"What's happened to Florian?" When the man didn't immediately answer, he added, "My secretary, man. The blond. What's happened?" Gone was the calm satisfaction of his day and in its place was an icy knot of fear. Yet again he vowed to find a well appointed cage for his troublesome lover.
"He's upstairs. I called the doctor. The gentleman insisted he was fine but then he just collapsed, and after the unfortunate incident in the park, well you can just imagine my dilemma! And the ladies simply refused to leave no matter how I tried to convince them that..."
"There you are, Count!" Matilde and Cora swooped down upon Ray. They took up positions on either side of the manager and alternated between squawking at him and clucking at Ray. Ray could feel his blood pressure rising along with the noise level. He cast a warning look at the manager but the man just returned it with a silent apology. There were some forces that nothing could stop and these ladies were one of them.
"Ray!" Laila called from across the hall, practically running as she approached. "Florian's asking for you."
Ray gave the ladies a nod and a thanked them for their concerns about Florian. He left them to the manager, while he followed Laila upstairs as rapidly as she could lead. They paused outside the door to his suite.
"He's not awake yet but the doctor checked him over and said it was just a combination of stress, fatigue and overheating. He left medicine and he'll be back to check on him in the morning." She grinned and added, "I thought I should get you away from the ladies before you resorted to violence."
Ray nodded briefly then brushed past her into the suite and straight into the bedroom, He tossed his coat and hat in the direction of a chair, not noticing that he'd missed. Laila picked them up and put them away without a word.
"No fever," Ray said as he perched on the edge of the bed and checked Florian's forehead. He moved his hand down to rest lightly on Florian's chest, measuring the steady heartbeat and regular breathing. He withdrew his hand and stood, leading Laila to the far side of the room where he could watch Florian for any changes. "What happened?"
"He was fine." Laila answered, wanting to allay as many of Ray's concerns as she could. "We went to the shops, then had lunch. After that, we went to the art museum." We looked at the art for a while but something seemed to be bothering him and he finally told me that he'd had a bad dream last night. He seemed better when we were walking back to the hotel but then this man knocked him down. The ladies came over to help and they wouldn't leave. You know Florian - he has to be formal and polite when I would have tossed them out the door. He looked a little uncomfortable while we were having tea, but I thought it was just because he was so bored." Laila looked so guilty and miserable that Ray laid a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"It's not your fault, Laila. You know how Florian is." Ray cast a glance over at the unconscious man, an affectionate smile ghosting his lips. He turned back to Laila decisively. "I think we should order room service tonight. I don't think I'm up to another encounter in the lobby. The last one was exciting enough."
"Good idea!" Laila gave him a nod of agreement and went for the room service menu with the manner of a child given free rein in a candy shop.
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"What time is it?" Florian asked sleepily when he finally awoke. He didn't have the energy to sit up so he simply reached for Ray and gave him a small smile.
"Just before nine. You've been out for almost four hours." Ray set his book down without bothering to mark the page - he hadn't really been concentrating on it anyway - and slid down to wrap Florian in his arms. The blond was warm from sleep but he wasn't feverish. Oddly, his eyes were glazed, almost as if he'd been drugged. Ray stroked Florian's temple and murmured soothing words, trying to ease him into full awareness. Florian just shook his head, and, after expending a great deal of energy, he managed to get to his feet and stagger into the bathroom. Ray followed him and guided him back to bed, not bothering to attempt a conversation. Florian kissed him, then laid his head down on Ray's chest. After a few minutes he fell asleep again.
Ray tightened his grip on his lover and tried to put his worries aside. He waited more than twenty minutes before he carefully undressed the unresponsive man. Lifting only part of the blankets at a time, Ray searched Florian's body for a puncture wound - or any sign that he'd been given a drug. Not finding anything other than the small cuts from the gravel, and the lash marks that he'd inflicted, Ray arranged Florian more comfortably and curled up around him, sheltering Florian with his body. It was far earlier than he usually went to bed, but when Laila peeked into the room at eleven, both men were sound asleep.
