"You don't know what you're talking about," he said roughly.
"Don't I?" She smiled bitterly. "I thought your about-face was a little too good to be true. I guess I wanted to believe it so desperately that I let you convince me. You were very plausible, Philip. I swallowed the big lie without even batting an eye."
"I didn't lie," he said between his teeth. "I don't lie, dammit. I just didn't let you know the whole truth. I was going to tell you soon, but I was afraid you'd react like this."
"So you decided to secure the fortress before you let me in on the secret. Didn't it occur to you that I had a right to know about the child before I married you?"
"It occurred to me. I suppose I was just too scared to risk it."
"You should have been afraid. I never would have married you." Her hands clenched at her sides. "You had no right to fool me like that."
"Perhaps not, but I took that right anyway." His lips twisted. "I assume you think you're going to run back to your rock group and file for divorce now?"
"With the speed of light. I'll be free so fast it will make your head swim."
"No!" he said with great precision. "There will be no divorce and no running away. You're not leaving."
"The devil I'm not. You'll have to throw me into the dungeon to keep me here."
"That won't be necessary. The dungeon is very dirty and uncomfortable, as it hasn't been used for a century or so. I think house arrest will do as well. I'll even extend your privileges to the stables as long as you understand that you won't be permitted to ride."
She was staring at him incredulously. "You can't be serious."
"Oh yes, I'm very serious." His smile was bittersweet. "You told me once I was a good deal like my father. Perhaps you were right. He imprisoned my mother for nine months before his child was born. Believe me, I'll do the same if I have to."
"You're barbaric," she whispered.
"But then, you've always known that." His lips were a thin line. "You should have expected me to react like this. I'm not letting you leave here. When you calm down well talk."
"We have talked."
"You've done all the talking. I haven't even been permitted to defend myself." He turned away. "When I leave this room I'm giving orders that you're not to leave the premises. There will be guards posted throughout the house and in the courtyard. Your freedom won't be circumscribed unless you try to leave the grounds." He glanced over his shoulder, and for a moment his eyes were bright with pain. "When you're ready to let me explain, send for me. I'll try to give you the time you need, but I don't know if I can." His voice was suddenly harsh. "I'm hurting too, dammit."
She watched the door close behind him with stunned disbelief. He meant it. She heard the muffled sound of his voice through the closed door. He must be telephoning his blasted orders for her restriction right now. Within fifteen minutes the entire place would be bristling with guards.
She felt fury surge through her. Well, she wouldn't be here in fifteen minutes. She'd have to leave the suitcase. She ran to the bureau and grabbed up her passport and wallet and jammed them into the back pockets of her jeans. Then she was out on the balcony, climbing over the balustrade. It was only a six- or seven-foot drop to the courtyard below and, by lowering herself with herhands until she hung full length, she lessened the jump to only a few feet.
Then she was running across the courtyard in the direction of the stables.
Ten
Oedipus was on the far side of the pasture when she climbed the fence. Trust him to make a difficult situation worse. She had hoped he would be close enough so that she could just jump on him and be out the gate in a matter of seconds. Now she would have to run across the pasture and hope he wouldn't spook and leave her to chase after him.
She leaped down and streaked across the pasture toward the stallion. "Oedipus," she called softly. "It's only me. You don't want to run away. We're a team, remember? Why don't you come over here and well go for a ride?"
He was ignoring her. Maybe that wasn't all bad. At least he didn't appear to be skittish today.
"Stay away from him, Pandora."
Philip! Her pace faltered as she glanced over her shoulder. He was swiftly climbing the fence, his expression as dark as his voice was menacing.
Oh, let Oedipus be good today. There wasn't time for his usual shenanigans. She was next to him now and with one spring was on his back. He half reared and her knees gripped him firmly. "Not now, boy. Please."
He wasn't listening. He went through a series of bucks that would have done justice to a rodeo bronco and finished with a rear that almost toppled them.
"Get off him." Philip was right in front of them. His blue-green eyes were blazing. "Get off him, dammit."
"No!" She glared down at him. "I'm leaving here. I'll send him back when I get someplace where I can find other transportation."
"In Sedikhan?" He shook his head. "I'll close the borders, if necessary, to keep you here."
"Then I'll ride him over the hills to Said Ababa." She smiled at him recklessly. "They don't like either you or Ben Raschid any too well. Perhaps they'll give me sanctuary." Oedipus began to rear again, and she had all she could do to stay on his back for the next minute or so. "Now get out of my way."
"And if you run into those bandits that are holed up in the hills there's a good chance you'll be raped or murdered," he said grimly, starting toward her again.
She felt Oedipus's muscles tense beneath her, and a sudden fear pierced the haze of fury that enveloped her. "No! Stay back. Oedipus—"
It was too late. Oedipus reared, his front hoofs flying, and Philip was right in front of those hoofs. She heard a low cry that chilled her blood.
"Philip!" She saw the blood on his temple and screamed. "No!" She was off Oedipus in an instant. At least Philip hadn't fallen to the ground. Perhaps the blow hadn't been too severe. She was by his side, her eyes enormous with fear as she saw the trickle of blood running down his cheek from the wound in his temple. "Are you all right?"
"No, I'm not all right," he bit out. "I'm mad as hell, frustrated, and I will probably have a colossal headache, thanks to our old friend Oedipus." He suddenly picked her up and slung her face down over his shoulder. "And you. Now try to refrain from struggling or I'll tie you up and gag you."
She felt a brief surge of indignation that was immediately submerged by a relief so intense that it made her go limp. Philip couldn't be badly hurt if he was able to carry her like this.
"Open that gate, blast it!"
She heard a low exclamation and then she was being carried through the gate and across the stableyard. Her hair had tumbled forward over her eyes so that she had only brief glimpses of the stableboys and trainers as they passed, but she heard the low comments and laughter. Comments that didn't put her in any better temper.