Besides, if the truth were known, at that moment Sheik Ahmeds thoughts were in too much of a quandary to worry about what his bodyguards might or might not have witnessed. On the one hand, there was a fathers understandable wrath at finding one of his offspring in a place and circumstances she had no business being at such an hour. On the other handthe fact was, the sheik had a secret softness in his heart for his youngest child, and seeing her face so pale and frightened, her eyes overflowing with tears, gazing up into his
Leila, explain yourself! he bellowed, but his anger was more show than substance.
Her lips opened, but she did not speak. He felt her arm tremble in his grasp. About to repeat the command a bit more gently, he hesitated. His focus wavered. A flash of movement on the periphery of his vision caught his gaze and jerked it away from his daughters frozen faceand beyond. His eyes narrowed.
In the space of an instant his fatherly anger, mostly bombast, bluster and hot air, melted down and solidified into a rage as cold and deadly as any hed ever known in his life.
Cade had never seen murder looking back at him from a mans eyes before, but he knew beyond any doubt he was seeing it now.
Strangely, faced with his worst nightmare, he felt all fear leave him. His body grew cold and his mind quiet. His eyes never left Sheik Ahmeds face as he waited for what would come.
Rotund and flushed with the effects of good food and good living, the Sheik was still an imposing presence. His snow-white hair and beard and magnificent hawks beak of a nose gave him an almost biblical majesty, and even though he didnt speak loudly, his voice, welling from the depths of a barrel chest, sounded to Cade like the voice of doom.
Young man, there was a time, not so long ago, when I could have had you executed on the spot. Explain yourself.
A strangled cry from Leila tugged at Cades attention, but it was only a flicker, and only for an instant. All of his attention was focused on her father.
Explain himself? Under the circumstances it seemed to him a more than reasonable, even generous demand. Certainly more than hed expected.
Explain himself. Well. Your Highness, I was just gettingready for bed, minding my own business, when your daughter,here, came knocking at my door, and the next thing Iknew, she was throwing herself into my arms. Did I inviteher? No sir, I did not. Andwhere did she get the idea tocome to my chambers, Your Highness? You mean, did Ientice her? Lead her on? Wellno sir, I sure didntunless you count kissing her earlier this evening until shecouldnt stand up.
Cade sighed inwardly. To explain seemed cowardly to him, and heartless, somehow. His mouth, opened to release the words that were poised on the tip of his tongue, firmly closed.
He looked at Leila, standing so straight and still beside her father. Her face was pale but proud, even with eyes lowered and veiled by tear-clumped lashes. He cleared his throat and determinedly began. Your Highness, this is not what you think. Your daughter He glanced at her again, and saw her eyes go wide and stare straight into hissaw her lips part and her cheeks flood with pink. She reminded him of a doe hed seen once, caught in a hunters snare. And again he felt that awful sensation in his midsection, as if his heart had just been speared, and had landed with a thud in the bottom of his belly.
Every rational thought went out of his head. His mind was chaos, a whirlwind of remorse and shame. This was his fault. Hed humiliated this girland she was a girl. She was a princess and hed humiliated her. She was almost certainly a virgin, and hed kissed her frivolously, toyed with her emotions. And now, to make matters even worse, her humiliation was made public, since all at once the hallway around them seemed filled with peoplebodyguards, servants, even Leilas mother with her servants, come to see what all the commotion was about. The damage hed done to Leilaand to his own agenda, of courseseemed irreparable. Unless
Just as suddenly as the chaos had come, now calm and certainty descended upon him. There was only one way to fix the mess hed created. Cade knew precisely what he had to do.
He drew himself up, and with as much dignity as he could muster with his hair standing on end and without benefit of shirt, jacket and tie, looked Leilas father straight in the eye. Sheik Ahmed, this may seem sudden, but I have fallen in love with your daughter. Ignoring Leilas shocked gasp, he rushed on. I want to marry her. The gasps had found echoes throughout the gathering; he ignored those, too, as well as the sheiks sudden stiffening. I respectfully ask your permission
My permission! Sheik Ahmeds voice shook. His wife laid a cautioning hand on his arm, and he whirled, blindly thrusting Leila toward her.
