“Not just wicked but insatiable and completely and utterly adorable,” he smiled as he took her tenderly in his arms again.
*****
They spent the day exploring the pyramids. Ben had visited before and proved to be an interesting and informative guide. He was impressed with her historical knowledge and the intelligent questions she asked, although she expressed surprise at the pyramids’ size as they towered above her. Even though she could see in photographs they were big, in real life they seemed massive.
The day passed quickly and before long they were back on Ravi's boat for their return journey. This time they settled in the back of the boat, sitting quietly, enjoying the peace of the evening and content in each other's company. Charis broke the silence first and commented on how different everything was from home and it started them talking about the things they enjoyed doing.
They discovered that they both preferred country living to town life. They loved animals, walking in the countryside, and enjoyed reading and music. They discussed their favourite authors and Charis was thrilled when Ben mentioned Paul Ainslie’s name as one of his favourites and he was impressed when she’d told him that he was her father. They preferred classical music to modern - they both enjoyed Shakespeare; Charis' favourite was “A Midsummer Night's Dream”, she had played Puck in a school production, and Ben's favourite was Henry V. They enjoyed Gilbert and Sullivan and quickly agreed the best were ‘The Pirates of Penzance’ and ‘The Mikado’. Soon they were laughing about the Lord High Executioner and his little list, and they had fun making up a few little lists of their own.
She learned that Ben had played cricket for his school first XI, and that he played tennis and loved to ski but hadn't done much in recent years as he'd been too busy with his studies. Charis declared that she was useless at games and had always been picked last to play on any team at school. She enjoyed playing tennis though, if she could find people that didn't mind playing with her because she wasn't very good. She was a good swimmer and loved dancing – any kind of dancing: the folk dances she had learned in school to the ballet classes she had as an ‘extra’. She shyly told him that the previous evening was the first time she had ever danced with a man, because at school when she'd learnt ballroom dancing, the girls had partnered with each other, and dancing with Ben had been the best kind of dancing of all.
They talked about families and what they hoped for the future. Charis confessed that she would like to have a large family with lots of children. She’d loved the feel of the Covington home and always hoped that one day her own grown up home would be like that. But she doubted it would ever happen because she thought she would probably die giving birth like her grandmother and mother before her. She told Ben that she didn't think it would be fair to do that to a child - her own experience had been proof of that. Not that she was afraid to die, well, maybe just a little, but she didn't think that any child should have to grow up without a mother. Ben felt like crying…for her and the unhappy little girl she’d been.
But all too soon their journey was over. Engrossed in conversation, the time had just flown by.
PART III
EPIPHANY
Ravi hadn’t returned from his father-in-law’s funeral but Ahmed made sure that dinner was ready for Ben and Charis upon their return. They chatted while they ate and finally Ben said he’d better go and check his e-mails to see if there was any news from the King.
They’d gone back to their room and Charis had a shower. Taking her time, as she thought Ben would be busy for a while, she was thinking…trying to get her thoughts and feelings straight in her mind. She’d told Ben that their last night together had been magic and she could think of no better word to describe it. They’d undressed each other slowly, sensuously, made love for hours, over and over again, and learned how to give each other pleasure. She’d told him when they first met that she knew the theory of sex but she was finding out that the practice was very different. She hadn't taken into account, or even understood, how her body would react to his touch and to his lovemaking. He was obviously a skilful and experienced lover. He’d been tender and gentle with her and at times very passionate and demanding and had known exactly what to do to arouse her. She was glad that he wasn’t a callow youth making his first fumbling and clumsy attempts at sex. If she’d given it a thought, which she hardly ever did because from the time that she’d first learned about the facts of life in her school human biology class she’d thought the idea of sex both repugnant and repulsive, she would’ve assumed that her first experience would be with someone she knew and loved and trusted. She’d immediately felt that she knew Ben and trusted him, whether it was just because it was him or because he reminded her so much of the Ben she’d loved all those years ago, she wasn't sure. But there was no doubt in her mind or her heart now that she loved this Ben. He was everything she admired in a man. He was tall, slim and extremely good looking, and had a smile that gave her butterflies. His dark brown eyes always seemed to be laughing at some secret joke. She loved the way he had to push his dark hair away from his face, he wore it short but it was wavy and part of it seemed to insist on going the wrong way. She often found herself tempted to run her fingers through it and touch his face, his very dear, handsome face that she had come to love so much. She loved the sound of his voice, deep and sometimes a little husky. But it was so much more than that. He was kind, gentle and considerate with her. He was extremely intelligent and they had much in common and enjoyed so many of the same things. His sense of humour matched hers, his witty remarks made her laugh, but they were never hurtful or sarcastic, and he seemed so full of life and fun without being overbearing. She had to constantly remind herself that he was a prince, yet he seemed so real, so down to earth, so much a part of her world, like she’d known him and loved him forever…that he was an integral part of her being. But even so, she couldn't see where this could possibly lead.
