Master of the Desert(14)

The second-most astonishing sight, Antonia amended, remembering the moment a sexy brigand had confronted her on board his yacht.

She must forget Saif, Antonia told herself firmly, staring at the palace  again. She had work to do, and must devote herself to that. The hotel  housekeeper had explained that the palace she could see was now called  the Ra'id al Maktabi palace, after their new leader. The woman had  excitedly gone on to confide that Ra'id al Maktabi's stated aim was to  bring Sinnebar into the twenty-first century, which included equal  rights for women for the first time in the country's history.

Antonia hadn't failed to notice how the woman's face had lit up when she  spoke of the ruling sheikh, and had gathered that the hopes of the  people were invested in their new leader. No wonder Saif had been  offended when she had teased him about his sheikh. She understood now  that Ra'id al Maktabi was looked upon as the saviour of his country.

Before he could deal with the Helena problem, he wanted to make sure  that arrangements for the girl's safe passage home had been made. The  sooner she went, the better. Reports on her progress were brought to him  daily, which made it impossible to close that chapter until she was  gone.

He rang his secretary to check that everything was in place, and, having  been reassured that all the travel details were in order, he was  reminded of an appointment that evening, a charity event he must attend.  It was an event in the old style with no women present. He was in the  process of putting an end to this segregation of the sexes, before any  more good brains were wasted-a thought that immediately brought a  flashback of a very determined young woman. What would Tuesday make of  an event where she wouldn't be allowed past the door?

There was a smile on his lips as he shook his head at the thought of her  reaction, but the event was for charity, and had been organised during  his father's reign, so he would make time for it. Whatever his personal  feelings, he could put up with one more evening of wall-to-wall men.  When he returned from the event he would set about reclaiming the land  that had been stolen from his people, and would be relentless in his  pursuit of the missing heir.

She wasn't going to waste a second regretting things that couldn't be  changed, Antonia decided as she came in from the balcony to her  sumptuous hotel room. Everything was so beautiful in Sinnebar; how could  she not be filled with a sense of optimism? And what else could life  throw at her? She had to be over the worst now.

In fact, she was feeling quite positive, if only because this evening  had provided her with an unexpected chance to put her plans for the  charity into action. Her official appointment at the palace wasn't for  three weeks yet, and she had intended to use that time to travel the  country and learn more about the people. But fate had presented her with  an unrepeatable opportunity to get a preview of the movers and shakers  in Sinnebar. The moment the girl at the reception desk in the hotel had  told her there was going to be a charity event that evening in the hotel  ballroom, Antonia knew she must be there. She didn't have an  invitation, because no one knew she was in the country yet, but there  was nothing to stop her slipping into the crowded ballroom and mingling.  At least she had to try. All the local officials were expected to  attend, including the ruling sheikh.

The ruling sheikh!

The thought of seeing him both terrified and excited her. The Sword of  Vengeance-who wouldn't be excited? And her heart rate soared to think  that Saif might be there too. If he was a close supporter of the sheikh,  surely there was a very good chance?                       
       
           



       

Society events were second nature to her, thanks to her brother's  high-powered life. She would blend in and get to know as many people as  she could, taking the first steps towards making her dream of becoming  an effective member of Rigo's charity team a reality. At last here was  something she understood and couldn't make a mess of.

There was a shopping mall at the hotel where Antonia found everything  she would need for the evening ahead. She chose a simple silk gown in  apricot silk and teamed it with a pair of flesh-coloured high-heeled  sandals, and a beaded clutch bag in the same soft shade. The girl in the  hairdresser's suggested a fresh orchid to pin in her hair as a  finishing touch.

Understated and discreet, Antonia thought as she took a twirl in front  of the mirror in her room. The gown had a floating chiffon throw to  cover her arms, and her back was covered too, so the dress was modest.  It was a dream of a dress, she thought happily as she left the room,  with nothing about it that could offend in this most conservative of  desert kingdoms. No wonder she felt so optimistic about the evening  ahead.

CHAPTER EIGHT

IT WAS an all-male gathering, which was definitely not what Antonia had  bargained for. She was rocked back on her heels and hesitated outside  the ornately carved double doors. She quickly gathered, from the glances  she was attracting from the security guards, that she would not be  welcome inside the ballroom. But they couldn't stop her peeping inside  the room. It was an exclusive occasion, judging by the number of ribbons  and orders worn by the robed men already seated at the beautifully  dressed tables. Crystal glass and silver cutlery glittered in the muted  candlelight, and there was a buzz of anticipation in the hall, but  absolutely no chance to slip in unnoticed as she had hoped. She would  stick out like a sore thumb as the only woman present.

This was definitely not a suitable forum in which to lobby support for  her plan, Antonia concluded. She had no option but to wait another three  weeks for her official appointment. But, as she drew back in  disappointment from the door, her heart wouldn't allow her to leave.  What if Saif was coming? What if he was already here? What if she could  see him one last time?

She couldn't leave, so she came up with a risky plan. She would try to  get in at the back of the ballroom, where she could see some steps  leading up to a mezzanine area. She would be able to see everything from  there.

Including the man who sat on the sapphire throne …

Antonia's gaze lingered. She'd seen images of Sheikh Ra'id's sapphire  throne on the Internet, but nothing could have prepared her for the  actual brilliance of the gold, or the lustre of the royal-blue sapphires  with which it was so lavishly studded. Just thinking about the man who  would occupy this legendary seat of power sent a shiver down her spine.  You crossed the ruling Sheikh of Sinnebar at your peril, she had heard.

Dragging her gaze away from the blazing splendour of this formidable  leader's throne, she crossed the lobby and slipped out of the building.  Skirting the perimeter until she found a side entrance, she waited until  the security guards were briefly distracted and then slipped inside  through the staff entrance. Shoes in hand, she pelted up the back  stairs, feeling certain her heart would explode with guilty fear.

Fortunately, the door to the mezzanine level was unlocked.

More tables had been set out for dinner on this upper level, for less  important folk, she guessed. Taking quick stock of the situation, she  decided if she hid behind a pillar no one would see her, while she could  see everything that was happening below. This was her chance to weigh  up the type of people she would be dealing with for the charity, and  even the slimmest chance of seeing Saif made it worth the risk. The  thought of seeing him and the fearsome Sword of Vengeance all in the  same day made her heart thunder.

Taking a moment to calm down, she studied her surroundings carefully.  She was at eye level with the royal standard, which was suspended behind  the jewelled throne. That image made her heart leap when she remembered  the last time she had seen it had been on Saif's naked chest. That was  all the prompt she needed to begin scouring the rows of tables in search  of him.

He wasn't there. She didn't really need to look to know, her heart would  have told her if Saif had been close by. She was still trembling with  emotion and disappointment when a noise like a wave breaking on the  shore swept over the vast auditorium. As everyone rose to their feet,  Antonia held her breath, realising the ruling sheikh was about to enter.                       
       
           



       

There was a peal of trumpets and then a procession began. A group of  older men all dressed in elegant ivory robes walked proudly down the  broad aisle between the tables. As all the other men bowed low to them,  she realised that each of them must be a king in his own right, which  was a reminder of the power their sheikh wielded.

As this group fanned out to take their places around their leader's  throne, Antonia strained forward, still hoping for a glimpse of Saif.  Once again, she was disappointed. He definitely wasn't amongst Ra'id al  Maktabi's attendants-and probably wasn't even a member of the court, she  thought, angry with herself for allowing her imagination to run away  with her. There was certainly no one to compare with Saif here.