Page 3 of The Stolen Queen

“Then why isn’t she in charge? It would make our jobs a whole lot easier.”

“She’s never been back to Egypt, not since she was there in the ’30s. There was some kind of accident, a tragedy. No one ever shares the details, but she’s never been back.”

“An Egyptologist who won’t go to Egypt. Huh.”

They moved out of hearing range. Charlotte’s cheeks flamed with embarrassment as she sidled her way back around to the front of the statue, trying to find her equilibrium again.

The curse of Hathorkare hadn’t ended with the death of the earl’s widow. Charlotte had fallen under its spell as well.

It was dangerous to think about that time.

She took a couple of deep breaths, studying the curve of the statue’s chin, trying to imagine the shape of the nose and eyes. The Cerulean Queen gave her hope. Hope that one could be broken andcrushed and still carry on, the gleaming remnant proof that something beautiful once existed in this terrible world.

Downstairs, Frederick and several others from their department stood around a large worktable in the storeroom, one of many bursting with artwork and sculptures in the Met’s basement level.

“Ah, Charlotte. I know you’ll want to see this,” said Frederick, waving her over. Whatever lay on the table was hidden due to the crush of bodies surrounding it. “We’ve just received a very generous one-year loan from an anonymous donor.”

Frederick usually consulted with Charlotte on any loans. Why now, when they had their hands full managing the loans for the King Tut exhibition, would they need one more? Typical Frederick, to have his attention pulled by the latest shiny new thing. She hoped it was worth it as she maneuvered her way closer.

But once she was at the edge of the table and the object came into focus, she gasped, one hand going to her heart. The conservators on either side of her looked at her curiously.

In the middle of the table lay a broad collar, a type of necklace popular in ancient Egypt. But this one was exquisite, made of gold and glass, and Charlotte knew even before she leaned in closer that she would find a gap on the right side of the bottom row where one of the nefer amulets was missing.

The piece was exceptional, distinctive.

She’d first seen it in Egypt, in 1936, when it was lifted from the bowels of a tomb, covered in dust.

And she’d last seen it a year later, right before it was lost at the bottom of the Nile.

“Does it have the cartouche of Hathorkare on the back of the clasp?” she asked, not bothering to hide the panic in her voice.

“It certainly does.” Frederick nodded to the technician, who turned over the necklace with gloved hands to show off the hieroglyphics that represented the pharaoh’s name, enclosed in an oval. “I’m impressed.”

“Where did this come from?” she demanded.

“Charlotte, are you all right?” Frederick regarded her with concern. “You’re as white as a sheet.”

She had so many questions, the words got stuck in her throat. “Why are we getting it? Who was the donor?”

“The donor asked to remain anonymous. We have the broad collar for one year. I thought you’d be pleased.”

She could almost hear the screams from that fateful night echoing in her head. The night that changed everything. And the reason she could never return to Egypt.

Frederick ordered the technicians to take the necklace away and turned to leave. Charlotte followed him out the door.

“You have to tell me who the donor is,” she said. “It’s important.”

Frederick looked at his watch. “I have exactly four minutes until my next meeting at the other side of the building. Why exactly do you need to know this information?”

She couldn’t tell him. That would reveal too much, and she was barely hanging on as it was. “I was there when it was found.”

“Ah, back in Egypt, in the olden days.” He laughed at his joke. Charlotte did not. “What does it matter who owns it now?”

“It doesn’t make sense, how it suddenly reappeared like this. It was lost.”

“Then lucky for us it was found. I would think you would be pleased.”

Charlotte forced herself to back off. It would do her no good to anger Frederick right now, not if she wanted him on her side when she told him about her Hathorkare finding.

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