Take her, he bellowed. Take her awayand the rest of you he waved his arms, making shooing motions at the crowd. Leave us! Without waiting for his orders to be obeyed, he turned back to Cade, black eyes glittering with rage.
You. You would marry my daughter? With extreme effort, the sheik seemed to draw himself together and spoke more calmly though with no less anger. Mr. Gallagher, I have made you a guest in my house, and you thank me by inflicting this gravest of injuries upon my family.
Cade frowned. This was not going quite the way hed expected. That was not
Silence! And now, to that injury you would add insult? Do you think that I would allow my daughter to marry youan infidel, an unbeliever, a man without honor? There was a pause, during which Cade could have sworn the sheik grew in height at least a foot before his very eyes. And then, in a magnificent bellow, I would sooner see her dishonored!
Having delivered his exit line, Sheik Ahmed whirledthen spoiled the effect of it somewhat by jerking back to Cade. You will leave my house, he growled, stabbing the air in his direction with a bejeweled finger. Tomorrowas early as can be arranged. Once more he turned, and stalked off down the now-deserted hallway, footsteps ringing on the tile floor.
Protected by an icy shell of calm he knew must be shock, Cade watched until the massive doors at the end of the hallway had closed upon the sheiks broad back. Then he retreated into his own chamber and carefully pulled the door shut after him.
On the whole, he thought as the quivery aftereffects of shock hit him, that had gone pretty well. At least he hadnt been executed on the spot.
Like a gracefully pensive statue, Leila stood in steamy and fragrant warmth and gazed at the familiar back of the woman who knelt beside the bath. Gazed at, but did not really see. Her mind was empty, as bereft of thoughts as her eyes were of tears. She did not dare allow herself to think, not even so much as a single thought; if she did, she feared the anger, humiliation and despair would simply overwhelm her.
Salma Hadi, her mothers most trusted servant and once upon a time Leilas own nanny, hummed nervously as she fussed over the bathwater, adding scent and soap bubbles, swishing the water with her fingers to test the temperature. The tune she hummed was simple and familiar, a childrens play song she had sung to Leila long, long ago. Leila found it oddly soothing.
Pushing stiffly to her feet, Salma turned to smile up at her. Holding out her hand, she spoke in Arabic, the language of her youth. Ah, yes, now it is good. Come, my treasured child, let me help you undress.
Mindlessly, Leila obeyed the familiar voice, lifting her hair to allow access to the fastenings of her gown. She stood, docile and numb, while well-remembered hands gently removed her clothing and twisted her hair into a pile atop her head, securing it there with jeweled clips and combs. Naked, she allowed herself to be taken by the hand and led to the edge of the bath.
There, my sweetgentlygently, Salma crooned. The water will sooth youtake away the pain.
Leila gave her former nanny a puzzled look. Pain? Whatpain? Was Salma getting old? Losing her mind? The pain she felt was all inside, deep in her heart, and it would take much more than a hot bubble bath to make it go away.
Thank you, she murmured as she lowered herself into the fragrant suds, for she had been taught never to take loyal servants for granted. This does feel good. Closing her eyes, she lay back with a sigh and stretched herself languidly, like a sleepy cat. How good it felt to relax, after such a tumultuous day. How good it would be if she could simply go to sleep right here, and not have to think
Princess? Are you
There was concern, and something elseembarrassment, perhaps?in Salmas voice. Leila opened her eyes. Yes, Salma, what is it?
The servants round face was flushed, and her eyes glistened with kindness. Princess, I have some oilit is very soothing. When you have finished
Oil? Leila frowned. What kind of oil? What for?
Salma touched Leilas cheek with gentle fingers. My little oneit is normal for a woman to have pain, the first time sheis with a man. But after a hot baththe soothing oilit goes away quickly She stopped, for Leila was shaking her head wildly. She continued in distress, Princess, it is all right But Leila went on shaking her head, and brushing aside Salmas anxious fingers, covered her face with her hands.
Her face, her whole body burned with shame; even the bathwater felt cool on her fevered skin. Oh, how she wished she could justsink to the bottom of the tub and disappear forever.
Princesswhat is it? Salmas voice had risen with alarm. Lifting her hands heavenward, she uttered a rapid, wailing prayer, which she almost immediately interrupted to ask in a despairing whisper, Oh, tell medid he harm you? Are you injured, truly? Tell mewhat has he
No, no! Leila cried, you dont understand. He did nothing. Nothing.
