Desert Fantasies(81)

“But not now?”

“He knows, but he is the only one besides you and me. Unless he told Bethanne. I forget there is a new intimate confidant with my brother. That’ll be interesting—learning how to deal with that aspect.”

Entering the large flat that overlooked Alkaahdar, Ella was struck by the large salon, ceilings at least twelve feet high. A wall of windows opened to a large terrace. The room held dozens of people yet did not appear crowded. Classical artwork hung on the walls. The chandelier sparkled with a thousand facets. The furniture looked more Western than Arabian, chosen for elegance and style.

“Khalid, you should have been here before the first guests,” his mother chided, coming to greet them. She looked at Ella, her eyes widening slightly. “You look different tonight,” she said taking in the lovely dress and the sophisticated hairstyle.

Ella inclined her head slightly. “I’ve been told I clean up good,” she said cheekily.

Sabria al Harum didn’t know how to respond.

Khalid gave his mother a kiss on her cheek. “We’re here, that’s the important thing. I can’t believe you managed such a crowd on less than a day’s notice.

“Everyone here wishes you well, son,” she said, eyeing Ella as if she wasn’t sure how to react to her.

Ella slipped her arm through Khalid’s and leaned closer. “We are honored you did this for us on such short notice, aren’t we, darling?” she said, smiling up at him.

“Indeed we are, darling,” he said back, his eyes promising retribution.

“Mingle, let people congratulation you,” Sabria said. She gave Ella an uncertain look.

Rashid crossed the room with Bethanne. He grinned at Khalid and Ella. “Congratulations, Brother,” he said, then leaned in and gave Ella a kiss on the cheek. “Keep him in check,” he said.

“I couldn’t believe it when Rashid told me,” Bethanne said, glancing around. She hugged Ella, and said in English. “I think it’s fabulous.”

Ella giggled a little. “Outlandish, I thought,” she replied, one arm still looped with Khalid’s.

Antonio came over, bowing stiffly.

“I thought you went home,” Ella said when he stopped beside them.

“There were one or two things to deal with before I left. I spoke to our parents. They wish you both happiness in your marriage,” he said. “If I had left, I would have missed this.”

“And wouldn’t that have been too bad,” she murmured in Arabic.

“Come,” Khalid said, “let me introduce you to some friends.”

As they stepped away from the entry, they were surrounded by people who were mostly strangers to Ella. However one or two familiar faces had her smiling in delight to see again, though inside she felt guilty to be deceiving everyone.

Conscious she needed to convince her brother nothing would deter her from marrying Khalid, she stayed within touching distance all evening, reaching out sometimes to touch his arm as if to ground herself. Once when she did, he clasped her hand, lacing their fingers together and holding it all the while he carried on a conversation with a friend.

The finance minister saw Khalid with Ella and broke away from the small group he was talking with and came over to them.

“Your mother must be so pleased, both her sons are taking the next step to insure the family continues.”

“There’s more to marriage than having children,” Khalid said dryly.

“Ah, but nothing like small ones around to keep you young.”

“Do you have children?” Ella asked.

“Not yet.”

“Yet you and your wife have been married for many years,” Khalid said.

For a moment the minister looked uncomfortable, then he changed the subject. “So are you and your brother marrying at the same time? Or as Rashid is the elder, will you defer to him?”

“Our plans are not yet firm,” Khalid responded. “Excuse us, please, I see some friends of Ella’s have arrived.” Khalid moved them toward the door where two couples were standing, looking around in bewilderment.

“How do you know they are my friends?” she asked recognizing her friends.

“They look out of place. They obviously don’t know anyone else here.”

Greetings were soon exchanged. Though Ella’s university friends were startled by the scar on Khalid’s face, they quickly hid it and greeted him as warmly as they did her.

“I had no idea,” Jannine said. “Though we haven’t seen much of you this last year. I guess a lot has happened that I don’t know about.”

