Where would you like to go in America, little sister? What would you want to do there? Nadia was looking at her, smiling in that tolerant, affectionate way she had, as if Leila were a particularly appealing, perhaps even moderately amusing child. Shopping, Im sure. PerhapsNew York City?
Leila had shopped in London boutiques and Paris salons; her shoes were custom-made in Italy. What, she thought, would New York City have to offer her that those fashion centers did not? But she only said with a shrug and a superior smile, I was thinking more of Hollywood. MaybeRodeo Drive? But images of endless desert vistas and ranges of snowcapped mountains remained wistful and golden in her mind. Like memories, excepthow could she have memories of places she had never seen?
Nadia laughed. Hollywood? Oh, Leila, you are a dreamer.
Stung, Leila said, Why is it so impossible to think of going to America?
You have no reason to go, Samira answered in her matter-of-fact way. Father would never allow you to make such a trip just for fun, and what other reason would you have, when Europe is so much closer?
Leila had to bite her lip to keep from mentioning the fact that Hassan had attended college in America. Her own education had been restricted to an all-female boarding school in Switzerland, capped off by a year in England, and her brothers engineering degree from M.I.T. was a source of envy to her.
What about business? she said after a moment. Now that Hassan has married Elena, and she is head of an oil company
But that is Hassans business. It has nothing to do with you. No, Leila, dear Samira gave her arm a not unsympathetic squeeze as she turned away from the screen I am afraid the only hope you would have of visiting America is if, like Hassan, you were to marry an American. She and Nadia exchanged laughing glances. And for that, you must first wait until Nadia and I have found husbands.
I will be old and ugly before that happens, Leila grumbled.
Never one to entertain a dark mood for long, she straightened, dimpling wickedly as she peered through the screen. Speaking of prospective husbandsguess who has just arrived. Look, Nadia, it is Butrus Dabir. She slid her eyes toward her oldest sister, lips curving in an innocent smile. Is it true he has asked Father if he may marry you?
Her teasing was rewarded by a most satisfactory gasp of dismay from Nadia. Where did you hear that? Hands on her hips, she rounded on her servant. Nargis? How many times
Nargis was already making a hasty retreat, after sneaking Leila a delighted wink. Yes, PrincessI am going to prepare your bath now. Did you wish the jasmine scent, or the rose? Or perhaps that new one from Paris She ducked through the draperies and disappeared into the princesses sitting room.
She is such a terrible gossip, Nadia said crossly, snatching up her sketchbook from the settee and preparing to follow. In the doorway she paused to give her sisters a piercing glance. I have not said I will marry Butrus.
She will, though, said Samira with a shrug when Nadia had gone. I am almost sure of it.
Still gazing intently into the garden, Leila could not repress a shiver. I wish she would not. Even if it means we both must wait longer before we can marry.
You do not like Butrus? Samira looked at her in surprise. He is very handsome, in his way. And he has been almost a member of the family for so many years. Father trusts him.
It is just thathe seems so cold. I do not see how Nadia can possibly love him.
Perhaps, said Samira thoughtfully, there are other reasons to marry besides love. Not, she hastened to add, that I would ever do such a thing. Butwho knows what is in another persons heart? Nadias, after all, has been broken once already. Perhaps she does not wish to risk such pain again. And I suppose if the other reasons were important enough
Leila said nothing. Once again she was watching the man in the dove-gray suit and cowboy hat stroll along the tiled pathways. This time she did not take her eyes off of him until he had disappeared from view beyond a stone archway thickly entwined with climbing roses.
In the shaded promenade beyond a rose-covered archway, Cade Gallagher paused to light a cheroota small sin, and one of the few vices he allowed himself. He was alone, for the moment, in this secluded part of the palace grounds, and he relished the solitude and the quiet, pulled it into himself along with the honey-sweet smoke of the cigar. As he exhaled, the chatter of strangers conversation receded to background noise. Nearby he could hear the twitter of birdsong, and the musical ripple of water. The air was cool and fragrant, misty with breeze-blown spray from distant fountains.
Not quite the juniper and live oak-covered vistas of his Hill Country ranch retreat back home in Texas, he thought, but not at all bad.