When she entered the bedroom he was waiting for her. He'd changed and was wearing his sweats and t-shirt again, a serious expression on his face. She walked towards him but he kept her at arms’ length.
“We need to talk,” he said. “I need you to listen and not interrupt until I'm done, okay?”
She nodded, at a loss to understand the sudden change in him.
“Firstly, I want you to know that these past forty-eight hours with you have been the happiest and most wonderful two days of my life. But it's all over now. The King is happy with the trade agreement and I have to be in Dubai on Sunday morning. I promised that if you wanted I would take you home and I never break my promises. So tomorrow, I shall take you, but first I want you to promise me something.”
Charis could barely breathe. The last thing she wanted was for her time with him to end but she managed a nod of understanding.
“After you're home, if, in a few weeks’ time, you find that you are with child as a result of our coupling here, you must promise to let me know. I would always want to be part of our child's life and I would expect to provide for both of you.”
He paused. She couldn't speak. Her eyes were full of tears and she daren't even look at him. She managed another nod. After a moments’ silence he continued. “But if I could have the wish of my heart it would be that you would stay with me. I cannot bear the thought of losing you.”
As he spoke tenderly, Charis lifted her head and her eyes met his. She could see the love clearly in his eyes. A tiny sob escaped her lips as she whispered, “Oh, Ben.”
He put his fingers to her lips then caressed her cheek. “Hear me out before you say anything,” he said softly. She nodded for the fourth time. “I’m not going to insult your intelligence by saying that I could never be happy without you, but I can tell you that I will be much, much happier with you in my life than I could ever be without you.”
Charis struggled to contain her tears – he loved her! It was almost unbelievable to her that it could be so and she couldn't help herself asking, “Why?”
�
�You mean apart from the obvious?” he smiled as he asked.
“Obvious?” It was a question.
“Your beauty is beyond words to describe,” he reminded her and made her blush. “And the sex of course!” She felt herself blush all over and lowered her eyes. He smiled at her shyness and decided to tease her a little. “Never, not even in my wildest teenage fantasies, could I have imagined anything as wonderful as being with you…making love to you.” He knew he’d embarrassed her so he went on. “But even more importantly than that are so many other things. I love the sound of your voice and the way you move. I love your smile, your sense of fun, your laughter, courage, kindness and thoughtfulness. You're intelligent and articulate and I never have to explain things to you. I love everything about you. Even the ordinary things like the way you dress and do your hair, and that you don't use gobs of make up or put garish colours on your nails and make them look like witches talons.” And added, just to tease her a little again, “And the fact that after all we have done together in bed, when you go to the bathroom to perform your ablutions you shut the door firmly in my face!”
She squirmed. “You think it's silly.”
“I think it’s very endearing,” he said lovingly. “I love your shyness and your modesty.”
He gathered her into his arms and kissed her. “Charis,” he whispered her name and it sounded almost like a prayer. “I love you more than I ever could have believed possible. I want you to be my wife. Will you marry me?”
It took several minutes before she could answer him. He continued to hold her close, stroking her hair and kissing her gently on her forehead. When she had sufficient control of her emotions she said, “Oh, Ben! I love you so much that it feels as though my heart will burst! I can't think of anything in this world that would be more wonderful than to be married to you!” She paused before continuing, unable to carry on, to say what she knew she must.
