He was nothing but a barbarian—ruthless, coldhearted,and cruel. She hated him and all his kind.
Given time, she would show him how much.
Chapter 10
It was dark in the room when Leila felt someone shakeher shoulder. She yawned, her eyelids fluttering, then she snuggled deeper intothe pillow.
"Go away,Nittia,"she murmured, her dream luring her back into sleep. "Leave me alone . . .Oh!"
Leila sat bolt upright, dazed, her derriere smartingwhere someone had pinched her. She could see nothing in the blackness, but sheheard breathing and a rustling movement and she suddenly remembered . . .everything. Then a light flared and an oil lamp was lit, illuminating Guy deWarenne, who was standing beside the bed and smiling downat her in a most disconcerting fashion.
"How—how dare you!" she spattered, snatchingtogether what was left of her dress. It did little good. With him so close andstaring at her like a ravenous wolf, she felt naked and vulnerable.
"How dareIindeed,"he said, hooking his thumbs in his sword belt. "Forgive my errant fingers,my lady, but it was the quickest way I knew to rouse you, other than aki— "
"So I am awake!" Leila blurted, looking awayas her cheeks grew hot. "I thought we were leaving at sunrise," shesaid testily. "It is still dark."
"Exactly. You have one half hour to bathe anddress in your new clothes, then I will come to fetch you. At the cock's crow wewill set out for the harbor."
Leila's gaze swept the shadowed chamber. "I see nobath. No clothes."
"Alas, there wasn't time to prepare enough hotwater for a full bath for you." He strode around the bed to thebrass-fitted chest she had used in her escape attempt and gestured to a tallpitcher and a glazed clay basin placed atop the closed lid. "Your bath, mylady," he said, pouring steaming water into the basin. "There is asponge here, scented soap, and a towel. Everything you need—"
"And my clothes?" she queried haughtily,lifting her chin.
He merely smiled. "In the chest. While you dozedin the garden last night,Hayatreplaced the contentswith things you will need for our journey, things I bought for you with some ofyour mother's jewels." He tapped the lid. "This chest and everythingin it now belong to you."
Leila offered no thanks, just glowered at him.
Guy shrugged and walked to the door. "A half hour,my lady."
"I heard you the first time."
"Good.Hayatwill arriveshortly to help you dress. Before coming to this house she served anEnglishwoman residing inTyre. She knows how togarba lady."
"And where will you be, my lord?" Leila askedarchly, her mind spinning with desperate possibilities for escape. "WithyourRefaiyeh, bidding her farewell?"
Guy stopped and studied her, a glint of anger chasingthe amusement from his eyes. "We have said our goodbyes.Refaiyehhas gone to her brother's home. You will not seeher again."
"Oh," Leila said, her plans deflating at thisnews. She lowered her chin, watching himsurlilythrough her thick sable lashes. "'Tisplain youcare for this woman. If so, how can you leave her . . . unless you have a wifewho might object to an Arab concubine?" She bit her lip, the words outbefore she could stop them. She silently cursed the curiosity that had gottenthe better of her.
Guy seemed momentarily amused by her question,thenhis expression grew hard as if he sensed some malicebehind it. "In England we have no concubines, nor do I have a wife,"he said flatly. "I gaveRefaiyeha choice, andshe has decided to stay in Acre. Not that it is any business of yours." Heglanced impatiently at the chest. "The water grows tepid, my lady. Perhapsyou might occupy your mind with your own affairs."
Affronted by his churlish tone, Leila said nothing ashe left the room, then muttered heatedly, "I'm not surprisedRefaiyehchose not to come withus.,Any woman would be a fool to traipse after a boorish lout like you! " Shewas surprised he did not have a wife, however, and was pondering thisrevelation when Guy opened the door slightly.
"Just a warning, Leila. Your beautiful face iseasily read, even by us boorish louts. Do not think to escape through thatgrille again. I'll be right outside. If I hear any suspicious noises, you canbe sure the gift of privacy I've granted you this morning will be instantlyforfeited." He smiled roguishly, his tone growing lighter. "Watchinga woman bathe is a favorite pastime of mine, so you have been duly cautioned.Oh yes, and enjoy the hot water. We won't have such a luxury again until wereach Marseilles."
"Bastard!" Leila fumed, throwing back thecoverlet as he shut the door.
She sprang from the bed and stripped out of her torn dressandsirwal, then hurried to the chest and bent overthe basin, her teeth chattering in the damp morning chill. Eagerly she dippedthe sponge in the hot water and sighed with pleasure as she ran it along onearm and down a firm breast.
A sound just outside the room, like a boot scraping onthe floor, caused her to freeze, and she glanced fearfully over her shoulder,expecting Guy to enter the room at any moment. When he did not, she turned withrelief back to the basin, but her earlier enjoyment was gone.
She bathed quickly, not even the rose-scented soaplifting her spirits. The desperation that had plagued her yesterday reappearedwith a vengeance, and she began to think of what lay ahead, the future seeminglike a black, yawning pit before her.
The only brightness lay in a single fervent hope withinher heart that she might yet escape and return to Damascus. Until she was onthat ship she would not give up trying . . . No, not even then.
Leila jumped at the soft knock on the door, the spongehitting the floor with a squelch. "Who—who is it?" she called out,darting into a shadowed corner.
