CHAPTER THIRTEEN
"What did you wish to speak to me about, Ahmed?" Razim asked.
Ahmed tilted his head and narrowed his eyes. Razim could still hear the sound of Paige's footsteps as she made her way up the stairs.
Finally, they could hear her steps no longer. Apparently satisfied they could not be overheard, Ahmed started to speak in a low voice.
"I could not help but notice that you and the lady have been somewhat affected by the ceremony," he said.
"What do you mean?" Razim asked.
Ahmed grinned sagely. "Normally there is very little emotion expressed at these ceremonies," Ahmed explained. "Although I would also say that in most cases, relief would be the most commonly found sentiment."
"Are you saying that this hasn't been a typical annulment ceremony?"
Ahmed shrugged. "The ancient protocols have been followed to the letter," he said. "Although the lady's speaking of our Qazhar tongue left a little to be desired."
"I think she did fine, given the circumstances," Razim said defending Paige in her absence.
Suitable chastened, Ahmed nodded. "Of course. It is easy to forget she is not native born. But that, of course does not mean that the annulment of not legal. It is perfectly legal," Ahmed said. And then, with a sly look toward Razim, he added: "For now, at least."
Razim squinted at Ahmed. Razim paused for a long moment, trying to understand what the elderly man could be suggesting. "What do you mean?"
Ahmed went to the reception room doors and closed them. He came back to Razim, who was beginning to feel utterly perplexed by the elderly man's behavior.
Ahmed clasped his hands and peered up at Razim. "It is true that you are no longer married to the lady," Ahmed said.
"You can call her Miss Gower," Razim suggested. "That's her name from today." Just saying those words caused a sinking sensation in Razim's stomach.
"Miss Gower, as you insist upon calling her, may think she is free of any claims you could make upon her," Ahmed continued. Ahmed's eyes narrowed. "But, in fact, she is not."
"What!" Razim exclaimed. He reached out a hand and seized Ahmed's arm. "What are you talking about? You carried out the ceremony yourself."
"Indeed I did," Ahmed agreed. "However, you understand, Sheikh Al Kharif, that these customs go back many centuries. And that they are complicated. There are many fine details, most of which the modern era chooses to ignore."
"How has that got anything to do with what we did here today?" Razim asked abruptly. He was beginning to tire of Ahmed's evasiveness. Or maybe it was just that Ahmed was so used the dealing with these matters of tradition, that he felt no need to hurry himself.
"Everything, my esteemed Sheikh," Ahmed said using the formal term of reference usually reserved for high born families in the kingdom.
"Explain yourself," Razim ordered.
"The particular custom to which I am referring dates back five centuries. It is not often invoked. Except under special circumstances. And I think what we have here with Miss Gower is a very unique circumstance."
"She's a special woman," Razim felt compelled to say. And he meant it.
Ahmed nodded in agreement. "She possesses a rare beauty," he said. "And qualities of character not often found in a woman. At least according to what I have heard of her."
Razim nodded. That pretty much described the woman who had just ended their marriage. The woman who was about to leave him forever.
"The reason I am bringing this to your attention is that it is clear to me that there still exists a considerable affection between yourself and Miss Gower."
"What are you talking about, Ahmed?" Razim ejaculated. "We just used an ancient ceremony to finalize a divorce ."
Ahmed pointed to his own eyes. "These eyes have seen many things during my long life," he said. "Never have I seen a more perfect example of true affection hidden behind a mask of pretend indifference."
Razim was stunned that the normally taciturn man would admit such a thing. Ahmed was the epitome of a governmental administrator in the kingdom.
Efficient. Knowledgeable. Cool-headed.
There were many like him who enjoyed the patronage of the ruling families. Usually, someone like Ahmed would never express a personal view like this.
"Do you speak of Miss Gower?" Razim asked.
Ahmed shook his head. "I refer to both her and your esteemed highness," he said.
