Page 18 of At the Sheikh's Command
“Later,habibti, later,” he said as he moved his hand and sat back in his seat to answer yet another phone call.
She stared angrily out of the window. But the anger wasn’t directed at him, but at herself. How could she be so weak? She’d come to Sifra to rid herself of her need for him. But instead, she only needed him more. He was like a drug to her, and she hated being out of control. But, drug or not, that was precisely the position she was in with this man.
She tried to summon up a negative response, but it proved impossible because Darrius was correct. She couldn’t lie to save herself. Besides, it was too late. Darrius was now speaking to the security guard, who was talking in his mouthpiece to someone else, as they drove up to the museum’s door. The car drew up outside the ancient museum and a group of men stepped out from under the shade of a columned portico. A surge of relief swept over her. A museum. She was back in familiar territory. Dusty, dry relics of humanity she could handle. It was the very alive, macho ones which she couldn’t.
The car door was opened for her and she stepped out with Darrius to greet the museum director and other high-ranking government officials. As they walked into the museum, she reflected that there were some benefits to being with the king. If she’d been on her own, she’d have had to jump through hoops to gain access to all these top officials, but, as it was, she had the top brass here, at her disposal. She was beginning to think she might get somewhere after all in her pursuit of the diamond.
But, after an hour of formalities and a tour of the museum for Darrius’s benefit, Leonora still hadn’t talked directly to the director about the diamond. The director was a new appointee and, it was becoming increasingly obvious to Leonora, was very anti foreigners. It didn’t bode well. Eventually, they were taken to a small boardroom where the museum director—prompted by Darrius, who evidently had noted her impatience—talked about what he knew of the diamond. The long and well-known history only made Leonora even more impatient. Finally, the director concluded.
“And that was the last documented time the diamond was seen,” he said, as if he’d given the last word on the subject.
Leonora cleared her throat. “Indeed,” she agreed in a conciliatory tone. “But there are clues where it might be. Lord Gleave—”
“Is irrelevant,” interrupted the directly firmly.
“But—”
She got no more than a derisive grunt from one of the director’s assistants, a sour look from the director and a raised eyebrow from Darrius.
“I’d hardly call him irrelevant,” she said hotly. “Whether or not one approves of his actions, we can’t ignore the clues he left behind him.”
The museum director’s lip curled. “Why?” he asked. “Do you wish to find it and take it away?”
She jumped up, full of indignation. “Of course not! I intend to find it and bring it here, to the museum, where it belongs.”
“Dr. Cooper, please be seated,” said Darrius calmly.
If it had been anyone else, she’d have refused, but one look at his determined but unruffled gaze had her sitting. He was right. Arguing the point wouldn’t get her anywhere.
Darrius shifted his authoritative gaze to the museum director once more.
“The diamond had always represented the power of our country until it disappeared. And, since then, that symbol has been missing. Symbols have power and as Dr. Cooper has offered the services of her department in locating the diamond, I suggest we use her help.”
“We don’t need her help,” said the museum director through gritted teeth.
“Do you know its whereabouts?” asked Darrius.
The director shifted in his seat. “Not exactly.”
“Do you know its whereabouts approximately?” Darrius asked again, patiently.
The director pursed his lips and shook his head.
“Then I suggest we use Dr. Cooper’s help.” Darrius turned to her. “Dr. Cooper, perhaps you’d be so kind as to explain your line of inquiry.”
She nodded, unable to prevent a brief smile at how easily Darrius had dealt with the director.
“Of course…” She hesitated as she suppressed the impulse to call him by his given name. “Your Highness. As you may be aware, Lord Gleave founded the College at the University of Oxford to which I belong.” She ignored the grating of the director’s chair against the floor, and a few dismissive grunts from the others. She could understand why Lord Gleave was considered to be the enemy, but now wasn’t the time for that debate. It was all about finding the diamond. So she ignored the signs of discomfort and plowed on. “His pièce de résistance is the college’s dining hall. Carved into the ceiling are the following words which you may not be aware of. Until recently, they were covered up with a false ceiling.”
She was aware of a sudden shift in attention. All eyes were on her.
“What does it say?” asked the director, whose enmity towards her had suddenly vanished.
“In that elevated place of sensual indulgence, you shall find what you seek in the eye of heaven.”
She sat back, scanning people’s faces, before settling on the only one who mattered—Darrius. He had stilled. She wouldn’t have expected anything less. He’d always been a man of few words and actions. He was the kind of man you listened to when he spoke, when he acted, and when he made a decision. Doubly so because he was king.
“And, Dr. Cooper, where do you suppose he means?” Darrius asked.
