by Cara Albany
Nicole saw the flat expression in his eyes. He didn't want to say anything more. She wanted to pursue that line of questions a bit further, but restrained the impulse to get more out of him.
Nicole could sense the barriers he'd put up since they'd left Hakim's camp. There would be time later to try and push those barriers aside and find out more about the man who'd saved her.
He moved the horse down into the valley and across the flat plain. They came to a high, white marble entranceway. The metal gates were open. Past the gates she could see a narrow road leading up through an avenue of trees. The road ended in a circular courtyard in front of the palace.
As they rode up toward the palace, the horse's hooves clacked loudly on the hard driveway. Nicole gazed through the trees at the gardens beyond. She felt a sudden shock when she realized that the gardens were in a state of disrepair.
From their previous vantage point on the crest of the dune, the garden had seemed idyllic and well-tended. But, now that she could see it up close, thanks to the lights from the palace, it looked like no-one had taken care of the garden in a very long time. The grass was overgrown; hedgerows had become chaotic and messy; flowerbeds were dead and barren.
Nicole wondered why no-one had tended to the garden. She was about to ask Rashid, when he pointed toward the steps which led up to the massive front doors.
There were two people standing on the steps. A man and a young woman, both dressed in traditional white robes.
"They've been waiting," he said with audible satisfaction in his voice.
"How did they know you'd be back so soon?"
"They didn't. But they know I'm never away from the palace for longer than a few hours," he explained.
Nicole looked at him. "You never leave the palace?" she asked.
"Except for something important," he replied. He smiled at her. "I suppose this qualifies as something important. Wouldn't you agree?"
Nicole smiled weakly. "I suppose so," she agreed.
Had he just given her a look? When he had said the word "important" she was sure she'd seen his eyes brighten slightly. Apart from that, she was amazed to learn that he was here every single night. What kind of life did this sheikh live if it meant he never left the confines of his palace for even one night? Every sheikh she'd ever known had only used their palaces as a base for their extravagant lifestyle. Sometimes they'd be gone from their palaces for days or weeks.
So, what was it that held Rashid here? What made him use this place as some kind of sanctuary?
Rashid drew the horse to a halt at the bottom of the steps. He hurriedly dismounted and reached up to her. Nicole gazed down at his out-stretched arms and then across at the man and woman who were watching her.
"I can get down on my own," Nicole announced.
Rashid's mouth opened slightly and he glanced at his staff members. He nodded. "Of course," he said taking a step back. His posture stiffened with sudden formality.
Nicole twisted and jumped down onto the courtyard. The two servants came down the stairs. Rashid spoke to them briefly and they bowed and raced back up into the palace.
Nicole gazed at the exterior of the palace front. Up close, she could see that some of the latticework on the outside of the building was cracked and damaged. The whiteness of the palace now seemed less bright, now that she was up close. The steps leading up to the front doors were chipped in parts. Paint on some of the walls on the upper floors was flaked and peeling. All in all, the palace had an appearance of being slightly rundown.
Nicole looked at Rashid. She thought about asking him why the palace looked like that, but she was prevented from doing so when he gestured for her to walk up the stairs.
Rashid walked alongside her as she stepped gingerly up the steps. Once through the open doors, Nicole found herself standing in a wide hallway which was brightly lit by lamps set in sconces on the walls. It was a sudden relief to be back in a space where she could see clearly. After the darkness of the desert, she had to squint her eyes so that she could see where she was.
A wide staircase led to the upper floor of the palace. On either side of the staircase she saw entrances to rooms. Inside the rooms she could could see tasteful furnishings and all the trappings of luxury living. Alongside the staircase, ornately decorated white, marble pillars lined the passageways that led further into the palace.
It was clear the palace was huge, bigger than she'd realized from a distance. It was certainly too big for just one person, she told herself, looking across at Rashid. He looked as if he was waiting for some kind of approving remark from her. She didn't want to disappoint him: "This is a beautiful home, Sheikh Rashid," she said.
