The door slammed behind him.

* * *

Pandora didn't look up from her packing as Philip came into the room. She had changed into jeans and a yellow tunic top, but her feet were still bare. The brocade dress was tossed into a silken heap on the bed beside the open suitcase. "You can stop packing," Philip said. "You aren't going anywhere."

"Don't worry. I'm not taking any of your expensive bribes," she said jerkily. "I'm only taking what I came with. I'm sure you have no use for an orange wig." She sat down on the bed and began to put on her white tennis shoes. "And it might come in handy for me."

"You're not going anywhere," he repeated grimly. For the first time she noticed he had changed from his white suit into black riding pants and a black sweat shirt. The somber color accentuated his air of menace.

"The hell I'm not." She tied the lace of the second shoe and stood up. "I'm going far and I'm going fast. If you don't want me to use the plane or the car, I'll walk." She slammed the iid of the suitcase shut and fastened it. "Or hitchhike."

"You're upset. I know that. Will you please listen to me?" He came toward her. "I don't know what your lovable father said to you, but I'm sure it was expressed in the worst possible terms. He has a talent that way.'

She whipped around to face him, flags of color suddenly flying in her pale cheeks. "He didn't try to present it any way at all. He just told me the cold facts. I'm going to have a child. Too bad neither one of you thought to inform me."

"There were reasons. If you'll calm down, I'll tell you what they were."

"I know what they were. I thought that you might be feeling sorry for me, but it was more than that, wasn't it?" Her eyes blazed up at him. "I was carrying your child. That made all the difference. You couldn't let me leave once you knew that. It would have offended your every instinct."

"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."