"I've already eaten." Laila gave them a smug smile, laughing out loud at Ray's shocked expression. "You're an hour and a half late. Did you expect me to wait?"

"Of course not," Florian replied soothingly, smiling at her delight in the situation. Beside him Ray grumbled something under his breath. "I am not the reason we're late," Florian said mildly. "I practically had to roll you out of bed to wake you."

"Are you going with us or not?" Ray snapped at Laila but she was used to his crankiness and knew when it was an act.

"I could do with some tea, and perhaps a little something," Laila said pleasantly, then added with a smile, "just to be sociable." Ray snorted and led the way downstairs and out of the hotel.

"Since we're late, we'll eat near the museum." Ray's expression made it clear that their tardiness was Florian's fault but the blond didn't bother to disagree. It wasn't worth arguing with Ray over things like that - Florian never won anyway.

"These crepes are delicious," Florian commented as he cut another portion with his fork. He and Laila were enthusiastically devouring their breakfast while Ray mostly pushed his eggs around on his plate. He seemed preoccupied and neither of his companions was sure if it was safe to interrupt him. Tentatively Florian cut a portion of crepe and set it on Ray's plate. "Try some?"

"Those things are more like dessert than breakfast," Ray scoffed, but he ate the piece Florian gave him and eyed Florian's plate speculatively.

"I don't think I can finish all of this." Florian made a show of pushing one of the untouched crepes off to the side of his plate. "I hate to waste such excellent food."

"Indeed." Ray speared the item neatly and moved it to his plate. "Since I'm paying for it." He gave Florian his best bratty grin and bit into the portion of crepe on his fork. Laila just ignored them and ate her breakfast. She'd only had a croissant and jam earlier and she really was hungry. As for Florian, it was no wonder he was so thin with the way he ate, although she rightfully suspected he could have finished those crepes without Ray's help.

"Shall we go?" Ray asked when the meal was finished and it was well after ten in the morning. He rarely allowed himself this late a start, but he really was tired from work and the stress of the last few days.

There were many things he should have been doing but he knew he'd finish them later. Now that Florian was better, he could take care of some of the routine correspondence. Laila could help as well, if Ray didn't have a better use for her time. He was already thinking of a few topics he'd like her to research and, although he knew the library here was excellent, he missed his own book-lined study at home.

XXXXX

"I'll bypass this room if you don't mind." Florian hesitated a few steps away from a door leading into one of the museums many galleries. There was nothing remarkable about the paintings that Ray could detect from here but he remembered Laila's description of Florian's reaction to the butcher stall painting and didn't care to experience it in person.

"There's a bench in the next room. We'll meet you there." Ray gestured to the wooden bench just visible in the right-hand gallery. Florian went in that direction while Ray and Laila went through the doorway to the left.

Ray studied the painting intently, looking for anything that might have triggered Florian's reaction. It was unattractive, to be sure, and certainly nothing he'd want to have hanging in his house with its vivid splashes of red and the glassy-eyed stares of the dead animals contrasted with a brilliant blue sky. Some of the animals were contorted, others dismembered, but the ones that were intact seemed the most grotesque and even after he turned away from the painting, the vision still haunted him. It was little wonder it affected his sensitive lover so strongly.

"Ray." Laila's urgent hiss brought him to her side just in time to see a young woman slap Florian across the face. She reached into her purse and withdrew something while the blond watched in helpless confusion. She threw the item at Florian's chest and it bounced off of him and landed on the wooden floor with a soft thud.

Turning to leave, the tearful, angry young woman caught sight of Ray and Laila approaching and whipped back towards Florian. "I suppose she's the one." The woman gave Laila a glare then turned her attention to Ray. She dissected him with a look before turning back to Florian again even angrier. "Or is that man my replacement?"

Florian had gone stark white and seemed frozen, unable to even respond to the woman's angry words. Ray stepped in next to him and gave the woman a withering look. He was thankful that there were no other patrons in the gallery at the moment but it was a public place and certainly not the ideal location for this kind of confrontation.

"Am I to believe that you are an acquaintance of this gentleman?"

"He is Duke Florian du Rochefort but he's no gentleman. And neither are you, sir, if you take his side in this matter." The woman produced a handkerchief from her purse and wiped her eyes, sniffling a little. "I was taken in by his sweet words. I actually believed he cared for me. But once he had what he wanted from me he never contacted me again. Not once in all this time. Instead, he tried to buy my silence with that tawdry little bauble, as if I were nothing but a common whore." She turned on Laila with a snarl. "If you're his new plaything..." She cast a glance at Ray. "Or you. A word of advice - don't believe the pretty face or pretty words. That man," She pointed dramatically, "is the devil himself. Nothing about him is true."

