen underskirt covering as much as possible. The near naked Asra hide her smiles at these ridiculous women; she still wasn’t sure what they were – slaves or free, so she kept her laughter hidden. She could see the bracelets, but they were the same nationality as her master; so she hedged her bets for a time.

All three put their dresses back on. It would hardly do to be seen by anyone half-dressed. Then the two sisters walked back to where they had left Solomon. “So, now we are washed. What arrangements will you make to transport us to our father?” Drusilla demanded.

“I have been considering. I have some business in Alexandria, I shall go to see your father whilst I am there and see what can be arranged. That will not be for a few days yet, I fear.”

“We shall come with you.”

“No, no I think not. I shall be travelling in a fast, unprotected vessel. We must ensure that you are not abducted again.”

“Nevertheless. We shall come.” Drusilla had still not understood her situation; to her, Mr Degas was a mere merchant to be bossed around by his betters (ie. her).

He ignored the snubs and the arrogant attitude, still putting it down to her being unused to her surroundings. He had to remind Caroline and Drusilla to wear the amulets of ownership more than once. Madeline appeared to be more obliging.

Three days were required to make the arrangements he needed. There was some Egyptian cotton he wanted to obtain, to forward to a manufacturer in Oldham. He needed to write to ensure that the recipient was ready for the supply. This was another innovation he had introduced. Acting as an intermediary, instead of the goods arriving at the docks and then being bid for, his goods arrived already bought. Sometimes, occasionally, he could have got a higher price if he’d waited, and sometimes it made little difference. But the factory owner knew he would obtain stock to use, and the grower was already paid and was willing to sell again.

He had other deals and arrangements to make, and each day the two sisters would ask when the trip to Egypt was to happen. They appreciated the ability to bathe, but felt that they urgently needed to change their clothes. The suggestion that they could wash their under things one day and their outer clothes another was met with astonishment for the suggestion that they could wash them themselves and that a man might even allude to a lady’s clothing. By the third day he realised that he would be pleased to be rid of them. Drusilla was taking him to task for not providing them with a servant. She had no concept of her legal status, nor for the fact that the concept of ‘servant’ did not exist.

They ate in the room that had been designated for them. Somewhat surprised that they were all three sharing, but Drusilla and Caroline thought they could accept it for one night or two; they reasoned that being only middle class, and not entirely English to boot, Solomon Degas had probably grown up sharing a single bedroom with the whole family and servants. Actually, in that they were correct. He had grown up in a poor home with no servants. After a few days they were also finding this lowering of their standards something of a strain.

Degas had discovered an ability to buy and sell, but rapidly realised that English society was too striated to allow him to move easily into higher echelons. He moved away from Britain, first to Ireland, and then later India; finally ending in Jiha where he discovered a niche that was proving extremely profitable.

Drusilla told Caroline that they would be leaving on the next day, they were starting to regard this as an interesting, if unfortunate incident. For all their annoying ways, they were learning to be good Victorians; they were tougher in some ways than their appearance suggested. These were daughters of women who would think nothing of walking ten miles overburdened with layer upon layer of heavy clothing.

However, when they woke the next morning, Suleiman, who spoke a little English, informed them that “Master, gone, Egypt.” The two sisters were furious, Caroline was cross with Drusilla, Drusilla was angry for being ignored. Madeline smiled and ate the honeyed dates that had been given to them for breakfast. The next few days, they spent walking round in the house. He had a lot of books in English, as well as a substantial number in Arabic. They liked reading, they had read Austen, Radcliffe, and Fanny Burney. They had even read Wollstonecraft, though their father hadn’t approved of her. So, after looking around, the three sat in the courtyard and read each day.