kay clifford - no time for love

8/13/2019 Kay Clifford - No Time for Love

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From Back Cover…

His views on women were out of date

Lorna despised Khalid's type—men who saw women as either mistresses orchattels. he swore she'd !e neither—even for the "reat Khalid al Hashi!himself#

But she was ine$trica!ly involved in his life in Kuwait. %he !onds that heldher could not !e severed….

%hrust a"ainst her will into the presence of this compellin" man& she found

her resistance fadin"—and all hope of happiness as well….


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$cerpt…

()ou're wasted in the *o!#( Khalid drawled

+nd Lorna retorted& (, hope your ne$t remark isn't "oin" to !e& '-hat's anice "irl like you doin" in a *o! like this'(

(%hat's e$actly what , was "oin" to say#( Khalid continued& (%o !reak themonotony& how a!out a trip to /aris or 0ome for a few days(

1ne look into his deep !lue eyes was sufficient for Lorna to understand thefull implication of his invitation. Khalid wanted her& !ut not in the way she

had hoped.

()ou disappoint me&( she said& hidin" her an"er. (, e$pected a little morefinesse than that. 2y answer is no#(

But her heart pounded. he mustn't let him know how deeply she wasattracted to him. Khalid wanted a diversion—she wanted marria"e ornothin"#


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3o %ime For Love

!y

Kay Clifford


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CH+/%0 13

R ICHARD P ALFREY seated himself behind his large, leather-topped desk and gae hispatient a reass!ring smile" Lorna #asters $as a bea!tif!l girl despite the fa%t that she $as no$ reed-thin, and had dark %ir%les beneath her $idel&-spa%ed iolet e&es that noamo!nt of make-!p %o!ld hide" As he $at%hed her, she t!gged at a lo%k of %orn-%olo!redhair and leaned for$ard in her seat, impatientl& $aiting for his diagnosis"

'Don't look so $orried,' he said" '(here's nothing ph&si%all& $rong $ith &o!" )!st a bad %ase of oer$ork"'

'(hat's impossible"' (he girl's oi%e $as soft and gae no indi%ation of her strong%hara%ter" 'I'e onl& been ba%k at the hospital a month"'

'A month too soon" Yo! sho!ldn't hae gone ba%k &et" Yo! had a seere bo!t ofpne!monia and I $arned &o! this might happen if &o! did"'

'(he& $ere so short-staffed I %o!ldn't sta& a$a& an& longer"'

'Yo!r first d!t& is to &o!rself"' (he spe%ialist fro$ned" 'Yo! need a m!%h easier *ob forthe moment" +o into priate n!rsing for a $hile" I %an refer &o! to seeral of m& patients

$ho'd be delighted to hae &o!"'Lorna made a fa%e" 'I don't fan%& pla&ing n!rsemaid to some ri%h h&po%hondria%'

'It isn't onl& the poor $ho are ill,' he pointed o!t"

'I kno$" And I apologise for m& ans$er" It $as sill&"'

He shr!gged" 'I'll leae the t&pe of *ob to &o!" !t make s!re it isn't as demanding as &o!r present one" Yo! kno$ $hat oer$ork did to &o!r father"' Dr Palfre& r!bbed theside of his nose" 'Ho$ is he these da&s'

'.ot too bad/%onsidering he's had t$o heart atta%ks" He still sees a fe$ patients athome"'

'Yo! neer tho!ght of follo$ing in his footsteps the $a& &o!r brother did'

'.o" I al$a&s $anted to be a n!rse like m& mother"'

'0here is Allan no$' he asked"

'In the #iddle East"' Lorna's e&es, fringed b& long %!rling lashes, sparkled for thefirst time as she spoke of her brother's %areer" 'He's head of g&nae%olog& at a large ne$hospital" 0orking o!t there he's been able to adan%e far more 1!i%kl& than he $o!ld


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hae done in England"'

'.o do!bt,' Dr Palfre& %ommented a trifle %&ni%all&" 'Let's hope he %an obtain thesame sort of position $hen he ret!rns home"'

Driing ba%k to the hospital in her se%ond-hand #ini, Lorna kne$ she $o!ld hae totake the spe%ialist's adi%e" 2he sho!ld hae %onales%ed for at least a month longer" !tshe loed her $ork too m!%h to en*o& idleness and, after her re%ent promotion, had still been basking in the glor& of being the &o!ngest sister at 2t #atthe$'s" Ho$ irritated#atron $o!ld be $hen she asked for leae of absen%e to take an easier position3

