Fergus nodded understanding.
“Shahriar thought to dissipate his brother’s sadness with revels,” Leila continued.“He arranged hunts and festivals, invited guests and ensured that every entertainment was available for Shahzenan.He did not fail to notice that his brother smiled and joined the festivities, but there was still a shadow over him.He believed his brother would confide in him in time, and he was right.For one day, Shahzenan declined to ride to the hunt and remained in his brother’s palace.The hunting party had not long departed when he looked out his window and saw a door open on the other side of the palace.The queen came into the garden with her ladies.There were twenty of them and Shahzenan thought they simply took their pleasure—but when the queen clapped her hands, they cast off their veils.He was astonished...”Leila yawned then and fell silent.
“Astonished by what?”Fergus asked when Leila did not continue.“What did he see?”
“I will have to tell you tomorrow,” she said, glad to see that the tale was working as she intended.She yawned again, not having to feign her exhaustion, then slid down beneath the covers and closed her eyes.It was warm and shewastired.
Fergus came to the side of the bed and clearly was not as sleepy as she.“But what happened?”he asked, his interest clear.“What did the queen and her attendants do?”
“I will continue the tale tomorrow night, after your return,” Leila said.“It is too long a tale for so late at night.”She yawned again.“We must have some sleep before the dawn.”She closed her eyes.“It seems that Agnes is not the sole one tired after this day.”
She felt Fergus sit on the side of the mattress.“But Leila, you cannot go to sleep yet.I am curious about the tale.”
“You will have to wait to find out,” she managed to murmur.She rolled over and burrowed into the warmth of the bed.Even as she dozed, she was aware of Fergus looking down at her and could sense his impatience.She could only hope that his desire for more of the tale would be sufficient to encourage him to return promptly and to join her abed the next night.
The scheme had worked for Scheherazade.Leila burrowed deeper in the bed, recalling Calum’s claim that she would need a man to keep her warm at night.
And Fergus saw her with a baby boy.
With blue eyes.
The prospect left Leila’s lips curved in a smile when sleep claimed her completely.
