Joan shook her head. “No, Winnie. I’ve known what the ankh means since a course in comparative religion, oh, three-quarters of a century ago. I assume that Jake knows, too; he has solid classical training. I hadn’t been sure you kids knew its ancient meaning—I see I was mistaken. Winnie, this present is no accident; I’ve asked Jake to marry me several times. He won’t. Because of age.”
“Well…I can see why he might feel that way.”
“It’s ridiculous. Sure, I’m a quarter of century older than he is—but it no longer shows and I’m healthy enough for marriage. Even though dear Doctor thinks I may drop dead.”
“But Dr. Garcia doesn’t really think you’ll drop dead. And I didn’t mean you were too old, I meant he—oh, dear!”
“Yes, yes, I know. He’s being ‘noble,’ damn him! But he doesn’t have to marry me, Winnie. I’ll accept any crumb I’m offered. This present is intended to say so.”
Winifred looked solemn, suddenly kissed the ankh and handed it back. “You and me both, Joan—any crumb we’re offered. Well, I wish you luck. With all my heart.”
“Good Winnie. Let’s sop up some calories; it’s getting latish and Jake will be home—I hope—by twenty-one. I want to be clean as a kitten and just as pretty and smelling even prettier when the stubborn darling gets here. Help me?”
“Love to. And look, Joanie, we douse you in ‘Harem Breeze,’ both the cologne and the perfume—and the powder. And I won’t wear any scent. I’ll scrub off what I’m wearing.”
“No, we’ll renew the bait on you, too. Maybe we’ll heterodyne.”
‘Heterodyne’?”
“Term that used to be used a lot in radio. In this case it means that if one girl isn’t enough, two might do the trick. Last night Jake was polite about not staring…except that he was noticing my Winsome with both eyes all the time he was pretending not to. I’m not trying to crowd you into a Troy—but I have no scruples about staking you out as bait.”
They were out of the tub and working on the finishing touches when the house phone sounded. “Miss Smith. Mr. Salomon’s car just rolled in.”
“Thank you, O’Neil.”
A few minutes later Joan phoned the Green Suite. “Jake dear? This is your resident guru. If you wish to share a prayer meeting, guru and chela will call on you whenever you say.”
“That’s welcome news; I’m tired—and last night was the best sleep I’ve had in years, Guru.”
“I’m glad. Have you had dinner?”
“At the Gib, hours ago. Ready for bed now. If you’ll let me have, oh, twenty minutes, for a tub.”
“Shall we be there in exactly twenty minutes? I don’t want to run into Hubert.”
“1 sent him to bed. Nobody here but just us chickens.”
“Twenty minutes, dear. Off.”
Again two girls went barefoot down the hallway. Joan was wearing, under a negligee, the ankh necklace. The door opened for them and Jake came toward them. He was wearing a bathrobe and had a book in hand with a finger marking his place. “Hello, my dears. You both look charming. Joan, I took the liberty of stopping in your downstairs library and borrowing this book.”
“It’s not a liberty and you know it. What is it, Jake?”
He handed it to her. “Vishnudevananda’s Yoga text. Thought there might be some of the simpler postures I could try. But I’m afraid I must stick to meditation.”
Joan looked puzzled. “This was downstairs?” She glanced at the endpaper, saw her bookplate: “Ex Libris— J S B Smith.” “I had forgotten I owned it.”
“You’re a pack rat, dear. This house must have ten thousand books in it.”
“More, I think. There were that many the last time I had them catalogued. Well, after you’re done with it Winnie and I will look through it. We might find exercises we haven’t tried.” She handed it back; he put it aside. “Ready for autohypnosis?”
“Ready for prayers and I’m sorry I sounded disparaging last night.”
“I can’t see what difference. a name makes, Jake. But first—” Joan opened her robe, lifted the necklace from her neck. “A present for you, Jake. Bend your head down.”