Nothing? Salma rocked backward, hushed and wondering. You mean, you are nothe did not
No, Leila moaned, putting her hands over her eyes once more, he would not. Oh, Salma, it was awful. Just awful And all at once she felt herself gathered into loving arms, soapsuds and all, and she was sobbing like a little child on her nannys shoulder. Salma, she gulped,
I have been a fool.
Yes, my treasure, Salma crooned, rocking her. Yes.
* * *
Alima Kamal was worried about her husband. She had never before seen him so angryhis color was quite alarming. Hadnt the doctors warned him about his blood pressure, insisted he must lose some weight? And after such a weekend, so much excitement, too much rich foodand perhaps more of the mild Tamari wine than he was accustomed tonow this. What had Leila been thinking of, to do such a thing?
AhLeila. That was another worry entirely. She was in Salmas capable handsthat problem could wait until tomorrow.
At the moment Ahmed was in the bathroom, Alima having persuaded him that a warm bath might help him to relaxwith the help of a little subtle bribery, naturally, in the form of the promise of a nice massage afterward. She had in mind an old family recipe of Salmaspassed on to her by her maternal grandmothera mix of fragrant oils and certain herbs that were designed to soothe the mind as well as the body. She had used it on her husband before, with most satisfactory and highly enjoyable results, for her as well. Although, under the circumstances she didnt hold out hope for such a conclusion to this evenings activities. Ah, well Alima sighed.
A discreet tapping at the royal bedchambers heavy wooden door almost went unnoticed, so engrossed was she in her preparations. When it continued, now a little louder, she glanced at the antique French clock on the mantelpiece. Who would dare disturb the sheik in his chambers at this hour? With a mildly vexed sigh, Alima went to answer it.
Salma! Her heart gave a leap of alarm when she saw her oldest and most trusted attendant standing there, almost bouncing on her tiptoes with ill-concealed emotion. Whats wrong? Is Leila all right? Is something
Oh, no, Sitt, Salma interrupted breathlessly, Princess Leila is fine. That is whyOh, Sitt, please forgive me for disturbing you, but I must speak with you.
Casting a hurried glance toward the bathroom where, judging from the sounds coming from within, her husbandperhaps in anticipation of what was to come after?seemed to be enjoying his bath more than hed expected, Alima stepped into the hallway and pulled the door closed behind her.
Flat on his belly with his eyes closed, Sheik Ahmed drifted on waves of pleasure. Ah yesthereAlimas strong fingers never failed to find the spot that needed them most.
She wanted something from him, of course. She only resorted to the oils and herbs when she was hoping to cajole him into giving her her way. He knew this, but it did nothing to lessen his pleasure. He trusted his wife implicitly. He knew she would never use the considerable influence she had on him lightly. If she was attempting to manipulate him now, it would only be for something she considered to be of utmost importance. Ah wellshe would get to it in her own good time. And meanwhile, as far as Sheik Ahmed was concerned, getting there was the most enjoyable part.
Ahmed, my beloved
Yes, jewel of my heart? Speak to me.
They had been speaking Arabic, as they often did on intimate occasions, but Alima switched now to English. Ahmed, Salma was here, while you were in the bath. She brought news of Leila
Leila! A snort lifted his head and shoulders from the pillows.
Gently but firmly, Alima pushed them down again. Hush, my husbandplease, hear me. After a pause, which she decided to take for acquiescence, she continued in a musing tone, What she had to say was interesting. I think you will want to hear it.
Ahmed gave a resigned grunt. Very wellif you must.
Bracing herself for the expected upheaval, Alima bore down with all her strength on one of her husbands most troublesome spots, took a deep breath, and said lightly, It is possible we have misjudged Elenas friend from Texas. A growl resonated beneath her fingers. She hurried on. It seems this American may not be entirely without honor, after all. I say this she spoke calmly, but her fingers were kneading her husbands tensed muscles as hard and fast as they possibly could because of what your daughter has confessed to Salma. In tears. There was that growl again. Yes, tears, she said firmly. But not because this man had dishonored her. Quite the opposite. Your daughter was in tears because he had sent her away.