Page 40 of At the Sheikh's Command
“Well, that is true except…” She’d run out of excuses. “I don’t like caves,” she said in a rush. “In fact, I hate them.”
“Why? It’s only a cave. I’ll be with you. Nothing will happen to you and you’ll be the first westerner to see where the diamond was hidden for two centuries when we were invaded.”
“Yes, I know but…” She grunted with frustration. How could she make him see when she couldn’t bring herself to tell him what had happened to her so long ago? “But it’s a cave!” Tears of fear, anger and frustration had sprung to her eyes. Why wouldn’t he leave it alone?
He reached out and touched her wet cheek. “What’s this about, really?”
She shook her head, trying to move out of his reach, but he stilled her by gently cupping her cheek.
“Don’t turn away from me,” he said. “I want to know what the hell is going on.”
“Nothing isgoing on. Maybe I’m simply not brave enough. Have you considered that?”
“Nora, you’re brave in every way that matters except about your emotions. And I don’t understand why your emotions should be roused by the thought of a confined space. I don’t know, but I will, because wewillgo there and youwillconfront whatever is scaring you.”
The tears continued to fall, and she shook her head. “I can’t.”
“Yes, you can. You can’t walk away from this, Nora, because if you do, you’ll always be afraid.”
She gulped back her tears and nodded, and he released her. She knew he was right. Of course he was. She’d have given the same advice to anyone else. But these wereherfears.
“Okay,” she said after taking a few deep breaths. “I’ll go. Maybe step inside for a few moments and have a quick look around. After all, you’re right. It will make an interesting piece to write up when I get back to Oxford.”
Truth was, it was anger that pushed her on. Anger with him and, even more, anger with herself. And it was this anger which spurred her into being the first to enter the cave. The darkness enveloped her immediately, and she started back, bumping into Darrius. He didn’t move, just tapped on his phone’s flashlight and held it out.
“Carry on. It’s not far.”
She had no choice but to do as he said. But then she came to an even narrower fissure, one that she couldn’t see the end to. She took one step inside, feeling the narrowness all around her, and returned immediately to the sensations she’d felt decades earlier, as a young girl trapped and locked in, unable to escape.
The iron straitjacket of fear clamped down in her mind and she let out a despairing cry, pushed past Darrius and went stumbling out, retracing her steps back to the light.
It had only been a matter of minutes, but it had tipped her over the edge and she could hardly see anything. All around her was darkness as paranoia gripped her. She fell to her knees and sent out a keening cry which was carried over the valley and to the palace below them, filling the air with her fear and despair.
Darrius was beside her in an instant, crouching down, gathering her in his arms as she sobbed as if her heart would break. He didn’t speak. He simply held her as she continued to sob uncontrollably, unable to stop the grief which lay at the heart of her from pouring out, triggered by that moment which had brought back all the memories she tried so hard to suppress.
Eventually the sobbing subsided, and he lifted her face to his and kissed her.
“Now, tell me.”
And she knew she had no choice. It was time.
CHAPTER19
“Tell me. Tell me everything,” Darrius repeated.
She blinked as she looked up at him. The sun was still shining and the wind still blowing. The world was still the same. Butshewasn’t. She felt exhausted, drained of every last drop of defensiveness with which she’d clothed herself for so long. She felt naked in his arms, like she’d never felt at night, in bed with him. Naked and totally vulnerable, like she hadn’t been since she was a child.
She opened her mouth to speak, but it was parched, and she felt weak.
He frowned and pushed aside a strand of hair so he could see her better. “You need to return to the palace. To get out of this sun and drink something.”
She nodded. That sounded good. And it also gave her a reprieve, because at this moment she didn’t think she could string a coherent sentence together.
They retraced their steps, down the mountain path, back to the palace. He took her directly to the shelter and peace of the garden of reflection. He seemed to understand what she needed.
“Rest here and I’ll be with you shortly. I’ll order some refreshments.”
She did exactly as he said and sank onto the cushioned bench. She laid her head back and closed her eyes. The filtered sunlight flickered through her eyelids. She didn’t go back over what had just happened, partly because it was too painful, and partly because it was over. There was no need. She’d faced her worst fear and survived. But at what cost? She didn’t know, but she’d soon find out. How would Darrius react to what she had to tell him? Because she knew she had to tell him everything now.