"Are you telling me that you believe I did not want this divorce?" Razim asked incredulously.
"Not only that, but neither does Miss Gower want the divorce."
"How can you tell that?" Razim asked.
Ahmed tilted his head and then shrugged sagely. "You can call it an instinct."
"But there is no solution to this situation," Razim stated. He peered into Ahmed's eyes. There was a glint of something mischievous there, Razim told himself. Ahmed knew something, and he was about to tell all. "Is there?" Razim added.
Ahmed smiled. "One of the benefits of doing this for so many years is that I get to understand the finer details of tradition. Most people pay no heed to such things," Ahmed said. "That is an unfortunate sign of the times."
"Yes. Yes," Razim said impatiently. "To what do you refer?"
Ahmed paused. Razim told himself that the old man had a natural flair for the dramatic.
When Ahmed spoke it was with a low voice. "There is a tradition that allows a marriage annulment to be overturned."
Razim froze. He stared in disbelief at Ahmed. "Overturned? You mean that she would still be married to me?"
"Not only that," Ahmed said. "But once overturned, the marriage can never be annulled. Ever again."
Razim was sure that the color had drained from his face. "You mean she could never be divorced from me?"
Ahmed nodded. "The marriage would become an unbreakable contract. An obligation that could never be refused."
Razim gasped and ran a hand through his hair. He turned away from Ahmed and tried to comprehend what this could mean. Paige would be his wife forever. Hope rose in his heart.
He turned back to Ahmed. "How is this done?"
Ahmed's mouth turned down, as if there was an element of distaste in what he was about to say. "Before I answer that, it might be useful to tell you why such an arrangement was created."
Ahmed lifted his eyes to the ceiling and recited something from memory, probably some ancient document describing the history of marriage in Qazhar. "In order to confirm a wife's loyalty to her husband, it was found necessary to create a situation where her fidelity to him could be confirmed."
Razim frowned. "What does that even mean?" he said feeling increasingly irritable.
Ahmed pursed his lips, clearly disappointed with Razim's response. "Put simply, a divorce was merely temporary."
"Temporary?" Razim demanded.
Ahmed nodded. "For twenty-four hours, or the duration of one sunset to the next."
"What was the purpose of that?" Razim asked.
"It was a test of the marriage. If the sheikh was able to claim his newly rejected wife in the marriage bed they first shared, and she proved amenable to his advances, even after the divorce, then the marriage would be deemed a gift from fate. It would be reestablished. Destined never to be broken again."
"You're saying the marriage would be permanent? For the rest of their lives?"
Ahmed nodded.
Razim shook his head. "And that is written in the scrolls?"
Ahmed nodded. "It is rarely invoked. But it is part of tradition. As such it would recognized today. If it were ever to occur," Ahmed said. He lifted a brow. "Which, of course, would be most unusual in this day and age."
Getting Ahmed's drift, Razim nodded. "Of course."
Razim walked slowly over to the open windows and gazed out at the garden. He'd never heard of such a thing as this ancient custom. But, if Ahmed claimed it was true, then it must be. Ahmed was a man of honor and certainly no liar.
Razim thought for a while, considering what this could mean for him and Paige.
It was simple really. Tradition, which he already held as one of his highest values, had just handed Razim another opportunity. He'd seen the way Paige had looked at him today. He'd heard the uncertainty and the pain in her voice.
Would she agree to such a thing?
And then he remembered one very important detail. The marriage bed he and Paige had shared was located out in the desert, in his private encampment. At the time, it had seemed like the ultimate romantic gesture. And Paige had been impressed. Razim had flown her by helicopter out to the desert oasis. There they had passed an incredible night, making love under the stars. And after that, they had spent hours staring up at the bejeweled night sky.
Of course, everything had fallen apart very quickly after that night. But, Razim had always treasured that memory. The most incredible night of his life.
In an instant he knew what he had to do. Knew that fate had handed him one final chance.
And if he succeeded, then Paige would be his forever.