by Romancing the Crown Series (13-in-1 bundle) (v1. 0) (lit)
He zipped up his overnighter, picked it up and placed it beside its bigger twin, then opened the door. The man who stood there, waiting at patient and respectful attention, wasn't wearing the white-and-gold uniform of the household servants, but a western-style suit, dark gray with an immaculate white shirt and blue-and-gray striped tie. He looked familiar—dark, swarthy, probably handsome, in an austere, arrogant sort of way. Undoubtedly Cade had been introduced to the man during the course of the weekend, which meant he was a member of the royal family or somebody high on the bureaucratic totem pole.
Probably a lawyer, Cade thought cynically. For the defense, he wondered, or the prosecution?
"The sheik wishes to speak with you," the man said, in clipped English. "If you will come with me, please."
What now? Maybe he's changed his mind about having me executed, Cade thought sourly as he gave his room one last look and with a fatalistic shrug, pulled the door shut behind him.
His escort didn't say another word as he led the way along the corridor, following virtually the same path by which the sheik had made his dramatic departure the night before. Cade made a conscious effort to relax, and tried not to think about the confrontation to come. Instead he made a point of noticing the arched passageways, the apparently ancient tiles beneath his feet and mosaics on the walls, and the lamps which, set into niches along the walls, added to the medieval look of it all. He half expected to see armored guards with swords and crossed pikestaffs barring entry through the massive carved double doors at the end of the hallway.
Instead, his escort merely knocked twice, paused, then pushed the doors open and gestured for Cade to enter ahead of him. Cade gave the man a nod and a sardonic, "Thank you," which went unacknowledged.
The sheik's office was huge, but was saved from seeming cavernous by the warm opulence of mahogany, leather and Persian carpets. Arched windows along one side of the room looked out on the sea; on the other, Sheik Ahmed waited behind a long mahogany desk. He wore an ordinary business suit this morning, but that didn't make him seem any the less imposing. He still looked positively biblical, Cade thought. Moses in a suit and tie.
The sheik had risen at Cade's approach. Now he nodded at the escort and said, "Thank you, Butrus. You may leave us."
As the man muttered and made his exit, the name came to Cade. Butrus Dabir. The sheik's most trusted advisor, and according to Elena, one with designs on his daughter, Nadia.
"Thank you for coming, Mr. Gallagher. Please sit down." The sheik indicated one of several leather chairs in front of the desk, waited until Cade was seated, then returned to his own chair. Like a genial host, Cade thought, except without the smile. In fact, he seemed almost.. .in anyone else Cade would have sworn he was....No way around it. The reigning monarch of Tamir gave every indication of being embarrassed.
Sheik Ahmed picked up a pen and put it down. He leaned back in his chair and scowled at the pen with lowered eyebrows. At last, following an introductory rumbling sound, he spoke.
"Mr. Gallagher, I have asked you here so that I may offer you an apology. It seems that, in the heat of the, uh, moment last night, I have made a too-hasty judgment. I believe I accused you of being a man without honor, whereas it seems that you behaved with more honor than most men would have under the same... ahem... the circumstances. I hope that you will forgive my behavior, and that of my daughter." And with that, half rising, the sheik leaned across his desk to offer his hand to Cade.
Who was momentarily speechless, with his mouth hanging open like a schoolboy caught red-handed at mischief. Whatever he might have expected, it sure as hell wasn't this. Finally, though, there was only one thing to do, and that was shake the sheik's hand and say thank you. So he did it.
He was settling back in his chair, feeling dazed as a poleaxed steer, when the sheik gave another rumble and continued. "Regarding your proposal of marriage to my daughter..." There was a pause while the sheik stared intently at Cade, eyes glittering from beneath lowered eyebrows. Much against his will, Cade's heart began to beat faster. "Mr. Gallagher, I am fully aware of the circumstances under which it was made, and I— that is to say, your gallant attempt to salvage my daughter's honor is not unappreciated." There was another pause. Again the sheik's eyes pinioned Cade with the intent stare of a hawk zeroing in on a cornered gopher.
