CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE — A SERIALIZED NOVEL
Pride and Audacity — Part 21
A stranger — a secret agreement — a changed destiny
Three hours later, Victoria and her group sat on stacks of colorful pillows in the middle of a black Bedouin tent enjoying a communal bowl of chicken and rice. The tent took up most of the lounge space and had caused quite a stir with the workers who assembled it.
What better way to remove the anxiety in her children’s faces but to turn the difficult delay into an adventure. Their giggles, as they practiced scooping rice from the communal bowl with chunks of flatbread, were evidence she had succeeded. A fresh wave of laughter erupted as their precious Aunt Jessica managed to lose her chicken before getting the tender morsel to her mouth. Retrieving the elusive bite from her lap, she popped it into her mouth and made exaggerated chewing motions. Not to be outdone, the children followed with antics of their own.
Jessica leaned toward Victoria and murmured in her ear. “This was a good idea. They are having the time of their lives. If you could get some sand and a pool delivered, we could stay a few days and get a tan.”
When everyone finished eating, Victoria turned off the lights and lit the oil lamps she’d requested. The mood was perfect for storytelling. The children soon fell asleep with enchanted smiles on their faces. If nothing else, they would go home with memories of an adventure they would never forget. Even Jessica slept soundly on her pallet. Victoria wondered what she had ever done to deserve such a loyal and supportive friend. How many women would travel half-way around the world with four kids, submit to hostage status, and still find delight enough to share with those around her?
She turned to lie on her back and stared into the darkness. Odd sounds penetrated the double doors accessing the lounge. The public address system uttered an intermittent stream of information and instruction. The muffled voices of strangers resonated like a low hum in the background and jet engines revved for takeoff in systematic intervals.
The airport operated like a mini world that never slept. Military guards stood on the other side of the double doors, supposedly for her security. The arrangement suited her just fine. She didn’t want her children exposed to anything unpleasant. She drew some comfort from the fact she was on the same side of the world as Rashid. Powerless though she was, at least the Atlantic no longer presented an impenetrable barrier. To complete her plan, though, she would need to cross an even bigger ocean, one of culture, environment, training, and a lifetime of preconceived beliefs.
She drew her pillow close to her body and wrapped her mind around the warmth of her husband’s smile. How she missed the arrogant little twist to his upper lip and the flame of desire in his dark eyes. She clenched her fingers, digging them deeper into the pillow. Her body throbbed with longing. Being this close to him triggered a flood of memories. If she held her breath and lay very still, she could feel the heat of his fingers as they traced exquisite trails of fire along her body. She could taste the minty flavor of his kisses as he teased and enticed her ever deeper into a world where only he existed; only he mattered.
Shaking, she drew back from the tormenting edge of desire. Better to remember the last time she had seen him and the shattered pain in his eyes. Better to remember how tenuous her dreams and desires were. Hope was all she possessed; hope that the heart she’d broken could be healed, wanted to be healed.
For the first time since reaching adulthood, she sensed in herself the need to bend, to lean. She was tired of independence which, in the end, destroyed what she most wanted. For most of her life, she’d sacrificed the best part of herself to achieve the equality needed to succeed. She didn’t know how she would cope if Rashid turned her away, but she would never regret what brought her here or what, if given the chance, she was willing to do to stay. Exhausted, she slipped into a restless sleep.
Victoria awakened first the next morning, quietly dressed, and headed for the door in search of Mr. Omier. She stopped a couple of feet short when she heard a voice she recognized on the other side. The door swung open and Ahalamin’s First Regent burst through the opening.
“Princess! What are you doing here?”
Victoria put her fingers over her lips indicating he should lower his voice. “I am here to see Rashid. Please, Califar, you’ve got to help me find a way.”
“This is impossible. Prince Davar made his orders adamantly clear. You cannot enter Ahalamin.” His sweeping gaze took in the makeshift campsite and he gestured widely with his hands. “Princess, this is very irregular.”
“How is he, Califar? Is he well?” Sincerity hung on the trembling edge of her voice.
