special favorites, too. So! Tonight we will dine in the Peacock Room, you and I, and I will show you how this feat is accomplished.'
Cait spent the rest of the day examining the books in the prince's considerable collection. Obtained in various places throughout the Arab world, each one was bound in fine leather and, although written in the graceful, flowing Arabic script which Cait could not read, she enjoyed looking at the painted pictures which adorned page after page. One book contained scenes of life along the River Nile, the Great Mosq of Cairo, and the Sphinx-and this one she especially enjoyed.
'You like this book,' said Hasan, enjoying her delight. 'I can see it in your eyes.'
'Oh, yes, very much,' she said. 'You see, my father was once a guest of the Caliph of Cairo. He told me about it many times, and in these paintings I can see what he saw.'
'You love your father,' observed the prince. 'I can hear it in your voice when you speak of him.'
'I did, yes. He was a fine man. He is dead now, and I cherish his memory. It is the most precious thing I own.'
'Then you must have this book so you can look at it whenever you like and remember him in a happier time.'
'Oh, but I could not -' Cait protested. 'A book like this-I have never seen the like. It must have cost a fortune. I could never accept such a costly gift. I have nothing to give you in return.'
Prince Hasan closed the leather-bound book and placed it in her hands.
'Darling Ketmia, if you only knew how much you have already given me. Please, accept it as but a small token of my great esteem and,' he gazed intently into her eyes, 'my even greater affection.'
Her heart, filled with tender thoughts of her father, the warmth of the prince's breathtaking generosity, and so many fragile emotions, overflowed in a sudden rush. 'Pray excuse me, lord,' she said, pushing the tears away, 'but it has been so long since anyone has treated me with such kindness and compassion.'
His gaze softened. Reaching a hand to her cheek, he said, 'Oh, my lovely Ketmia, you deserve nothing less. I would that I could give you such gifts always. For although we are but briefly met, I feel as if I have known you all my life.'
Flustered by this admission, Cait stood speechless. Grasping the book, she looked down and rubbed the fallen tears from the leather. In the end, she was saved having to answer the prince's declaration by the sound of a gong ringing in one of the antechambers.
The prince straightened. 'I am called away. Come, I will have Jubayar take you back to the women's quarters so that you can rest and ready yourself for this evening.'
The gong sounded again, and the prince led Caitriona back through a long corridor to one of the reception halls, and there commanded the eunuch to conduct her to the women's quarters. She looked for Rognvald, or one of the knights, as they walked back through the interconnecting maze of corridors and passages, but saw none of the other guests.
Mahdi and Pila'i were waiting when she returned. While she rested, they prepared a bath for her, and laid out clothes for the evening. Cait surrendered herself to their ministrations, and passed the rest of the day in a pleasant haze of pampered indulgence.
As evening came on, the serving maids dressed her, arranged her hair, and brought out a necklace of jewels for her to wear. And then, when she was ready, the gong sounded, and a few moments later Jubayar arrived to take her to her dinner with the prince. She followed her escort through the covered courtyard, and as they passed the alabaster fountain, she heard a rustling sound and turned in time to see Prince Hasan's sister, Danji, disappearing behind one of the leafy palms. Cait had just a glimpse and then she was gone, but received the distinct impression that the young woman had been trying to attract her attention.
She turned back to find Jubayar watching her, his wide, fleshy lips twisted in a sneer of suspicion and disgust.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Caitriona dined alone with Prince Hasan that night. He fed her duckling glazed with a compote of honeyed apricots, boiled rice with cardamom and pine kernels, and baked quail's eggs. He plied her with spiced wine and sweetmeats, and pledged his love for her-not once, but twice. And she had accepted his blandishments.
She returned to her bedchamber slightly dazed and giddy from the heady potion of wine and murmured endearments. With the help of Mahdi and Pila'i, she undressed and went to sleep contemplating the evening in all its glittering grandeur.
Arrayed like an Eastern princess in layer upon layer of costly silks and jewels, she had been escorted by Jubayar to her dinner with the prince. She arrived to find the Peacock Room completely bare of any furnishings whatsoever, and stood for a moment peering into the dim, empty interior, feeling vaguely disappointed; for she had allowed herself to imagine something of the opulence of the previous evening. Her first thought was that the prince had forgotten his promise. Then again, perhaps she had not understood him correctly. As she stood in the centre of the turquoise-tiled chamber, trying to think what could have happened, the prince arrived.
Dressed in flowing black robes edged with gold filigree, and wearing a turban of glistening Damascus cloth, he was the very embodiment of princely nobility. Slender and tall, his trim waist wrapped in a wide cloth belt into which had been bound a long curved dagger with a ruby handle and golden sheath, he swept across the room to her in bold, eager strides, and greeted her with a kiss on both hands.
Sensing her petulance, he smiled with wry amusement, clapped his hands and, in the manner of a sorcerer demonstrating a wonder, cried a word in Arabic which sounded like: 'Haydee!'
Doors at the far end of the empty chamber were flung open and a succession of white-turbaned servants appeared. First came four men carrying iron standards, one in each hand; on each standard a candletree burned with ten lit candles. Hard on the heels of these first came four more men, carrying a lengthy roll of scarlet-and- blue figured carpet, which they placed at one end of the room and proceeded to unroll to the other; before they had reached the end, four more serving men appeared bearing enormous satin cushions on their heads, and a smaller carpet roll under their arms. No sooner had the first servants finished, than the second rank unrolled their rug in the centre of the carpet, and placed the cushions on it.
Meanwhile, two more servants had entered carrying a low table between them, which they placed before the cushions. Scarcely had these departed when the first returned pushing gigantic pots of hammered brass containing miniature palm trees on wheeled platforms. Additional tables appeared, and more plants and live greenery in beaten brass containers, until the room began to take on the aspect of an Arabian garden. Then followed satin- covered chests and carved wooden boxes of various shapes and sizes; three flaming charcoal braziers and two cauldron-shaped copper incense burners; and a three-panel pierced screen made of rosewood, which was set up behind the bank of cushions; and an enormous brass gong.
Lastly, a canopy of blue silk was placed over the table and the candles arranged around it to bathe the diners in a golden glow of gently flickering light. Cait was captivated by the speed with which the transformation was effected, and by the wonderful result. In her excitement, she kissed the prince lightly on the cheek.
Five musicians appeared, arranged themselves and their instruments at a discreet distance from the canopy, and began to play. As the softly swaying melody filled the air, Hasan lifted his hand and declared, 'This is how a true Prince of the Orient lives. Wherever he goes – whether to dine, or sleep, or,' he paused, taking Cait's hand, 'to receive his honoured guests-the noble Arab has only to command, and his naked word is transmuted into magnificence and splendour.
'But come,' he said, leading her to the bank of cushions, 'let us sit and take our ease. I have arranged food and entertainment for your pleasure. Tonight, darling Ketmia, you will sample delicacies to make the angels envious.'
'Will Danji be joining us?' she asked. 'Or Rognvald?'
'No, not tonight.' He smiled, his black eyes glinting in the candlelight. 'Tonight, my love, we spend together, you and I.'
Cait felt a quiver of illicit excitement at the implications of his declaration, but suddenly the skin at the nape of her neck crawled. A sensation of dread descended over her, and she felt as if she had just seen a snake. At any
