“I, also, can be determined,” Khalid said softly.
“True, Excellency. And I’d put my money on you.”
Khalid ended the call.
“It appears the inquiries I had made did cause your brother to return to Quishari. He is staying at the Imperial Hotel. He has made a pest of himself at the company headquarters, questioning everyone trying to locate you. Why is it so important that you marry the man your parents picked out? Surely that was years ago. You said you’d been married for four years, and Alexander has been dead for one. What is so compelling?”
“To further the dynasty, of course. And ensure the money doesn’t go outside the family or the family business—wine. I have a trust, that I can’t access for another couple of years. But my father was convinced Alexander wanted only my money. He was wrong. Alexander loved me. We lived modestly on his income from the university. We were so happy.”
Tears filled her eyes again, and Khalid quickly sought a way to divert them. He was not at all capable of dealing with a woman’s tears. He wished he’d never thought to find out more about the woman his grandmother had rented the cottage to.
“I’ll go see your brother and make sure he leaves you alone.”
She blinked away the tears, hope shining from her eyes.
“You will?”
Khalid nodded, loath to involve himself in her family dynamics, but he felt responsible for causing the problem. “I’ll shower, change and go to the hotel myself.”
Ella thought about it for a moment, then nodded once. “Fine, then. You take care of it.” She turned and went to the door, pausing a moment and looking back at him. “I’m glad you got home safely. The fire out?”
“Yes.”
“Did you find out what caused it?”
“I believe so. We have taken steps to make sure there won’t be another one at that rig.”
“Good.” She left.
Khalid rubbed the back of his neck. He had better get changed and to the hotel before her brother annoyed even more people. Or came back and found Ella.
Ella kept her house locked up all day. She knew her brother. He would not likely be sidetracked from his goal just on Khalid’s say-so. Not that she would buck the power of the sheikh. He could probably buy and sell her brother without batting an eye. And it was his country. His family was most prominent. Antonio would find no allies in Quishari. Served him right. She couldn’t forget the last time she’d seen him. If he had never come last year, Alexander would be alive today.
As the afternoon waned, Ella wondered if Khalid had truly gone to see her brother. She had not seen him return. What if he’d changed his mind? Upon further consideration, he had to know this would be the perfect way to rid himself of the tenant he didn’t want. The more Ella thought about it, the more certain she was that was what happened. It could not take Khalid hours to go tell Antonio to go home.
Restless, she set off for her walk when it was barely dark. She doubted she’d sleep tonight. In fact, she might best be served by packing essentials and contacting Bethanne to ask for a ride someplace. At this point, Ella would take anyplace away from Alkaahdar.
She walked farther than normal, still keyed up. When she came to a more populated area, she sat near the water. There were others still on the beach. A small party had a fire near the water, and were sitting around it, laughing and talking. She watched from the distance. How long had it been since she felt so carefree and happy?
When that party began breaking up, Ella realized how late it was—and she still had a very long walk home. She rose and walked along the water, the moon a bright disk in the sky. She was resigned to having to leave. There didn’t seem to be any choice unless she wanted her family to take over her life. And that she vowed would never happen. She was not some pawn for her father’s use. She liked being on her own. Loved living in Quishari. She’d have to find a way.
She slowed when she drew closer to the estate. Would Khalid be on the beach? She wasn’t up to dealing with him tonight. She’d made a fool of herself crying in his study. She didn’t want to deal with any more emotion. She was content with her decisions and her walk. A good night’s sleep was all she wanted now. Tomorrow she’d begin packing and slip away before Antonio found her. She’d contact her friend Marissa to come after she was gone to pack up her glass art. Once she was settled somewhere, she’d see about resuming the glassblowing.
Khalid saw Ella slip through the garden on her way to the cottage. He had tried her place earlier, but she was already gone. Now she was back. It was late, however. He needed to tell her how the meeting with her brother had gone, but maybe it would be best handled in the morning.
He sat in the dark on the veranda, watching her go to her home. A moment later the lights came on in one room, then another. Before a half hour passed, the cottage was dark again. He hoped she had a good night’s sleep, to better face tomorrow. He knew she would not be pleased with what he had to tell her.
The next day it rained. The dreary day seemed perfect to Ella as she packed her clothes in one large suitcase. She put her cosmetics in a smaller suitcase and stripped the bed, dumping the sheets into the washer behind the kitchen. She’d leave the place as immaculate as it had been when she moved in. The only part she couldn’t do much with would be her studio. She hoped Khalid would permit her friend to come to clear away her things. If not, so be it. It wouldn’t be the first time she’d started over. She was better equipped now than she had been a year ago.
The knock on the door put her on instant alert. She would not open to Antonio no matter what. Slowly she approached the door, looking through the glass, relieved to see it was Khalid.
Opening the door a crack, she stood, blocking the view into the living room. “Yes?” she said.
“I need to talk with you,” he said. Today he wore a white shirt opened at the throat. His dark pants were obviously part of a suit. Was he going somewhere for business later?
“About?”
“Your brother, what do you think?”
“You saw him?’
“I did. Are you going to let me in or are we going to talk like this?”
She hesitated. “Is it going to take long? Either you got rid of him or you didn’t.”
He pushed against the door and she gave in, stepping back to allow him to enter.
She shut the door behind him and crossed to the small sofa, sitting on the edge. He took a chair near the sofa.
Wiping suddenly damp palms against her skirt, she waited with what patience she could muster.
“I saw your brother at the hotel. He is very anxious to talk with you. Seems there’s a problem with your family that you only can help with.”
“Sure, marry the man they picked out.”
Khalid nodded. “Apparently there have been some financial setbacks and your family needs an influx of cash that the wedding settlement would bring.”
She frowned. “What setbacks? The wine business is doing well. We’ve owned the land for generations, so there’s no danger from that aspect. I don’t understand.”
Khalid shrugged. “Apparently your younger brother has a gambling habit. He’s squandered money gambling, incurring steep debts which your father paid for. That didn’t stop him. Unless they get another influx of cash, and soon, they will have to sell some of the land. It’s mortgaged. They’ve been stringing creditors along, but it’s all coming due soon and they are desperate.”
“Giacomo has a gambling problem?” It was the first she’d heard about it. She frowned. For a moment she pictured her charming brother when she had last seen him. He had still been at university, wild and carefree and charming every girl in sight. They’d had fun as children. What had gone wrong?
“While I’m sorry to hear that, I don’t see myself as sacrificial lamb to his problem. Let my father get him to marry some wealthy woman and get the cash that way.” She could see her patriarchal father assuming she would be the sacrifice to restore the family fortunes.
“Both your brothers are already married.”
Ella was startled at the news. She realized cutting herself off from the family when she married Alexander had meant she wasn’t kept up-to-date on their activities. When had her brothers married? Recently? Obviously during the years she and Alexander had lived in Quishari.
“Apparently Antonio feels it is your duty to the family to help in this dire circumstance,” Khalid said dryly.
“He’s echoing my father. I have no desire to help them out. And I certainly am not going to be forced into marrying some man for his money to bail Giacomo out of a tight place.” Antonio had always looked out for her and Giacomo. Looks as if he was still looking out for their younger brother. What about her?
Khalid nodded. “I knew you would feel that way.”
“Does he know I live here?” she asked.
Khalid shook his head. “He could end up coming here to see me again and discover you around. But I did not tell him where you lived.”
“I’m leaving.”
He looked surprised at that.
“Going where?”
“I don’t know yet. But I’m not telling anyone. That way they can’t find me again.”
“Would it be so bad to be in touch with your family? I can’t imagine being cut off from Rashid.”