CHAPTER SIXTEEN
After the meal was completed, Eliana leaned her head closer to Kadeem. "My father is going to make a speech," she told him.
She saw Kadeem's brows furrow. "He is?"
Eliana nodded. "He wants to say a few things."
Kadeem's expression darkened. "Let's hope he's diplomatic," he said in a low voice.
Eliana glanced at her mother. Gretchen's expression was impassive. Beside her mother, Eliana saw the thoughtful look on her father's face.
For the entire duration of the meal, Eliana had been worried. She'd sensed the tension at the table on more than one occasion. She'd seen the way her father had kept looking in Kadeem's direction. And in her father's eyes there had been a look with which Eliana was all too familiar.
Of course, for the benefit of the guests, Eliana had pretended that everything was perfect at the head table. She had been expertly schooled in how to maintain a calm, impassive demeanor. Especially when circumstance called for it. And this was most definitely one of those moments, she told herself.
Eliana saw her father tapping his fingers impatiently on the table. She wondered what he was planning to say. Surely, there might be some way of talking to him, just to make sure he wasn't about to do something which would shame Kadeem or Eliana.
She asked herself why her father couldn't just accept Kadeem for what he was. The sheikh who had been given a choice and had made his preference known in a manner which was absolutely crystal clear. The engagement was going to proceed to its inevitable conclusion, and there was nothing her father could do to stop it. His hands had been tied by tradition. Maybe that was why he was angry about this union. Perhaps, he hated the idea of his daughter's destiny being taken out of his hands.
All the plates had been cleared. Guests were enjoying their drinks. The steady hubbub of conversation hadn't subsided one bit.
Azem stood, and in response, the guests stopped speaking. Within moments, a hushed expectation descended upon the room.
Azem tugged on his elegant jacket. He glanced down at Gretchen and then at Eliana. Had he just tried to smile at her? Eliana was confused by that, especially given how serious he'd been throughout the meal. He hadn't spoken one word to Kadeem. No matter how many times she'd tried to encourage him, her father had resolutely ignored Kadeem.
Azem faced the guests. "Esteemed guests. Welcome to our home on this very auspicious occasion. The formal engagement of our precious daughter, Eliana," Azem said and then turned to look at Eliana.
She felt her face flush as every eye in the room locked onto her. Eliana glanced at Kadeem who just smiled at her.
"And of course, we must extend a warm welcome to the man who has proposed to Eliana," Azem continued. "Sheikh Kadeem Al Kharif of Qazhar."
A polite ripple of applause filled the room. Eliana watched as Kadeem nodded and smiled at the guests. Then she saw him look up at Azem. Kadeem acknowledged her father's introduction with a nod of his head.
Azem lifted a hand to still the applause. "Most of you know that relations between Qazhar and Zahram have always been cordial. There is a long history of friendship between our two countries."
Eliana glanced at her mother. Gretchen smiled at Eliana. It seemed as if her father was intent on keeping his speech civil and polite.
"And there are many traditions which have developed over the centuries," Azem continued. "Some of those traditions have been beneficial to all concerned. They have fostered great alliances, some of which have lasted until this day," he said.
Again there was another ripple of polite applause.
Eliana turned to Kadeem. She wanted to see how he was reacting to this speech. If he was worried at all, he certainly wasn't showing any sign of it. He was listening intently to her father's words.
Eliana glanced up at her father. He looked down at her and she saw a sudden seriousness take hold of his features.
"However, I come to you today in possession of a heavy heart. One that has witnessed, first hand, another side of those valued traditions. Witnessed how it can result in outcomes for all concerned which are less than desirable."
Eliana's heart skipped a beat. What was he doing? This was what he had been leading to all along?
Azem continued. "I speak of the manner in which marriages can be contracted." He frowned and added, sourly: "Arranged, if you like."
Next to her, Eliana felt Kadeem straighten in his seat. She saw him glare at Azem.
"Let me say that I understand the importance of following tradition. Everything we value has its roots in our customs which have been formed by wise individuals over the course of centuries. It is not for us to deny them their place in our modern world."
Eliana felt her heart sink. Her father was going to say something which would shame them all. Hadn't she asked him not to do that? Did he not understand how important all of this was to his daughter? What was driving this destructive impulse? She couldn't make sense of it.
It was clear that Azem wasn't going to be prevented from stating his case. Eliana wanted to do anything to intervene. Anything that would stop this from getting worse.
"While I respect the esteemed sheikh who has come to be among us, I have to admit to a certain hesitation when it comes to endorsing the reason for his visit."
Now it was going to happen. He was going to destroy his daughter's happiness because of some unspoken, ill-advised prejudice against Kadeem. Eliana had to force herself to remain seated. She fought to mask her emotions, maintaining a fixed, impassive expression on her features. She knew the guests were all watching her, judging her reaction. But, she wasn't going to give them the satisfaction of a scandal.
"The sheikh from Qazhar undoubtedly possesses many fine qualities. And, I will admit, his family, while living in relatively modest circumstances compared to those my daughter is accustomed to, are very fine people. I enjoyed much of what I partook of while I was there."
Azem was clearly getting into his stride, now. Eliana recognized the confident tone she could hear in his voice. It was the way he spoke when he had a submissive and cooperative audience. And, as she looked out at the rapt faces, she saw that, at this moment, he certainly had such an audience in the palm of his hand.