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"I'm really fine," Florian insisted as Ray made him go through a series of questions before letting him get up and dress. "In fact, I feel great. You know I don't usually travel well, perhaps I was just overtired." Florian hated worrying his lover but he really didn't have any idea what had caused his collapse. The doctor had stopped by just a short time ago and had pronounced Florian in perfect health, although he did suggest a day of rest and light meals just as a precaution.
"I've got two appointments today or I'd keep you in bed," Ray said with a leer. He did his best to make light of Florian's collapse, but he had a vague sense of unrest despite the doctor's reassurances. He moved to the wardrobe to retrieve his suitcoat and frowned when he noticed Florian's coat from the day before lying on a chair. Ray picked the coat up and shook it, hesitating a moment before shaking it again. It felt heavier than it should have been.
"Do you have more shortbread in here?" he asked as he checked the right pocket, which was empty, and then the left. He withdrew the handkerchief-wrapped item curiously - it felt too heavy and hard for shortbread. Ray unwrapped the item carefully, not wanting to get crumbs all over.
"No I..." Florian broke off, shocked by the sight of what lay in Ray's palm. "That looks like the sapphire from the jewelry shop." He looked up at Ray, wide-eyed with confusion. "How...?"
"There's a sales receipt," Ray told him, unfolding paper that had been under the jewel. "Sold to Florian de Rochefort. Paid in full." Ray held out the paper for Florian to read, and the blond paled at the sum written at the bottom.
"But I didn't." His eyes met Ray's and there was a mixture of conflicting emotions in those amethyst depths. "You know I don't have that kind of money." He straightened, his manner becoming more determined. "Even if I did I wouldn't spend it on something like this. There has to have been a mistake."
Just then Laila tapped on the door and walked in carrying a brown paper-wrapped parcel. She angled it up for the men to read the note on the front. "This was just delivered for Florian."
Florian accepted the six-inch square package and unwrapped it. His confusion increased when the parcel turned out to be a dark blue jewelry box with a handwritten note inside.
"It's from the salesman at the jewelry store. He says I left this at the store and wanted me to have it for the sapphire." Florian looked at the two of them, his eyes haunted and his face pale. "This is a terrible mistake. We have to take this back. I can't... I didn't buy this."
"Of course you didn't!" Laila waved away the very idea. "I told you that salesman wasn't to be trusted."
"How did the jewel end up in your pocket?" Ray asked, his eyes bright as he pondered the mystery. No matter what the circumstances, he couldn't resist a good riddle.
"The man in the park." Laila looked from one man to the other, just as excited as Ray. "The one who pushed us. He must have put it in Florian's pocket when he went past and in all the excitement afterwards, we didn't notice."
"Why would someone give me a sapphire? Especially one that's so rare and valuable?" Florian gave Ray a small smile. "I didn't know there was an opposite of a jewel thief."
"Because there's not. Even if there was, why would they give you a receipt?"
"How did the salesman know your name?" Laila wondered. "I don't remember ever introducing ourselves."
"That's right," Florian admitted, feeling a bit guilty for his lapse in manners.
"Stop that," Ray demanded, knowing what Florian was thinking. "There are bigger concerns."
"Like breakfast," Laila muttered. She'd been waiting patiently for her morning meal and she was positively starved.
"Exactly," Ray said as he checked his pocket watch. He took the sapphire and receipt, re-wrapped them in the handkerchief and slipped them into a hidden pocket of his suitcase. "This will have to wait until after my meetings. Laila, would you be so good as to go downstairs and order our breakfast. Florian and I will join you shortly."
Laila rolled her eyes but left to do as she was asked. She was just as happy not to have to see them kissing.
"I want you to stay here until I return," Ray ordered as he placed a hand on Florian's hair. He let his fingers run through the silky strands before leaning in for a lingering kiss. "I know you hate being stuck indoors but I think it's wisest to be cautious until we know more."
"It's alright," Florian assured him, not quite able to admit how unsettled he was at the discovery of the cursed jewel. "Your delivery arrived from the bookstore. I'm sure I can find something worth reading in that stack." He gave Ray his best teasing smile. "And I can always catch up on the pile of invitations you've been neglecting."
"If you must, but every invitation you accept will earn you a special punishment." Ray smiled wickedly, pulling Florian close. For a moment, the blond was tempted to say yes to the entire pile.
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