He spoke for her. “I think I can hear a ‘but’ coming here. Am I right?”
She nodded, barely, eyes lowered to the floor. Eventually Charis managed to control her voice enough to say, “I belong to you Ben. I belong to you - my heart, my body and soul, and I will live in sin with you or be your mistress or your lover whenever we can be together and for as long as you want me.” She took a deep breath and all but whispered, “But I can't marry you.”
“Why not sweetheart?”
“I don't belong in your world - here in the middle east with Kings and palaces and things. I'm just an ordinary English girl. I couldn't live here.”
“You can't marry me because I live here? Or because I'm a prince?”
“Both,” was her reply.
“So if I was just Bill Blogs, ordinary bloke, London taxi driver, would you marry me then?”
“In a heartbeat.”
“Maybe not a taxi driver.” Ben said, enjoying himself, the sparkle back in his eye. “What if I was a policeman, or a school teacher or a lawyer or doctor or an architect or shopkeeper? Would you marry me then?”
Once more she nodded, “Of course.”
“Then we'll have to see what we can do about that because we are going to get married, you know.” He spoke with his voice of authority. “I love you and appreciate your offer of being my mistress but I want you for my wife. I want the world to know that we belong together.” He glanced at his watch. “It’s nine o'clock. I have a phone call I need to make in about an hour or so. Do you have any ideas for something we could possibly do to fill in the time?”
*****
Just after ten o’clock, Ben reached over to the bedside table and picked up his phone. Charis was nestled in his arms, her head resting on his chest. He dialled, the phone rang at the other end and she heard a woman's voice answer, “Hello.”
“Hi Allison. It's Ben.”
“Ben? Oh Ben, where are you? Are you here in London?”
“No, no, I'm in Cairo. How's my favourite patient? And young Nicholas?”
Charis lay still and listened to every word.
“He's just fine,” she heard the voice on the other end of the phone. “Trying to walk and getting into all sorts of mischief.” The voice was full of maternal pride.
“And you, Allison? How are you?”
“Oh Ben, we've started another baby and I'm scared. I really need you here.”
His voice instantly registered concern as he asked a few questions and spoke with her about her condition. “And what does Graham think?” he added.
“You know Graham,” the voice replied. “He says everything’s fine, it’s all as it should be and it'll all be okay, but he said that last time and if you hadn't been here...” her voice trailed off.
“Well, don't worry,” he reassured her. “We'll have to see what we can do about that. Is Graham at home?”
After a minute or two, a man's voice came on the other end. “Ben? Good to hear from you. Allison said you're in Cairo?”
“Yes.”
“A bit late there isn't it? Shouldn't you be in bed?
“It's not that late and I am in bed.”
“And not alone I'll bet!”
“None of your business,” answered Ben.
“Randy bastard,” came the reply with a chuckle.
“Get your mind out of the gutter, Graham. Listen to who's talking,” responded Ben. “I hear you've gotten your wife pregnant again.”
The tone of the voice on the other end of the phone call changed and Charis could hear the pride in the man’s voice. “Yes! Isn't she wonderful? But she's worried…wants you here to look after her.”
“That's what I wanted to talk to you about,” said Ben. “That partnership deal we talked about. Is the offer still open?”
“You know it is,” Graham responded eagerly. “Can't wait for you to join us. Getting sick of the royal bit already are we?”
“You know it wasn't going to be for very long. I can't wait for my life to get back to normal. Anyway, I'm trying to talk the most beautiful girl in the world in to marrying me and she won't have me as a prince.”
“Sensible girl. Hope she's the one you've got with you now!”
Ben turned to Charis, “Don't let this conversation put you off Graham. He really is quite a nice chap most of the time.”
“What's that?” Graham's voice interrupted Ben.
“I'm just telling Charis that you're not always so objectionable.”
“Charis? That's not an Arab name?”
“No, why should it be? Charis is English. Anyway back to business. When can we get this deal going?” Ben asked.
