A Kiss In the Desert

by Barbara Cartland

  “I am so glad that Your Royal Highness is pleased.” the Sheik answered. “Our men were all very honoured to perform in front of you, and I am glad there were no casualties as they can sometimes occur when they become overexcited.”

  “I could not bear to think of any casualties to your marvellous horses,” Vanda remarked. “I am only hoping that I shall not have to say goodbye to too many of them when I return home.”

  She paused for a moment before she added beguilingly,

  “I want to remember that this was the happiest time of my life whenever I see an Arab horse.”

  The Sheik smiled.

  “That is what I hope you will always do and my present which I shall give to you will be a white stallion just for you.”

  Vanda clasped her hands together.

  “Your Highness is too kind. How can I thank you for such a marvellous gift?”

  The Sheik did not answer and after a moment she said,

  “You know that the Earl and his friend are planning to run your horses in every race they can enter in England. Your Highness must come and see them run and feel rewarded when they run faster than any other horse in the races.”

  “I do not think I could do that,” the Sheik replied wistfully.

  “But of course you can,” Vanda encouraged him. “If we have enough horses to take back, then it will be possible to enter them in all the great Classic races of England.”

  The Sheik gave her a sharp glance.

  She guessed he was fully conscious of where she was leading him.

  “I will think about it,” he murmured after a pause.

  At that moment the servants came in with dinner and Vanda had been right in forecasting that there would be another performance.

  The meal was very much the same as they had eaten the night before and when it was finished the curtains at the end of the room were drawn back.

  This time a magician appeared who conjured up strange creatures including snakes which danced when he played to them and birds which apparently came from nowhere fluttered overhead.

  It was a very skilful performance and Vanda was entranced by the magician. He was followed by the same dancers as last night performing more ordinary Eastern dancing and they looked no less attractive as they did so.

  Finally one dancer came on who was obviously intended to be the star of the evening and as soon as she began to dance the Earl glanced at Charles as they both knew what they were about to see.

  There were dancers in the East who were known for their sensuous performances and although men found it enjoyable it was unsuitable in every way for Vanda.

  The Earl was strongly of the opinion that he would dislike Vanda in her innocence to witness anything so exotic and that certainly included the dance they were about to see.

  He was sitting next to Vanda.

  Unexpectedly he bent towards her and taking her hand pressed it firmly.

  “I can see Your Royal Highness is feeling a little faint,” he said. “It is not surprising after the heat of the day. Let me assist you to your bedroom.”

  He spoke loud enough for the Sheik to hear.

  Vanda, after one surprised look, realised from the pressure of his hand what she must do. She half shut her eyes and the Earl put his arm round her and lifted her to her feet.

  Then, as she seemed particularly limp, he carried her from the room.

  It all happened before the Sheik could make any movement or ask what was happening.

  Outside the Earl carried Vanda down the passages towards her room. Only when there was no one to hear them did he say,

  “Please understand that what you were about to see was not suitable for your eyes.”

  “Why not?” Vanda questioned.

  The Earl could think of many answers but he replied,

  “The dance is somewhat improper and after it has taken place the Sheik will doubtless be shocked at his own foolishness in allowing the performance.”

  “Then I am glad you were clever enough to warn me,” Vanda said. “Although I am rather sorry not to see the dance.”

  “It is something you would not enjoy nor understand,” the Earl counselled almost sharply. “And thank you for what you said to the Sheik. I am hoping it will make him part with more horses than he intends to do at the moment.”

  He had no wish to go on talking about the dance.

  Vanda however understood what he was doing, but she wondered why it would matter so much what she might witness. She could not imagine the dancer could do anything that was really shocking.

  She did however remember that her father had talked about the Eastern dancers. He had seen some performances in various places where her mother had never accompanied him.

  The Earl took her to her room and laid her gently on her bed.

  “Quite frankly,” Vanda sighed, “although I may be missing something exciting, I am quite happy to go to bed. We have done such a lot today.”

  “You have been absolutely splendid,” the Earl said.

  There was only one lamp burning in her bedroom but the Earl thought as it shone on her face how glorious she looked, and it struck him that if he had carried any other woman as he had just carried Vanda, she would expect him to kiss her.

  It was something he would be very willing to do.

  Vanda however moved towards her dressing table and said,

  “As there is no sign of my Ladies-in-Waiting would you be very kind and undo the beautiful necklace you lent me? I am afraid of damaging it and it has such a difficult clasp.”

  The Earl smiled as he walked up behind her.

  She had sat down on the sofa in front of her dressing table.

  He had to bend very close in order to see the fastening clearly. It was cleverly made and hidden behind the design of the necklace itself and it took him some time to find how it unfastened.

  He became conscious as he did so of the soft whiteness of Vanda’s skin and that her evening gown was cut particularly low at the back.

  Vanda pulled the necklace forward once it was undone.

  The Earl wondered what she would do if he bent and kissed the back of her neck. He had kissed so many women in this way when he was removing their jewellery.