Cade's mind was racing. What was going on here? The old sheik had an agenda, that was clear enough. What wasn't clear at all was exactly how Cade was supposed to fit into it. Okay, he'd been cleared of dishonoring the princess, apologies had been made, he'd been let off the hook. On the other hand, his banishment hadn't been lifted, not in so many words. He had a very strong feeling that if he said thank you now, shook hands and left this room, he'd be taking that early flight home, no hard feelings, but no business deal, either.
What was it the old fox wanted from him? He'd made his feelings on the marriage issue plain enough. So, what?
His heart was pounding, his mind in chaos. However, only his narrowed eyes betrayed the turmoil he was feeling as he calmly said, "Sir, I assure you—I didn't propose marriage to your daughter merely to save her reputation. My desire to marry Leila was—is—sincere."
God, what had he just said? Marry Leila? He felt a bright stab of panic before he remembered that he was safe. Her royal papa was never going to go for it anyway.
At the moment, though, the way the old sheik was staring at him was making him decidedly uneasy. Still intent as a hawk about to pounce, but now—there it was again, that odd little shift of embarrassment.
"Hmm, yes...I see." Sheik Ahmed tapped his fingers on the desktop. "Mr. Gallagher, you must understand that in our culture, such an alliance would be impossible..."
"I understand," Cade murmured, gravely nodding.
"Unless—" the sheik pounced "—you were to convert."
Cade's heart leaped into overdrive. "Convert?"
"To our ways, our culture." The sheik spread his hands and in the white nest of beard his lips curved in a smile. "Then there would be no objection to a marriage between you and my youngest daughter—from me, of course. Naturally, Leila would have to consent to such a match." He actually chuckled.
"Naturally..." Cade breathed. His head was whirling again. What the hell was happening? He gave his head a little shake and tried to smile. "Wow. Convert, huh? That's an...interesting idea. I'11...definitely have to..."
"Of course," Sheik Ahmed said smoothly, "I understand such a decision should not be made lightly. And I would fully understand if you wished to leave us, Mr. Gallagher, after the treatment you have recently been subjected to, from me and, uh...members of my family. However, if you should decide to stay..." another of those strategic pauses, another shrewd glare ".. .it is my understanding that my son, Hassan, and daughter-in-law, Elena, had scheduled a visit to the oil-producing regions of our country, and a tour of our facilities, before their departure on their.. .uh..." He frowned, searching for the word.
"Honeymoon?" Cade supplied.
"Yes, honeymoon." The sheik waved a hand and muttered something about "western traditions," then harrumphed and went on. "It is also my understanding that the three of you wished to discuss a possible business arrangement between your own company, Elena's and Tamir."
Cade, who was pretty much in shock at this point, could only nod and mutter, "Yes, sir, I had been looking forward to meeting with you on that subject—"
Sheik Ahmed gave another hand wave and leaned dismissively back in his chair. "I have decided to leave that aspect of my country's business dealings to my son. And his new wife, who, as the head of her own company, seems very knowledgeable on the subject. You may consider them my representatives. Any agreement you might enter into with them, especially as a member of the family, if you should chose that course—" the sheik smiled, showing strong white teeth "—would be honored fully by the government of Tamir."
Cade let out a gust of breath. He felt absolutely calm, now, clear through to his insides. The cards wer
e on the table; he was pretty sure he knew both the game and the stakes. He also knew he'd been seriously outmaneuvered.
"I understand," he said as he rose to accept the sheik's proffered hand. "Thank you, Your Highness. You've given me a lot to think about. I'm looking forward to visiting your oil production facilities." He tried a strategic pause of his own, meeting the old sheik's glittery black eyes and locking on as their hands clasped across the mahogany desktop. His smile felt frozen on his face. "I'm sure we can work out something," he drawled, "that'll be to both our advantages."
* * *
"He is what?' Leila shrieked, slopping hot coffee into her saucer and very nearly her lap.
"He is going to convert," her mother repeated, her face so round and happy she looked like a child's drawing of a beaming sun. Leila felt as though her sun had just been covered by a huge black cloudbank.
She was on the terrace with Nadia, having a late breakfast—or perhaps an early lunch—while Nadia, who had already eaten, passed the time in her usual way, with her sketchbook. At their mother's interruption Nadia looked up briefly, then went back to making little pencil sketches of Leila.
