Touch the Horizon (4 page)

Billie’s eyes widened with admiration as she was led down a long hall that contained a multitude of arches and tiny alcoves where Eastern carpets in rich, jewellike colors lay on gleaming mosaic tiles. Filigreed Moorish lamps hung here and there on long brass chains, softly lighting the magnificent paintings on the walls of the alcoves. The collection evidently included everything from the old masters to the most brilliant of the contemporary school. There was even a glowing island landscape by Rubinoff, she noted admiringly.

Yasmin opened the delicately carved cream-colored doors and preceded Billie into the suite. “I think you’ll be comfortable here,” she said. “The bathing chamber and dressing room are through there.” She gestured toward an arched doorway hung with a diaphanous white net curtain. “Naturally, everything you require will be provided.”

“Naturally.” Billie wrinkled her nose impishly. “Where have you hidden Aladdin’s lamp for me to rub?” She glanced blissfully at the wide ottoman bed hung with amber silken curtains, at the table inlaid with mother of pearl that stood beside the monster of a bed, then looked at the white filigree doors that must lead to her own private patio. “On second thought, I don’t believe I need it. Glory, what a
sinfully
gorgeous room.”

There was a trace of amusement in Yasmin’s smile. “I am happy it pleases you, because I’m not certain, but I don’t think we have Aladdin’s lamp on hand.”

“No matter,” Billie said breezily. “The only thing I need now is a bath and a change of clothes. I won’t even ask for minstrels or acrobats to keep me amused.”

“I think we can fill your needs.” Yasmin said. A frown suddenly darkened her face. “Though there may be difficulty finding a garment suitable for dinner.” Her gaze went over Billie’s slender figure, which had a fragility belied by the crackling vitality emanating from it. “You’re quite slim, aren’t you?”

“That’s putting it kindly,” Billie said glumly. “I’ve got less shape than Twiggy did in the 1960s.” She gazed wistfully at Yasmin’s full bodice. “No bazooms. Every woman in the world has great bazooms but me.”

“Bazooms?” Yasmin’s forehead wrinkled in puzzlement. “I don’t know the word.”

“Never mind. It’s an American colloquialism,” Billie told her. “You don’t need me to mess up your English. It’s quite beautiful. Where did you learn it?”

“I have been in Karim Ben Raschid’s household since I was a child of ten,” Yasmin said. “It was required that everyone entering his service learn English immediately and that we all attend school until we had at least the equivalent of your secondary education. Sheikh Ben Raschid would never tolerate ignorance around him.”

“Ah, an enlightened monarch,” Billie said. “Is it too much to hope he also believes in women’s liberation?”

Yasmin’s dark eyes danced. “Only on a general, not a personal, level,” she answered demurely. “It is much, considering who he is.” She turned away, moving with her unhurried grace. “If you’ll be so kind as to run your own bath, I will see about finding you a dress that may be suitable.”

“It will be a terrible strain, but I guess I can manage,” Billie said lightly, already pulling the tunic over her head and receiving another shower of sand in the process.

Fifteen minutes later she was ensconced in a huge sunken tub tiled in an exotic cream-and-rose mosaic. She rinsed the last of the shampoo from her hair and leaned back against the tub enclosure. She shut her eyes and sighed in contentment. Lord, it felt wonderful to be clean again. It was odd that no matter what trouble one faced, the simple, primitive things in life always made the burden lighter. A bath, a hot meal, a warm fire, a bit of music.

Music. She felt a swift surge of pain as she remembered her shattered guitar. God, that had hurt. She hadn’t been that upset about anything for a long, long time. It had been awfully dumb to let it get to her so much. After all, she wasn’t a kid anymore. She’d felt like a child, though, and she’d welcomed David Bradford’s understanding and warmth as if she were a heartbroken baby. His understanding hadn’t completely healed the hurt, but it had helped. Great heavens, how it had helped.

How strange was the magic he could weave about her. She’d been off balance and on the defensive since the moment she’d encountered him. Why, when he was perhaps the least intimidating man she’d ever met? Why did he make her feel so threatened? Her reaction was as crazy as everything else connected with David Bradford.

It didn’t really matter. She’d be gone from here in another few days, and in a month he would be only a memory.

