Page 86 of Silver Angel

“He was here most of the afternoon.”

“But I thought he never enters the harem.”

“You will allow the circumstances are unusual, my dear. It’s the first time one of his women has ever been poisoned.”

So much for thinking he might care for her more than he did for any of his other women. “How did I get to be so lucky?”

“It’s doubtful we will ever know who wished you harm, but you needn’t fear it will happen again. Your food will come from my own kitchen from now on, and Haji Agha has assigned you two of his own bodyguards. You will never be left entirely alone.”

“Wonderful,” Chantelle said bitterly. “More the prisoner than ever.”

“You mustn’t look at it that way.”

“No? I should be grateful, I suppose, that someone wants me dead?”

She would never be able to escape now, but worse, she wasn’t sure she wanted to, not after last night. She didn’t want Rahine to know that, however, not after she had predicted just that happening. Chantelle didn’t have the temperament to hear a smug “I told you so.”

How had Jamil done it? How had he gotten around her anger and hurt and made her want him again? And so much! Dear Lord, they had made love all night long. After how close he had come to death, it was as ifshecouldn’t get enough of him. If anyone had been ready to beg for mercy, it was Jamil.

She should be utterly ashamed, but she wasn’t. At some point during the night, she had forgiven him for Jamila, and he had assured her it wouldn’t happen again. She would believe him because she wanted to, because she wanted him. It couldn’t be any simpler than that. Like a silly twit in love, she had gone and become contented with her enslavement. Was she in love? Good Lord, that would be a ridiculous thing to do. Love a man who owned forty-eight women? Best not to delve too deeply intothat.

Then Chantelle was reminded that during all those pleasant hours she had spent with him last night, she had never gotten around to asking him about the attempt on his life. Was it related to her own near brush with death?

“—don’t you think?”

“I’m sorry, what?”

“I said you should be grateful you’re still alive. It was very close for a while today.”

Chantelle made a face. “I was there, remember?”

“Has anyone ever told you that you don’t make a very good patient?”

Chantelle finally smiled grudgingly. “Am I being especially trying, Rahine?”

“And impertinent.”

“No one else is around,madame.”

Rahine had to suppress her laughter this time. “You are incorrigible. Very well, you may call me Rahine—when no one else is around.”

“Then will you call me Chantelle—when no one else is around?”

“You are supposed to forget your previous life,” Rahine began but was quickly interrupted.

“Did you?”

“I—think you need your rest.”

“Not yet.” Chantelle sat up more against her pillows. “First tell me who that man was last night who tried to kill Jamil.”

“We’ll never know that.”

“Then you don’t know why he attacked him?”

Rahine stared at her for a moment in amazement. “Do you mean to say…but you must have heardsomethingabout Jamil’s troubles since you have been here.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”