"Just call me Rashid," he said narrowing his eyes at her. "While you are a guest in my home, I would like us to be on friendly terms."
Now what had he meant by that? Nicole examined him for any hint of something that would give her cause for concern. But she didn't see anything. All she saw was a man who was pleased for her to be a guest in his home. That was all. Again that barrier of formality, the coolness of custom had descended upon him as she looked at him.
"Okay," she said and nodded. "Rashid, it is."
He looked pleased and she briefly wondered whether she had done the right thing in encouraging him like that.
Rashid's brows furrowed. "Are you hungry?"
Nicole shook her head. "Not really. I just seem to be completely covered in sand," she said gazing down at her pants and blouse.
Rashid looked concerned. "You must be tired."
Nicole sighed. Right at the moment he'd uttered those words, she'd felt every muscle in her weary body become suddenly heavy. Also, it didn't help that sitting in the horse had made her inner thighs ache. She knew they would hurt in the morning.
"I haven't any things of my own," she said. She'd left every one of her personal belongings back at the camp. Leaving in a hurry would make someone do that, she told herself.
"There may be some things you could use,"he said tentatively.
"Women's clothes?" she asked raising a brow at him.
He smiled. "No. But we have some robes and other things you might find useful." He glanced down the entire length of her sand-covered body. As he did so, she felt a slight, self-conscious rush of sensation. Had his gaze lingered just a little too long as he'd looked at her?
"If you wish, I can have the staff arrange for your clothing to be washed and dried."
And then what would she wear while she was waiting for that to be done? Nicole couldn't help questioning Rashid's motives, even if he had been courteous toward her.
As if sensing her unease, Rashid added quickly. "It could be done while you are resting. Your things would be ready for you when you wake," he said quickly.
Had he just blushed? Nicole was sure she could see a flush of color on those cheeks of his.
"That sounds fine, Rashid," she replied.
Rashid glanced up the staircase. "I can show you to your room, if you wish."
"My room?"
"I asked the staff to prepare a room for you when we arrived."
Nicole nodded. "Of course you did," she replied.
She followed Rashid up the stairs and along a corridor until they came to an open door. Inside she saw the two staff were busy completing the preparations for her stay.
Nicole stepped inside the room. No. That didn't even come close to describing the opulence of the room. It was actually more like a suite, luxuriously furnished. Something she'd only ever seen in five star luxury hotels.
White walls and high ceilings created a sense of space and cleanliness which was in marked contrast to some of the decay she'd seen on display outside the palace.
Nicole gazed around the room. She saw the female servant through the double doors of what was obviously Nicole's bedroom. The woman was turning down the covers of one of the biggest beds Nicole had ever set eyes on. Nicole noticed that the woman seemed to be putting great effort into ensuring she didn't look directly at
her and Rashid.
"I think you'll find everything you need here," Rashid said evenly. It was as if he was aware that there were others present, and he wanted to avoid any hint of familiarity with Nicole. She was a guest, and nothing more. That's what it felt like.
Abruptly Rashid bowed to Nicole. "If you don't mind I shall leave you to settle in for the night. If you need anything, Raina does speak some basic English." He gestured toward the servant woman.
Rashid looked at Nicole. "I shall see you in the morning," he said.
With that, Rashid turned quickly and left the room. The suddenness of his departure had taken Nicole by surprise. Rashid seemed to have been overtaken by a sudden awkwardness from the moment he'd walked into the palace with Nicole. She'd sensed it strongly from him. And it had just been confirmed by the brusqueness of that exit.
There was more to Sheikh Rashid than met the eye. Nicole was convinced of it.
