The Sheik's Sensuous Trap (14 page)

“How is it ever going to be okay again?  I’ve disappointed my family, embarrassed my father and he’ll never forgive me.”  She took a deep breath before continuing.  “I have no excuse.  And I’m sorry, but I’m nervous.”

His arms tightened around her before releasing her.  “Don’t be.  We’ll be married in a few days and everything will be okay.”

Chapter 6

“I won’t do it,” she said and turned her back on her mother and father.  Her mother was sitting on the brocade sofa
of a lovely salon done in varying shades of green with cream accents.  Her mother was not pleased with Alea’s stubbornness
and shook her head in silent admonition of her attitude.  Her father was much more vocal.  After an hour of talking, they were now in opposite corners of the argument.  Her father was demanding that she marry
Rashid
and
Alea
was
just as
adamant
that she would not be a solution to a political problem. 

“You will!” he said
firmly
.  “I can’t believe that I didn’t think of this as a solution years ago.
  Just think of all the time we wasted while you were at university!
”

She spun around and gasped in horror.  “Are you saying you would have sold me to that man instead of letting me attend college?”

Her father reacted to the horror in her voice with equanimity. 
“Absolutely.  If it meant an end to the hostilities, then absolutely, I would have proposed it. 
Regrettably
, he was the first to realize the potential solution but
it’s
still perfect.  It
will
unite the countries in ways we never dreamed about
and will heal the wounds much more quickly than any other diplomatic solution ever could
.  You know how much family loyalties mean to both our countries.  No one would dare raise a hand on either side of the border in anger with you as the Queen of
Ibel
.”

His words made sense but she rejected them still.  She wasn’t a pawn!  She was a human being.  But he’d ignored that statement, pointing out her responsibilities to her title.  “There has to be another solution,” she said firmly. 

“Give me one that hasn’t been tried?” her father ordered.  “The official hostilities ended the day Rashid ascended the throne.  The main forces have accepted the peace but the border villages continue to fight.  They don’t accept or trust the others
after so many years of betrayal
.  Your marriage would ensure that the peace is brought home to all of them.  They would never harm anyone on the opposite border for fear of hurting you
.  Think of the lives you’ll be saving, Alea
.”

Alea’s hands gripped her head, hating that her father’s words made sense.  Family was everything in their culture.  Even the announcement would probably lead to an end to the almost daily violence.  “There just has to be another way!” she said, desperation ringing in her own ears. 

Then something occurred to her, an idea that would save her from a loveless, political marriage. 
She looked up, excitedly.  “I’ll travel to all the villages.  I’ll make it an official announcement.  I’ll dedicate the next year to making sure all the villagers know that the peace was strong and they could trust the others.”

“You’re talking about a group of people who trust you completely, but the
Ibali
people, the ones on the other side, won’t believe you.  They will only believe their own rulers. 
And yes, Rashid could talk to the people on his side of the border, but the distrust runs too deep.  Nothing but a marriage, a family bond between the two countries will stop the fighting. 
Become one of them and
then
make the trip.
  Spread the news as their queen and you will have instant compliance
on both sides
and even gratitude.
”

“No!” she cried out, turning away again.  She was
losing the battle and couldn’t
think of any other alternatives. 

Her mother came to stand next to her as she stared out the window, fighting the truth.  “Five men died yesterday in a border battle,” she said softly.  “
Think of the wome
n who are left to live alone, to raise their families with an uncertain future. 
You know what you need to do,
Alea
.  You’ve never run from anything in your life.  Why is this so different?”

Alea
started to
explain,
but she was interrupted by
a knock on the
salon
door.  Before anyone could answer it, Rashid walked in.  He looked at the occupants of the room and nodded grimly.  “May I speak to your daughter?  Perhaps I can persuade her,” he asked, bowing respectfully to Omar. 

Omar crossed his arms over his chest.  “Feel free, but accept that I am in favor of this union.
  As far as I am concerned, I will sign the contracts and agree to the marriage terms. 
Regarding
the treaty, we already have it in place.  Hopefully this marriage will aid in implementing
and enforcing
that treaty.  I and my government will do everything possible to halt the hostilities.
”

Rashid nodded, “Thank you for that.” 

Rashid
walked over to stand behind her, then gently turned her around.  He didn’t say a word, but simply handed her an envelope.  “I’m sorry to do this Alea,” he said
somberly
.

His apology
filled her with dread
and her fingers shook as she
accepted
the envelope
from him
.  Opening it up, she gasped in horror.  “No!” she whispered.  “Don’t do it
,”
she pleaded with him
, grabbing onto his arms
. 

Her horror at the pictures did not move him.  He was emotionless as he said,
“I will
show your parents
if you don’t agree,” he said. 

“That’s not fair!” she said angrily.  “This is cheating.”

