Page 36 of At the Sheikh's Command
“It leaves a gap, does it not?”
She swung around to face him. “What does?”
He raised an eyebrow. “You need to ask?” He pointed to the throne. “The throne whose central adornment and symbol of centuries of power is missing, stolen by your college’s illustrious benefactor.”
His white gown swept the ancient tiles as he approached her. It was all she could do to stand her ground. As it was, her legs trembled, and she felt weak as a flush developed and spread up through her body, before coming to rest on her cheeks. She forced herself to focus on what he’d just said.
“You have no evidence to suggest he stole it.”
He huffed a dismissive laugh and walked up to her. Too close. But he didn’t reach out to touch her. At least that was something. If he had, she wasn’t sure she could have withstood him.
“Two hundred years ago, the diamond was in place. Its light was directly behind the head of this country’s ruler, casting an added brilliance to his aura.” He walked over to the throne. “It was situated exactly as it is today and the window in the ceiling was a light-well which focused light onto the diamond. Legend has it that the light shone through the facets like the sun. Lord Gleave was here and then the diamond was gone. Conclusive, I’d have said.”
“I wouldn’t. He wasn’t here alone. He was with others. It could have been anyone. It could have been someone from your court, a servant, anybody.”
“Your Lord Gleave—”
“He’s notmyLord Gleave—”
“Your Lord Gleave returned to England and had a replica of this ceiling built. Don’t you think that says something?”
“It says he admired your ceiling.”
It seemed Darrius wasn’t in the mood for an argument this morning, and he didn’t reply. Instead, his lips quirked, and he tipped her chin and kissed her. He kept his finger under her chin. She could have moved, of course she could. His touch was light. But the feel of his touch against her skin, and his commanding gaze, transfixed her. Whether or not he knew it, she was a slave to his and her passions. Which is why she had to keep them in check. She closed her eyes firmly as a last defense.
He gave a gruff laugh. “I’ll let you hide away,habibti, for now. But there will soon come a time when I won’t let you. And you will have to face your destiny.” With that, he dropped his hand and pulled out a chair for her at the table. “Please, be seated, and we will eat. I’m sure you’re hungry after missing supper last night.” He gave her a wry grin, which she couldn’t help answering back in kind. He was right. She was starving. Especially after the night she’d had.
His comments had broken the ice, and she could at last relax and enjoy the delicious breakfast. Especially while he had to excuse himself to take a phone call. After that finished, she could hear him dictating messages to staff in the adjoining room. She’d finished her breakfast by the time he re-entered the dining room with a freshly brewed cup of coffee in his hands.
“Apologies for my absence. Unfortunately, the work of a king is never done.”
“No need to apologize.”
He shot her a sharp glance. “Why? Because you welcomed my absence?” He nodded, interpreting her blush correctly. “Of course, it meant you didn’t have to address your lapse in judgement last night.” He held out his hand to stop her from responding. “It’s fine. I understand you better than you do yourself, it seems. Now,” he said, without waiting for her to respond. “If you’ve had enough breakfast, perhaps I can show you the grounds.”
She rose and placed her napkin on the table. “Thank you. I’d appreciate that.” Truth was, she’d appreciate any situation where she didn’t have to confront Darrius face-to-face with no distractions, she thought as they stepped out into the sunlight.
A palace guide showed them around the Islamic gardens.
Everywhere, the themes of water and shade were in evidence. The gardens, divided into four with the traditionalcharbaghlayout, were further divided into smaller gardens, each divided by flowing water which came straight from the mountains. The place was alive with sensory experience—from the turbulence of the air above the flowing water, bringing the fragrance of flowers and the cooling air, to the insects and bird-life, lured by the water and plants.
Further away, she knew there were gardens with other intentions, to rest, reflect and contemplate. But she was most interested in the walled gardens.
“Persians designed them. The ancient Persian word for an enclosed space waspairi-daeza.”
“Paradise,” Leonora murmured, trailing her hand through a bubbling waterfall as they walked down into yet another garden.
“Indeed.” The guide nodded approvingly.
They continued to walk through the gardens, edging ever closer to the place she believed might hold the key to the mysterious diamond. Finally, they reached the enclosed garden with its central fountain.
Fragrant climbing jasmine and roses surrounded the octagonal courtyard, as well as all kinds of fruit trees, including peaches and pomegranates. As the guide described how the garden was enclosed both by a square, which represented the earth, and a circle, which represented heaven—Leonora walked up to the fountain.
She stared up through the rainbows of light which surrounded the tumbling water, her heart pounding in her chest, knowing that at last she could discover if her theory was correct. Years before, around the time when Lord Gleave had visited, she’d learned that the waters had dried up temporarily while the fountain was under repair. The same time as the last sighting of the diamond. What better place to hide a diamond that shimmered and sparkled in the light than in the depth of a fountain that shimmered and sparkled in that same light? But how she was going to get to the top to check out her theory was another matter. Aware of a sudden silence, she turned to Darrius.
“So this is it?” asked Darrius.
“Yes. Welcome to the gates of heaven. The place of transition between heaven and earth. It’s calledSalsabil,” said Leonora.