!t to her s!rprise, #atron took it $ell, onl& sho$ing %on%ern for her re%oer&"

'I'd rather lose &o! on a temporar& basis than lose &o! %ompletel&/$hi%h is $hat $ill happen if &o! don't take a break" 0hen do &o! $ant to leae'

'Dr Palfre& thinks it sho!ld be at on%e"' (hen do as he sa&s"'

For the ne4t $eek Lorna %ontin!ed $ith her !s!al ro!tine at the hospital, b!t in herfree time she $ent for seeral interie$s" (here $as no shortage of eas&, $ell-paid *obs,

b!t she did not find one she %ared to a%%ept, and it $as Ann Henderson, her flatmate, $ho n!rsed at a priate %lini% in Harle& 2treet, $ho finall& fo!nd something $hi%h shetho!ght $o!ld be s!itable and telephoned her in great e4%itement at eight o'%lo%k oneeening to tell her abo!t it"

'5ne of o!r n!rses re%entl& a%%epted a *ob as nann& $ith a fab!lo!sl& ri%h Arabfamil& $ho are liing oer here, b!t she's *!st being $heeled off for an emergen%& gall bladder op" and $on't be able to take it" (he pa&'s marello!s and there are masses ofperks, so &o!'d better telephone straight a$a&"'

'I don't fan%& looking after a brood of %hildren,' Lorna ans$ered do!btf!ll&" 'And $h&

the r!sh (ell me abo!t it in the morning" I'm going o!t $ith Daid and $e're alread&late"'

'(here's no brood of %hildren/onl& a bab&/and if &o! don't %all no$, half the staffhere $ill be after it $hen the& find #aggie %an't take it" For goodness' sake at least seethem"'

Lorna $rote do$n the n!mber she $as to %all, then looked apologeti%all& at the red-haired man seated opposite her on the %o!%h" He had follo$ed the gist of the%onersation and he pointed to the telephone"

'(he 1!i%ker &o! make the %all, the 1!i%ker $e %an go o!t to dinner"'

Lorna gae him a gratef!l smile" Daid (indell $as a pleasant &o!ng man $ith aneas& %harm and a slightl& stiff personalit& that no amo!nt of teasing %o!ld ease" .earl&si4 feet tall, $ith neat feat!res and slate-gre& e&es, he $as attra%tie to most $omen, &etmade it obio!s that he had e&es onl& for Lorna" 2he had kno$n him for seeral &ears,for he had trained at the same hospital as her brother, tho!gh it $as not !ntil Allan hada%%epted a *ob in 6!$ait that the& had started dating"

'Phone them,' he repeated" 'If it's as good a *ob as Ann sa&s, &o! $on't $ant to missit"'


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A fe$ moments later the %all $as %ompleted" Lorna had been !nable to speak to#adam Rashid $ho $as in bed and had left orders not to be dist!rbed, b!t her h!sbandhad arranged for her to %ome for an interie$ the follo$ing afternoon"

'.o$ &o!'ll be able to %on%entrate on me for the eening,' Daid smiled, and linkedhis arm possessiel& thro!gh hers as the& $ent do$nstairs to his %ar" 'I'e booked at the

(rattoo,' he %ontin!ed" '(ho!gh &o! look so loel&, I feel I sho!ld take &o! some$here $here $e %an dan%e" At least then I'd get to hold &o!"'

Lorna settled in the seat and smoothed her green silk skirt oer her slim legs"

'Yo! look almost &o!r old self tonight,' he $ent on" 'I think &o!'re finall& p!tting on $eight"'

2he la!ghed" 'I'm afraid it's onl& this dress" (hat's $h& I $ore it" (he f!ll skirt hidesm& bones"'

'Yo!r bones are too good to hide"'

7sed to his flatter&, Lorna made no %omment" Daid $as f!n to be $ith and al$a&s

gae her a good time" 7nlike Allan, he had de%ided not to spe%ialise, and $as no$ firml&entren%hed in a fashionable and l!%ratie gro!p pra%ti%e in 6ensington"

D!ring dinner he kept her am!sed $ith a flo$ of ane%dotes abo!t his patients andtheir mainl& imaginar& ailments"