“Mr. Donahue has sent word he will be here to escort you to the library for cocktails in forty-five minutes.” Billie opened her eyes to see Yasmin standing by the sunken tub, a large white bath sheet in her hands and a slight smile on her face. “Lisan has gone to the mechanic’s quarters to see to the disposition of your automobile, but will be pleased to join you later for dinner. He has asked that I attend you personally rather than delegate a maid. Will that be satisfactory?”

Billie stood up and ascended the three marble steps, feeling a little embarrassed as she was wrapped gently in the sheet. “Look. I don’t need anyone to ‘attend’ me. I wouldn’t know what to do with a maid if I had one. All this Mideastern splendor is making me feel as if I’m being groomed for a harem girl. I’m sure you have something better to do than help me dress.” She grinned mischievously. “I’ve been doing that just fine since I was three.”

Yasmin cast a disparaging glance at the jeans and tunic Billie had tossed carelessly on the velvet stool of the vanity. “I’m sure you have, Miss Callahan,” she said with polite determination. “But there’s always room for improvement. Why don’t you let me try?” She was pushing Billie through the diaphanous curtain into the main chamber. “I will make you beautiful for Lisan.” Her eyes were narrowed as they ran critically over Billie’s slim, towel-draped form. “You are very graceful.” She tilted her head consideringly. “You aren’t as womanly as the
kadines
Lisan usually favors, but he must find you to his taste. We will do what we can.”

“Thank you,” Billie said ironically. She’d been joking when she’d made that quip about being a candidate for a harem, but suddenly she felt exactly that way. She had found Yasmin very likable before, but now there was an element of steely obstinacy beneath that gentle courtesy. “I appreciate the fact that you’re willing to make the effort, but you seem to have the wrong idea about Mr. Bradford and me. I’m just a temporary houseguest while my Jeep is being fixed. Nothing else. Understand?”

“If you say so.” Yasmin answered serenely as she crossed to the bed and picked up a gleaming short dress of white lamé. “I think you’ll find this dress adequate. It was left by one of Lisan’s
kadines
. Miss Nazare was far more voluptuous, as I said, but this is a shift, and it will not matter too much. It is silk-lined, so the lack of undergarments will not be uncomfortable.”

“Miss Nazare? Who is she?”

“No one important,” Yasmin answered absently, still appraising the dress critically. “Just one of the
kadines
the shiekh flew in for Lisan’s pleasure last month.”

“
Kadine?
That’s some glorified Mideastern call girl, isn’t it?” Billie asked. Why was she feeling this sudden twinge of pain as she looked at the luscious scrap of lamé? What did it matter to her if Bradford had a hundred women to warm his bed? The man was nothing to her.

“You don’t object to wearing such a woman’s clothing?” Yasmin’s brow knitted and her voice was earnest. “You must understand that in Sedikhan there is nothing degrading about the profession of
kadine
. These women choose their profession because it is a way to riches and even political power. It is a little like the Japanese geisha. Lisan would never use a woman unless she was willing and joyous in her giving. It is not his way.”

“And does Karim Ben Raschid often import
kadines
for Mr. Bradford’s pleasure?” She could have bitten her tongue. That was certainly none of her business, and she had absolutely no interest in the answer.

“Of course. Lisan is a very virile man, and the sheikh wishes him to be happy here at Zalandan.” Her smile was indulgent as she removed the towel from Billie and slipped the dress over her head. “Sometimes I think Sheikh Karim and his grandson act like small children competing for a favorite toy. They’re both constantly trying to think up attractions that will keep Lisan with them.” She shrugged. “But then, we’re all like that about Lisan.” She took a step back and smiled with satisfaction. “Yes, that is very lovely on you. You mustn’t worry, he won’t even remember who wore it last. Miss Nazare was nothing to him.”

“I’m not worried,” Billie said with exasperation. “I wouldn’t care if his little
kadine
was the love of his life. He may be the fair-haired boy around here, but he’s nothing but a chance acquaintance to me. Why won’t you understand that?”

“Do not upset yourself.” Yasmin’s voice was soothing as she hustled Billie to an inlaid vanity and pushed her down gently on the amber-cushioned vanity bench. “If you feel nothing now, it will come. Soon you will be willing to give Lisan everything he wants from you.”

“What he wants? Look, I told you we’re practically strangers. He’s just playing the good Samaritan. The only thing he’s going to want from me is a thank you and a fare-thee-well.” She could see by the passivity of the other woman’s face that she just wasn’t getting through. “I’m
not
one of his
kadines
!”