While Leila mopped up coffee with her napkin, her mother selected the chair next to her and turned it so that it angled toward Leila before she sat. She took Leila's hand, holding it in both of her warm, soft ones. Tears sprang to Leila's eyes. She had to swallow hard to fight down the lump in her throat.
"Your father has given his permission for the two of you to marry," her mother said in a husky, excited voice. She gazed at Leila with shining eyes. "Oh, my child, I am so happy for you. Mr. Gallagher must love you very much, to honor you so."
Leila was glad she was no longer holding the cup of coffee in her hands; as badly as they were shaking, she would surely have dropped it—or perhaps hurled it into the nearest fountain. Inwardly she was seething with anger, with outrage. Remembering the way he had thrust her away from him, as if she were something vile. Remembering the humiliation. How dare he!
Why is he doing this? she thought desperately. What can he possibly hope to gain? Is he trying to humiliate me even more?
Because she knew, she absolutely knew, that whatever Cade Gallagher's motive might be for marrying her, it most definitely was not because he loved her.
"Mother," said Leila in a choked voice, "I do not want to marry Mr. Gallagher. I will not." A tear ran down her cheek.
Her mother made a distressed sound and brushed it away. "Oh dear—I thought you would be pleased. But tell me, why not?"
Why not? Because he made me feel like... like I never knew it was possible to feel. Because he opened a door and beckoned to me, showed me a gliwpse of paradise, then slammed the door in my face. Because he made me want him... and I cannot stop thinking about him... and I know I will never be able to forget him. How can I forgive him for that?
"He is from America!" Leila cried, brushing furiously at both the tears and her mother's hand. It was the only thing she could think of to say. "From Texas!"
Her mother looked startled, but only for a moment. Then she put her arms around Leila and patted her on the back as she crooned, "Yes, of course.. .I understand. Don't cry, my sweet. Naturally you would not wish to marry someone who would take you so far away from your home.. .your family. I hadn't thought, but yes— you would have to live in America—in Texas! Your father and I would hardly ever see you. What were we thinking? Hmm. Well. Never mind."
She gave Leila one last little hug and rose. "Don't worry, my sweet, I will explain things to your father." She smiled and leaned down to kiss Leila's cheek. "To be honest, I think he will be glad that you will be staying right here in Tamir."
When her mother had gone, Leila reached for her coffee cup, then pushed it savagely away from her.
Nadia put aside her sketchbook. "Have you suddenly lost your mind?" she asked mildly. Leila said nothing, but stared at her coffee cup with hot, tearless eyes. "Or," said Nadia, "are you merely being contrary?" She gave a sigh of exasperation. "Did I not hear you say, two days ago, how attractive you thought Mr. Gallagher? And, were you not talking about how much you wanted to go to America? Especially Texas! It seemed like an impossible dream, even I thought so. To have it realized would have taken a miracle. Now, it is as if you had rubbed a magic lamp! All your wishes have been granted. And you would turn them down? Leila—for mercy's sake, why?"
"Because I do not love him," Leila said flatly. Her voice was as dry as her eyes. "And he certainly does not love me."
With an exasperated noise, Nadia flung herself away from the table. "Leila, you are such a child."
Leila stared at her, stung. Although it was the sort of thing people were always saying to her, for some reason, this morning, it hurt more than usual. She swallowed, then said softly, "I do not think it is childish to want to be loved. You have known love, Nadia. Why should I not have the same?"
For a moment, as she gazed back at Leila, Nadia's face softened. For a moment. Then her eyes darkened with pain and she veiled them with her lashes before she turned away. "You don't know what you are talking about. Love brings only pain. Trust me—you do not ever want to know pain like that."
"I am sorry, Nadia," Leila whispered, belatedly remembering her sister's secret heartbreak.
"Besides," Nadia went on briskly, "we are not talking about love, but about marriage, which is a different thing entirely. Love is a terrible reason to get married. It is a recent idea, this notion that one must be in love in order to marry—don't you know that? And look at what that has done! So much unhappiness. Inevitably, love leads to disappointment, and disappointment to misery and even divorce. No, thank you."