Califar stiffened. “His body is well.”
“Does he speak about me?”
“No.”
“I must see him. I have to tell him the truth. I have to tell him I love him.”
“Princess, not even for you can I disobey a direct command. What you ask…cannot be done.”
She knew, in his heart, he wanted to help her, but he would never compromise his loyalty to his Prince. She had to make him understand that what she asked was essential to Rashid. So crucial, in fact, her need for his help superseded everything else.
“I am pregnant!”
Califar jerked with shock. Gesturing toward the row of chairs by the door, he motioned for her to sit. Taking the one next to her, he searched her face as if an answer to the dilemma she presented would read like a newsprint on her forehead. “Princess, are you well? Is there anything you need?”
“I am very well, thank you. I know this is the right thing to do, Califar. Rashid must know about his child, and I must be the one to tell him. I need to right the wrong I did him.”
Califar shook his head as if to clear the confusion her words inflicted. “You force me to make a hard choice,” he said.
“You are more than Ahalamin’s First Regent; you are also his lifelong friend. As his friend, I beg of you, help me restore to him what is his.”
Califar rose from his chair, walked a few feet from her, and stopped. Victoria was afraid. Afraid the hard weight of duty would win over the fragile demands of love. This man was capable of both. When he retraced his steps and took his seat beside her once again, she waited in petrified silence.
“I will help you. Even so, I offer a warning. He has suffered enough.”
“I will never hurt Rashid again. My heart will treasure and protect him for as long as I live. This I swear to you.”
He nodded his head in acceptance of her oath. “You need to be prepared. Rashid has not been himself since you left. His temper is volatile and swift, and he will not meekly accept your disregard for his decision. You will be putting yourself completely at his mercy. Are you sure you are able to do this?”
“Yes.”
“Then today is as good as any. There is a small social gathering at the palace in about an hour. I may be able to get Rashid to see you afterward, but I make no promises.”
“Thank you, Califar. What shall I do?”
Aaron chose that moment to wander through the tent entrance in search of Victoria. Ignoring Califar, he crawled onto her lap and buried his face in her shoulder. By the sounds he made, he was sucking his thumb in an effort to go back to sleep. Next to come through the tent opening were her girls. With neon-colored pajamas and their pillow hair awry, they paraded over to Victoria and sat in the chairs next to her, distrustfully eyeing the man at her side.
Califar’s expression was incredulous. He stared at the tent as if expecting the devil himself to appear, and he did. Or rather, she did. Jessica wandered out rubbing her eyes. In her skimpy hot pink boxers and tank top, she looked like a model for a lingerie advertisement.
Califar jumped to his feet. “Who are these children, and why is that woman here?”
His booming voice startled Jessica. She let out a blood-curdling scream and dove for the tent. The girls scrambled to get closer to Victoria’s side and Aaron started to cry.
The next half hour was spent settling the children and then explaining her little group to Califar’s satisfaction. Resigned to the situation, he instructed her to be ready in an hour and left to make the necessary travel arrangements. He departed looking like a trauma victim.
Victoria was proud of her prior preparations. When Califar returned, two women and three girls were ready for his approval, all properly robed with head coverings expertly in place. Aaron, she’d dressed in black cotton pants and shirt which resembled the ones Rashid wore. She’d drilled all of them with what she knew about proper conduct. She wanted them to make a good impression on Rashid.
Califar’s smile of approval eased the tension and gave her a small glimmer of hope. Surely Rashid would find her efforts worthy of his approval also. Jessica, who detested the required attire on principle, showed her support by cooperating without complaint. However, the murderous glare she shot in Califar’s direction gave Victoria cause to worry. Califar’s predatory smirk hinted at some mystery between her friend and the First Regent, something she would definitely be asking Jessica about when the opportunity presented itself.
They climbed into a waiting limousine. The fit was tight, but there were no problems until Aaron decided he would rather switch from Emily’s lap to Califar’s. To Victoria’s surprise, Califar lifted him without complaint. Aaron laid his head on Califar’s chest as if he had always known the man.