Perhaps when the sun came up, she would find out more about the mysterious sheikh who had brought her to the temporary safety of his desert palace.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Rashid stood on the balcony of his bedroom and gazed out across the moonlit desert. There was still no sign of Hakim. Rashid sighed and leaned against the balustrade. Hakim would come. Rashid was certain of that. Hakim would not wish to be seen as weak. Rashid taking Nicole away would place Hakim in an awkward position. It would require him to demonstrate his strength.
So, Rashid knew that before the night was out, Hakim would be at the gates of Rashid's palace.
Rashid knew what would come of such a meeting. The two men would do what this situation called for. They would agree that Nicole would stay with Rashid for the prescribed period of time. The time of trial which had been established for situations like this.
Rashid breathed out heavily. He wondered how Nicole would take that news. The realization that she would have to stay with Rashid for seven days and nights.
Probably not well at all, he reflected. The spirited American woman had already endured the consequences of the strange tribal traditions in this part of Qazhar. Hadn't she known before she came out here that this area of the kingdom was almost like a world unto itself? Surely someone back in the city would have warned Nicole about coming out to these border regions.
Life was different out here. The rules for living were utterly alien compared to the so-called civilized life to be found in Qazhar city. The life Rashid had resolutely turned his back on these past few years.
There were times when Rashid understood why he had made the decision to remain out here. He'd had many opportunities over the years to become involved in life down in the city. But each time he had resisted, preferring what he had out here. With all its faults, all its primitive ways, Rashid felt at home in this place.
Rashid gazed out across the desert, scanning what he could see of the dim horizon. It was after midnight now. He'd spoken to Raina and been informed that Nicole had changed clothes, exchanging her sand-covered clothing for a brand new traditional Qazhar robe. Nicole had showered.
The thought of Nicole in the shower, here in his palace, made something shift inside Rashid. An image eased into his mind. Nicole as she would have looked while tending to herself in the shower. The thought triggered a heat in him, one he hadn't experienced in a long time.
Rashid drew in a deep breath and dragged his mind back to the present moment. It would do no good to submit to those tempting thoughts. They'd been taunting him ever since Nicole had held onto Rashid during their frantic horseback ride across the desert.
Rashid had deliberately stayed away from Nicole since they'd arrived. He didn't want her to feel as if he was crowding her. She'd already been subjected to enough male pressure for one night.
Raina had told Rashid that eventually Nicole had agreed to eat something. A plain meal of fish and vegetables had been brought to Nicole. Apparently, in spite of what she'd said to Rashid, Nicole had been hungry enough to devour the plain food.
Rashid felt calmness settle upon him as he reflected upon Nicole's arrival in his home. He'd done the right thing. Rashid knew that Nicole would have suffered at Hakim's hands, if the wedding had gone ahead. At least Rashid had spared Nicole that fate.
Wasn't that enough to satisfy Rashid? He'd saved her from a terrible fate. Surely he should be more than satisfied with that.
But he wasn't. Why had there been some lingering sensation of dissatisfaction tugging at Rashid for the last few hours? This wasn't the same as his previous encounters with the local tribes in these parts. He knew the various tribal leaders didn't approve of Rashid's efforts to encourage change. He knew he had enemies, but he didn't care.
Ever since the darkness had descended upon his life, he'd known he had to try and drag this part of Qazhar into the modern world. It was fine to maintain some of their traditions, but there were others which he felt it was time to abandon.
Chief amongst those was the practice of enforced marriages. How had Nicole allowed herself to be caught up in such a thing? He thought about what her life would have been like if the marriage had gone ahead. He shook his head, thinking about the restrained life she would have lived. The freedom she valued back in her life in the city would have vanished, to be replaced by duty and obligation, enforced by a subtle and effective cruelty.
No.
It was time to abandon such things, Rashid told himself. He knew that he was winning the argument with some of the local sheikhs. Abductions and forced marriages were gradually becoming less acceptable. But there was still work to be done.
Rashid's attention was caught by a flash of light. He narrowed his eyes and leaned forward, straining to see better.