"So, I come to the real purpose of my brief speech," Azem said. He glanced toward Kadeem, the first time he'd done so since standing up. "What can I say about Sheikh Al Kharif?" Azem's mouth turned downward and his brows furrowed. "I don't know, really," he said casually. "He certainly has staked a claim with my daughter. And, it appears my daughter is most taken with him. Of that there can be no doubt."
Azem smiled at the audience. "Affections can work in quite mysterious ways, can they not."
If he thought he was being humorous, or even mocking, there were few amongst the guests who agreed, judging by the very small number who even tried to laugh at that remark.
Eliana saw her mother move. Gretchen leaned toward Azem and tugged gently on the edge of his jacket. "Dear. Won't you let someone else say something?" she said to Azem quietly.
Azem looked down at his wife and seemed momentarily confused. He shook his head abruptly.
He appeared about to reply to Eliana's mother, when suddenly, Eliana sensed a sharp movement next to her. She turned and saw Kadeem rising to his feet. Her mouth opened in shock. What was he doing? Didn't Kadeem know that royal protocol dictated that no-one could interrupt a member of the royal family while they were making a public speech?
Kadeem peered across at Azem. Eliana saw that almost every one of the guests was peering straight at Kadeem. She looked at her father. His eyes were wide with incredulity and the color of his face had changed.
Eliana turned to Kadeem again, and briefly considered advising him to sit down. But he seemed determined to remain standing.
Then he spoke: "I am grateful to his highness for those kind words," Kadeem said. He smiled at Azem. "It was a pleasure to welcome him and his wonderful family to Qazhar." Kadeem glanced down at Eliana and grinned. "And it gave me the chance to meet his daughter. As you can imagine, that alone has made me a very happy man."
Azem coughed and glared at Kadeem. He seemed about to interrupt Kadeem when once again, Gretchen tugged gently on the lower edge of his jacket and squinted at him to sit down. Azem sighed heavily and nodded, taking his seat.
Immediately there were murmurs from the guests. They had witnessed something they'd never seen before. Judging by some the expressions Eliana could see, some guests were shocked by this turn in events.
Eliana gazed up at Kadeem. Now that he was standing on his own, facing the finest in Zahram society, Kadeem seemed unfazed. He peered out across the heads of the elite in her country. There was confidence in his demeanor, and for a moment, she felt proud of him.
"I am grateful for the welcome and hospitality which has been provided to me here. What Eliana's father has just said is quite true. There are many differences between our two countries. And, many differences between our two families," Kadeem said.
He glanced down at Eliana. "But all of those have faded into nothing in the face of this very precious princess who has taken hold of my affections. And my heart," he said.
Eliana felt her face flush and she smiled up at him. She heard murmurs of approval from some of the guests.
"I believe this engagement symbolizes the best that our two nations can bring into the world. Co-operation. Mutual benefit." He smiled at Eliana again. "And a deep and growing affection which transcends all that separates us."
Eliana glanced at her mother and saw that Gretchen's eyes were moistening. Beyond her, Eliana saw her father's still stern features.
"On a more personal note, I would like to declare something very important to me. And, I believe to, Princess Eliana. I know this arrangement is rooted in traditions, and to some it may seem nothing more than obeying the necessity of following those traditions," Kadeem said and glanced toward Azem. "But, I can assure you that my intentions are honorable and my affections are genuine. They go beyond mere necessity and are deeply felt and sincerely held."
Eliana saw the heads of some guests nodding an agreement. It seemed that some, at least, appreciated what Kadeem had just declared. And had believed him.
"Whatever shortcomings others may believe I possess, I can assure you all that my thoughts are only for Eliana and for the mutual benefit which can emerge from our future union," Kadeem said. "Thank you, "he concluded. Bowing his head, he sat down and sighed. A general hubbub of voices started up immediately Kadeem sat down.
Eliana leaned closer to him. "That was amazing, Kadeem," she said. "Those were such generous words," she said cautiously and, she knew, diplomatically.
Kadeem's brows furrowed. He smiled and glanced over her shoulder, toward Azem. "I had to say them."
Azem stood quickly and the guests fell silent. Azem lifted his glass. "I propose a toast to our esteemed guest, by whose wise words we have just been entertained."
The joke fell flat. Again, it was her father's feeble attempt at covering up his discomfort.
"To Sheikh Kadeem," Azem declared in a voice which filled the room.
Eliana lifted her glass and sipped the champagne. Next to her, Kadeem did the same. There was a mischievous darkness in his eyes as he gazed at her across the lip of his glass. Did he think he'd just won some kind of victory? Had that even been well-advised? Only time would tell, she told herself.
What she knew for sure was that she felt proud of how Kadeem had literally stood up for himself in the face of a possible public humiliation. It had been like watching the battle of wills between two titans, neither of whom were willing to back down.
Next to her, Gretchen leaned in front of Eliana. "Well spoken, Kadeem. That took some courage," she said.
"Thank you, Gretchen," Kadeem replied.
Gretchen smiled at Eliana. "Nice words," she said to Eliana.
Eliana nodded. "They were," she agreed.
But she didn't feel that at all. They had been dangerous words and she couldn't wait to discover their fallout.