by Jones, Sarah
The lady crawled into bed and fell facedown, groaning before contact with the blanket soft and pleasant. His eyes were closing slowly and everything started to go quiet, until she fell asleep completely.
Was awake shortly after this, Karida and two more guards, who carried a boiler with warm water. Louise stood up quickly, waiting for the men to withdraw from the room.
— Help the Lady undressing — Karida had, turning Louise back and starting to undo the knot.
When the dress fell at his feet, Louise went to the tub, sighing with the water temperature. Leaned on the railing and relaxed the muscles, grateful to the heavens for his bones are in places, despite the pain in each of its members.
— Should I bring your dinner? — asked Karida, appearing at his side. — You can eat while you bathe.
— I can? — Louise questioned. Would be heaven!
— Of course! I will see right now. — The servant left the room in search of food.
Louise took the time to rub the body, removing the grains of sand that accumulated on your skin and faced with reddish marks on her thighs and breasts, a reminder of the intense moments that had lived with the Sheik.
***
— I've been worried about you. I thought I'd never more — Karida told down tentatively beside the tub, while Louise devoured the pieces of mutton.
— What makes you think that? — the lady asked, innocently eating a piece of bread.
The woman hesitated, looking at the door, fearing that someone would hear.
— I thought that my Lord was taking to another camp, to another man — said, lowering the gaze.
Louise understood her thoughts and mentally admitted that, in fact, at some point, too, come to think of it. I'm glad I was wrong.
— Sheik led me to an oasis, Karida — confided in smiling, and saw the servant frown, confused.
— Never imagined that something like this would happen one day — commented Karida, opening a broad smile.
The lady handed the tray to the servant and decided it was time to dry, the water was already getting cold and that Louise wanted more now was falling asleep in your bed. She went back to discussing the Karida, embarrassed passion marks on his body, but just remembering that possibly there were marks on his buttocks, because the other night had discovered that Said had a wild feeling through that part of their anatomy.
— Can help you with anything else? — Karida offered, beside the bed, helping Louise removing the blankets to lie down.
— I need to ask you something, Karida. — The lady held her hand, preventing it from straying.
— What you wish, Miss.
Louise covered himself up to the shoulders and gazed into the woman, hopeful of getting something more about certain matter.
— You know I'm an archaeologist, right?! I'm looking for lost things, old things, and I came to the desert in search of a Kingdom. When I saw her nod, Louise continued. — What do you know about Al-Delíh, Karida?
The woman was silent, but then shrugged and replied:
— I know what I heard when I was a kid, about the death of all people and the disappearance of the Kingdom in the sands of the desert.
— Karida, you believe that history is real? — Louise did not fail to ask.
— Is just a legend, Miss. Nobody ever found anything to prove otherwise.
The lady nodded. I figured such a response, but needed to know, to hear another person tell you. Now, perhaps, enough to quiet your heart.
***
Three weeks later, on a day especially hot, Louise helped women to organize dozens of pillows scattered around the House, especially in the living room of the meals, where the lady indicated some changes, removing most of the carpets of the wall, which left the stuffy place. Women accepted the help of Louise with enthusiasm, excited about the idea of changing some things in the Palace. Two days ago they had cleaned the kitchen and decided that only would prepare the food in there; the meat of the animals would be prepared on the outside.
It was remarkable the lady, who seemed determined and happy to guide all those women, often learning things they never would have known if he was still in England. The truth was that, with each passing day, was becoming more and more similar to people, recognizing that culture as his.
Said was pleased with his work and often the compliment, saying that excited to see her like that, wandering through the Palace by issuing orders, as if it was she whom all should obey. Scared, lady challenge how he could turn something so strange. The Sheik, fun, led Louise, in broad daylight, until the exhibition where, to undress her and kiss her from head to toe, giving you as much pleasure as could ever be said, allowed her to drive the pace.
He gave himself shamelessly the touch still ashamed of Louise, which just goingaround your penis with small hand, teasing him, while his dark eyes arrested. Then the lady understood what he meant when he talked about excite to think about her by issuing orders. Oh, Yes, she could do that. It was so easy and the left ear of the Sheik order rapt to follow the movements of your hand and, seeing him so close to release, push it against the wall, to crouch and take it between the breasts, as he himself had said you want.
After washing, the Sheik to kiss gently, whispering in his ear how much she had left happy, promising that soon would reward.
— What do I do with those that remained, Miss? — one of the women asked, holding the pads under the arms.
— Take the embroidery room. We can restore them. — It was clear that the pads were not exchanged for a long time, indicating the lack of a female presence. Well, now Louise was there and didn't seem that Said it would care for the change of simple pillows.
Another reality that Louise liked was being able to now use freely, not only through the Palace, but also by the camp, where I was going every day visit the woman who had a baby recently. The lady spent some time talking to the mother, as would the baby in her arms, remembering that I already had done a month that saw him come into the world. Pleased you feel the warmth of the body fell asleep against his, while passing his hand by abundant hair of dark color, which seemed so thin as a shame. Other women also went to the tent offering tea and fruits, all cheerful and willing to know more about the lady. Was evident that everybody there knew exactly Louise who she was and what had happened. And what was amazing was that now the accepted and treated her like one of them.
