Page 21 of The Treasure
"Don't try to escape," Balkir warned Selene. "You will say your piece to the man and then go back to your cabin."
"Do you think I want to see him hurt?" Selene clutched the rail to keep from swaying. Sweet Mary, her head throbbed. "It would help if you'd try to keep from looking as if you're about to throttle me."
"Here they come," Murad said.
Her gaze followed his to see Haroun frowning with concern as he scampered behind Kadar up the gangplank.
She forced a smile as she took a step forward. "Thank you for coming, Haroun. I know you'll see that this note gets safely to Lord Ware."
"You should not be here, Lady Selene," he whispered, shooting a frightened glance at Balkir. "Come back with me. Lady Thea won't like this."
"I'm sure Kadar explained everything to you. I must go with him. Don't worry, he'll take good care of me."
"She'll be safe." Kadar took her arm. He ignored her immediate stiffening as he added, "Tell Lord Ware he has my word on it."
Haroun nodded jerkily. "I know he values your word. But Lady Thea will not--"
"You'll have to hurry," Selene interrupted. "We sail soon." She handed him the note and brushed her lips across his cheek. "Go with God, Haroun."
He gave her one last agonized glance, then turned and ran down the gangplank.
Her breath expelled in a burst of relief. It was done.
"You did very well," Kadar murmured.
She shook off his grasp and stepped back. "Now, let's put to sea before Ware has a chance to ride here and try to change my mind."
"I captain this ship," Balkir said testily. "No woman tells me when to sail."
"You'd rather have to fight a battle? It doesn't surprise me. I've noticed you have the brain of a--"
"Hush." Kadar scooped her up in his arms and started down the deck toward the cabin.
"Put me down."
"When I have you safely behind a closed door. In case you haven't noticed, we're outnumbered, and I doubt if I could keep Balkir from strangling you if you persist in antagonizing him."
"He's an idiot."
"Granted. And he'll get his just desserts. But not now." He opened the cabin door and set her on her feet. "Go lie down while I help the 'idiot' get under way. I'll be back as soon as I can. We have to talk."
She shook her head.
He closed the door and leaned against it. "Stop treating me as if I were your enemy. Nothing's really changed. I'm the same man you've known all these years."
"Yes, you are." She crossed the cabin and sat down on the bunk. "Exactly the same."
"But now you wish nothing to do with me."
"You were going to leave me."
"I had to leave you."
"Without telling me? Without giving me a choice? You promised me once that if you ever went back to Sinan you would tell me. You lied."
"Yes." He grimaced. "I thought it was safer."
"And it was your decision. It's always a man's decision. If he wishes to take a woman's body, he does it. If he wishes to desert her later, he does it." Her hands clenched at her sides. "Well, I won't sit meekly and let a man make my decisions. I won't let you have my body and then go away whenever you wish. I won't care. I'll never care again."
