first great book in the pile she'd laid on the table.
Moroccan-style brass lamps on the walls were still glowing softly from the night before, and even though the sun was already blazing, the extra light definitely helped illuminate the hushed cathedral dimness of the area. There were several interesting references to Zahir's dynastic family, and what she read kept Gina enthralled for at least a couple of hours. Finally realising the time, she quickly returned the books to the correct shelves and all but fled back down the maze of lofty gilded corridors to the terrace, where she'd breakfast with Jake.
'Morning, Gina…I heard you were hobnobbing with the Sheikh's widowed sister yesterday. What's she like? Is she as striking in appearance as her imposing brother, or did she get the short straw in the looks department?'
'For goodness' sake, Jake, where are your manners? What if Jamal heard you?' Gina looked daggers at her tactless colleague, then anxiously swept her gaze round the terrace to see if Zahir's faithful man was nearby. Thankfully, he wasn't. Only the two girls who served the food stood silently by the sandstone wall, waiting to be of assistance.
Already helping himself to the colourful generous repast that was arranged on the table, Jake returned an unrepentant glance. 'It's only natural that I should be curious. I gather the general consensus in these parts is that she'll never marry again. Something to do with that prophecy that so fascinates you—she was head over heels in love with her husband and won't give her heart to anyone else. Not in this lifetime anyway.'
At this reminder of the prophecy, Gina's own heart seemed to turn over in her chest. It wasn't hard for her to understand Farida's vow, should it be true. If she couldn't be with Zahir then she, too, would probably live out the rest of her days alone.
'Seems a terrible waste, though, doesn't it?'
'What does?'
'I think this place is hypnotising you! You've increasingly got that faraway look in your eyes. It's going to be hard when you return to good old Blighty, isn't it? Back home to the
real
world.'
Falling silent, Gina helped herself to some bread and a few olives. Soon she would have to tell Jake about the extra job Zahir had asked her to do—but not yet. She wanted the chance to complete her presentation on the Heart of Courage first. When Jake's work was also completed, and he was thinking about travelling home, then she would tell him. The man was so ambitious that for all she know he might be funny with her because she'd been asked to undertake the inventory and he hadn't. It definitely wasn't above him to be jealous and petty about her perceived good fortune.
'It is another world here, isn't it?' She forced herself to be sociable and friendly.
'By the way, there's the most bizarre rumour going round that the Sheikh was shot by some rebels the other day when he went to try and make peace with them. He wasn't killed, obviously, just wounded. This place is like some kind of paradise lost, but I still get the feeling that anything could go off at any time, don't you? I didn't see him at all yesterday. Do you think the rumours are true?'
Schooling her expression to stay calm, Gina swallowed some food, then delicately touched her napkin to her lips. 'I don't think we should speculate about it. If it is true then I only hope the poor man is resting and recuperating is he needs to, so that he can heal.'
'I don't like to think we won't be able to finish our presentations if he really is laid up with a gunshot wound. We've both worked hard these past two months. I don't want it all to be for nothing.'
Finally Gina lost patience. Pushing to her feet, she glared at the man, who was dressed in another inappropriately garish shirt this morning. 'Don't you
ever
think about anybody but yourself? The palace has paid for you to travel first class, and we've been waited on hand and foot, as well as receiving a generous advance for our research on
Moroccan-style brass lamps on the walls were still glowing softly from the night before, and even though the sun was already blazing, the extra light definitely helped illuminate the hushed cathedral dimness of the area. There were several interesting references to Zahir's dynastic family, and what she read kept Gina enthralled for at least a couple of hours. Finally realising the time, she quickly returned the books to the correct shelves and all but fled back down the maze of lofty gilded corridors to the terrace, where she'd breakfast with Jake.
'Morning, Gina…I heard you were hobnobbing with the Sheikh's widowed sister yesterday. What's she like? Is she as striking in appearance as her imposing brother, or did she get the short straw in the looks department?'
'For goodness' sake, Jake, where are your manners? What if Jamal heard you?' Gina looked daggers at her tactless colleague, then anxiously swept her gaze round the terrace to see if Zahir's faithful man was nearby. Thankfully, he wasn't. Only the two girls who served the food stood silently by the sandstone wall, waiting to be of assistance.
Already helping himself to the colourful generous repast that was arranged on the table, Jake returned an unrepentant glance. 'It's only natural that I should be curious. I gather the general consensus in these parts is that she'll never marry again. Something to do with that prophecy that so fascinates you—she was head over heels in love with her husband and won't give her heart to anyone else. Not in this lifetime anyway.'
At this reminder of the prophecy, Gina's own heart seemed to turn over in her chest. It wasn't hard for her to understand Farida's vow, should it be true. If she couldn't be with Zahir then she, too, would probably live out the rest of her days alone.
'Seems a terrible waste, though, doesn't it?'
'What does?'
'I think this place is hypnotising you! You've increasingly got that faraway look in your eyes. It's going to be hard when you return to good old Blighty, isn't it? Back home to the
real
world.'
Falling silent, Gina helped herself to some bread and a few olives. Soon she would have to tell Jake about the extra job Zahir had asked her to do—but not yet. She wanted the chance to complete her presentation on the Heart of Courage first. When Jake's work was also completed, and he was thinking about travelling home, then she would tell him. The man was so ambitious that for all she know he might be funny with her because she'd been asked to undertake the inventory and he hadn't. It definitely wasn't above him to be jealous and petty about her perceived good fortune.
'It is another world here, isn't it?' She forced herself to be sociable and friendly.
'By the way, there's the most bizarre rumour going round that the Sheikh was shot by some rebels the other day when he went to try and make peace with them. He wasn't killed, obviously, just wounded. This place is like some kind of paradise lost, but I still get the feeling that anything could go off at any time, don't you? I didn't see him at all yesterday. Do you think the rumours are true?'
Schooling her expression to stay calm, Gina swallowed some food, then delicately touched her napkin to her lips. 'I don't think we should speculate about it. If it is true then I only hope the poor man is resting and recuperating is he needs to, so that he can heal.'
'I don't like to think we won't be able to finish our presentations if he really is laid up with a gunshot wound. We've both worked hard these past two months. I don't want it all to be for nothing.'
Finally Gina lost patience. Pushing to her feet, she glared at the man, who was dressed in another inappropriately garish shirt this morning. 'Don't you
ever
think about anybody but yourself? The palace has paid for you to travel first class, and we've been waited on hand and foot, as well as receiving a generous advance for our research on
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