Needed to confess, with great pride, that it had acquired a lot of knowledge about how to care for a tent, something that never, in his entire life living in England, could imagine. I knew, even with some difficulty, as Flay a lamb and prepare the meat, besides making the hummus, a kind of very unappetizing folder made with grains. Yes, I was becoming a real woman Arabic, while interested, of course, by history and by archaeology, something that was in his soul. I was thinking to start making some notes, some kind of research on the life in the desert, only to her, maybe a journal. Said would never have to know that.
— Miss? — Samuel called, standing in front of you.
Louise, distracted, looked at it and noticed the frightened servant.
— Sheik expects to miss in the throne room.
The lady left a cushion in the hands of Samuel and went into the corridor, wondering what could have made Said call her at that time of day. Oh, no, no! If he wanted to make love at that moment, simply deny. Would linger in his work and, even though he tried to seduce her with your kisses, I would never give. The same happened a week ago, when he took to the garden from the source, saying that he wished only to have your company. With a small kiss in your mouth and your hand on your waist, had managed to put her on the floor, leaving her naked on his clothes, while slid his Dick between her breasts, using then its excellent oral skills to satisfy her. Afraid to be seen, Louise join the clothes and attempted to dress up, staggered in front of hungry look of Said, who smiled from ear to ear.
Louise stopped in front of the guards at the entrance and saw him inside the compound, Said, standing with hi
s back to her.
— You sent for me? I warn you that if you try to seduce me, I will bite you or, who knows, yelling — spoke, idly by, trying to sound angry.
When Said turned to her, Louise noticed something different about him. There was a shadow under his face, his lips pursed, serious look. A few times he had seen, as when he saved or when returned from execution of Aban.
— What happened? — asked, approaching.
The Sheik put his hand in front of her, preventing her from getting closer.
— There's someone I want to see her, Louise — he explained, sighing.
— Who? — Your heart was sore against his chest, and she felt his legs go limp when he heard a voice behind her, coming from the entrance.
— Am I, Louise.
The whole body was paralysed by recognizing that voice. His eyes were the face of Said, that was no longer expression. Louise met all the courage to turn, faced with a mustache and gray hair, wearing brown clothes, leaning on a cane.
— Father? — asked, his voice sounding weak.
Chapeter Twenty-Nine
It seemed an eternity when Louise stood still, looking at her father, standing in front of her, with the same imposing attitude she remembered.
- Why are you here? She asked, not sure if she wanted to hear the answer.
Before he answered, a man appeared at the door, walking gracefully to the right side of Louise's father.
"I can hardly believe I'm seeing you again, my dear. It was Christopher, with open arms, smiling at her.
Louise's eyes widened, unable to believe he really was there. Oh, he was not dead, he had managed to escape. She fought the urge to go to him and hug him, to say that she was happy to see him and to ask his forgiveness for everything that had happened.
"I'm here to take you back, my daughter," Lord Neville, Louise's father, said, going to her daughter. He stopped in front of her and looked her up from head to toe, probably astonished to see her dressed in those improper clothes.
The lady shrugged, looking away, and she wrapped her arms around him in a hug, a little too fast for the situation.
"I thought you were dead, Louise," he said, sending an indifferent glance at Said, who was still standing next to the lady like a rabid dog.
"We all think so," Christopher said, wiping his face with his handkerchief from his pocket. Near his eye was a deep scar, still reddish, possibly caused during the attack.
Said's gaze fell on the good-looking man who, it seemed, was the man Louise had been worried about, stating that he was alive after the attack. She was right then. But the Sheik, with his good insight and judgment, at the first contact, was sure that he would not have any kind of admiration for that man. In fact, he did not like the way he looked at Louise, probably fascinated by the curves exposed by the thin skirt.
As a silent warning, he took a step closer to Louise, making sure it was enough for the man, who resembled a dromedary, to understand the circumstances.
Lord Neville took his daughter's hand and took a deep breath, bringing her to his side, away from the Sheik.
"How did you know I was here?" Louise asked, frowning, in doubt about how her father had come so fast.
The old man walked across the room, admiring the large rugs on the wall, all embroidered in gold. Louise noticed how he was worn out by the trip, forcing his weight on his cane, his body looking more fragile than she remembered.
"Christopher contacted me, informing me of the attack, the death of all and your disappearance. He glanced quickly at Said, just to make him aware that he was talking about him. "I have decided that even if you do not deserve it, I should come here to get you."
"I do not understand how you managed to escape, Christopher. I saw you being dragged by the robbers, and they had no mercy with Will and Joshua. How did you do it? "It did not make sense. Said himself had said that no one would remain alive to tell what had happened, the robbers did not hesitate to kill.
The man shrugged, lowering his head in excitement.