  Vanda bent forward to place the necklace back into its velvet case. As she did so, she said,

  “It was so kind of you to lend me something so beautiful. I am only terrified in case it is stolen from me or I lose it.”

  The Earl walked towards the door.

  “Goodnight, Vanda,” he called. “It has been a most eventful day and perhaps we shall have an even better one tomorrow. Sleep well.”

  He walked out as he finished speaking and Vanda heard his footsteps going down the passage. She wished he had stayed a little longer and talked some more to her.

  They had not had a chance to be alone ever since they had left the yacht.

  Vanda thought now that he must be in a hurry to return to the performance to see the exotic dancer and she wondered if he would find her very exciting.

  Certainly more amusing than she herself could be.

  ‘He is very handsome,’ she thought, ‘and no one could be kinder or more considerate than he has been to Charles and me.’

  She sat at her dressing table thinking of the Earl when the two Bedouin women came hurrying into the room full of apologies.

  They had thought she would not go to bed until the entertainment was over.

  “More dancing is yet to come,” they said. “But we understand Your Royal Highness is tired.”

  “It has been a very long day,” Vanda replied, feeling that she need not make any further explanations.

  Until she finally fell asleep she remembered once again how the Earl had carried her, as if she weighed nothing, down the corridor and into her bedroom.

  *

  The next morning Charles came to her room while she was having her breakfast.

  The two Bedouin women who were sitting on the floor rose when he appeared.
/>
  After bowing perfunctorily, he said,

  “I would request a private word with Your Royal Highness.”

  The two women understood and disappeared.

  When they had gone, Vanda looked at her brother.

  “What is the matter? I know by the expression on your face that you are troubled.”

  “It is something which happened last night after you had left,” Charles replied.

  He pulled a sofa near to her and sat down so that he did not have to raise his voice.

  “Is something wrong?” Vanda asked.

  “I am afraid it is something which will upset you.”

  Vanda looked at him more critically.

  “It has obviously upset you. What is it? Tell me!”

  “You are not going to like this, Vanda,” Charles began.

  “But for the moment Favin and I are at a loss as to how to resolve the problem.”

  “What is it?” Vanda asked again, becoming agitated.

  “After you had gone to bed and the show was over, which I may say was most unsuitable for you, we started to talk to the Sheik again about his horses.”

  “Did he say you could buy any more?” Vanda asked eagerly.

  Charles paused a moment.

  “He actually said that we can have as many as we like but on one condition.”

  “What was that?” Vanda questioned.

  “You are not going to like this and it is very uncomfortable for all of us,” Charles answered. “But he said that if you stayed, we could take any horses we wanted.”

  Vanda looked at her brother in sheer astonishment.

  “What do you mean,” she demanded, “if I stayed?”

  “I think the Sheik wants to marry you, or at any rate to keep you with him to impress the other tribes as he is impressing them now by having you here.”

  “Of course I cannot – do – that,” Vanda stammered. “How did you answer him?”

  “We said it was impossible and Favin was in fact very astute with the Sheik.”

  “In – what – way?” Vanda asked nervously.

  “He said he was quite certain that Queen Victoria would not allow you to stay even if you wanted to, and we had promised Her Majesty that we would bring you back safely.”

  “And what did the Sheik say to that?”

  “He was not particularly affected. In fact he seemed to think that, if you stayed here and ruled with him over his tribe and his horses, you would enjoy it more than being just one of the many Princesses there are in England.”

  Vanda thought that the Earl’s argument was rather clever, but at the same time she was becoming frightened.

  “Did you make it – absolutely – clear that I cannot – stay?”

  “We both insisted that it was impossible, but you know what Sheiks are like. They think they are a sort of God in their own particular territory. He was in fact offering you half of his Kingdom.”

  Vanda made a helpless gesture with her hands.

  “What are we – going to – do?”

  “Leave as soon as we can,” Charles answered. “And be content with as many horses as he condescends to allow us to take.”

  “That is not enough,” Vanda cried. “Oh, Charles, what can I do to persuade him to let us have more?”

  “Favin thinks you must do nothing,” Charles said quickly. “We sat up late talking about it and he is determined you should not be involved in what has become a very difficult situation.”

  His voice sharpened as he continued,

  “If the Sheik says anything, you are to pretend you do not understand. We must try to wangle out of him a few more horses than he has already promised and then go home.”

  Vanda gave a deep sigh.

  She knew how much this meant both to the Earl and Charles. They would have some horses, yet after what they had seen yesterday they obviously wanted a great many more.

  “I – am – so sorry,” she whispered beneath her breath.

  “It’s not your fault,” Charles protested. “You have done your best – in fact done it too well. He is like a greedy little boy who, having been given one piece of cake, wants the rest of it all for himself.”

  Vanda chuckled.

  “I don’t think calling me a cake is much of a compliment, but I understand what you mean.”

