to make such a sacrifice?
‘My parents’ marriage was a successful union.’ Annoyance flickered across Rafiq’s face as he heard the defensive note in his own voice. ‘When they married the country was in turmoil. My mother was instrumental in supporting my father when he undid the years of neglect following Sadira’s death.’
‘You think love is a form of insanity?’ She studied his profile, her glance lingering on the passionate curve of his mouth, and wondered if Rafiq had ever known that insanity.
His eyes slid to the portrait. ‘When Sadira could not bear children my father was expected to put her aside. He refused, even though the lack of a clear heir to the throne was creating major divisions.’
Gabby’s tender heart bled for the tragic Queen. ‘You think he should have put her aside?’
He shrugged. ‘My father put his personal happiness ahead of his duty.’
‘Is that a yes or a no?’ It was a silly question. It was clear from his actions that Rafiq put his individual desires and needs below his duty and his country—duty had been bred into him, and he had never been allowed to be a carefree little boy or a reckless young man. He had always been the future King.
‘The job of King comes with responsibilities.’
‘The poor woman. She was so beautiful …’ Even though her glance had drifted back to the portrait Gabby remained painfully conscious of the man beside her, and her empathy went bone-deep. ‘And her eyes are incredible … so blue.’
‘Not as blue as yours.’
The husky retort brought her swinging back to face him. As their eyes connected the air around them seemed to shimmer with the intensity of unspoken desires and emotions.
The only sounds in the massive room came from the mingled tick of a selection of antique time pieces and their breathing—hard to distinguish each from the other.
Gabby’s stomach quivered, and her heart thundered as she struggled to breathe. Her feet seemed glued to the floor with lustful longing. She struggled to break free of the bonds of the sexual thrall that held her tight in its grip … Rafiq’s eyes were so … hot … Oh, help!
‘I … I … I’m hungry. For food,’ she added, her face crimson with embarrassment.
Rafiq inhaled, his flared nostrils quivering as he scented her perfume. ‘I too am hungry …’ Ravenous described better the desire pounding through his veins.
He moved abruptly, and broke the tableau a split second before Sayed announced his return with a tentative knock.
‘What is it, Sayed?’ He assumed a neutral expression. She was a sensual banquet, but not his.
Standing in the vault of the room, Sayed raised his voice to reach the mezzanine level. ‘I am afraid that there has been a landslip in Bahu.’
Gabby saw Rafiq stiffen as the two men continued their interchange in rapid Arabic. It didn’t take an ability to understand the language to see that the situation they were discussing was serious.
Halfway to convincing herself that the entire sizzling moment had only existed in her head, Gabby was sure of it when Rafiq turned back to her, with no residual trace of warmth in his sombre manner.
‘I am needed. I must leave you.’
‘Take me with you,’ she heard herself say. ‘That is …’
‘All right,’ he said, telling himself that it was a good thing if she saw some of his country and fell under its spell.
It was not a good moment to think of spells.
Conversation was not possible due to the noise during the helicopter flight. It took them three quarters of an hour, but for Gabby, staring down at the fascinating and constantly changing scenery of this geographically diverse country, the time went quickly.
Gabby wrapped the silk scarf she had been given around her head as she stepped out into the sun. She shaded her eyes and stared.
A group of black tents were scattered around a green oasis, but what dominated the site was the towering ancient stone wall rising up behind them.
Rafiq watched her jaw drop.
‘It is the remains of a Crusader castle. Like the Bedouin, the Crusaders were attracted by the water, and due to the height nobody—enemy or friend—can arrive unseen.’
It was clear from the small group who came to greet them that Rafiq fell into the latter category.
‘There are no men.’ Gabby voiced her observation out loud.
‘The men are all helping in the rescue. My father gave permission for an archaeological dig to go ahead down in the valley.’
‘That’s where the landslip is?’
Rafiq nodded, his expression sombre. ‘Yes, several young men from here were working on the site.’
‘There are injuries?’
‘It appears so. The rescue is being made more difficult by sheer inaccessibility. The overhanging cliffs make helicopter access impossible, and the track is too rough for four-wheel drives. That just leaves …’ He nodded towards a distant dust cloud that as Gabby watched became a group of horsemen, approaching at great speed.
She felt her stomach lurch as she saw the spare horse they were leading.
‘You’re going in?’
He nodded, and looked surprised by the question. ‘Of course.’
‘Can I come with you?’
He shook his head, something close to tenderness flickering across his face as he looked at her. Gabby’s stomach flipped.
‘Not this time,’ he said. His expression grew troubled as he focused on her face. Then, as he hooked a thumb under her chin and tilted her face up to his, it hardened into one of self-recrimination. ‘I should not have brought you.’
‘What if when you go with them—?’ She nodded towards the men who had reined in their mounts close by. ‘What if—’ she repeated, unable to keep the anxiety from her voice. ‘What if you get ill?’
‘I won’t.’
Not a very practical response, but one that seemed to Gabby very typical of this man—this very hands-on Prince, who took responsibility a lot more literally than most.
‘The women will look after you.’ Rafiq had turned away to speak to the group from the tents, varied in age and all looking visibly comforted by what Rafiq said to them.
He only looked back once as he strode out to the waiting men and vaulted with lithe ease into the saddle of the spare horse. Gabby watched until the riders were nothing more than specks in the shimmering desert landscape.
The women did look after Gabby, but as they spoke no English and she spoke no Arabic, communication was limited. Her anxiety levels were rising,
