The Sheik Retold(74)

But it all made perfect sense. I now understood what he had been doing all along—working tirelessly to rally and organize the tribes in a rebellion against the French, who had controlled his country and suppressed the native population for nearly a century. I had not realized my sheik held such lofty ideals. His powerful persona was suddenly all the more compelling and romantic to me—and the danger to him all the more real.

"Diana," Jim stared at his hands, "I must ask you… I must know… What is between you and the Vicomte Saint Hubert?"

"What do you mean?"

"Is he my rival for your affections?"

"Saint Hubert?" I gave a light laugh.

Jim flushed deeper. "Deny it if you like, but I am neither blind nor na?ve. Did he…?"

"No, Jim. I assure you there is absolutely nothing more than a close, platonic friendship between me and Saint Hubert." It was the first full truth I had told.

He gazed at me with hope-filled eyes. "Then is there any chance you may have had a change of heart?"

I looked down at the balcony directly below mine. It was a drop of only about ten feet and below that was an awning that provided shade over the terrace, an awning that appeared strong enough to cushion my fall. The gardens were surrounded by a wall that was at least fifteen feet high but unguarded. I was an exceptional climber, but the surface was smooth with no visible foot or handholds. Damn! If only I could contrive some means of scaling the wall, I could make my escape.

"I'm sorry, Jim," I replied absently. "I thought you understood. I have no heart."

That was also true. Although I had found the heart that I hadn't believed existed, I had left it far behind in the desert. If only I had a rope and a grappling hook. It was no good. I would never get over the wall.

I knew I could not escape the palace, but once in the desert, I was certain I could break away, especially with The Dancer, one of Ahmed's fleetest horses. He had given him to me the night before we arrived in Bou Saada. "Keep him, sell him, do what you will, but he is yours," he had said. I wondered at the time if he despised me so much that he wanted no reminder of me.

My only fear was whether I could navigate my way back to his camp. I chewed my thumbnail in growing doubt but then reassured myself that if I could not find it, I only needed to make it back to Bou Saada where the merchant Abdullah could surely send a message to warn the sheik. Warning him and repaying the life debt I owed was all I intended, after all—so I told myself.

I realized Jim had stopped speaking and remained silent for an unusually long stretch. "It was him, wasn't it?" he said woodenly.

"Him? Him who? What are you talking about?"

"Maybe I've been besotted but don't take me for a fool, Diana. It wasn't a bloody French vicomte, it was that barbarian Ben Hassan himself who brought you to Bou Saada, wasn't it?"

"Yes," I answered at length, unable to force another lie through my lips. "It was Ahmed Ben Hassan."

"You were with him all this time? In the camp of a rebel barbarian? All the time I worried and looked for you?"

"Mostly yes," I confessed. "But it was not by choice, I assure you! Moreover, I did not lie about my abduction by Omair, may his soul burn in hell. Ben Hassan rescued me from him."

"I daresay only so the blackguard could keep you for himself! Did he…did he…?" Jim raked his hair with an anguished groan. "For the love of God, please tell me that savage didn't violate you!"

"I was not raped," I replied impassively. "He did not force me to do anything."

Jim was no fool. He shut his eyes. "Then you were willing."

I hated to hurt him, but I hated deceit even more. "At times I was."

"Are you saying he didn't hold you against your will?"

"No. I didn't say that. I was indeed his captive, but I was not harmed—at least not physically."

"He mistreated you and held you against your will, yet you refuse to give him up to the authorities?"

"He also saved my life. Twice. No. I will not do it, Jim. I will not lead them to Ben Hassan."

"You have no choice if you ever wish to leave this place. You are one of few people who can identify this rebel-rouser now that his enemy Omair is dead."

"So Omair was to have delivered him to the French?"

"That is my understanding. The governor was not pleased about his death but will certainly use it to his advantage. If he can't pin this devil Ben Hassan for insurrection, he will surely prosecute him for murder." Another long pause. "Do you love him?"

"I owe him my life," I repeated. "Perhaps it had been for his own nefarious purposes, but Ahmed saved me when Aubrey conspired with Mustafa Ali and then he rescued me again from what would have been a fate worse than death at the hands of Ibraheim Omair. Only by repaying my life debt can I ever depart Algeria with a clear conscience. After that, I will surely make my way to Oran and board the first steamer to anywhere."

Jim rose with an expression of desolation. "If you return to the desert, I don't believe you will ever board that steamer."

"But I am going with the Cavalry and will be perfectly safe."

"That's not what I mean, and you know it."

"I do not understand."