He saw the flash of light again. A reflection. Some metal, perhaps. And then he saw a lone horseman riding toward the palace. Indignation flared inside Rashid. It could only be one person.
Hakim had come at last.
Rashid raced downstairs and out the front door. He strode up the narrow driveway and halted at the gate which had been closed after he and Nicole had arrived.
Through the high metal bars he saw the figure of Hakim seated upon his horse. Hakim's gaze was dark with barely contained fury. He stared at Rashid. "You know why I have come, Rashid," Hakim announced.
"I see you decided to come alone, Hakim."
"I don't need anyone to witness this," Hakim barked. "The elder made his decision. That's enough to establish my rights."
Rashid wrapped his fingers around the metal bars of the gate. He wasn't about to open the gates. Hakim couldn't be trusted to act honorably. Not after what he'd done.
Rashid saw Hakim leap down off his horse and stride toward the gate. Rashid didn't move, merely watched Hakim advance toward him. Hakim halted, seeing that Rashid wasn't about to be intimidated into moving away from the gate.
"Your rights to claim Nicole as a wife have been challenged by my taking her away," Rashid stated evenly.
"A cowardly act," Hakim snorted.
"But one that is recognized under our tribal rules," Rashid replied in a matter-of-fact voice.
"You always were one to hide behind the rules, Rashid," Hakim said sharply.
"I do nothing more than you, Hakim. I do what I think is best. The only difference between you and I, is that I don't act with my base lusts in mind."
Hakim's eyes widened and he took a few steps toward Rashid. Once again, Rashid merely held his gaze on Hakim, refusing to move back from the gate. "How dare you say that," Hakim exclaimed.
"I can see why you thought Nicole would be a suitable wife for yourself," Rashid said. "She seems to be your perfect target. Beautiful and trusting. You obviously did a good job lying to her."
Hakim smiled sardonically. "And now you have her safe in your own palace. You aren't as different from me as you think, Rashid," Hakim sneered.
Rashid shook his head. "That's where you're wrong. Nicole is going to be perfectly safe here."
"Really?" Hakim scowled. "Why don't I beli
eve you?"
Rashid shrugged. "I'm a man of my honor, Hakim. That's the real difference between you and I. If I say Nicole is going to be safe here for the duration of the trial, then I mean exactly that."
"The trial," Hakim said evenly. "You're invoking the trial, then?" he asked.
Rashid paused. Was he really doing that? He'd tried to avoid answering Nicole's pressing questions earlier during their journey to his palace. Rashid had felt bad not telling her the true consequences of his actions; what he had to do now that he had made a claim on her by taking her away from Hakim.
Because that was exactly what Rashid had done by abducting Nicole from Hakim's encampment.
Rashid had made a counter claim on Nicole. A claim that immediately invoked a period of testing. A trial. It sounded so harsh when described like that, Rashid told himself. But that was exactly what it was.
He thought about what the trial really meant, and tried to dismiss it as a barbaric, primitive legacy. It was, in many respects, but it was the only way Nicole would be safe in the palace. The only way he could guarantee her safety and protection.
Rashid thought about those tempting images in his mind earlier. Was he setting himself up for seven days of torment? He would keep his word. Nicole would be safe in his palace. But, would Rashid be able to resist the temptations of the beautiful American?
Rashid peered at Hakim. Rashid leaned close to the gate's metal bars and looked at Hakim.
When Rashid spoke it was with a calm, certain voice. Hakim had to understood that Rashid was absolutely serious about seeing this through. "I claim Nicole," he said to Hakim.
Hakim's brows furrowed. There was a sudden burning anger in Hakim's eyes. Rashid saw Hakim's jaw tighten and his fists became white-knuckled balls.
Hakim breathed out heavily. There were a few moments when Rashid was unsure about whether Hakim would be able to control himself. The man who stood before Rashid hardly resembled the sophisticated, urbane sheikh who inhabited the high society world of Qazhar city. Now, Hakim looked like a barbarian from the past.