She turned and stormed away almost colliding with a trio of ladies entering the gallery. The women were chattering together in low tones and barely noticed the trio already in the room.

As discretely as possible, Ray leaned down and picked up the item the young woman had thrown at Florian. He was not at all surprised to see that it was a light-blue sapphire with twin stars. He showed it to Laila quickly before sliding it into the inner pocket of his jacket.

"I'll try to follow her," Laila whispered before walking at a moderate pace out of the room. Ray watched her go, then turned back to Florian who had dropped onto the bench and was staring up at Ray as if he'd lost the ability to function.

"Come on," Ray urged him, putting a hand under his elbow and guiding Florian to his feet. He kept his hand there as they moved as quickly as decorum allowed towards the entrance and out of the museum. Soon they were seated in a carriage heading back to the hotel. Ray didn't really want to take Florian back there so soon but he didn't want the blond to have a breakdown in public.

"Count Courland..." The hotel manager hurried towards them as soon as they entered the lobby but Ray waved him away. "But sir, there's a letter." The man had stopped a few steps away looking distressed. He had already taken in Florian's pale face and distracted expression and was wondering if he should offer to call a doctor but Ray was demanding the letter in a manner that made it clear he didn't want any more delays. The manager handed over the envelope quickly and stepped back, saying nothing else.

Ray stuffed the letter in his pocket and guided Florian through the lobby to the stairs. The blond was moving well enough but he wasn't saying anything and that alone was troubling to Ray. The blond knew when to remain quiet but otherwise he usually made small comments for Ray's amusement or just to have a reason to cast glances at his lover. But now - this wasn't a sullen silence, or one of Florian's tempers.

"Sit." Ray guided Florian into a chair and went into the bedroom, returning for a moment with the array of sapphires. He pulled a small end table over beside Florian's chair and laid the stones out in front of the blond. "This is a puzzle, just like any other puzzle and we're going to solve it together."

He reached over and took paper, pen and ink off the desk, setting it down beside the stones. "First we need to write down what we know." He knew Laila had already written most of this down in her notebook, but he wanted time to draw Florian out of his stupor.

"Ray?" Florian laid a hand over Ray's. "I want you to send me home." Before Ray could protest, Florian continued, speaking urgently. "Everything that is happening here centers around me and the cursed jewels. If you send me home, I won't cause any more trouble for you and Laila. If I take the overnight I could be home tomorrow."

"I'm not sending you anywhere alone." Ray's tone and expression were very familiar to Florian - Ray was going to be stubborn about this. When he was in that mood it took a miracle to change his mind. Or sometimes it just required a little of Florian's special brand of persuasion.

The blond moved the table aside and slid out of his chair onto his knees in front of Ray. Looking up with wide amethyst eyes, he walked his fingers up Ray's thigh, reaching for the fastener of his trousers.

"No." Ray stopped him, catching Florian's hand and bringing it to his lips for a kiss. He leaned over, his expression tender and laid a hand on Florian's head. "Stay with me. I'll keep you safe."

"It's you and Laila I'm worried about." Florian laid his head on Ray's knee, looking up into Ray's expressive eyes. Behind the bravado, there was a hint of uncertainty and it tore at Florian's heart. "I always cause you trouble."

"Yes you do," Ray agreed affectionately. "Do you hear me complaining?" He carded his fingers through Florian's hair, letting the feel of the silky strands soothe him. There was still a faint mark where the woman had slapped him and Ray touched it carefully.

"I'm afraid." Florian choked on the words and his eyes misted. "If something happened to you..."

"It won't. Think about what's happened. You've been given the very stones I wanted. If someone wanted to harm you, they're not doing a very good job of it."

"But the dreams, and the illness. And the bruises? The woman in the museum?"

"Are all the dreams about Morocco?" Florian nodded, unable to meet Ray's eyes. Florian hated himself for bringing that painful subject between them again. Ray had suffered as badly as Florian in that place and Florian would give anything to erase the pain Ray felt over Azura's betrayal. Florian still wondered what would have happened if he hadn't seen Louise Tassel enter Azura's house, or if he'd ignored it and simply returned to his room. Instead, his curiosity has led to his own capture and almost cost him his sanity and his life. But it had also caused Azura to betray and nearly kill Ray. Florian would never forgive himself for the part he played in that, no matter how unwitting it was.

