But it would never be hospitable again. Alex was still shaking, still in shock.
A long shadow fell across the room and Alex tensed, afraid it was Zoe or Jebal. But it was Paulina.
She glanced without interest at the Italian concubine, who remained chubby from her pregnancy, and the small newborn sleeping in her arms. Then she rested her cheek on her knee again. It was going to take her a long time to recover from the almost disastrous, tremendously draining encounter with Jebal.
“Whatever did you do to cause Jebal to become so angry with you?” Paulina gasped.
“Forget it,” Alex said, not meanly. She could not explain to anyone, much less to Paulina.
“I have never seen such a mess in my entire life,” Paulina exclaimed. She shifted her baby. “Are you all right?”
Alex regarded her. Paulina might not be very clever, but at least her agenda was open and honest—she wished only to please Jebal and become his third wife. “I’m okay.”
“I would be in tears if I were you,” Paulina said with sympathy. “How strong you are, Zohara. I think you had better please Jebal tonight.”
Alex’s shoulders tensed. She could not—must not—think about the upcoming evening. “Thank you for your kindness.”
“We do live together.” Paulina smiled slightly and left the room.
Alex sighed, closing her eyes, vaguely aware of the sounds coming from her bedchamber. Someone was sweeping, new furniture was being moved inside, and Murad was giving tersely whispered orders. Then she felt his presence.
Alex jerked and met Blackwell’s eyes. He stood on the threshold between the two rooms. His gaze was filled with concern. She looked harder—she was not imagining it.
Alex stopped herself from rising and rushing headlong into his arms. But there was no question about it. Instead of being harsh and accusing, his eyes were still strangely gentle.
“Are you all right?” he asked, just as Paulina had.
“What do you think?”
He grimaced but did not move toward her. “It’s a good thing,” he said very softly, “that the Danish ship is due in port any day.”
“Yes.” Alex said. Then she blinked. “You heard?”
“I stayed outside. I heard everything.”
His audacity amazed and frightened her. “What if you had been discovered eavesdropping?”
“It was a chance I had to take.” He gaze never moved from her face.
Alex got to her feet. “Well, now you must know that Jebal thinks me a spy, too.”
“Yes. You are in deep water.”
“To say the least.” She looked him directly in the eye. “Do you still think I am a spy?”
“I know you do not spy for Jebal.”
“You still think the worst.” She despaired.
“I don’t know what to think, he said heavily. And their gazes remained locked.
Zoe paced and paced, at once exultant and impatient. Zohara was finished. It was only a matter of time. The seeds of the truth had been planted and Jebal was highly suspicious of her. Zoe could either sit back and watch Zohara slowly hang herself, with Zoe’s help, of course, or she could, at any time, reveal Blackwell’s presence in the harem.
Either way, Zohara would be destroyed. Zoe was both titillated and triumphant.
“What are you giggling about?”
Zoe whirled and faced Jovar, who eyed her from the doorway of her bedchamber. She had been expecting him, but an hour ago, so now she pouted, but her posture—and single gauze robe—were very suggestive. “Why do you always keep me waiting?”