Admittedly, he hadnt seen much of Tamir so far, save for the mosque and the royal palace and gardens. Thanks to the usual flight delays, hed arrived late yesterday afternoon, just barely in time for the marriage ceremony. He found it all interesting, though frankly he was already beginning to feel cooped up and restless. He was more than ready for all this partying and celebrating to be over with so he could get on to his real reason for flying halfway around the world to this remote little island kingdombusiness.
More specifically, oil business. In the beginning hed resisted Elenas invitation to attend the wedding as her honored guest, and to stand up for her as her guardianridiculous idea, he knew of no one on earth less in need of guardianship than Elena Rahmanin place of nonexistent family. At first. Until shed mentioned that Sheik Ahmed Kamal, her father-in-law to be, was interested in refitting his countrys oil refineries, perhaps even building new ones. Cade was in the business of building and refitting oil refineries. The opportunities had seemed too promising to pass up.
There was very little in this world that impressed him, certainly nothing having to do with wealth or title or positions of power. But the old sheikSheik Ahmedhed made one hell of an impression on Cade, even after only one brief meeting. He was sharp, that one. Silver-haired and carrying the weight of a little too much good living, but still crafty as they come. Surprisingly unpretentious, too. The man was the absolute monarch of his country, yet hed elected to use the title of sheika general all-purpose title of respect, was the way Cade understood itrather than king. Cade liked that.
He liked the sheiks son, Hassan, too, though he wasnt ready to admit as much to Elena. Cade was beginning to think Elena hadnt completely lost her mind after all, marrying into a Middle Eastern royal family. Hassan seemed westernized enough, and Elena was just hardheaded enough, as he well knew from personal experience, that they might actually make a go of it.
All at once he was remembering the unheralded softness in Elenas voice on the telephone when shed called to tell him of her plans to marry Hassan. He was remembering last night, and the way her eyes had shone when shed lifted them to her new husbands face as hed drawn aside her veils Twinges of unfamiliar emotions stirred in his chestenvy and longing were the only two he recognized. Annoyed, he drew deeply on the cheroot, his motions momentarily jerky and disconcerted.
It was at that moment when a low murmur of voices reached him from beyond the rose-covered archway. Glad of the distraction, he hurriedly composed himself, preparing to make polite small talk with intruders on his private corner of Eden. Instead, the newcomerstwo of them, from their conversationhalted just on the other side of the arch. About to step through and join them, Cade hesitated. Somethingthe sneering quality of the speaker, perhapsmade him go still and alert and stay right where he was, hidden from view by a lush bank of hibiscus.
joyous occasion! Suddenly raised, the voice was sharp, sarcastic and clear. That was followed by a distinct snort.
You seem less than pleased, Desmond, the second voice remarked in a mildly surprised tone. Lucas is our cousin. Even if he were not family, I would have thought King Marcuss joy would be reason enough for us to celebrate. After all, he had all but given his son up
Now, dont get me wrong, the first speaker broke in hastily, his voice now smooth as oil. Im as thankful as anyone that Prince Lucas has turned up alive andapparently none the worse for wear. There was a pause, and then in a decidedly unctuous voice, Im thinking of you, Lorenzo.
What do you mean? The question was curt, a little wary.
Oh, come nowdont pretend you dont know that in the crown princes absence, King Marcus had been grooming you as his heir. Now that Lucas is back in the picture, your position in the royal court can hardly be the same.
There was an ambiguous sound that could have been amusement or reproof. Its never been my ambition to govern a country, Desmond. Im happy with the position I have, thank you. And after a pause In any case, I really dont think its my position youre concerned about.
The reply was blustering. Look, Im thinking of my own future, toosure I am. Im not going to deny having ambitions.
My God, Desmond, are you that mercenary? That youd wish Lucas had not returned, for the sake of your own
How can you think such a thing of me, your own brother? Whoever he was, Cade thought, this Desmond had apparently really stepped in it, and was now backpedaling so fast he was almost sputtering. I only meantI was referring to our future in service to King Marcus. My only ambition is to serve His Highness, in any way I can, as he sees fit
As the voice babbled on, Cade almost snorted out loud. This Desmond guy was slippery as a snake oil salesman.
Apparently his companion was starting to have some doubts about the mans character, too, brother or not. There was a formidable chill in his voice when, after a marked silence, he suddenly said, I see my wife is looking for me. Excuse me.