"So," said Leila grudgingly, "what reason do you think people should marry for, if not love?" She was by no means ready to agree with such a cynical point of view, but there was no arguing with Nadia.
"Why, for practical reasons, of course." Nadia looked as annoyingly superior as an older sister can. "Marriage should be entered into as a business agreement—a contract, mutually advantageous, of course. I, for example," she said loftily, holding her head high, "have decided to marry Butrus. Why?" Ignoring Leila's gasp of surprise, she rushed on, ticking off reasons one by one on her fingers. "One, Butrus wishes to marry me in order to gain favor with Father, therefore, he knows he must treat me well—very well—because if I were to be made unhappy, Father would not be pleased. Two, as Father's advisor, Butrus is away a great deal of the time. So, I would not only have the status of a married woman, but at the same time I would be assured a considerable amount of freedom. And three, I wish to have children. Butrus is handsome and physically well made. So, we would have beautiful, healthy babies. And, he has rather nice teeth, I believe."
"Nadia," Leila said, giggling in spite of herself, "you sound as though you are buying a horse."
"It is very much the same thing," Nadia said airily. A moment later, though, she was serious again as she bent down to cover Leila's hand with her own and give it an urgent little squeeze. "Leila—for once in your life, use your head. Think. Cade Gallagher will make beautiful, healthy babies, too. And, he will take you to America—to Texas." She glanced quickly over her shoulder and lowered her voice. Even so, it quivered with passion. "Away from here. Just think, Leila—in America you can do—you can become—anything you want to. Anything. Do you understand? The freedom..." She straightened abruptly, biting her lip. " Think about it, Leila," she whispered, and snatching up her sketchpad, walked quickly away without looking back.
Leila did not know how long she stayed there, biting her lip and stubbornly frowning at nothing. Bees hummed among the roses, birds came to drink and play in the fountain and a servant came quietly to clear away the remains of the meal. And still she sat.. .quivering with the burden of unshed tears.
* * *
It was the strangest meeting Cade had ever been a part of. Definitely not what he'd expected. Though he'd have had a hard time putting into words just what it was he had expected.
One thing, definitely—he'd expected to have at least one more chance to talk with Leila. Alone. But clearly, that wasn't going to happen. Instead they each occupied separate leather chairs facing Sheik Ahmed's long mahogany desk, with several feet of space between them. It might as well have been several miles. Like a cross between a biblical Moses and a junior high school principal facing down a couple of co-conspirators in mischief, Sheik Ahmed presided behind his desk. His wife, Alima, Leila's mother, sat in a comfortable chair near one of the casement windows that overlooked the sea. She wore a serene smile and held in her hands a small, leather-bound book.
As for Leila, she hadn't spoken a word to Cade, or even looked at him. She sat straight-backed in her chair with her head held high, the arch of her throat as pale as the marble columns that graced the palace gardens. There was only a quivery softness about her mouth to betray any emotion or vulnerability at all, but to Cade, that was enough. Disliking the queasy, seasick feeling he got when he saw.. .when he remembered.. .that incredibly ripe, incredibly fragile mouth, he'd stopped looking at her at all.
With a face as stern as an old-fashioned Texas hang-'emhigh judge, Sheik Ahmed was speaking, ".. .and that you have entered into this decision of your own free will, and with pure mind and sincere heart?"
"Yes—" Cade cleared his throat. "Yes, sir, I have."
The sheik went on talking, something solemn about a man's heart being the province of God and therefore not to be questioned by man, but Cade wasn't listening. His mind was full of the incredible fact that he, Cade Gallagher, an American businessman living in the twenty-first century, had just agreed to an arranged marriage. Arranged—like in medieval times! How had such a thing happened to him?
Right now, more than anything, what he felt was dazed, bewildered, at a loss to explain how a man such as he, a master at navigating through the most circuitous and complex of business negotiations, could have gotten himself so completely boxed in. Because the truth was, he just didn't see any other way out of this. Not unless he was prepared to take it all back, right here and now, in front of Leila and both her parents. Say he hadn't meant the proposal of marriage to begin with, that it had been a mistake and he wasn't prepared to go through with it after all. Say it to her face.