“It has been a hectic and busy year,” Ella said vaguely. If this had been a true engagement, she would have shared the news with her friends immediately. She knew they’d wish only happiness for her.

“So, how are you doing with your glassmaking?” Joseph asked. He looked at Khalid. “You’ve seen her work, of course.”

“Yes. Exquisite. She’s planning a showing before too much longer. I predict a spectacular future for our artist.”

“Do tell us all,” Monique said.

Ella was pleased her friends had come on such short notice and silently vowed to keep in touch better. They’d been part of her life for several years and were each interesting people. She talked about the tentative plans for getting into a gallery someplace. They listened attentively, only now and again darting a glance at Khalid.

A moment later, he touched Ella’s shoulder.

“Someone I must speak to. I’ll leave you with your friends.” He left and she watched as he crossed over to an elderly man. Turning back to her friends, she found all eyes on her.

“He’s one of the richest men in the country, you know,” Jannine said. “How in the world did you land him?”

“Good grief, Jannine, is that how you refer to me? I feel like a large-mouth bass,” her husband said.

Everyone laughed.

“Okay, maybe that was not quite what I meant.”

“So did you mean how did Ella attract him? She’s pretty, young and talented. What’s not to like?” Monique said.

“You all are twisting my words and you know it. Tell all, Ella.”

She glossed over details mentioning simply that she had been renting a cottage on a family estate and they met that way. The rest they knew. “Tell me what’s going on at the university. I’ve been so out of touch.”

Joseph began telling her about professors and students she might remember. She enjoyed catching up on the news, but felt distant, as if that part of her life was over and she was no longer connected as she once had been. It felt a bit lonely.

Glancing around at one point, she saw Khalid and Rashid both talking with the elderly man. They were in profile, left sides showing. Stunning men, she thought. Then Khalid turned and caught her eye. Once again the ruined side of his face showed. She swallowed a pang of regret for the damage and smiled. That was easily overlooked when his dark eyes focused on her. Then she felt as if everything else faded away and left only the two of them in a world of their own.

“She’s got it bad,” Jannine said, laughing.

“What?” Ella asked, turning back to her friend.

“He’s gone five minutes and you’re already looking for him. How long until the wedding?”

“I’m not sure. We haven’t made plans yet.”

Antonio came over at that point. Ella made introductions and the group began talking in English, a common language for them all.

“This is a night of firsts,” Jannine said. “I didn’t even know Ella had family. She never spoke of you.”

Her husband nudged her.

“Oh, sorry. Was that not the thing to say?”

Antonio looked at her. “You never spoke of us? Ella, we are your family.”

“Who wouldn’t accept my husband,” she replied.

As the others looked on, she wished she could march her brother away and find Khalid. She was tired of the pretense, tired of trying to smile all the time when she wanted to rail against Antonio for getting her into this mess.

“But you like al Harum better, scar notwithstanding” Joseph muttered in Arabic.

Ella narrowed her eyes. “Khalid is a wonderful man. He puts out oil fires. Do you know how dangerous that is? He was injured trying to stop a conflagration. There are very few people in the world who can do something like that. And did you ever stop to think how much pain and agony he went through with such severe burns?”

Khalid put his hand on her shoulder. “Defending me?”

“There’s no need,” she said, glaring at Joseph.

Antonio watched, glancing between Joseph, Ella and Khalid.

“No offence meant, Ella,” Joseph said.

“None taken,” Khalid said. “Please, help yourselves to refreshments. I want to borrow Ella a moment to introduce her to an old friend.”

He took her hand in his and they moved toward the man she’d seen before. Rashid and Bethanne were talking with him.

“He was a friend of my grandparents, Hauk bin Arissi. Unfortunately he is thrilled with our engagement. It is awkward, to say the least. I do not like deceiving people.”

“You should have thought of that.”

“Or left you to your brother?”

Before Ella could respond, they were beside Hauk bin Arissi. Introductions were made.