Murad, paler now, handed him the letter. His glance met Alex’s. The Turks turned their backs on them, closing the gates. Alex and Murad hurried into the palace, leaving the evidence of their deception behind them.
Alex and Murad squatted beneath the thick shrubbery where a tunnel ended. The sun was setting, and the evening had become cool and pleasant. Murad crept forward, peering through the thick branches, while Alex removed her bedouin robes, donning a simple tunic and gilet. “No one is about,” he said. He slipped out of the shrubs, Alex following.
“Murad, someone is waiting for us.”
“I see,” Murad said grimly, squinting at the shadow of a man standing on the gallery just outside of Alex’s apartment. “Allah forbid that it is Jebal,” Murad muttered.
Alex’s pulse was racing.
They approached. The overhanging roof suddenly cut off the blinding light. Alex breathed again when she recognized one of Jebal’s slaves, only to realize a moment later why he was waiting for her. Her heart plummeted.
The slave bowed. “My lord wishes your presence immediately, Lilli Zohara.”
“I’ll be right there,” Alex said dryly.
She and Murad slipped into her room. Alex ran right to the mirror. “Do I look okay?”
“Wash your face, kohl your eyes, and put on nicer clothing,” Murad said sharply, already moving to the armoire. “You will be the death of me, Alex. My heart shall stop one of these days because of your antics.”
“I had no idea it was so late,” Alex retorted, rushing into the bedroom. She had to shove all thoughts of Blackwell, her worry and disappointment, aside. She must focus now on soothing Jebal—and whether she would give him what he so clearly wanted.
It was easy to think of sacrificing her body for Blackwell when not faced with the immediate prospect. Now her stomach heaved at the very idea.
Five minutes later Alex had changed, kohled her eyes and rouged her mouth, and was rushing along the corridor in Jebal’s quarters. Alex intended to tell Jebal that she had fallen asleep in the gardens after a hot bath.
Murad suddenly said, low, “I do not like the guards having that letter you forged.”
“I don’t like it either,” Alex said, having read enough thrillers and seen enough suspense-filled movies to understand the dangers posed by a paper trail. They stopped in front of the huge, solid closed door that led into Jebal’s suite. “If he ever discovers that I have been outside of the palace, I shall stick to the story that we told the guards—that I went to a seer in order to learn when we would have our first child.”
“It would be more believable if you were sleeping with him, Alex,” Murad murmured.
Alex ignored him, although he was right, and nodded at the pair of slaves standing impassively in front of the door. A moment later she heard Jebal snap. “Enter!”
Alex’s heart was pounding hard. She met Murad’s silver eyes one last time. Although he smiled encouragingly, the anxiety she saw there made her hesitate.
“Enter!” Jebal commanded again.
Alex moved forward, into the spacious high-ceilinged room.
Jebal reclined with Paulina on a pile of multicolored silk and velvet cushions. An arched doorway led into another chamber behind the first, a private room that Jebal used to entertain his most important guests. Rich silks and velvets adorned both salons, as did numerous Arabian tapestries. Male and female slaves hovered about Jebal and Paulina. Alex stared at the pair of them. She had not expected Jebal to be with another woman, much less Paulina. Her very first thought was that this was a form of payback. Yet Alex was vastly relieved that he was not alone.
Both Jebal and Paulina regarded Alex as she approached. Jebal’s gaze was impossible to read, but Paulina’s was openly smug. She was half in Jebal’s arms, and hardly clad. Her young, lush body was openly displayed. Her body language indicated to Alex that she had probably just made love with Jebal. Which was fine with Alex.
Jebal stood slowly. “I summoned you an hour ago. Where have you been?”
Alex was taken aback, even frightened. There was a glint in his eyes that she had never seen before. Suddenly she wondered if Murad was right. That if he caught her violating the laws of the Moslem world, whether by being outside of the harem or by being with Xavier, she would be severely punished—or worse. For a moment, Alex remained motionless.
“Where have you been?” Jebal repeated sharply.
Alex reacted with a timeless instinct for self-preservation—with Murad’s advice and warning ringing in her ears. Very sincerely she said, “I am sorry. I beg your forgiveness for being so tardy. I fell asleep in the gardens after sending Murad away after my bath. That is why no one could find me.”
Jebal stared.
Alex waited.
Jebal’s expression softened fractionally and he nodded. “Very well, you are forgiven.”
Alex inhaled, not looking at Paulina. They still had last night to discuss.