'#& list seems to %onsist of middle-aged $ido$s $ith too m!%h mone& and too littleto do" A isit from the do%tor $hiles a$a& a pleasant half-ho!r of their da&"'

'Don't &o! find it boring and !nf!lfilling' Lorna asked %riti%all&"

'5nl& !ntil I present them $ith m& bill at the end of the month" (hen I find their%he1!es most satisf&ing"' His grin softened the edge of the mer%enar& %omment" '0e

%an't all be saintl& and self-sa%rifi%ing like &o!"''0hat &o! reall& mean is that &o! think I'm a fool"'

'(r!thf!ll&, &es" Yo! %o!ld be $orking in a priate %lini% like Ann for nearl& t$i%e &o!r present pa&" After all, $hat differen%e does it make $hose life &o!'re saing'

'It makes a great differen%e to the Health 2eri%e,' Lorna replied" 'It's be%a!se soman& do%tors and n!rses are thinking like you that it's in its present predi%ament"'

'lame the +oernment, not the do%tors and n!rses" For &ears the&'e relied on !s todo o!r so-%alled d!t& to o!r patients and to o!r %alling, and be%a!se of it $e'e beengien a rotten deal"'

'!t don't &o! think $e do hae a d!t&''2!re" !t $e also hae a d!t& to o!rseles"' He ran a s1!are-fingered hand thro!gh

his $a& hair" 'And that re1!ires me to hae a de%ent life and a s!bstantial bank balan%e"Like Allan,' he reminded her" ' He isn't $orking for the Health 2eri%e"'

Lorna bl!shed" 'He $ent to 6!$ait to get the e4perien%e he $ants" He'd hae had to $ait &ears for it in England"'

'I'm not kno%king Allan,' Daid pla%ated" 'I think he did the right thing" And so


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sho!ld &o!" (ake this *ob Ann's fo!nd for &o!, and $allo$ in l!4!r& for a bit"'

Lorna helped herself to another petit fo!r and tried to disg!ise a &a$n as she nibbledat it"

'Yo!'re tired,' Daid said instantl& as he noti%ed it" 'I'll get the bill"'

A little later, dra$ing !p o!tside her flat, he $ent to take her in his arms" !t beforehe had time to do so Lorna had opened the door and $as half o!t of it"

'0hat a hard-hearted $en%h &o! are,' he m!rm!red, follo$ing her a%ross thepaement" '0on't &o! let me %ome in for a night%ap'

'I'm terribl& tired,' she e4%!sed herself"

'And terribl& hard-hearted"'

'I'm s!re &o! %o!ld find a soft-hearted girlfriend"'

'.o do!bt of it" !t I'm a s!%ker for p!nishment"'

lo$ing him a kiss, Lorna ran !p the stone steps to the entran%e of the %onerted 8i%torian mansion"

As she kne$ it $o!ld be, the flat $as empt&" Ann $as on night d!t&" It $as a goodthing she had not let Daid %ome !p $ith her" 2he p!lled a fa%e at her refle%tion as shepassed the mirror in her bedroom" If onl& she %o!ld respond to him $ith moreenth!siasm3 !t his kisses left her %old, and she $as s!re he $as a$are of it" Yet heseemed %ontent to go on seeing her" Perhaps he hoped she $o!ld eent!all& oer%omeher inhibitions and s!%%!mb"

'#& rel!%tant irgin,' he had on%e *okingl& %alled her after a parti%!larl& energeti%t!ssle, and ho$ tr!e it $as" !t she had al$a&s resisted %as!al affairs, determined that $hen she did gie herself to a man, it $o!ld be be%a!se she loed him, and as far as she

$as %on%erned, loe meant marriage"

(he ne4t afternoon, d!ring her free period, Lorna $ent for her interie$ $ith#adam Rashid" 2he took spe%ial %are to ens!re that she did not look too prett&, for herlooks had al$a&s been a handi%ap in her %hosen profession" Her emplo&ers $ereinariabl& $omen, and most of them $ere antagonisti% to$ards an&one $ho possessedglamo!r, seeming to beliee that bea!t& and dedi%ation to one's $ork %o!ld not possibl&go together"

