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Amanda had the feeling that Xa Shiraq would be much more demanding in his pleasure than anyone she had met before, both in giving it and receiving it. If she kept thinking of the feelings he had aroused while kissing her, it might help her to stop worrying about what response she was drawing from him while she did whatever was going to be done.
By the time her tiny appetite was fully satisfied, an extraordinary number of bolts of cloth had been lined up for her to view. With the fear of the rat-hole ever present in the background, and her poor, sick, empty stomach nicely filled, Amanda considered this matter of dancing her way out of trouble and into the heart of Xa Shiraq where she rightfully belonged.
The reflection that she shouldn’t be in this trouble at all pricked a little resentment. The manner in which Xa Shiraq had dismissed her sufferings as though they were nothing pricked quite a lot more. To balance that, her crimes of illegal entry into the country, and the charges of grand larceny seemed to have been forgotten. She hoped the unfortunate experiences on the Gemini Peak would also soon be forgotten.
What she could not forget was all the hours he had kept her in a waiting torment of ignorance as to his fate. It seemed absolutely fair to her that he do his share of waiting for her. Besides, being trapped in the caves like that—she shuddered—had obviously tormented his mind about her.
He needed time to consider all she had said in her defence this morning. He needed time to come to the conclusion he must have the hydraulic jack examined, and then more time to adjust to the fact that he was wrong, and she truly loved him.
That might assist him to be more receptive to her, and stop this terrible misunderstanding between them. She wanted to be his lover, not his murderer.
She cast her eyes over the bolts of cloth, then sent for a messenger.
‘Please inform Xa Shiraq that there is no cloth in the sheikhdom in shimmering shades of blue and green that meet my requirements. Mindful of his pleasure, I request permission to order that some be dyed to the desired colouring I need. The process will only take several days.’
Then, of course, the veil would have to be made. Amanda’s agile mind thought up several more delays, as well. The looms would break. The woof and warp would be wrong. The series of delays she could invent would know no bounds.
She was tempted to add a rider to the message that he should use the time to have the broken hydraulic jack examined, but decided not to raise that sore point yet again. Perhaps, tomorrow. Or the day after.
Amanda was humming happily to herself when the messenger returned with a reply from Xa Shiraq.
‘”Permission granted. Be prepared to leave with your escort within the hour. Enjoy your stay in the rat-hole until the dyeing process is completed.”’
Ama
nda’s delightful little bubble of hopes and plans burst into droplets of despair.
But Amanda was a fighter. She would not go down without making a stand. If she was going to be submerged for the third time, she was determined to take someone down with her. That person was Xa Shiraq.
‘Please inform Xa Shiraq that a suitable cloth has now been procured. The women who will do the silver thread-work require me for fittings to ensure their design will be pleasing to his discriminating eye. Since there is no light in the rat-hole, I request permission to remain in these quarters until such time as the veil is ready to be worn to its best effect for his pleasure.’
Let him argue against that, Amanda thought with satisfaction. She could spin out the silver embroidery for a good few days. Perhaps a week. Clearly his vengeful mood was still in full force. The longer she held out, the more likely he might have second thoughts about what had happened.
His reply did not exactly demonstrate that a softening process had begun.
‘”Thread or no thread, you will dance for me at midnight tonight.”’
Midnight!
Amanda checked the current time. Almost three o’clock. He had given her nine hours. If she didn’t deliver what she had promised to his satisfaction at his deadline, Amanda had little doubt she would endure the same fate as many illustrious princesses before her. Xa Shiraq was not a man to be crossed lightly.
Amanda gave her reply much deep thought. Xa Shiraq had to be forcibly reminded of what they had shared together before they met tonight. Amanda’s understanding of his grievances only stretched so far. If he didn’t open his mind and heart to her again, they would both end up very lonely people.
The prospect of that inner darkness weighed more heavily on Amanda’s heart than the prospect of future darkness.
She addressed the messenger one last time.
‘Tell Xa Shiraq that the women’s fingers grow more nimble by the minute. His will shall be done.
‘Then you are to advance upon him. You are to tell him the words you utter cannot be said aloud, and they are for him alone.
‘When permission is given, you will whisper to him in tones of love—May the stars shine brightly for us tonight.’
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
KOZIM shifted uncomfortably in his chair as the messenger returned for the third time.
Xa Shiraq was being highly unpredictable today. Many silences had lasted longer than five minutes. Kozim was deeply stressed.