  “What you have to do is to be charming at the festival, or whatever he calls it, this afternoon. Then we will try to leave tomorrow or the next day.”

  Vanda gave an anguished cry,

  “I was so hoping you would make lots of money from the horses when we return to England.”

  “That is what I was hoping too, but we will have to be content with what he gives us and I am sure it is no use arguing with a Sheik.”

  Vanda bent forward and kissed her brother.

  “I hate you to be disappointed,” she sighed. “We had hoped for so much from this trip and of course it has cost the Earl so much.”

  “He can afford it,” Charles said, “but we cannot. It is no use pretending, Vanda, we need a great deal more money than we have at the moment to keep our stables going and to have something decent to sell.”

  Vanda knew he was thinking of the horses he could not acquire.

  She kissed him again.

  “Cheer up, Charles, perhaps at the last moment just as we are stepping on the Sea Serpent a man will come out of the crowd and offer you ten magnificent stallions.”

  “If he could throw in ten good mares,” Chares said, “I would be walking straight into Heaven. But as it is I must be content with small mercies.”

  He rose and would have walked towards the door if Vanda had not stopped him.

  “You are quite certain the Sheik will not try to keep me here anyway?” she asked tremulously.

  “He is too sensible to think he could kidnap you and anyway it is something which we must not allow to happen, because to get you back we should have to explain to the British Embassy that you are not Her Royal Highness but just unimportant Miss Kenwood.”

  “Now you are being unkind and making me feel small and unwanted.”

  “You could never be that, but enjoy yourself as Royalty, because after tomorrow you will just be yourself and my sister, who is very pretty if nothing else!”

  Vanda picked up a cushion and threw it at him.

  “Go away, I am very sorry all this has happened. At the same time I intend to enjoy myself this afternoon. Not because of the people who have come to stare at me, but because I want to drink in all those marvellous horses for the last time so that I will never forget them.”

  “Nor could I,” Charles said as he reached the door. “Equally I would rather take them with me than leave them in the desert!”

  Vanda thought he always had the last word.

  The Bedouin women came back and she started to dress.

  She began to pray with all her heart that the Sheik would relent and Charles and the Earl would obtain the number of horses they desired.

  ‘The Sheik has so many, ’ she mused, ‘he will hardly miss a dozen or so. Perhaps by a miracle I may be able to persuade him to be generous.’

  She tried to think how she could succeed, but there was obviously no easy way.

  She could only go on praying and hoping that someone in Heaven was hearing her prayer.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Vanda was awoken early by the sound of the camp rising. She listened to the chatter of voices, the bleating of the goats and the lambs being moved out to pasture.

  There was laughter from the children and yells of delight as they found something new to play with.

  After a while she rose and dressed.

  The Bedouin women came to help her into the most dazzling dress she had brought with her.

  It was in the stunning pink of the sky when the sun is about to rise and was trimmed as only a French designer can trim a gown to make it outstanding. With it she wore an extremely pretty hat with roses of the same colour.

  After she had b
reakfasted alone, she felt as she went to find the others that the Sheik would undoubtedly be impressed by her appearance.

  The gentlemen were waiting for her and she realised that they all were dressed in their best.

  Sheik Abu was magnificently dressed in white with a flashing ornament in his turban and in his belt there were knives with jewelled handles and also, she thought, a revolver.

  While Vanda had been dressing she had heard the sound of the arrivals and like all Bedouins the more noise they made the more important they appeared.

  As soon as they moved out of the house she could see groups of horses assembling. The tribesmen wore variously coloured abbas. She recognised that these marked the different tribes which were friendly to Sheik Abu.

  She knew that the Sheik of one other tribe was an enemy and she had asked the Earl when she found the opportunity what was the name of that Sheik.

  “Sheik Shalaan el Hassein,” he answered. “He is also the enemy of Sheik Abdul Medjvel el Mezrab.”

  Vanda remembered that the latter was the name of the Sheik who had married the beautiful Lady Jane Digby.

  “Is he coming today?” she asked eagerly as it would be so fascinating to meet him after there had been so much talk about him and the English woman he had married.

  “I think he lives too far away,” the Earl replied, “but there are quite enough tribes here who consider themselves of even greater stature.”

  They certainly put on a very good performance. Again and again the different tribes galloped up to where the Sheik and Vanda were sitting in the reviewing stand.

  They were waving their lances and performing feats even more daring than the Sheik’s tribe had attempted. Vanda was frightened in case they should fall to the ground or worse still, injure their horses.

  When all the newcomers had made their obeisance to the Sheik, the tribes arranged themselves in order in front of them.

  This was so that Vanda could meet them as the Sheik had told them that she wished to do.

  She walked to inspect the horses and following her were the Earl and Charles who were as eager as she was and as she looked at the horses, they told her which were the best.

  As she did so she realised that the Earl had been right when he said how tame and affectionate the Arab horses could be. The mares nuzzled against Vanda as she patted them.