“All’s fair in love and war, my dear.  And this qualifies as both,” he said, his eyes searching hers for some sign of her acceptance.  “Your father will never see them as long as you agree to the wedding at the end of the week.”

She crossed her arms over her chest, defying him despite her mind telling her to give in, that she was truly cornered. 
“I told you, I’d deny that you were my first.”

“And you’re forgetting that I have evidence to the contrary.  Do I need to retrieve that?” he asked gently
, his hands on his hips as he watched the emotions flash across her face
.  “As I said, you will not taint yourself as something you are not.”

She glared at him for a long time, her mind frantically racing in an effort to come up with a way to counter these pictures.  But she had nothing. If he showed those pictures to her father, she would be rushed along to the wedding regardless of any solution she came up with for the border hostilities.  This way, she was able to maintain her father’s respect. 

“Fine.”
  She gave in with reluctance. 

Rashid wanted clarification of her acceptance. 
“Fine, what?” he asked.  “I don’t want any misunderstanding later on.  No recriminations either.”

She knew what he was doing.  Once she said the words, it was as good as done.  There was no alternative though.  “I’ll marry you.”

“
W
illingly,
”
he clarified. 

“Don’t push it,” she warned and kept the pictures under her arm as
Rashid
chuckled softly and place a kiss on her forehead.  Turning back to her father and mother, he announced, “Alea has agreed to marry me.  The ceremony will take place in seven day’s time.  I’ll have my staff coordinate with yours on the announcement so we can reveal the news simultaneously.  Will that meet with your approval?”

“Absolutely,” her father said, puffing up with pride and
curiosity
.  “I don’t know what you said to convince her but I congratulate you.  She’s a beauty, but too stubborn for her own good,” he said, walking over and hugging her gently.  “I’m proud of you, Alea.  This is a good thing.”

Alea’s mother also beamed her approval and hugged her.  “I agree with your father, but for many more reasons,” she said.  There was no time for Alea to question her mother’s comment since the doors to the room opened up and champagne was brought in.  A servant passed along chilled flutes of the sparkling wine and everyone raised their glass to the future. 

Alea barely sipped her wine as she glared over the top of her glass at Rashid.  He’d gotten himself a wife, but he had no idea what he was really getting. 

Chapter
7

The next seven days were controlled chaos for everyone within the palace.  As soon as the announcement was made, newspapers from all over the world were calling for interview opportunities.  In addition, there were fittings for her wedding dress as well as many other dresses that would be required for all the festivities that were already being organized to celebrate the wedding. 

Alea tried to slow down the world and everyone’s curiosity but it was useless.  She was simply caught up in the whirl of activity that followed the announcement. 

The day after the announcement of their upcoming wedding was published in the international press, she stood by his side in their first, formal event together.  Alea was terrified that she would do something horrible to disgrace either her father or Rashid.  She should have been afraid of Rashid, and not the international press standing in the doorways and peeking through the windows of the ballroom from various perches surrounding the palace. 
H
e and Alea
were standing in a receiving line,
both of them
shaking hands with dignitaries from all over the world, accepting their felicitations on the upcoming
nuptials
. 
“Knock knock,” Rashid’s deep voice said into her ear. 

Alea
smiled at the next person in line, nodded graciously as an ambassador from some country she couldn’t remember told her how beautiful she appeared tonight.  When the man and his wife passed on to her father in the receiving line, Alea
looked up into
Rashid’s
handsome face, the surprise in her eyes.  “Excuse me?” she asked. 

“Knock knock,” he repeated
, bending low so he could whisper in her ear
.  He was looking down at her expectantly.  When she didn’t reply, he
explained
, “You’re supposed to say, ‘who’s there?
’.
”

She couldn’t help but laugh slightly.  “Are you kidding me?”

“
Absolutely not
.
 
It’s
protocol,
”
he explained with a very serious expression.  A moment later, he shook another dignitary’s hand, nodded absently at their congratulations, then looked back down at Alea, waiting for her to respond appropriately. 

She looked around at the crowded room which was filled with diplomats and heads of state from all over the world.  They were at the
entrance to a formal ballroom
, Alea dressed in a simple, Grecian style white gown that flowed over her figure and made her skin glow.  Rashid was wearing the
formal
military jacket of his country
with elaborate ribbons and medals indicating his royal position and he winked at her a moment before another man was presented to him for an introduction. 

Alea waited until the man had said his congratulations, kissed her hand and then bowed off the dais.  “Did you just wink at me?” she asked, suppressing another laugh. 

He turned to her with a stern expression.  “
Alea
, we are at a state dinner.  I would never do that to you.  Could you imagine what the gossips would say?” he
replied in a deadpan tone
, then winked again before calmly turning to the next
couple
who
presented themselves
.