Footsteps quickly retreated. A moment later Cade heard the hiss of an exhalation followed by some mutterings that sounded mostly like swearing, and then a second set of footsteps moved off aimlessly along a tiled path, fading finally into the general noise of mingling guests and whispering water.
Cade released a breath hed not been aware of holding, then took a quick drag on the cheroot hed all but forgotten. Cautiously, casually, he stepped around the clump of hibiscus. Interesting, he thought as he watched two men in white dinner jackets move off in different directions. Apparently all was not entirely rosy after all in this Garden of Eden.
Back in the crowded main courtyard, he snagged a waiter, resplendent in white brocade and saffron yellow turban.
Excuse meuh, do you speak English?
Balancing a tray of fruits carved to look like flowers, the waiter dipped his head respectfully. Of course. How may I help you, sir?
Cade smiled in mild chagrin. The man sounded as if hed stepped right off the campus at Oxfordor wherever it was those British lords went to school.
Uhyeah, I was wondering if you could tell me who that gentleman isthe one with the lady with red hair. I was just talking with him, and didnt catch his name.
That would be his lordship, Duke Lorenzo Sebastiani of Montebello, sir. The lady is his wifean American. I believe her name is Eliza.
Ahof course. And that gentleman over therethe dark one? I think he said his name was Desmond.
Yes sirthat is Duke Lorenzos brother, Desmond Caruso, an advisor to King Marcus.
Ah, said Cade. Yesthank you.
I am happy to be of service, sir. The waiter bowed and went on his way.
Interesting, Cade thought again. But, since it didnt have anything to do with Tamir or Elena or her new in-laws, it didnt concern him, either.
He winced as a piercing Yoo-hoo! rose above the pleasant chuckle of a nearby fountain. Cadeoh, Cade!
He groaned and glanced around in hope of finding cover. Seeing none, he rolled his eyes and fixed what he hoped was a welcoming smile on his face as, with one last fortifying puff of his cigar, he went forth to greet Elenas other guest, her loud and annoying friend, Kitty.
Leila was bored. The wedding banquet had been going on for more than three hours, and showed no signs of concluding any time soon. The parade of waiters bearing trays laden with an incredible variety of delicacies seemed endless, even though Leilaand, she was sure, most of the other guestshad already eaten as much as they could possibly hold. The food had been wonderful, of course, befitting a royal Walimachicken simmered in pomegranate juice and rolled in grape leaves, veal sauteed with eggplant and onions and delicately spiced with tumeric and cardamoms. And for the main course, Leilas favoritewhole lamb stuffed with dried fruits, almonds, pine nuts, cracked wheat and onions, seasoned with ginger and coriander and then baked in hot ashes until it was tender enough to be eaten with the fingers. Leila had eaten until she felt stuffed herselfwhich was, she supposed, one advantage in being forced to wear the gracefully draped but all-concealing gown that was Tamirs traditional female costume. At least she didnt have to hold her stomach in.
The trays now were offering a variety of fruits, as well as an amazing assortment of sweetscakes, pastries and candies, even tiny baskets made of chocolate and filled with sugar-glazed flower petals. Ordinarily Leila had an insatiable sweet tooth, but tonight she was too full to do more than nibble at a chocolate-covered strawberry.
She had also drunk much more of her countrys traditional mildly fermented wine than she was accustomed to, and as a result was becoming both sleepy and cross. Not to mention frustrated. It was such a beautiful eveningstars were bright in the cloudless spring sky that canopied the palaces Great Courtyard. The Walima was being held outdoors in order to accommodate the great number of guests, as, according to tradition, everyone in the immediate vicinity was invited to a marriage feast, rich and poor alike. Tiled in intricate geometric patterns and flanked on both sides by stone colonnades, the Great Courtyard was a formal rectangle that extended from the palace to the cliffs, where arched portals framed a spectacular view of the sea. Tables draped in linen and set with fine china and crystal had been set up on both sides of a chain of fountains and narrow pools that divided the courtyard down the middle and reflected the stars and hundreds of flickering torches. A light breeze blowing in from the sea was heavy with the scent of night-blooming jasmine and moonflowers. It was a beautiful night. It might also have beenshould have beena very romantic night.