“I know that.” Yasmin said composedly. “But Lisan wants you, and that is all that’s important. He has a very special feeling for you or he wouldn’t have asked me to care for you. He has never made such a request before.” She picked up the portable hair dryer from the vanity. “Now. I will dry those pretty curls so that Lisan will look at you with pleasure.” And the roar of the dryer cut Billie off in mid-protest.

The Sedikhan woman was obviously going to be as impossible to shift from her position as a tank, and Billie finally gave up the struggle and let her have her way. Thirty minutes later her copper hair was tumbling down her back in a cascade of stylishly careless curls, her features delicately accented with an artistry that would have done justice to an expert at Elizabeth Arden’s. Billie gazed at her reflection in the mirror with a degree of surprise.

The white lamé shift was amazingly flattering on her. On its original owner it had probably been a subtle provocation, but on her own slight body it was like a delicate glittering icicle against the fiery vitality of her hair and the smooth, golden tan of her skin. Her bare shoulders looked positively alluring beneath the slender spaghetti straps. The dress reminded her vaguely of one of the flapper outfits of the roaring twenties. The matching high-heeled slides were a little big on her, but not too bad. David Bradford’s
kadine
probably even had voluptuously beautiful feet, she thought crossly.

“It is fine,” Yasmin said, spraying her lightly with a scent that was hauntingly floral. “I would have done better if we’d had more time, but it will have to do. Mr. Donahue will be here in just a moment.”

“I’m glad you’re satisfied.” Billie sighed. “I feel a little like a turkey that’s been stuffed for Thanksgiving dinner.”

“I have heard of your Thanksgiving turkey,” Yasmin said with a smile. “Last year the sheikh had a complete authentic Thanksgiving dinner flown here from a fine hotel in New York as a surprise for Lisan. It made him very happy.”

And, of course, that was the name of the game around here. It seemed that Yasmin’s precious Lisan had only to lift a wistful eyebrow and everyone fell all over himself to give him whatever his heart desired. Well, she wasn’t an expensive
kadine
or a Thanksgiving turkey, and she wasn’t about to be gift-wrapped and presented to the golden prince of the desert.

Suddenly she chuckled as she realized she’d already been elaborately gift-wrapped, indeed, by the slavishly devoted Yasmin. It was all a little amusing, come to think of it, and there was no reason for her to come unglued about something so trivial.

“And I’m sure that fact sent the entire household into raptures,” she said lightly. A discreet knock sounded, and she gestured for Yasmin to stay where she was. “I’ll get it. I assume that’s the grim Mr. Donahue, who will take me to the equally grim Sheikh Karim.” She moved swiftly toward the door. “It’s shaping up to be a really fun evening.” She glanced over her shoulder as her hand closed on the knob of the door. “By the way, your Mr. Bradford said Lisan was a Sedikhan nickname. What does it mean?”

“A nickname?” Yasmin’s smile was glowingly tender. “I suppose you might call it that.” she said softly. “It means ‘the beloved.’”

“You appear very thoughtful, Miss Callahan,” Clancy Donahue observed as he altered his long-legged stride to match her shorter steps. They had crossed a bewildering maze of corridors in virtual silence, and now his cool blue eyes held a hint of curiosity.

“Do I?” Billie asked lightly, darting him a rueful glance. “Now, I wonder why I would have anything to think about? I’ve only been dropped into the middle of an armed fortress with security forces, royal heads of state, and mysterious allusions to death and mayhem. In addition, I have a feeling I’ve just been selected by Yasmin to honor the bed of an impossibly eccentric man who seems to be worshiped as some kind of god.” She shook her head wonderingly. “Whoever heard of anyone’s being called ‘the beloved.’”

Donahue’s hard face softened with a smile of amusement. “Yasmin told you about that? David’s not going to be at all pleased. That little sobriquet embarrasses the hell out of him.” The smile faded, and the keen eyes once more became guarded. “However, it’s just as well you’ve been made aware of how everyone in Sedikhan feels about David. You’re wrong about his being worshiped by the people here in Zalandan, but they do love him.” His lips tightened. “And you can see David is protected by both Karim and Alex Ben Raschid, the two most powerful men in the Middle East. They’re both very ruthless men, Miss Callahan, and David is very special in their eyes. Should I tell you what would happen to anyone who tried to harm him?”