2$eeping ba%k her thi%k blonde hair from her oal fa%e, she %a!ght it in a loose b!nat the nape of her slender ne%k" (hen she $ent to her $ardrobe and s!re&ed herdresses, taking a %o!ple o!t and holding them !p against herself" A na& one $as her

final %hoi%e" 2he had bo!ght it in a sale at Hare& .i%hols and immediatel& regretted it, b!t it $as perfe%t for this o%%asion and s!%%essf!ll& s%reened the a!ra of se4!alit& thatal$a&s emanated from her9 tho!gh it %o!ld not 1!ite hide the firm f!llness of her breastsand her small $aist"

(here $as little she %o!ld do to disg!ise her fa%e" Her feat!res $ere so $ell %hiselledthat een the minim!m amo!nt of make-!p enhan%ed them, and r!ef!ll& a$are of this,she !sed nothing b!t moist!riser" Een so, her nat!ral %olo!ring gae her a glo$ that%a!sed a fe$ male e&es to look in her dire%tion $ith appre%iation as she $ent to$ards


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her %ar" !t she ref!sed to be do$nhearted" 2he $o!ld hae to be *!dged on merit" 2he $as a good n!rse, $ith e4%ellent referen%es to proe it"

2he $as prompt to time $hen she arried o!tside the marble portals of the l!4!rio!s blo%k of flats in Lo$ndes 21!are in $hi%h the Rashids lied" A !niformed porter ignoredher, b!t on learning she $as bo!nd for the pentho!se, !shered her obse1!io!sl& to the

lift, $here she $as s$ished !p to the tenth floor in se%onds"

(he doors did not slide open !ntil she had gien her name into the ans$erphone thath!ng on the $all of the lift, and $hen she did step o!t, a !niformed maid $as $aiting toes%ort her thro!gh the fo&er into the main liing-room" (he entire de%or $as %ream and $hite9 the $alls in nat!ral ra$ silk and the !nits for drinks and %hina b!ilt in andla%1!ered to mat%h" 2eeral !ffet paintings and (opolski lithographs lined the $alls, $hile sepia tinted mirrors refle%ted the 1!iet-toned elements" (he onl& splashes of%olo!r $ere the e4oti%all&-patterned silk %!shions s%attered oer the t$eed %o!%hes andarm%hairs"

(hro!gh the f!ll-length $indo$s she glimpsed the terra%e, and $alking oer to

admire the ie$, $as astonished to find it $as the si:e of an aerage s!b!rban garden" It $as laid o!t laishl&9 partl& tiled in bl!e, $ith gold %her!bs spo!ting %as%ades of *e$el-%lear $ater into lil& ponds, and plants of eer& kind blooming in iid prof!sion fromformal beds and elegant stone !rns"

'#iss #asters'

A soft oi%e made her spin ro!nd, and Lorna sa$ Dana Rashid $alking to$ards her"2he $as an attra%tie girl, $ith a %lo!d of fl!ff& dark hair that rea%hed almost to her $aist" Her fa%e $as small, $ith neat feat!res and h!ge, rather an4io!s deep bro$n e&es"Her hand%lasp $as firm and her smile so $el%oming that Lorna immediatel& felt morerela4ed"

#adam Rashid $aed her into one of the %ream arm%hairs and seated herselfopposite" 'Perhaps &o! $o!ld like to e4plain more f!ll& ho$ &o! heard abo!t theposition,' she began in fa!ltless English" 'And also tell me something abo!t &o!rself" #&h!sband had hoped to interie$ &o! himself, b!t $as %alled a$a& on b!siness and onl&gae me the briefest message before he left this morning"'

As %on%isel& as she %o!ld, Lorna told her abo!t Ann's phone %all from the priate%lini%, and then prod!%ed her referen%es"

'#& h!sband $as highl& re%ommended to #iss Peters,' #adam Rashid said, glan%ingthro!gh them" '!t I'm s!re &o!'ll be a most s!itable repla%ement" (hat is if &o!'ll a%%eptthe position'

Lorna looked into the dark bro$n e&es and felt a rapport bet$een herself and this%omel& &o!ng $oman" Yet she $as still !n$illing to %ommit herself"

'Yo!'ll find it far less tiring here than at the hospital,' the dark-haired girl $ent onan4io!sl&" 'Amina is a er& good bab&, parti%!larl& at night" 0o!ld &o! like to see her'