- I was lucky. They took me to the city with some purpose… I do not know, but it was there that I escaped, taking refuge in the tents. Two days later, I decided to send a letter to your father, telling him everything that had happened. I waited for him, asking heaven for you to be well. While I was in town, I heard rumors that Hamed's Sheikh had killed some robbers in a camp, and I soon figured you might be here" he said, eyeing Said with a corner of his eye.
Louise did not know what to say. Christopher didn’t die and never left the desert. So when she had tried all those times to flee to the city, if she had, she would have found Christopher.
Shee glanced at Said, nervous at his reaction. He was silent, which was not common in such extreme situations. Louise feared that he was planning something, not exactly against her father, but against Christopher, given the caustic look that the Sheik addressed him.
"I think you're tired, Dad. I can take you to a room to rest" she suggested, hoping to get him out, to talk to each other alone "I imagine it was a long trip.”
The old man did not seem to have the same opinion, for he pointed his cane at his daughter, as if he were condemning her for some crime.
"I do not want to stay in this place any more than I need." I'm only here to take you back to England, Louise. This is my only wish. I'm accustomed to the weather of such a trip" he snapped.
Louise felt her sweaty hands on the edge of a fit of nerves.
"She's not going anywhere" Said's voice rumbled into the silent room, drawing everyone's attention to him.
- What are you saying? Christopher stepped toward the Sheikh, hands clenched, ready to attack him. Louise ran, standing in front of Said, preventing her friend from getting closer. "She's not a prisoner here."
Said wanted to laugh and tell him what was going on there, what Louise really was in his kingdom, its importance to him. But he did not care for the dandy who looked like a dromedary, but with Louise's father, who looked like a man determined to take his daughter back. Well, he would not allow it.
"I need you to let them stay at the palace tonight, please" Louise said, touching his arm. He saw the sadness in her eyes, and wished he could comfort her at that very moment, wrapping her in his arms.
"They can stay at the camp," he said, looking over her shoulder, avoiding looking at her.
Louise would not discuss this and even understand his position. She did not expect another reaction from the powerful Sheik.
With a frightening calm, the lady went to her father, persuading him to accompany her, assuring her that as soon as they were alone they would talk about all that was necessary. The old man, even annoyed, agreed to move on to the camp, out of Sheikh's palace. Christopher followed behind, curious about everything, especially regarding the ceramics and gold pieces in the hallway.
"Let me help you, Father," Louise offered, clutching the old man's shoulder.
The villagers looked at them suspiciously, as the lady led the two men to an available tent, farther from the people, where anyone else could take advantage of it, to relax. She indicated the cushion seats on the floor and ran outside, looking for someone to serve them food. When she returned, she found Christopher lying down, his hat at his side, sleeping soundly. His father was seated further away, still holding his cane, as if it were powerful weapon.
"They'll get the food soon," she said, sitting tentatively beside him.
Lord Neville did not look at her and said nothing either. The daughter was holding her head down, waiting for the endless complaints her father would make. But he did not and seemed very focused on anything but her.
Annoyed by the silence, Louise decided to explain some very important points.
"Sheikh saved me" she said softly. "He killed the robbers before they could do the same to me."
The old man did not move.
"He kept you stuck here."
The lady prepared to deny it vehemently, but it was the truth, and even if she tried to lie, it would no
t seem right.
"I'm not a prisoner here, Father. I have learned many things in this place, and all are very kind to me" she countered anxiously.
Lord Neville turned his face to her in an uneasy calm.
- What are you saying? You do not belong here; your house is England. Possibly this people have made it see everything out of reality.
"Father ..." she began, almost despairing.
"I want you to let me rest for a few moments," he interrupted, standing up.
Silently, Louise stood up and walked past him, leaving the tent without looking back.
***
"Dad, there's something I need to tell you," she began, standing in front of him.
The old man looked at Christopher, a clear warning that he should withdraw. The man stood up smiling, saying that he would seize the moment to explore the camp.
When they were alone, Louise sat down beside her father and took several breaths, searching for the courage that had brought her there.
"I can not go back to England, Father," she said suddenly, her eyes wide.
Lord Neville assessed the daughter's expression, and then, with a calm that made her mad, he proposed to answer:
"I suppose the reason is the man," he suggested.
Louise bit her lip and, with a flushed cheek, nodded.
- Yes, he is.
The man reflected for a moment, visibly unhappy.
"I thought he had made you his prisoner in this palace, Louise.
"At first, he did" she admitted, his chin high, haughty."And I fought with all my might to run away, to leave this place behind."
"But you could not," said his father.
"There was one opportunity, I could have left. But I chose to stay" she said, her lip quivering with excitement. - I stayed for him, Dad. I have chosen to remain here of my own free will.
"Has he ever mistreated you?" Asked Lord Neville.
Louise denied it.
"Often, we disagree, our temperaments are very different. But over time I discovered his goodness and loyalty. Sheikh is a good man, father" she said, feeling her chest burn with that wonderful feeling she had for him.