The Treasure_ A Novel - Iris Johansen [125]
“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.”
“You’re sure?” Selene asked.
Layla shook her head. “We don’t know enough for me to be sure. I’ve never given Eshe to anyone carrying a child. I didn’t know you were with child when I gave it to you. But it makes sense a potion that would battle disease and strengthen the mother would also strengthen the child, doesn’t it?”
“Yes,” Selene said dazedly.
“Then I did entirely the right thing.”
“You did not,” Kadar said through his teeth. “Were you going to deceive us indefinitely into believing she had a choice? Good God, you even made me promise not to give her Eshe without discussing it with you.”
“Because I wasn’t sure what effect two doses would have on her. We don’t know enough about—”
“You keep saying that,” Kadar said. “I’d think you’d refrain from reckless acts until you do know.”
“Tell me that when you face a similar choice.” She turned to Tarik. “I believe we’re packed. Are you ready to go?”
He nodded and helped her onto her horse.
“Where are you going?” Selene asked.
“First to the north. Vaden has claimed his price. It seems he wants a piece of property and he has to wed a lady to get it.”
“Wed?”
Tarik nodded. “But there are difficulties. The lady is already married.” He mounted his horse. “And after that we will probably set sail on the Dark Star for Ireland. Neither of us has been there.”
“But don’t worry,” Layla said. “We’ll not lose touch. We’ll be there to help you when you need us.”
“Wonderful,” Kadar said.
“You need only send word.” Layla ignored Kadar’s sarcasm and addressed Selene. “And let me know when the babe is born. After all, I feel a certain responsibility toward it.”
“God forbid,” Kadar murmured.
“Since