CHAPTER SIX
In the early part of the evening, Eliana heard a knock at her door. She opened it and saw Sayirah standing out in the corridor.
"You have a visitor, Princess, Sayirah said.
"Who?"
Sayirah smiled. "It is the sheikh."
"Kadeem is here?" Eliana shrieked. Her voice echoed down the length of the marble-floored corridor.
Sayirah nodded. Eliana grasped at the collar of her casual gown. "Where is he?"
"Downstairs, ma'am," Sayirah replied. "In the reception room."
Eliana thought for a moment. Why had Kadeem come? And without calling in advance to let her know. He'd never done this before. She wondered if there was something wrong. Or maybe it was possible he'd had a change of heart after their time in the garden. Perhaps he had come to tell her he would not hold her to a foolish engagement.
She looked at Sayirah. "Come in," she ordered Sayirah. "Help me get prepared."
Within a few minutes, Eliana had chosen another dress, this one blue and of plain design. She slipped on a pair of flat shoes and Sayirah helped her to hurriedly tidy her freshly washed hair into a neat bun. Glancing at herself in the mirror, Eliana told herself that, under the circumstances, she looked as acceptable as could be expected at such short notice.
She rushed Sayirah out of the room and headed downstairs. She ignored some of the curious looks from the embassy staff as she made her way into the high-ceilinged reception room.
Kadeem was standing over by the window. He turned as she entered and glanced at the figure of Sayirah who was standing behind Eliana. Coming down the staircase, Eliana had told herself she would be firm with Kadeem. That she would demand an explanation for this unwanted visit.
But, seeing him standing there like that, dressed in a crisply pressed dark suit and white open-necked shirt, she felt every one of her objections vanish from her mind. He looked amazing.
Kadeem cleared his throat and moved toward her. "Princess Eliana," he said in a measured tone of voice. "Apologies for my unannounced visit."
Eliana clasped her hands and turned to Sayirah. "That will be all, Sayirah. If I need you, I'll call."
Sayirah's expression was blank as she bowed and left the room.
After the door had closed, Eliana moved rapidly to Kadeem. "Why have you come? You know that my father would not approve of this," she said.
He shrugged. "I don't care about that," he said sharply. "I know your father doesn't approve of me." He scoffed. "And, after today, I'm wondering if my own father even cares what happens to me. Or us."
Eliana squinted at Kadeem. "What do you mean?"
He shook his head and sighed. "Never mind. I can tell you about that some other time." He lifted a brow. "If there is another time, of course."
That remark puzzled her. She pointed to a sofa in the middle of the room. "Why don't you sit down."
He shook his head. "No," he snapped. "I came here for a reason. I have to speak to you."
There was a genuine concern and urgency in his eyes. She wondered what had driven him to come here like this.
Kadeem moved toward her. She took a step back, and peered at him. He hesitated, as if he'd interpreted her movement as somehow defensive. As if she didn't quite trust him.
"Can I speak here with confidence that no-one will overhear us?" he asked.
"That depends on what you have to say," she replied.
His brows furrowed. "It's a delicate matter," he said. "I'd hate for anyone to eavesdrop on such a sensitive discussion."
"This is my country's embassy, Kadeem. We can speak of anything you like here. Not a word of what you say will leave this room."
He didn't seem convinced. He looked agitated, as if he had something important on his mind. She took a guess at what it might be, and came to the conclusion that it must have something to do with what had happened earlier in the day. What he intended to do tomorrow.
She glanced down at his mouth, remembering how those lips had felt. How strong his embrace had been.
There was a noise from outside the room. Kadeem glanced worriedly toward the door. "How many of the staff here are from your palace?"
She frowned. "What has that got to do with it?"
"I'm thinking that your father might have instructed some of them to keep an eye on you," he said. "Especially if you receive surprise visitors."
"My father would never order anyone to spy on me," she declared, lifting her chin proudly.
He narrowed his eyes and grinned skeptically. "I think your father is a very protective man. I'm sure he would do whatever it takes to ensure your safety."
