CHAPTER FIVE
Later that afternoon, Kadeem was called to speak with his father, Zaeed. Even before he received the instruction from one of the servants, Kadeem knew something was wrong. He'd passed his father on the hallway as he and Eliana's father, Azem, had been returning from their time out in the desert with the horses. His father had given Kadeem a stern look. Kadeem had wondered if his father and Eliana's father had been discussing the situation with himself and Eliana. Judging by the expression on both mens' faces, obviously they had, Kadeem had concluded.
His father had a private chamber on the north side of the palace. Kadeem knocked on the door and received an imperious instruction to enter.
Upon entering the luxuriously appointed office, Kadeem saw Zaeed seated, as usual, behind his large desk. He was attending to papers and didn't even look up as Kadeem entered. Kadeem took a seat opposite his father and waited a few moments. Kadeem glanced around the room, taking in the sight of the ceiling to floor bookshelves. His father was a well-read man.
Finally, Zaeed placed his pen down and looked at Kadeem. The darkness in his father's gaze confirmed Kadeem's suspicions. Zaeed stroked his silvery beard for a moment and examined Kadeem. His father and he had already disagreed about some of the aspects of Kadeem's supposed courtship of the princess from Zahram. Apparently, Kadeem's conduct had been noted by observers and reported back to his father. Kadeem wondered just what his father had heard. Probably not good things, he assumed.
His father didn't waste any time coming to the point. "Why did the princess leave so early today?" he asked. His father's deep voice echoed around the room, filling the space with its rich, resonant tones.
"She wanted to go back to the embassy," Kadeem explained with a shrug.
Zaeed's brows furrowed. "Wasn't she supposed to spend the day here." He lifted a brow. "With you?" he added with a clearly acid tone of his voice.
Kadeem felt a sinking feeling in his middle. So that was how this was going to be, he told himself.
Kadeem leaned back against the seat. "What's this about, father?"
Zaeed leaned his elbows against the surface of the table and peered at Kadeem. "I was talking with the princess' father today. And it seems he isn't impressed with your conduct toward his daughter. He has heard things he doesn't like."
Kadeem didn't react immediately, mainly because he wasn't in the least surprised by Zaeed's revelation. He already suspected that Eliana's father didn't approve of him. "In what way have I fallen short of expectations?" Kadeem asked casually.
Zaeed sighed. "It appears you and the princess haven't been seeing eye to eye on things. In fact, on anything at all," Zaeed said. "He's heard reports about you two having disagreements. And, he says you've haven't exactly been treating the princess with the respect he feels she deserves. Is this true?"
Kadeem suppressed a smile. "Is he accusing me a being a bad boy?" Kadeem asked sarcastically.
His father's brows furrowed into deep ridges. "This is no laughing matter, Kadeem. If what the King says is true, you have brought dishonor to our family. You know that, don't you?"
Kadeem ignored that last remark. He knew it wasn't true. If anything, the fact that he'd even agreed to even consider this attempt to marry him off to a princess proved that he took his family's reputation seriously. The fact that Eliana filled his thoughts for every waking moment was something Kadeem certainly wasn't willing to share with his father. Not now at least. There were other things to consider before he'd do that.
"It seems the king has spies everywhere," Kadeem observed.
Zaeed scowled. "He merely wishes to ensure his daughter's safety. Is that so hard for you to understand?"
Kadeem waved a dismissive hand. "I wasn't aware that she was ever in any danger while she was with me."
"Of course she wasn't," Zaeed said. "We have made sure that you and the princess were never in any jeopardy. The last thing we want is a diplomatic incident on our own doorstep."
"That's good to hear," Kadeem said jokingly.
Zaeed narrowed his eyes at Kadeem. This kind of sparring was perfectly normal for father and son. Kadeem's father had always been hard on him. Kadeem had always supposed it was because Zaeed wanted Kadeem to grow up to take his responsibilities seriously. To respect the traditions of the royal line.
And, of course, Kadeem had rebelled. With every ounce of strength in his body. Just like every one of his friends. Like every young sheikh he knew in the kingdom. His generation wasn't like that of his father.
"May I remind you of what is at stake here, Kadeem," Zaeed said.
Kadeem peered at his father. "I know you're anxious that this attempt at arranging matrimony for me should turn out well. But, did it ever occur to you that I might not wish to marry?"
Zaeed's eyes widened in apparent disbelief. "You realize how old you are, Kadeem," he stated. "When I was your age I was already married to your mother."
