Iris Johansen - The Treasure

She couldn’t face him. Not yet. “Why?”

“Because I can’t fight it any longer. I don’t want to fight it. I thought I wanted peace, but peace can be very dull.”

“You say that now. But you left me before.”

“Not because I didn’t love you. It was that damnable relentlessness. But over the years I’ve found I’m stronger than I gave myself credit for. I’ve discovered I can do battle with you if necessary.”

“And?”

“Why, I deserve you, Layla. For good or ill, for the rest of our years, I deserve you.”

“That doesn’t sound like a statement of devotion to me. Ill? Do you insult me? Do you think I’d let anything bad-”

“Look at me, Layla. I tire of staring at your back.”

She took a deep breath and turned to face him.

He was smiling at her. He held out his hand.

Joy soared through her. She wanted to run to him.

No, she had always been the aggressor. That had been part of their problem. Compromise. This time he must come to her. “You may be right,” she said unevenly. “There’s a possibility you do deserve me.”

And he took a step toward her.

“YOU’RE BEING VERY STUBBORN.” Selene rolled over on her back and straightened her bodice. “What does it take to convince you that you cannot live without me? I’m sure that I must be as proficient now as any of those women in that house of pleasure where you apprenticed.”

“You concentrate on seduction of the body, not the mind.” Kadar sat up, picked up a blade of grass, and drew it teasingly over her lower lip. “But, by all means, continue.”

She knocked his hand away. “Only because you won’t talk to me.”

“It’s too pleasant a day for discussion. The sky is blue, the sun is bright, and you-”

“The sky was stormy yesterday, and you would not talk then either. It’s been over a month and we’ve done nothing but make love.”

He shook his head. “A terrible waste of time.”

“It is when I wish to-”

His lips covered hers.

She bit him.

He jumped back, and his hand touched his lower lip. “I take it you’re really sincere about this.”

“I want to go back to the villa and have you tell Tarik to give me the potion.”

He shook his head.

Dear God, he was obstinate. She had not expected to have this much trouble convincing him. “You know you’ll do it eventually. I won’t have it any other way.”

“Perhaps.”

“What will it take to convince you?”

“I have to give you time.”

“How much time? A week? A month?” When he didn’t reply, her eyes widened. “A year?”

“Five years should give you a goodly period to consider the consequences.”

“Five-” She vigorously shook her head. “No.”

“Have you thought why you’re so eager to have this done and over? Are you afraid you’ll change your mind?”

“No. I want it over because it will be in contention until it’s done. I don’t want that between us. No more confusion or conflict, Kadar.”

He drew her closer. “I wish I could believe that’s the only reason for-”

“I want to hit you.” She pushed him away and jumped to her feet. “All right, I don’t believe this Eshe is a miracle. But, by heaven, I’m going to take it.” She started down the hill.

“Where are you going?” he called after her.

“Away from you. Go back to the cottage, you stupid man. I don’t want to see you for at least an hour.” She had reached the stand of trees and was enveloped in the shady coolness. She needed that coolness. She was frustrated and annoyed and she saw no way to-

She froze with shock.

No.

Again.

She staggered to a nearby oak tree and leaned against it.

Impossible.

“You weren’t long.” Kadar didn’t look up from the stew he was stirring in the fireplace. “Does that mean I’m forgiven? Or that you’re going to do me bodily-My God, what’s wrong?”

“We’re going back to the villa.”

He was by her side. “You’re pale. Are you ill?”

“No. Yes. I don’t know.” She began to gather her belongings. “We have to go back to the villa.”

“Tell me what’s wrong.”

She shook her head. How could she tell him what she didn’t understand herself? “Just take me to the villa.”

The villa was in turmoil when they reached it a half day later. The courtyard was filled with wagons loaded with boxes and furniture. Heavily laden servants were scurrying to and from the house and the wagons.

“What’s going on?” Kadar murmured as he lifted Selene down from her horse. “It looks as if they’re abandoning the place.”

“Not abandoning.” Tarik walked down the steps toward them. “We’re merely moving on. It’s never wise staying in one place too long. You’ll also find that to be true, Kadar.”

“Where’s Layla?” Selene demanded. “I have to see Layla. Is she still here?”

“Of course. But you caught us just in time.” He turned toward the door and raised his voice. “Layla.”

“In a moment. I cannot-” Layla appeared in the doorway. “Well, it’s about time you returned. We’ve been waiting for weeks.”

“It appears you’re waiting no longer,” Kadar said dryly. “If we’d come tomorrow, the villa would have been deserted.”

“We would have sent word of our location. Vaden is becoming impatient.”

“Vaden?” Kadar asked. “What on earth has Vaden to-”

“Stop it. None of this is important.” Selene stepped forward. “I have to talk to Layla.”

“You don’t look well.” Layla’s gaze was raking Selene’s face. “You’re very pale.”

“I’m with child.”

She could sense Kadar stiffening in shock beside her.

A brilliant smile lit Layla’s face. “Again? What wonderful news. It will be-”

“Not again. I felt life. Thea didn’t feel life until she had reached almost her fourth month. It has to be the same child. I did not lose my baby.”

“What?” Layla asked, stunned.

“You heard me. How could this be? You told me I’d lost the babe.”

“I thought you had. There was bleeding…”

“How much bleeding?”

“Not too much, but you were unconscious and the shock… You should have lost it.” Her eyes widened as a thought occurred to her. “Unless it was-”

“What?” Selene asked as Layla stopped speaking.

“Nothing. What do I know about babies? I’m no midwife. I’ve always tried to stay away from-It hurt too much when I couldn’t conceive myself.”

“Layla,” Tarik said.

Layla glanced warily at him. “I thought you wanted it.”

“Oh, my God,” he whispered.

“Eshe,” Kadar said.

“It was the only time I didn’t offer choice,” Layla said quickly to Tarik. “You’d given it to Kadar, and it was clear you wouldn’t want him to be alone. She loved him.”

“You put it in my wine that first night,” Selene whispered.

Layla’s gaze was still fixed anxiously on Tarik’s face. “I thought you wanted it.”

And obviously that was the only thing of importance in Layla’s world, Selene realized in frustration.

Tarik shook his head. “It mustn’t happen again, Layla. Not without choice.”

“Oh, it won’t,” she said, obviously relieved. “But it’s just as well, don’t you agree?”

“No, I don’t agree,” Kadar said grimly. “You robbed Selene.”

“Of choice.” Layla turned to Selene. “But you should have lost the child. It had to be Eshe that kept it alive.”