Turning to the house, Amira took a last glance at the crystal moon. As she did, she caught a glimpse of movement at a second-floor window. A cur- tain closing? Perhaps it was just a reflection, or her imagination.

“Good night,” she whispered back into the shadows of the garden. “Good night—my love.”

20. Morning Visitors

Morning Visitors

The festival was over, the Bedu vanishing back into the desert, the foreign guests crowding the airport, but Ali insisted that Philippe stay for another day or two.

“Right here in this house,” he said. “I’m keeping it for a few days, so as not to put you to the trouble of moving to the palace or to a hotel. So you see, the plans are already made.”

His enthusiasm seemed excessive to Amira—surely he had demonstrated his gratitude and hospitality to anyone’s satisfaction—but if he had an ulterior motive, she couldn’t imagine what it might be.

Philippe seemed to resist the invitation, pointing out that he had a practice to maintain in France, but a call from the palace decided the issue: the nonstop feasting had caused yet another onslaught of the king’s gout; Dr. Rochon’s ser- vices were urgently desired.

“You see that God is wise,” said Ali with his best smile. “Even my father’s affliction brings some good.”

“Tomorrow is Saturday, in any case,” said Philippe. “I’d only be puttering around my apartment or loitering in some bistro, while here I’m in the best of company. But I absolutely must leave by midafternoon Sunday. Inshallah,” he added with a smile.

“If it must be, it must be, my friend, although we’ll be sad to see you go.”

Amira silently thanked God for the extension of Philippe’s stay. It would give her another chance to talk with him, she was sure. She needed his thoughts, his advice. She needed him, she realized, to make her decision for her.

It didn’t work out that way. She spent most of Saturday helping Zeinab move out. There was a great outcry about a pair of earrings that Zeinab was sure she had left on her dresser. After an exhaustive search, they were found in her jewel box.