"Even here? In the embassy?"
He nodded. "Especially here," he replied.
Even as he said that, she knew he could be right. Eliana had noticed the way some of the staff had looked at her as she'd returned to the embassy earlier in the afternoon. There had been more than casual interest in those eyes, she told herself.
Kadeem's dark gaze drifted slowly downward. "I like you in that dress," he said in a low voice. "The color suits you. It brings out the beauty of your eyes."
She saw the visible appreciation on his features. In the way his gaze lingered on her body.
Instantly, she felt heat rising to her cheeks. She waved a dismissive hand. "Please, Kadeem. Don't embarrass me like that. You did enough of that earlier."
He frowned, apparently hurt by her remark. "Ouch," he said jokingly. But she could see that the remark had stung him.
She sighed. "I didn't mean it that way," she explained.
His mouth turned downward. "How else am I supposed to take that?"
She folded her arms and peered at him. "Why have you come?"
His eyes flickered toward the door. Then he took a few steps toward it and halted. Satisfied by something he'd apparently heard from outside the room, Kadeem turned to Eliana. When he spoke, it was with an unnaturally loud voice. Almost theatrical, as if he was addressing an audience.
Eliana frowned at Kadeem as he started to speak. "I was speaking with my father, this afternoon. And he's excited about tomorrow."
She lifted a brow. "Really?"
Kadeem nodded and walked toward Eliana. "He was asking me about the arrangements. And I just wanted to confirm that you're happy with them," he said. His eyes widened and he pointed toward the double doors which exited out onto the terrace.
Eliana looked quizzically at Kadeem. Once again he pointed to the doors and made it clear that he wanted her to move toward them.
Understanding him now, she nodded. "I see. And what's been organized?" she asked, going along with the pretense.
Kadeem took her hand and started to lead her toward the door. "Maybe I can show you a list of guests he's invited. Let's sit down on the sofa. Take a look at it and tell me what you think."
They continued to move toward the doors. Kadeem had no list in his hands and he obviously had no desire to lead her to the sofa. This whole performance was clearly for the benefit of whoever was behind the door. She wondered who the listener could be. One thing was for sure. It would never be Sayirah. Loyalty was the young woman's strong point.
Kadeem said nothing as he carefully opened the doors to the terrace. She followed him out into the cool evening air. There was a flight of steps which led down to the garden area to the side of the embassy building.
Still gripping her hand gently, Kadeem led Eliana slowly down the steps. She asked herself why she was cooperating with this. It was the same reason why she'd allowed herself to spend so much time with Kadeem during these past weeks. In spite of all her reservations; in spite of all the reasons why she shouldn't, there was something exciting about being with the Qazhar sheikh. He had the ability to take her by surprise. And tonight was no exception.
"Where are we going?" she asked as they made their way across the neatly cut lawn.
"Anywhere we can talk in private," he declared.
She hesitated and stopped. He halted and gazed at her in the soft light cast from inside the embassy building.
"What makes you think I want to go anywhere with you?" she asked.
He lowered his head and looked at her from beneath his dark brows,. In the semi-darkness his eyes seemed to possess a strange, persuasive power. "Because I think you know you want us to work this all out before tomorrow." He glanced up at the building. "And we're never going to get a chance to do that here."
She knew he was right. And she knew that, if she was going to avert a disaster tomorrow, then she'd have to trust him.
She nodded. "Okay," she agreed. Then she gave him a stern look. "But, it's only going to be for a short while. If I'm gone too long, there'll be an outcry."
"Don't worry," he said. "What I have in mind won't take long."
Before she had a chance to say anything else, respond to the thought which had just flickered into her mind, he had turned and was leading her toward the driveway in front of the palace building. She saw his limo parked there. His own driver was standing next to it.
Within moments, she was inside Kadeem's limo and the door was closed.
Then the limo sped out of the embassy grounds and out onto the main road.
And Eliana realized that she still didn't know where Kadeem was taking her.