“When will the King release you?”
“I have to see him on Sunday. I shall tell him then. I'm pretty sure he'll be expecting it. Two weeks is about all I can handle, besides, about the first thing I did when I arrived at the palace was help his favourite granddaughter who went into early labour. She had complications and there was no time to get her to the hospital and only me with any knowledge of what to do. The King was very grateful. I won't have any problems there.”
“So when do you want to get things started then?” Graham asked.
“I can be there Monday afternoon I should think. Can the paperwork be done by then?”
“Absolutely! Have it ready for you, on my desk, by Monday at noon.”
“Five hundred?”
“Yes, that should do it. Starting date at the centre?”
“How about in a month? Four weeks from Monday? That suit you? We need time to arrange our wedding and have a honeymoon.”
“Yep, sounds good to me. See you Monday then. Come and dine with us. Allison will be delighted to see you, and to show off young Nicholas.”
“Okay,” said Ben. “See you Monday,” and he put the phone down with a satisfied smile on his face.
The silence in the room was eventually broken by Charis. “You're a doctor.” It was a statement not a question.
“Yes, a gynaecologist and obstetrician.”
“Not a prince?” This time it was a question.
“Oh yes, I'm a prince too.”
“How can you be both?”
“My father was a prince, the son of King Mushtaq, and brother of the current King, but my mother is English and I was born and raised in England. My father died before I was two and I didn't come to Qumrai and the Middle East until I was twelve. But whenever I come to visit my family here, I get the royal treatment.” He paused for a moment, then went on. “I need to introduce you to your future husband. Doctor Benjamin Joseph Sinclair, newly qualified consultant gynaecologist and obstetrician and newest partner at the St. Anne's hospital and centre for Women's Health.”
The silence was so deep that Charis could hear her own heart beating. She assumed Ben could, too, because after a minute he reminded her, “You promised. In a heartbeat you said. You promised to marry me as long as I wasn't a prince and as I live most of my life in England where I’m a doctor and most definitely not a prince, I would respectfully remind you that doctor was on the list of those you said you'd marry…in a heartbeat.” Still she didn't speak so he asked her again, “Charis, love of my life, will you marry me?”
Tears of happiness welled up in her eyes and she managed to whisper, “Yes, oh yes.”
He kissed her very gently and quietly enjoyed the sweetness of the moment, unwilling to spoil the magic of it all. Ben finally said, “We need to make plans,” but still they lay, reluctant to spoil the moment. Several minutes ticked by before Ben spoke again. “Plans!” It was a voice of authority but instead of making plans, Charis asked him to explain in more detail about his family; his father and his mother.
“My grandfather, my English grandfather, was Joseph Sinclair, a senior official in the Foreign Office, and after his wife died my mother Emily, who was in her early twenties, used to occasionally accompany him to official functions. That’s how she met my father, Ali Ibrahim el Hussein. He was in London representing his father, the King of Qumrai. They were immediately attracted to each other and before long he asked her to marry him. Her first inclination was to say no. Not only did she refuse to go and live in Qumrai, but he already had two wives. So he promised her that he would return home, divorce his current wives and return to live in England, and that’s what he apparently did. He had official documents to prove that his divorces had been finalised and the King gave him an assignment at the Embassy in London. As he already had a few children, my mother agreed that he should return and visit them two or three times a year. Things were fine for a few years. After they had been married for about two years, my sister was born and eighteen months after that my mother discovered she was pregnant again, with me. That was when she received an unsigned letter from someone, supposedly from one of my father's other wives, telling her that he’d never divorced either of them and had in fact, taken a fourth wife since being married to my mother and had also fathered several more children. When my mother confronted him with the letter, it was obvious to her that what she’d read was true, so she began legal proceedings against him and he went home in somewhat of a hurry because he could have been arrested for bigamy. He never came back so their marriage was annulled and she reverted to her maiden name and in due course I was born. My father died before I turned two and a few years later my mother married a wonderful man; a widower with two children of his own, and they had two more children together. My childhood was actually pretty idyllic. We were, we are, all very happy and very close.
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