"I can't do much about the dreams other than exhaust you so you don't dream." Ray leered at Florian and was rewarded by a small laugh. "As for the illness, it seems better today?" Florian nodded his agreement. His stomach was fine and he didn't have that headachy, lightheaded feeling he had had for the last few days. The bruises, however, would just have to fade on their own and there was nothing he could do about it. He'd styled his hair differently to cover some of them and Laila had covered the rest with a light layer of makeup. It was fine for this morning's outing, but Florian didn't like the idea of wearing makeup every time he went out until the marks faded. He'd have to endure it for the opera tomorrow evening but, thankfully, the Countess Kourey's party required masks and the one he planned to wear concealed the bruises entirely.

"Ray..." Florian lifted his head and looked up his lover. He wasn't sure what he wanted to ask, he just needed reassurance that everything would be all right. He had a feeling that something terrible was going to happen very soon and no matter how hard he tried to ignore it, he couldn't put the fear out of his mind.

Ray leaned down, seeking to reassure Florian in a way that went beyond words. Their lips were mere inches apart when a sudden pounding on the door drove them apart. Florian shifted, his eyes gone wide and his breathing fast and shallow. Ray pulled him to his feet and motioned him towards the bedroom, making sure that Florian was moving before scooping up the sapphires and slipping them into a velvet pouch, which he placed into the small valise he used for carrying his important papers. Closing and locking it, he pocketed the key then walked towards the door. Before he reached it the pounding started again.

"I know you're in there!" The person on the other side shouted and Ray felt his stomach drop into his shoes. Wrenching open the door he caught his visitor before the man could overbalance and fall.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Ray snapped, shoving the man back onto his feet then taking a step backwards, gripping the door as if he were planning to slam it in the visitor's face.

"Such language." Michel tsked as he pushed past Ray and strode into the room, his eyes taking in every detail. "Obviously your father's influence. We Courlands are far too refined for such vulgarities."

Ray just sighed and headed for the room service menu, intending to have them send up some whiskey. Perhaps a lot of whiskey.

"Your Grace!" Michel swooped down on Florian like a vulture, talking a mile a minute. Ray reconsidered the whiskey. There was not nearly enough alcohol to convince him to stay in this suite with Michel's prying eyes observing more than was good for either of them.

"We were just about to go out, Michel. Perhaps you can call again another time?" Ray motioned for Florian to prepare himself to leave but Michel stopped the blond with a cry of dismay.

"It is true. I thought it was just a horrid rumor - you know how some people can be - but here's the proof before my very eyes." Michel was touching Florian's temple lightly where the bruise was showing through the makeup. "How clever of you to cover it. You wouldn't want to distress the ladies of course. So thoughtful, your Grace. I remember that about you. It's been so long since our last meeting..."

Ray groaned and tuned out the drone of Michel's voice, focusing instead on Florian's face, and the light blush that tinted his cheeks. He was smiling at something Michel was saying and gesturing as if trying to calm Ray's excitable cousin. Ray leaned against the doorframe and watched, content to let them talk for a moment, and knowing full well he wouldn't get a word in sideways until Michel wound down a bit.

"Do you want to take a few minutes to freshen up? I could meet you downstairs in the lobby. No? Well then..." Michel's words caught Ray by surprise and he just had time to step into Michel's path before the man left the room.

"Where do you think you're taking Florian?" Ray demanded, ready for a fight, He didn't expect to hear Florian's laugh.

"It's fine, Ray. Michel's going to arrange a light meal for us downstairs."

"Absolutely not!" Ray barely kept himself from shouting and his hands clenched into fists, as if he were ready to fight his cousin over the matter. He didn't want Florian eating anything in this hotel until he and Laila knew the food was safe.

"It's fine, Ray." Florian laid a hand on Ray's arm, trying to soothe him. "I'm not very hungry. I was only planning to have some tea."

Ray frowned as he studied Florian's face. The blond was smiling and his whole demeanor had lightened. Perhaps Michel, with his ridiculous stories and flamboyant manner was exactly what Florian needed right now.

"Tea only," Ray agreed curtly, giving Michel a look to let him know how serious he was. Michel looked as if he was ready to battle it out but a delicate cough from Florian interrupted him and he waved the whole matter off with a chuckle.

