‘I promised that we would have your favourite dish the next time we dined together. Who would have thought it would be under such circumstances?’
‘You would. You had this planned all the time.’
‘Oh, no. Not until you threw down the gauntlet. I had no choice but to take it up. You insulted me, and you couldn’t be allowed to get away with it.’
‘Aren’t you ashamed of yourself, seeking revenge?’ she challenged. ‘Only petty men do that.’
He laughed. ‘In your country, maybe. But here a man who doesn’t take revenge for an insult cannot hold up his head.’
‘On a woman?’
He shrugged. ‘The insult came from a woman. And, since a thousand women cannot be the equal of one man, a man who lets himself be bested by a woman is truly disgraced.’
She was about to explode when she saw his eyes twinkling at her, as though he knew exactly what she expected, and was playing up to it. And she remembered just what a very clever man Ali was. She was moving through a strange dream, where every reference was moved, the impossible became real and the solid ground dissolved beneath her feet. And he understood it all.
As he had done the first night, he handed her to her seat, and served her himself.
‘It’s a good thing your servants can’t see you doing that,’ she observed. ‘I’m sure it’s beneath your dignity to serve a woman.’
‘
‘No, I’m worth a good deal more, aren’t I?’ she riposted, remembering a grievance. ‘I gather thirty thousand is the going rate.’
‘Ah, yes, you’ve met my cousin. He’s an engaging rascal, but he has no sense of responsibility. He acts first and thinks afterwards. He’d like me to give him a share in running the country, but he’ll have to grow up first. It was improper of him to force himself on you this morning.’
‘And see me without my veil; don’t forget that.’ She added primly, ‘I nearly fainted with horror.’
He laughed at her irony. ‘Yes, I guessed your delicate sensibilities would be offended.’
‘My sensibilities were offended by discovering that you’ve let everyone think that a hundred thousand was my purchase price, as though I were one of your racehorses.’
‘Certainly not!’ Ali said, shocked. ‘A first-class racehorse costs far more than that.’
Fran threw up her hands in despair. ‘There’s no talking to you.’
He grinned and filled her wine glass.
For the moment she gave up trying to bring him to a sense of his iniquity. The food was splendid, she knew she looked beautiful, and she was with the most attractive man she had ever met. It was useless to deny that, even if he was her enemy. And it was hard to think of him as an enemy when his eyes danced at her over his glass and told her that she entranced him.
‘Come,’ he said, when they had finished eating. ‘I have something for you to see.’
He took her hand and led her to a chest that stood near the window. He flung it open and she gasped at the treasure that lay within. Rubies, emeralds, diamonds, pearls, gold and silver lay there, jumbled together.
Ali lifted a necklace of emeralds set in gold and held it up before her eyes.
‘You have the kind of colouring that can wear all jewels,’ he said. ‘Diamonds and pearls, as well as rubies and emeralds. Today I think it will be emeralds; tomorrow-’
‘Nothing,’ Fran said. ‘Neither today nor tomorrow. I won’t take anything from you, Ali, because I have nothing to give back.’
She looked at him levelly. She wanted no misunderstanding.
He sighed. ‘Why do you fight what is between us?’
‘Because I’m here by force. As long as I’m a prisoner, there is nothing between us.’
‘You’re a hard, unforgiving woman-’
‘I’m a
Before she could say more the door was flung open and someone strode into the room. Fran started at the sight of Prince Yasir. His face was flushed, and he seemed on the verge of losing control.
Ali’s face darkened, and he said something in Arabic that sounded like a command. Yasir replied in the same tongue, obviously furious. He pointed to Fran, and held up two, then three fingers. She stared at him, wondering if she’d understood properly, and which of them she was angrier with if she had.
Ali was clearly giving a refusal, and Yasir’s temper increased. Ali made a gesture of finality. Yasir pointed at Fran and held up four fingers.
‘You do and you’re dead!’ she muttered.
‘Don’t worry,’ Ali replied coolly. ‘When I sell you, I shall demand much more than four times the original price.’
‘How much?’ Yasir demanded at once. ‘For her I pay whatever you ask.’
He reached for Fran, who drew back a fist in readiness. But Ali was there before her. The next moment Yasir was reeling back against the wall, rubbing his chin.
Ali gave him no chance to recover. Seizing Yasir’s collar, he hauled him to the door and threw him out. He turned back into the room before the look in his eyes had changed, and Fran backed away, astounded at what she saw there. Ali was ready to commit murder.
In two steps he was beside her, pulling her into his arms.
‘He dared to offer me money for you,’ he grated. ‘He thinks money can buy anything.’
‘Not me,’ she said breathlessly. ‘Neither his nor yours.’
She wasn’t sure that he heard her. His eyes were searching her with the brooding intensity of a man who’d seen a prize almost snatched from him, but had recovered it in time.
‘From the moment I first saw you I knew you had to be mine,’ he murmured. ‘I can wait no longer.’
She stiffened in alarm. She had resolved not to yield, and if she didn’t assert herself now it would be too late.
‘Ali, let me go,’ she breathed.
‘Never in life. You’re mine, and you’ll be mine for ever.’
The prospect was seductively sweet. For a moment her senses swam. To give him all of herself on a tide of passion, if only…
Putting out all her strength, she broke from him and turned away quickly.
‘This isn’t going to happen,’ she gasped.
Ali’s eyes kindled as he reached for her, and Fran knew he was at danger point. There was only one thing to do. Throwing caution to the winds, she fended him off and boxed his ears hard enough to make his eyes water.
It was safe to assume that no woman had ever treated his royal person in such a way before. Ali was motionless through sheer astonishment.
‘You forced me,’ Fran said breathlessly.
‘You-’
‘Don’t look at me like that.’ She swiftly put a table between them. ‘It was your own fault for not acting like a gentleman.’
‘I don’t have to be a gentleman,’ he snapped. ‘I’m the prince.’
‘That’s where you’re wrong. The prince should always be a gentleman.’
Ali breathed hard. ‘You picked a wonderful time to start lecturing me. Your recklessness will lead you into trouble one day.’
‘One day? What do you think this is? So now what happens? Do I get thrown into a dungeon for daring to strike the prince?’
‘Don’t tempt me,’ Ali said through gritted teeth. He turned sharply away, less he see the confusion in his eyes as he brought his temper under control. When he felt he could speak calmly he turned back and regarded her with frosty eyes.
‘
