The Legacy: The Legacy Series Books 1-3

Stolen

Hagar, an Egyptian maidservant was granted a divine promise.  Through her son, Ishmael, her descendants would number in the multitudes.  When twelve sons are born to Ishmael, a bust sculpted in Hagar’s likeness was adorned to commemorate the legacy. 

After a caravan from Ur visits Ishmael’s camp, the treasured bust disappears.  The thief takes it to where he presumes the Ishmaelites would never find it – 1812 AD.

London 1812

Eleanor Griffin, housemaid to Lord Bureyton is thought to have witnessed a crime.  The theft of his lordships newly acquired bust.  But all she saw was a man vanish - right before her eyes. Bureyton begins punishing Eleanor for his loss.  She fears that the daily lashings will end her life, and decides to run away, disappear like that man had.

But that man had time traveled, and when Eleanor follows suit, she ends up in twenty-first century London.

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Men-nefer, Kham (Egypt)

2083 BC

Prologue: The Legacy

And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation... Genesis 17:20

Inside the royal palace at Men-nefer, Hagar slipped a white gown over her head then clasped a turquoise-beaded choker around her thin neck. After she put on the matching turquoise earrings she admired herself in the long, bronzed mirror.

You have not adorned your hands or feet, said Khnemet, Princess of Kham. You look like a handmaiden pretending to be a princess.

Hagar let loose an infectious giggle. Even the stony-faced nurse, standing in the corner, could not contain a smile, despite herself. But I am that, your grace, Hagar said. You are correct, as usual. I still look plain.

The princess sat working at her loom. She smiled at her handmaiden, fourteen summers old, who was far from plain. She would soon blossom into a proper lotus flower with her even features and reddish-brown skin.

Hagar was placing a bracelet on her bony ankle, when the room’s curtains parted.

The Queen, the king’s second wife, entered, and shot a disapproving look toward Hagar. You indulge that child far too much, she said to Khnemet.

Hagar curtsied, then withdrew.

Next, she will be joining us at the dining table.

I do not see why she should not, Khnemet said. Brother brings his favorite hunting dogs to dine.

The queen took a turn around the chamber. Your brother is a man. He may do as he pleases, she said, as she left the room.             

***

The following morning, Hagar waited outside the garment room for the seamstress. Inside, weavers sat at looms. One servant was lying on the floor underneath a loom, attempting to correct a malfunction. The seamstress came forward, her arms filled with garments. She speared Hagar with a hard look. You shall take this straight to the princess’ chambers, and do not soil them, she said, repeating the same warning she always gave Hagar. She placed two new gowns in Hagar’s outstretched arms.

Hagar responded in her usual manner. I shall not. The seamstress watched Hagar leave the room. She did not return to work until the girl had left her sight.

When Hagar returned to the royal wing, she heard agitated voices coming from the princess’ chambers.

Hagar! The young maidservant laid the gowns on the first couch she saw, before running into the main room of the princess’ apartment.

She stopped behind her and bowed low. Yes, milady?

The necklace that you were trying on, where is it?  Across the room, the queen looked up from her sewing.

Under the gold drops milady. I placed them back in their proper spot.

Yes, of that I am sure. I saw you replace each item. Come, help me search. Together they removed each of the princess’ jewelry pieces, and laid them on a woven papyrus mat.

’Tis not here, Khnemet said. Did you happen to try it on again later?

Hagar shivered inwardly. No, milady.

Speak up, child, the queen said.

Your Majesty. No, I never touch the royal jewelry unless the princess is present.

’Tis true, Hagar has been good about that.     

You should not allow her to play dress-up with your things.

Hagar is the sister I never had.

She is not your sister, Khnemet. She is your maidservant. And from this moment forward, there will be no more pretensions otherwise, the queen said, looking at Hagar as if she were something foul squashed under her gold sandals.

Hagar stood and curtsied. Yes, Your Majesty.

Is there anything else missing, Khnemet?

No, that is all. Khnemet and Hagar replaced the pieces in the box.

It figures that the costliest item would go amiss.

Hagar felt a knot forming in her stomach. In a quavering voice she asked, Might I return to my chores, milady?

You will go when dismissed. By the gods, Khnemet, you have spoiled that child. 

Khnemet, the natural daughter of the king, raised her chin, reminding this second wife to whom she was speaking. She is a good girl, and poses no harm in word or deed. Yes, Hagar, go and store my new gowns.

Hagar bowed and backed out of the room. Her heart raced. What if it is never found? Who would be so brazen to steal from the king’s daughter? Not I. Why must noble women be so harsh? They have everything a person should wish for in life, yet they cannot show mercy to those less fortunate. Why should I steal from the princess? I would not know where to go to fetch a price for the piece. I have never left the palace.

Tears came to her eyes, and she carefully wiped them away. Hagar picked up the gowns and lowered them into the open trunk. She sensed another’s presence, and looked up to see the nurse pass, a triumphant look in her eyes.           

***

In the palace’s main audience room, Prince Teti-ankh sat listening to petty complaints. Before him now was his youngest sister, Princess Khnemet.

