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Laura stared at him suspiciously 'Then why won't you let me go home?'
It might be a little more ' Malik hesitated ' convenient if you stayed Just for a couple more days, you understand?'
But it was a velvet-cloaked order, not a polite request, and realisation slowly began to dawn on her 'This is Xavier's doing, isn't if? He has demanded this?'
Malik didn't react.
'Isn't it?' questioned Laura.
Malik shrugged 'You cannot blame the man for wanting you to remain here as his companion—not in view of what has happened '
Did Laura imagine the faint note of censure in his voice, or was she just feeling vulnerable and raw? I'm not with you,' she said.
But then she saw the way he lowered his eyes, and suddenly she knew exactly what he meant.
He did know that she'd slept with Xavier—had Xavier told him, or had one of the servants gossiped? Laura was aware of the sting of colour to her cheeks, knowing that to try to defend herself would be a doomed enterprise certain to lead to even more embarrassment.
What excuse or reason could she give to condone her behaviour in a country where a woman's honour was as highly prized as rubies? She could not even offer up deep emotion as a contributing factor—who would believe her when she had known Xavier for such a short time?
Yet it was not as it must have looked to an outsider Deep emotion had been there—well, certainly on Laura's part She had wanted to comfort him as well as to be made love to She had wanted to touch him in ways which were more than physical—the sad thing was that she had ever believed she could Something strong and powerful had reached out to her—something so rare that she had felt nothing remotely like it in all her twenty-six years.
But now?
Laura bit her lip, wondering if she had been completely stupid Whether what had happened had been all about her writing the script for what she wanted it to be—rather than the reality of what it was
But if Xavier thought that she was going to continue with the intimacy, then he was badly mistaken What was done was done—she couldn't blame him for taking what she had so freely offered—but now it was time to look after herself
'This is intolerable, Malik,' she said in a low voice, but the Kharastani man was shaking his head
'Only if you make it so,' he demurred.
'But we have interconnecting rooms,' she pointed out.
'And you have a key,' he said sharply.
He didn't say And maybe you should have used it before—but he didn't have to It was all there, written on his face, and Laura flinched
'And I suppose that if I make a fuss then my salary will suffer? You'll withhold it—or use complicated international machinery to delay payment for so long that by the time I get it I'll no longer need it?' she challenged.
Malik's eyes widened fractionally, as if matters as vulgar as money were not talked about within the rarefied surroundings of the Palace, but Laura didn't care She was not—like him—cushioned by the untold wealth of a royal family and its courtiers She was a working girl
'I must ensure that everyone is kept happy,' he said
'Everyone except me, that is,' returned Laura as she recognised her predicament She had no choice other than to stay, but at least she could word it to sound as if it had been her decision—her wounded pride demanded that much 'Well, I'll stay for as long as it is necessary, but no longer I'm not prepared to sacrifice my livelihood simply because I made a poor personal judgement'
'I think it will not be as bad as you anticipate. For all its antiquity the Blue Palace has many facilities for you to enjoy,' countered Malik 'There is an Olympic-sized pool, a gym—and our cinema houses the most up-to-the-minute films And I have assigned Sidoniato cater for your every need '
Laura raised her eyebrows 'A gilded cage, you mean?'
'There are many ways of looking at a situation,' he said softly 'You could always try to enjoy it'
Laura met his eyes If you say so ' But it wasn't as easy as that If Xavier hadn't been part of the deal, then it might have been—but how could she enjoy what sounded like a state-of-the-art holiday camp if she was worrying about fighting him off? Or, worse, fighting off her own attraction to him?
She turned on her heel, not knowing or caring whether she was supposed to wait for the Kharastani nobleman to leave first If they were breaking the rules of her employment then she would damned well break a few of her own in return!
Emerging from the direction of the palace, Laura saw Sidonia walking towards her, and suddenly she was pleased to see the friendly and welcoming face of the servant
'Good morning, Sidonia,' she said