Arriving at the palace complex, they went first to Califar’s residence, then down a winding garden path into the rear of the Princess Garden connected to Rashid’s private quarters. Giving them orders to await his return, Califar left them there.
Every one of her nerve endings vibrated with anxiety and excitement. She was at home. This was where she belonged. She was grateful to Califar for getting her this far, but the next part she must to do without his help. He’d probably want to kill her afterward, but she needed to do this her way.
“Victoria,” Emily’s voice quivered. “Are we going to get in trouble?”
Victoria looked at each of her children’s faces. Their wide eyes and clutched hands tugged at her heart. Before she could answer, Jessica dove in to help her.
“Of course not, silly. Parks and gardens are for everybody, aren’t they? Besides princesses belong in a palace and, from what I’ve seen so far, this definitely qualifies.”
Victoria gave her friend a grateful smile and pulled Emily close to her side. “I promise not to let anything bad happen to you. Just stay close beside me.” Gathering the rest of her bunch closer, she headed toward the sound of voices.
When they entered the spacious domed entry, she paused and waited for the children to follow. Their natural curiosity overcame their fear and now they looked like tourists, heads thrown back at ungainly angles, admiring their first view of six-hundred-year-old frescos. A gentle reminder and they were once again lined up behind her, their eyes glittering with fascination.
Her heart jumped into her throat as the sounds of music and social chatter resonated from the entrance to a large reception hall. According to Califar’s description, she’d expected a few guests. At least two hundred people filled the room. Not her idea of a small gathering.
Panic triggered a queasy disturbance in her stomach. Nothing like panic to change the best-laid plans and make a coward out of a determined woman. Jessica’s hand gripped her arm with a bolstering squeeze.
“You’ve come half-way around the world to do this. You love this man. If you want him, don’t stop now.”
Nodding her head in affirmation, Victoria ignored her nauseous stomach and the twinkling lights flashing before her eyes. She scanned the crowd for her husband and spotted him at the far end of the massive hall engaged in conversation with four other distinguished-looking men. Their small group was separated from the rest of the crowd, which was going to make her approach to him even more noticeable. Not that it mattered, she chided herself. She had come here to be noticed.
Seeing him again sucked the breath from her lungs and brought goosebumps to her arms. He was magnificent. The stubborn, arrogant male she’d never known she wanted…or needed. His flowing robes and headpiece, once so alien, now set him apart. Her heart swelled in adoration for this proud man of the Middle East. On a level so deep, she could not find its finish; she needed this man to love her. She needed what she had hurled away without pity or mercy.
Alpha male to the core, he’d presumptuously stolen her freedom and then disconcerted her with his kindness. He’d offered her his heart with dignity and honor. She’d repaid him with gut-wrenching cruelty. A mind-bending fear tightened her muscles. If she failed, she would be separated from him forever. She would leave his country and his life, rejected, divorced, and broken.
Bending down, she gathered the children around her once more and whispered to them. “Stay right behind me. Whatever happens, do not be afraid. Remember to keep your eyes lowered and do not speak unless you are spoken to. Are you ready?”
“We’re ready, Victoria,” three little girls whispered together. “Okay then, hold hands and stay together. Remember how much I love you,” she said with a hug. A choked voice over her shoulder and a restraining hand on her arm made Victoria jump.
“What are you doing? You were supposed to wait for me.”
“I can’t wait, Califar. I have to do this now. Please understand. I owe him this.”
“Remove your hand,” ordered Jessica, “or I will cause the biggest scene you’ve ever been unfortunate enough to be part of.”
Califar dropped his hand and stared in stunned consternation at Jessica. Taking advantage of his shock and lapse of focus, Victoria motioned to her children and moved forward. She faintly heard Califar’s strange words and part of Jessica’s reply.
“I see you did not take my warning seriously, Miss Heathly.”
“Don’t even think about…”
To be continued… Part 22 concludes this story
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