Sister, where did you last see these baubles?

Yesterday. When my maidservant and I were playing make-believe.  Standing behind Teti-ankh was his brother, Pepy the Younger, who had returned to Kham after a ten-year absence. Their father, King Pepy, had resigned to the smaller audience room where he was reading reports and correspondences from the governors and mayors in Kham.

Do you suspect your maidservant?

No, brother, I do not.

Then whom?

Not everyone approves of my friendship with my maid, but I believe she was set up to take the blame.

The High Official, Uni, entered the room, bowed and waited to speak to the prince.

Until there is proof otherwise, keep an eye on your maidservant. Nothing can be done until the jewels are found. Uni?

Khnemet bowed and backed away.

Uni stepped forward and spoke in hushed tones to the prince. The royal looked toward the doorway to see the archivist standing alongside the tallest woman he had ever seen. Indeed, she was the size of a man.

With a nod of his head, the crown prince gave permission for them to come forward.

***

The tall woman had told Hagar her name five times already, but her command of the language made it impossible for the handmaiden to remember. Hagar called her Addy-nakt, which seemed fine by the woman.

Mixed emotions plagued Hagar for the next few months. Happy that she had a new friend in Addy-nakt, she spent the days training the Cushite in her new duties. There was also trepidation; every day the necklace went missing made Hagar anxious.

One morning, shortly after breaking fast, Hagar and Addy-nakt were summoned into the audience room.  Hagar’s heart beat faster. She bit her lip. She had hoped the jewel was found, and she would be vindicated, but Hagar feared the worst when she looked at the princess’ face.

Princess Khnemet’s eyes spoke of shame and regret, as she handed Hagar the now broken necklace. Truth, she would never be able to wear it; such was inappropriate for a servant, but she could use the beads to trade. She wished her brother were here to intercede; he would never have consented to this. But Teti-ankh had ridden out this morning to the border where more travelers, escaping the famine in Canaan, were gathering.

You said she was your sister! Why did you not say that she was your wife, the king bellowed from the hallway. Hagar lowered her head at the king’s voice. She heard a mild-mannered voice answer His Majesty.

I could have died, the king said. Again, the softer voice pleaded with the king.

Moments later, the king came striding in, his eyes focused on the four women standing before his throne. And what is the business here? he said, still shouting. The queen told him about the theft, then about finding the missing jewel amongst the maidservant Hagar’s belongings.

The king waved a hand at them in dismissal.

The necklace felt cool in Hagar’s hands. She closed a fist around it, and bowed her thanks to the princess before backing out of the room. Later, she was outside standing alongside the caravan belonging to Abram. Inside, his wife Sarai sat trembling, still shaken by the confrontation with the king. Hagar thought her composed. And beautiful. More beautiful than a sheepherder deserved to be. A jealous twinge pierced her heart. All the royal princes admired her. I wonder if she is vain?

Abram made the introductions. Sarai, your new handmaiden, Hagar. And with her, Addy-nakt.

***

When Abram’s caravan departed Men-nefer, Hagar broke down in tears. She refused food from then on, and whenever they stopped to make camp for the evening, she lay on her mat, curled up in a fetal position. Not even her wise friend Addy-nakt could comfort her. She had gone from being a maidservant in the Great House, to serving a wealthy woman who lived in tents.

The Hebrew, Abram, made Hebron in Canaan his home. When Hagar saw where they would be living, she felt as though her heart would break. She had labored for the Great House and Princess Khnemet, but never worked this hard before. Each night was worse than the previous one, after tending the land all day, not to mention the nomadic style of cooking.

One evening, the mistress called Hagar and Addy-nakt into her tent. When Hagar learned that the rumors were true, that the mistress was barren, she felt renewed. Then when Sarai explained the plan to give her husband an heir, Hagar’s heart swelled with pride. She despaired for a moment, because Sarai had first looked to Addy-nakt with her proposition, and then offered the position of second wife to Hagar.

***

When her maidservant, Hagar, sauntered past her a second time with no show of humility, no respect for status, and that smirk on her young, pretty face, Sarai clenched her fists. She’s pregnant. And I, the barren mistress, am not. Nor will ever be. I am become despised in the eyes of my maid.

Not being able to give her husband an heir was heart-wrenching enough, but to see her maidservant, Hagar, conceived so quickly was too much to bear.

Shortly after breaking fast, Hagar had asked one of Abram’s field hands to bring fragrant flowers back to the camp for her. When she neared Sarai, Hagar stroked her belly and thanked the servant. I am in delicate condition. The master would be pleased to know the concern you have shown his future heir.

Sarai flushed red. The servant, caught between his mistress and his master’s concubine, paused to give Sarai a hurried bow, then quickened his pace.

That is it. Sarai whirled and headed for her husband’s tent. Yes, I know it was my idea to obtain children through her. I gave my husband this second wife, but her attitude, her haughtiness cannot be borne.

Sarai threw the tent flap up and marched toward her husband. Abram, age eighty-five, sat hunched over a clay tablet. His long, crooked fingers were using a sharpened rock to make