"Times are different now, father," Kadeem said. This was a familiar conversation. One that he and his father had had on many occasions. And, like always, it didn't look like it was going to turn out well for either of them. These days, Zaeed and Kadeem barely agreed on anything.
"Times are not so different as you think, Kadeem," his father replied. "Your obligations are just like mine were when I was your age."
Kadeem sighed heavily. "Must we do this again, father?"
Zaeed leaned forward. He suddenly seemed to tower above Kadeem. In spite of his advancing years, his father's presence was genuinely intimidating at times, Kadeem reflected.
"We must be clear about what your intentions are toward the princess," Zaeed said.
"Why? What business is it of everyone whether I agree to this potential marriage?""
Zaeed frowned. "What kind of a question is that? We merely wish that you should do what you're supposed to do."
In spite of himself, Kadeem felt his jaw tighten, felt his body stiffen involuntarily. "What I'm supposed to do?" he repeated acidly.
Zaeed nodded. "Carry out your role as a sheikh and prince, Kadeem."
"Haven't I done that?" Kadeem demanded.
Zaeed shook his head. "Not in this matter," he replied. "This marriage is a necessity, Kadeem. You know that."
Kadeem sighed. "And I have no say in the matter?"
Zaeed shook his head slowly. "Duty is duty, my son," he said calmly.
Kadeem sighed, glancing away from his father for a moment. He looked back at Zaeed. "And Princess Eliana?"
"What of her?"
Kadeem leaned forward. "Surely she must have a say in the matter."
Zaeed smiled. "From my discussion with her father, it seems the princess already understands what is expected of her."
Kadeem's eyes widened. "She is to be forced into this? Even if she does not wish it?"
Zaeed leaned back in his seat and tilted his head. "She is an obedient daughter," he said. "Unlike my, apparently quite disobedient son," Zaeed added, his mouth turning downward.
"That isn't fair, father," Kadeem exclaimed. "You do not understand the situation in its entirety. Ellie and I have spoken of this. She has her own views."
Zaeed lifted a brow. "Ellie?" he asked casually.
Kadeem straightened in his chair. "I mean, the Princess Eliana."
Zaeed's eyes narrowed with interest. Kadeem worried that, by using Eliana's familiar name, he might have revealed too much of his closeness to her. Kadeem needed his father to believe that he and Eliana still had some way to go before even a hint of closeness between them could be revealed.
"And what exactly are her views?" Zaeed asked.
"You'll get a chance to find out tomorrow," Kadeem snapped. "Of course, if you can't wait, you could always ask her yourself. But that might not be so easy."
"What do you mean?" Zaeed asked sternly.
"I couldn't help noticing that, since she came here, you haven't exactly been interested in speaking with her. In fact, you've hardly spoken a kind, or even polite, word to her since she arrived."
Zaeed lifted his chin and looked at Kadeem. "There are protocols involved in arrangements like this." To Kadeem that didn't sound at all convincing.
"Really?" Kadeem asked ironically.
Zaeed shifted uneasily on the chair. "There are rules to be followed," he said defensively. "I leave the feminine niceties to your mother. And the princess's mother. It has always been the way of things."
"How very convenient," Kadeem observed wryly.
"Kadeem!" Zaeed roared. He leaned forward obviously intent on continuing.
But Kadeem had already risen from his chair and was turning to leave. "I must go, father."
Zaeed stood, came around the table and faced Kadeem. "You still haven't told me of your intentions."
Kadeem smiled at his father and shook his head. "No, I haven't, father. Have I?" he stated sarcastically.
His father's jaw tightened. There was a fire in his father's eyes that Kadeem knew all too well.
Kadeem went to the door. As he started to leave, he turned and faced his father. "You'll just have to wait and see, father."
And with that, Kadeem walked out of the office and closed the door behind him.
As he walked down the palace corridor, Kadeem thought about what he had to do next.
The idea of pressure being put on Eliana worried Kadeem. After their time at the gazebo, he knew that last thing he wanted was for her to be coerced into anything she didn't want. She didn't deserve that.
There was only one thing he could think to do. He had to see Eliana before tomorrow's announcement. He tried to ignore thoughts of what had happened earlier in the garden. He had been seized by an uncontrollable impulse. And, it might have been a mistake. An exquisite mistake. The taste of her sweet lips was still a lingering memory. The feel of her body against his had stirred a firm and undeniable need in him.
Kadeem needed an answer.
He had to find out, once and for all, if there was any chance in the world that she would ever consider a marriage to a sheikh of Qazhar.