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His dusty kaftan fell off before he washed in her bath water and walked to the bed. With her in his arms, he held her close, taking in her jasmine scent and the sweet warmness of her pure ivory skin. She snuggled in him, her arms about his neck, her leg over his. He stroked her hair, slowly, as his lips brushed her forehead.
They held each other, the ghosts of their fears haunting the room. And they held tighter, never letting go. Tariq fell asleep in the curve of her neck. Deep into the night, peace befell them, but neither disentangled form the other.
Tariq opened his eyes just before dawn, a little disoriented. This had to be paradise, surely. His woman held him as he her, under the blankets. They wrapped in warmness, comfort, surrendered to each other. He lifted his head from the curve of her neck and looked at her. The first light in the sky threw a grey gleam to her perfect face, her dried-dates tress almost undone. Long lashes reposed suavely on her cheeks. He had to go, to prepare to leave. And this was the last thing he wanted to do on earth. He wanted to stay here. Forever. With her, in her. Would he ever get enough? Men tired of their women, the natural order of things, he reckoned. They’d run their course, wouldn’t they? If yes, it lay very far in the future as yet, he feared. Until then, he’d be a slave to this craving for her. And he’d take his fill. Oh, yes, he would.
Her eyes fluttered open, widening on his. Then she closed them again and stretched with a sigh along him. Oh, no, not like this. It’d get really difficult to get up. “Good morning.” He wished.
“Good morning.” Her voice hoarse from sleep.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Yes, very. You?”
“Can’t complain.” He dismissed. “I have to go now.”
She nodded, closed her eyes, but kept holding him. She seemed to have gone back to sleep.
He smiled. Kissing each of her eye-lids, he gently put space between them and stood.
It’d been raining for hours in Syracuse. Mrs Croft twisted her fingers as she waited for Mr Graziani. His men had found a lead as to where Lucinda might be. She paced the tiled drawing room, unable to keep still.
Adriana sat with a stuck embroidery on her lap. “I really hope they got something. She’s been missing for days now!
“It would be about time. I am so sick with worry!” She paced even more, hands joined under her plump chin.
The door opened and mercifully, Pietro entered. “Good afternoon, ladies.” If possible, his round belly became even rounder. The women answered faintly.
As Mrs Croft observed his tense expression, she lost heart. “Did the lead take anywhere, Mr Graziani?
“I regret to say it didn’t.” He said as he shook his head, chin down.
“Oh, my God!” Mrs Croft’s hope shrunk, on the verge of tears. It’d been too long time. Miss Lancefield could be anywhere.
“They got information of a girl with her description in the port, a few days ago. Now they came into information that the girl accompanied with her parents and came from France.” He made a disappointed gesture with his arms. “I am sorry!”
On her armchair, Adriana had her lips parted and deep sadness in her eyes.
“I cannot wait any longer. I have to send word to the Earl and Countess.”
He looked at her disheartened, hesitated for seconds and nodded. “As a parent, I’d like to be informed if Adriana was missing, of course.”
“I’m going to my room and write them at once!” She walked to the door.
“Mrs Croft,” Pietro started and she halted, “you can stay here if you wish. Maybe, we’ll find her.”
“Thank you, Mr Graziani.” In a trifle she disappeared through the door.
“Oh, papa! Who could have been so cruel?”
“I don’t know, Adriana. I don’t know.” His head low, expression faded.
CHAPTER NINE
They reached Tunis that afternoon. From that far, it certainly didn’t look like a village, Lucinda observed. It was big, with high minarets sprinkled throughout it. Against the blue sky, it was beautiful.
The landscape had been changing steadily since they left this morning. Greener, scattered bushes at first, and higher trees in the last hour, the air acquired a salty tang. And now, up the hills that out-skirted the city, it stretched before her. She deduced it must Tariq’s hometown because they’d been travelling northwards. There’d been no bigger city in the area.
Suddenly, she wished she found a way to send a letter to Mrs Croft so she wouldn’t worry so much. For this, she’d naturally need Tariq’s help since she didn’t know if there was a post system here. She suspected he wouldn’t allow it though.
