“So you are sorry you got caught,” he interpolated correctly.
She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Instead, she pressed her perfectly even, white teeth harder into her pillowy lower lip. The Sheikh’s eyes were drawn to the involuntary action. “Yes.”
He dragged his eyes away from her distracting pout. “And had you not been caught?”
She moved her fingers more quickly through her hair, so much so that it unravelled from the bottom of its plait and began to unfurl in loose, pale waves around her shoulders.
He strode to the small table in the centre of the room to put some distance between them. He was in grave danger of embarrassing his position by letting a simple thing like physical attraction distract him from his task.
A grey folder was on the worn, timber top. He flicked it open with disdain andstared at a piece of paper. “You were supposed to be on an aeroplane two days ago. If my guards had not been alerted to your presence in the royal apartment, you would be back in England by now, selling priceless Fasiyan jewels to fund your lifestyle.”
She gulped. He was right. She had organised a buy before flying to Fasiya, because Steph had insisted she couldn’t personally handle the transaction. She’d told Miranda it would be too heartbreaking, to finger family treasures before disposing of them. Much neater for Miranda to complete the transaction and provide Steph with the final sum of money.
Oh, God. Steph. She must have been beside herself with worry. The last thing Miranda had wanted to do was to add to Steph’s worries. But not arriving at the appointed time, or making any kind of contact, would have been an incredible stress to her friend.
“You have nothing to say to explain this?”
She shook her head. Would that she could! Whether it was the lack of sleep, or the lack of food, Miranda was finding it impossible to think clearly. “Can I… Would I be able to… have a glass of water?”
His gold-flecked eyes narrowed. “Do I look like a servant?”
She shook her head. “I just… I haven’t had anything to drink all day.”
She had thought he was furious before, but he seemed now to be radiating a spectacular white-hot rage. “Is this true?”
Before she could answer, he spun away from her and moved to the gate. He spoke quietly and firmly, and immediately a small army of prison staff appeared. She didn’t understand his words, but it was clear that he was very angry.
One of the guards broke from the pack and appeared less than a minute later, brandishing a tray.
“Diet, atta.”The Sheikh said firmly, stepping aside so that the short-in-stature guard could walk deferentially past and place the tray on the table.
Miranda tried not to look too desperate, but the sight of water and food broke through her resolves. She moved quickly to the table and lifted the cup, her eyes silently thanking The Shiekh as she drained it entirely of its contents. She lifted the jug, filled the cup again and once more drank it all.
She placed the cup on the table firmly. Fortified, she was better able to meet his eyes.
“Are you hungry?”
She was. She hadn’t eaten since… she couldn’t remember. They’d brought a sort of spiced gruel the night before, but it had made her feel ill, and so she’d ignored it. She nodded.
“Eat.”
Uncertainly, she reached forward and picked up one of the pastries. “Thank you.” Why was he being kind to her? His reputation preceded him. She knew from Steph, but also general opinion, that he was a tough and intimidating man.
“The jewels you stole were of particular value to me.”
She nodded, her eyes dropping.
“The apartment is heavily secured. The fact that you were able to breech it so well, without tripping any alarms, is…interesting. I would have said this kind of daring intrusion was impossible, but the facts would contradict such certainty.”
He nodded toward a small stool, indicating for her to sit. She didn’t, though she was tired and faint. Her refusal to be at ease earned a grudging flicker of respect in Radiz’s eyes.
Steph had given her all the information she needed to gain entry. She frowned. “Obviously I did something wrong. I mean, I must have tripped something.”
His smile was sardonic. “Are you looking for tips? So that you can avoid the same mistake in the future?”
She startled. “No. I only meant that security arrived just minutes after I got inside.”
He nodded. “And this surprises you?”
