“I’ve drunk enough coffee while waiting for you.”
“I bet you don’t have to wait around for people very often.”
“Indeed. But as you refused my invitation to come to the palace, I had no choice.” He stepped closer to her, his head tilted to one side as if to see her better.
“The King who has no choice. Nothing much changes, does it?” She couldn’t prevent the bitterness at his rejection from inflecting her words.
He narrowed his eyes briefly. “It seems you give me few. Perhaps I should even up the score and refine your choices.”
Lucy bit her lip in a vain attempt to stop it trembling. “And how do you propose to do that?”
“I want you at the palace tonight.”
She shook her head. “No, I can’t. There’s no point, Razeen. It’s over. I’m only here for a short—”
“You misunderstand. There’s to be a reception at the palace to mark the progress the clinic has made in six months of operation. That clinic is down to you, Lucy. You’ve made a difference. You should be there.”
She turned away, embarrassed at her assumption that his visit had been personal. Of course it wasn’t. This was Razeen after all.
“In that case, I’ll come.”
“Good. I’ll have someone call for you at seven.” He turned to leave but paused and turned back to face her once more. “You will be there, won’t you? You won’t disappear again.”
“I’ve only just arrived.”
“That means little. You come and go as you please with no thought to your responsibilities.”
“I have none.”
“And that’s the way you like it, isn’t it? I understand you’ve kept in contact with the clinic and they offered you a position with them.”
“Yep, that’s right.”
“And you turned it down.”
“Yes, of course. If you accept a job like that you have to commit to it.”
“And commitment isn’t something you do well, is it? Why is that, I wonder?”
“That’s personal.” Suddenly the room felt airless; she couldn’t breathe. Razeen was coming closer and closer to that knot at the centre of things that, so many years ago, she’d bundled up and drawn shutters around to protect herself. She knew why she didn’t do commitment, Maia knew why she didn’t do commitment, but no one else must know. She couldn’t risk unleashing the pain that still surged and flowed within the concrete tomb of her heart.
“And you can’t bear to talk about the ‘personal’, can you, Lucy?” His voice rose suddenly, frustration evident in every syllable.
She waved her hand impatiently and walked over to the windows which she shoved open to their fullest extent, desperate to see the sea. But it was dark now and she couldn’t see it. Her panic grew and she turned to find Razeen close beside her. “Leave it, Razeen. Please. I don’t want to talk about it now.”
He pushed her hair away from her face, distractedly watching it fall down her back. “I don’t know what you’re hiding from me, Lucy. But I’ll find out.”
The gentle touch of his hand and whispered words made the threat of discovery even more menacing. It was strange to stand so close to someone, to feel so much for someone, and yet have such a wide chasm exist between them. They stood facing each other, each of them breathing hard. Lucy didn’t know if Razeen was going to kiss her or shout at her.
Suddenly there was a sharp rap at the door.
“Enter!”
A palace official entered the room. Razeen glared at him.
“What do you want? Can’t you see I’m busy?”
The assistant appeared uncomfortable. Your Majesty, it is not for you I am here. It is Miss Gee.” He turned to her. “Miss Gee, your brother-in-law says you are to come at once. Your sister has been admitted to the emergency ward in the hospital. There’s a problem.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
Lucy’s heart was thumping high in her chest, as she shakily grabbed her bag and strode over to the man. “What kind of problem?”
“I’m sorry, I don’t know the details. I have a car outside.” The man looked up at Razeen for approval. “If that’s suitable, Your Majesty?”
“I’ll take Miss Gee.” Razeen turned round. “Lucy?”
But she was already running down the stairs.
The white walls of the brand-new hospital were easily visible against the vast darkness of the desert. Razeen had assured Lucy the hospital was state of the art and staffed with well-qualified doctors, and that Maia would have the best care possible, but Lucy hardly listened. She was consumed by an overpowering sense of anger and frustration that Maia had stayed in the city of caves until her due date without having had regular check-ups. She was full of resentment that Mohammed had seduced Maia away from her life and hadn’t cared for her properly. The compass moved on her chest and she grasped it and closed her eyes. Instantly the anger fell away leaving only the terror that Maia would leave her.