"Tea all around then. Shall we go?" He flounced to the door and held it open for Florian, giving him a slight bow. Florian nodded his thanks and exited with Ray close behind. Just as Ray passed, Michel added in an undertone, "I wonder if they have petit fours?"

Ray scowled at Michel the entire way to the lobby but his cousin ignored him, concentrating on telling Florian an outrageous story about a Duchess who'd had too much to drink while traveling on one of his ships. She fell overboard but didn't drown because of all the air trapped in her skirts. They hauled her up out of the water and she went right back to dancing, and drinking, until Michel had to have two of his crew carry her back to her cabin.

"She screamed the entire time until I gave her a bottle of gin. She drained the thing dry and fell asleep holding it like a baby. We made a little name tag for the bottle and slipped it into her luggage when she left."

Florian was laughing, his eyes bright and Ray felt his mood lighten as well. Things were no less serious but it was good to hear Florian laugh like that. Ray grudgingly decided he owed Michel a thank you, but he wasn't going to tell Michel that if he could help it.

"Laila!" Michel nodded briefly to Florian and hurried over to greet the woman as she entered the hotel. Michel kissed her hand extravagantly, using a lot of extra hand-waving and bowing but Laila just smiled through it all and waited for him to wind down.

"Now that we're all here, we must hurry or the tea I've had prepared will be cold." Michel took Laila's hand and tucked it into the crook of his elbow, escorting her gallantly into the tea room where the manager was hovering, waiting for them a bit impatiently.

"Our special blend of tea," The manager poured a measure into each of the delicate china teacups and had his assistant serve them, starting with Laila and proceeding around the table. "Cream? No? Sugar perhaps?" The manager handed the bowl of sugar cubes to his assistant to set in front of Florian, the only one who preferred his tea sweet. Once they were served, the manager and his assistant bowed and left, promising to check on them later.

"Life in my cousin's household agrees with you." Michel told Laila, reaching for his teacup without really watching what he was doing. He managed to pick it up and take a drink without incident, but caught the edge of the saucer as he was setting it down. The cup almost spilled but Michel managed to catch it at the last second. With a frown he saw that he'd splashed tea onto Florian's spoon, which hadn't been used yet.

"Let me take that, my dear Florian. Quite clumsy of me. Here's mine instead, quite clean. Better stir that before drinking or those sugar cubes will just sit at the bottom." Michel absently licked the tea droplets off the spoon, then made a face.

"Something wrong?" Ray asked, sharply. He'd been watching everything, his own tea untouched.

"I don't think this spoon was properly washed. It has something on it with a most disagreeable taste." He tilted the spoon this way and that, looking for any kind of visible residue but finding none. He was startled when Laila reached over and snatched the spoon away.

"May I?" she gave him a charming smile and he agreed readily. Laila examined the front and back of the spoon first, seeing nothing unusual except for a dullness that could be attributed to well-used silverware. Leaning in, she sniffed at the handle and then the bowl. Finally, she ran her finger across the bowl, then examined her finger by sight, smell and lastly, taste.

"There's a thin layer of something, apparently just on the bowl of this spoon. There is a very faint odor but I can't identify it." She waited while they handed over their silverware and examined each piece in turn. There was no evidence of the substance on any of the other pieces, only on the spoon that had been given to Florian. Glancing around, she slipped the spoon into her pocket, then reached for her tea. She took a tentative sip and nodded. "A little on the bitter side, but it seems okay. May I?" She reached for Ray's tea and tested it, then tested Michel's and finally, Florian's. "These three taste the same but Florian added sugar and it tastes very different." She looked over at Ray and saw that he had drawn the same conclusion: it wasn't the food that was tampered with, it was Florian's silverware.

"What's going on?" Michel demanded, knowing it was something serious by the expressions on his companions' faces.

"Nothing to worry about," Laila dismissed the matter with a wave of her hand. "The food here doesn't really agree with Florian. Would you mind if we went somewhere else?"

"Not at all!" Michel threw a worried look at Florian, afraid he'd offended the man. He was relieved when Florian smiled and suggested a restaurant nearby, the one that had provided the previous evening's dinner. "My treat then, I insist." Michel caught sight of the manager and made a move to confront the man. Laila stopped him with a hand on his arm.

"Please don't make the poor man feel bad. Perhaps you could just tell him we decided we wanted something different this evening."

"Splendid idea," Michel agreed, giving the impression that Laila could suggest he throw himself under a carriage and he'd think it was splendid. Not that he'd do it of course, but he'd praise her for the idea nonetheless.

:end chapter 11: