by Andres Mann
Before dinner, Tess descended the staircase looking like a princess, her beautiful gown hugging her figure and showcasing her bosom.
She noticed a magnificent black Bösendorfer grand piano in the parlor. She touched a few keys, and her ear could ascertain that the instrument was perfectly tuned. She started to play Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in C major, the first piece of the Well-Tempered Clavier, a slow, sublime composition that melts the soul. The sonority of the piano was amazing. ‘This instrument belongs in a concert hall, not a private house,’ she thought.
Fadime sat on a chair. “You play beautifully, Tess.”
“Thank you, Fadime. At one time, I considered music as a career.” Her mood changing, Tess dove into the Etude No 12 in D sharp minor by Scriabin, a gorgeous, turbulent, even angry piece requiring great skill from the pianist. Amir walked into the room. He sat on a chair and witnessed a fiery woman playing a titanic piece of music overflowing with urgency and passion. He was mesmerized, looking knowingly at Fadime, sharing in the wonder of the performance. It was one more arrow in his heart, cementing his fixation on a truly remarkable woman with many facets of her personality.
When they sat for dinner, Amir’s chef had prepared a predictably splendid repast: Escargots de Bourgogne, Cervena Venison, Coquilles Saint Jacques, Coq Au Vin, and Crepes for dessert. The food was accompanied by fine wines. It was as if they never left France.
After dinner, they retired to the open balcony where the waiter served cordials and fine cognac.
Amir relayed to his sister the fascinating conversation he and Tess had at the restaurant in Villefranche. “I really must congratulate you, Tess, on your knowledge of history. And you are also a truly accomplished pianist; remarkable.”
Tess was slightly annoyed about what she perceived Amir’s patronizing. “There are intelligent and talented women out there, Amir. You just have to find them. Sometimes you might consider getting past their décolleté and be surprised to find a real person.”
Amir placed his hand on his heart. “I am crushed. I thought I was sincerely paying compliments to you, which you fully deserve. But, of course, we both know that you are different. You are both a warrior and a scholar — an extraordinary combination in this day and age.”
“…and a remarkably beautiful woman,” Fadime added.
Tess tried to change the subject.” I looked at your library. You have an excellent collection of rare books. Many appear to be first editions.”
Fadime saw her entry. “Yes, we are fortunate to be able to acquire some fine examples. We have first edition Milton and Shakespeare and many books from the 1600’s. One of my favorites is a very old edition of the Kama Suthra — but, of course, it is not proper in England to talk about such naughty books in polite company.”
Tess inquired: “What do you like about the book, Fadime?”
“I am reading it to prepare for the day I get married. It seems that I can’t avoid tying the knot. It is expected of me.”
“You could do worse than that book. I have read it myself. What surprised and interested me was not the description of various sexual positions by which the book is superficially known in the West, but the treatise on creating a proper and fulfilling relationship between lovers.”
Amir looked at her, surprised. “You actually read the book, Tess? It is true; the perceived salaciousness is not necessarily the whole message of the text.”
“I agree, Amir. If you make allowances for the time the book was written and discount ancient customs and practices such as harems, there are significant passages of wise counsel on what couples should do to get to know each other, and to explore what they need and what they fear. A lot of the material helps couples achieve closeness before they make love. I think that the suggestion that couples wait three days so that they can appreciate each other is the best advice you could give to people. When they finally physically love each other, they are prepared to give each other intense pleasure that would not otherwise be possible.”
Fadime interjected. “I am afraid that the romantic notions you talk about are no longer valid in today’s society. There is no such a thing as a virgin anymore. People fornicate like rabbits before they get married.”
“That’s true, but all it proves that people today lose a lot of pleasure by having been promiscuous. You also have to consider that the sex, drugs and rock-n-roll culture that burst through in the sixties was probably a reaction to the guilt about sex that the Christian Church systematically imposed for centuries.”
“All religions exist by creating guilt in the people,” observed Amir.
Tess took a sip to clear her throat. “To a great extent you are correct, Amir. I don’t know much about Islam or the Eastern religions, but I know a lot about the historical impact of the Christian religion in the West. By institutionalizing fear of God and a sense of guilt just for being human, I cannot even try to conjecture the misery that such dogma has plagued people’s lives for centuries.”
Amir stood up and raised his glass of cognac toward Tess. “Madam, I was not wrong. You are truly remarkable, and I am honored to have you in my house.”
Fadime followed suit. Tess wondered if she should have kept her own counsel.
Amir looked at his watch, a superfluous gesture since the room had two beautiful antique clocks on the walls. “I enjoyed the evening ladies, but I need to retire. I have to go to London in the morning to tend to some business. I will be back for dinner. Good night.”
Fadime also excused herself. Tess stayed behind, enjoying the cool evening.
Amir was ready to go to bed when Fadime burst into the room. “Amir, I don’t know how you found this woman, but you need to think about what you are doing. She is out of your league. Tess is not your type. She is tough, smart and is well aware of who she is. Even if you persuade her to go with you, she will never be the compliant blushing violet that you usually like. She is a real person and I am not sure she is right for you.”
“Fadime, don’t insult my intelligence. I am not stupid. There is a reason why I want her, and not just for one night. I love her.”
“Good night, Amir. Beware of what you wish for.”
***
The next morning, Tess asked for a car to take Aara to town for some shopping. The driver dropped them off in the center.
Tess was not particularly interested in shopping; she just wanted to spend time with Aara without other people around. She found quickly enough that this would not happen. Amir had tasked the driver to provide security and pay for any purchases. The man followed Tess and Aara from a respectful distance.
Tess wanted to buy things that the child wanted rather than toys that others had chosen for her. Grasping the child’s hand, she went on a whirlwind tour of the attractive cobbled High Street, which is the focus of Guildford’s shopping district. They visited sophisticated toy stores where Aara chose several dolls, an enormous dollhouse, and a few stuffed toys. The driver paid for the goods and arranged for delivery.
The shopping spree over, Tess picked up the child and carried her off to the market that stretched along North Street. She wished that she could buy some of the food on display. It was a genuine cornucopia: fresh meat, fish, fruit, coffee, cheese, olives, vegetables, and flowers. Other presentations offered pet food, luggage, linen, rugs, bags, towels, jewelry, clothes, cards and wooden carvings. Just about everything one would need. Except that in Amir’s house, all shopping was done by the servants.
Aara wanted to see everything. Tess put her down, and they walked to a market offering crafts and handicrafts. She then led Aara to the house of Lewis Carroll, ‘Chestnuts’, on Castle Hill in the center of town. Carrol was one of her favorite authors. As a child, she lost herself in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel Through the Looking-Glass.
She had delighted reading The Hunting of the Snark, a fantastical “nonsense” poem, dealing with the adventures of a bizarre group of tradesmen and one beaver, which sets off to find the eponymou
s creature. The books provided her a respite from a relentless regime of working toward concrete objectives. It was one of the few times that she let her imagination run free.
There were many other sites that she wanted to see, but Aara was now getting tired, so Tess asked the driver to take them back to the manor.
The child fell asleep on her lap. Tess pondered about the last few days spent on trivial pursuits and enjoying the benefits of wealth. Ordinarily, she would consider what she had been doing a waste of time. There seemed to be nothing in this lifestyle that would suggest constructive pursuits, elimination of evil or contributions to society.
She looked at the sleeping child on her lap and again felt the closeness and, yes, love. She never thought she would ever feel like that. Her life thus far had never contemplated the possibility of motherhood. She now felt physical changes within herself, a sudden surge to protect and nurture the child—any child.
She also thought about Jake. She again felt guilty to have left him in the dark about what she was about to do. Jake would not have understood her placing herself under Amir’s aegis. It was for the right reasons, she kept telling herself.
Chapter 25
Stallions
The next morning, Amir, back from London, suggested a horse ride. Tess had not done that for a long time and readily agreed.
She got back to her room to dress. A complete riding outfit had already been laid out by Amir’s furtive trolls: an Ashby show coat, riding breeches, show shirt, half chaps boots, riding gloves and a riding hat. Miraculously, everything fit to perfection.
Tess met Amir at the stables. He saw her approaching, walking with assured grace and confidence. She was not a novice at this noble pursuit.
Amir expressed his appreciation. “You look exquisite, my Lady.”
“Thank you, Amir. You are handsome and look like a true equestrian.”
“Actually, I am a true equestrian,” he responded, smiling. “As you see Tess, we keep the horses together in spacious stalls. This prevents them from becoming antisocial and difficult to handle. We employ grooms that regularly exercise the horses and look after their welfare.”
Tess was impressed by the facilities and the quality of the horses. She selected a beautiful white stallion called Achilles and led him out by the bridle. Once outside, the horse snorted, signaling that he would not be an easy animal to handle.
“Are you sure you want to ride Achilles, Tess? He can be difficult at times.”
Tess did not reply; she was busy examining the splendid beast. He had all of the ideal characteristics of a fine Arabian horse: a refined, wedge-shaped head, a broad forehead, large eyes, large nostrils, and a small muzzle. Achilles also had a slight forehead bulge between his eyes that added sinus capacity. The horse also had another breed characteristic: an arched neck with a large, well-set windpipe set on a refined, clean throatlatch, allowing flexibility in the bridle and room for the windpipe. As a well-bred Arabian, the horse had deep, well-angled hips and a well laid-back shoulder.
“This horse is truly magnificent, Amir.” Tess kept stroking the head and neck of the noble beast. Achilles snorted and shook his head again, but Tess continued to touch him to make him comfortable with her presence. She did not attempt to mount him until she felt they were properly acquainted. She patiently maintained contact with him until the horse calmed down.
Tess put her cheek on the horse’s neck and gave him a final caress on his snout. “You must make love to a horse before you mount him.”
Amir was almost shocked by her statement, so subject to interpretation. ‘She is an immensely capable woman full of surprises; nothing about her is ordinary. My heart is bursting with desire.’ His Cambridge education sometimes influenced him to use old fashioned Victorian phases to express thoughts of love and lust.
Tess got on the saddle. “A noble beast does not let just anyone ride him; he needs to develop confidence that the rider understands and appreciates him.”
Amir mounted a beautiful black horse and joined Tess at a trot.
“I was trained to do dressage,” Tess shared. “I learned how to develop a horse’s flexibility and responsiveness. This makes the horse stronger and more pleasant to ride. I always competed against myself first and against others taking the test. We all pursued the goal in the competition, which is always to improve on our own score.”
They reached an open field. Tess threw a challenge at Amir. “I’ll race you to that large tree over there.”
“As you wish, my lady.” He tipped his hat and slapped the horse’s haunches. They both started racing at the same time and careened through the meadow as fast as their horses could go. Amir was a superb rider. He had horses in his blood and he rode with remarkable expertise like an ancient warrior. The animals were truly magnificent, elatedly racing through the countryside. Amir and Tess accelerated as if they were mounted dragoons charging against the enemy’s cannons. He reached the tree first by mere seconds.
They dismounted, and sat under the tree catching their breath.
“Congratulations, Amir. I am impressed that you didn’t let me win. I would have known if you did, and I would not have liked it.”
“You ride beautifully, Tess. I suspect that next time the warrior in you will find a way to win.”
“I really mean it, Amir. You are a marvelous rider. I usually don’t lose a horse race.”
“I wonder why I am not surprised.”
The looked into each other eyes with a renewed sense of respect for each other’s abilities. Amir turned toward her, touched her chin and put his lips on hers. Tess felt a jolt in her body; it was not rejection, but desire. She opened her lips. Amir kissed her passionately, moving his hands to her waist, savoring the magic of two bodies coming close.
Tess stood up, shaken. “Amir, we can’t do this. Let’s go back.”
They mounted their horses and returned to the stables without saying a word. Riding behind Tess, Amir smiled.
Chapter 26
Change in Plans
Tess called her father back in the States for their usual monthly chat.
“Tess, where have you been? I have been trying to get a hold of you. Are you all right?”
“I am fine, Dad. I have been doing some travel in Europe.”
“Tess, your CO Colonel Reynolds and one of your colleagues, Jake Vickers have been calling. Reynolds wants you to return to your unit ASAP. Things in Iraq are going from bad to worse. We just don’t have enough troops to put down the insurgency.”
“Yes, I have heard about that Dad, but I needed some time off.”
“I can understand that you needed that after what you went through, but apparently you are now okay. If you don’t go back, you risk being deactivated. Of course, if that is what you want to do, I will understand.”
“No, I want to go back; I just need another week.”
“Okay. I will call Reynolds and tell him you are on your way. Anything else I need to know? Are you really okay?”
“I am okay dad. I will keep you posted. I need to go now.”
“Fine, Tess. Don’t be a stranger, please? Love you.”
“I love you, dad.” Tess hung up the phone.
Conversations with her father were always short and business-like. Tess rarely opened up when talking with him and the focus of their chats inevitably found its way back to her career.
***
Tess met Amir for dinner. “Fadime is not feeling well tonight,” he said. “She will eat in her room.”
The meal as usual was superb, after which they retired to the balcony. The weather was perfect; the plants in the garden were tastefully lit, and an owl was perching on one of the trees.
Tess got to the point. “Amir, I am being called back to the army. I have to leave tomorrow.”
“Tess, you don’t have to do that. By now you have seen that there is a world of other possibilities for you here. I would like very much for you to stay.”
‘I have worked hard for my care
er; I just can’t throw it away.”
Amir took a sip of Cognac. “Tess, our agreement was that you would spend a month with me and Aara. It’s only been two weeks. You must admit that so far I have met my part of the bargain. I expect that you do the same.”
“Amir, I need to go and I want to bring Aara with me. I will make arrangements for her to stay with my cousin Jane, who has two children of her own. She will be well taken care of until I return from Iraq.”
“You are not honoring our agreement. Therefore I cannot agree to what you propose. If you insist on leaving now, Aara stays with me.”
Tess could not conceive of being away from a child that she now loved. She had become very close to her and couldn’t bear the thought of not having her in her life.
“Amir, what do I have to do to change your mind?”
“You know what I want. I want you to fall in love with me and to become mine. I love you Tess, and I want us to have a life together.”
“Amir, I can’t do that. We are from different worlds. Yes, your world is very seductive, and I admit that you are a remarkable and attractive man. But, this is not for me. I cannot be a pampered woman where everything is done for her. I need more control in my life.”
“Very well; I propose a compromise. You come to me tonight and afterward you can have the girl.”
“Amir, again, how can you possibly want a woman that does not want you?!”
“I think I know you, Tess. When I see you with the child, you show a tenderness that was not there before. You have softened as a woman, as it should be. This afternoon, when we kissed, you responded. I think you want to love me as well.”
Tess wanted to cry. She felt cornered, with no other option but to accede to his desires. “I made a solemn promise to a dying woman that that I would not allow Aara to grow up with you.”
Amir’s anger flared up. “Don’t forget that Kejal died because of you!”