Follo$ing Dana Rashid do$n a $ide, mirrored %orridor past a seemingl& endlesss!%%ession of doors, Lorna %ame to the n!rser&, and the& silentl& made their $a& oer tothe pink organdie %rib $hi%h stood in the %entre of the h!ge room" 2leeping so!ndl&


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bet$een hand-embroidered sheets $as a pl!mp, prett& bab&, $ith a mop of tightl&%!rled bla%k hair" Een asleep, she looked the image of her mother"

'2he's onl& fo!r and a half months and alread& %!tting her first tooth,' %ame thepro!d boast" 'Isn't that rather earl&'

Lorna nodded her agreement, altho!gh for the life of her she %o!ld not remember ifthis $as tr!e" Her %hild %are training had been done d!ring the earl& part of her %o!rseand she had not had m!%h to do $ith &o!ng %hildren sin%e"

'(he n!rses' room ad*oins this one,' #adam Rashid %ontin!ed in a $hisper, and be%koned Lorna to follo$ her into a room $hose de%or follo$ed the same l!4!rio!s st&leas the rest of the apartment" 'Do sa& &o!'ll %ome,' the &o!nger girl %ontin!ed" 'I kno$ itso!nds strange, b!t I feel a $armth to$ards &o!/as if I'e kno$n &o! before"'

Lorna hesitated, and then nodded" '0o!ld it be all right if I %ame here for a monthon a trial basis (hen if either of !s isn't happ&;'

'!t $e will be happ& $ith ea%h other" I kno$ it" It $ill be so good to hae someone

of m& o$n age $ith me"' #adam Rashid led the $a& ba%k to the liing-room, $here a teatrolle& a$aited them" '#& h!sband is often o!t in the eenings, b!t as I am not allo$edo!t on m& o$n at night, it gets er& lonel&"'

'Don't &o! hae an& friends here' asked Lorna"

'Yes, b!t the& are all in the same position as m&self" If an&one from home sho!ld see!s o!t !na%%ompanied b& o!r h!sbands ;' 2he smiled as she sa$ Lorna's s!rprise" 'In6!$ait $e still lie in the past" 0e do not hae the same freedom as &o! 0esterners"'

'I had no idea &o! %ame from 6!$ait,' Lorna e4%laimed $ith delight" 'I $onder if; b!t no, that $o!ld be too m!%h of a %oin%iden%e"'

Dana Rashid looked p!::led"

'I hae a brother $orking there,' Lorna $ent on" 'He's head of g&nae%olog& at the2a!d Hospital"'

(he &o!nger girl's fa%e t!rned pale and the %!p she $as holding dropped from herhand, spilling hot li1!id oer her dress and r!nning do$n on to the $hite %arpet" !tshe did not seem to noti%e and stared in%omprehensibl& at Lorna" (hen she p!lledherself together and dabbed at her dress $ith a $isp of la%e handker%hief, at the sametime pressing the bell for the maid, $ho h!rried in, sa$ $hat had happened and r!shedo!t to ret!rn $ith a $et %loth and a to$el"

'It $as st!pid of me not to hae realised $ho &o! $ere,' Dana Rashid said h!skil&"'Allan told me &o! $ere a n!rse" He spoke of &o! man& times" It m!st be the $ill of Allah

that has sent &o! here"'

Altho!gh the girl addressed Lorna dire%tl&, she m!rm!red the $ords as if t!rningthem oer in her mind" !t before Lorna %o!ld ask $hat she meant a heail& a%%entedmale oi%e spoke from the door$a&"

'And $hat is the $ill of Allah toda&'

'Hassan3' Dana Rashid gae a nero!s start and follo$ed this $ith a too bright smile,


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making a bold b!t not altogether s!%%essf!l effort to appear pleased" 'I didn't e4pe%t &o!home so earl&"'

A slim &o!ng man stepped for$ard into Lorna's ie$" Hassan Rashid $as onl& a fe$in%hes taller than his $ife, in spite of his eleated %ro%odile shoes" Imma%!latel& attiredin a light gre& s!it, he $as m!%h s$arthier than she, $hi%h made him look far more

Arabi%" His handsome, rather bo&ish fa%e sported a small, neatl& trimmed beard andmo!sta%he, belo$ $hi%h his f!ll lips stret%hed into a $ide smile as he $as introd!%ed toLorna"

His small bro$n e&es rested on her $ith obio!s admiration and his hand%lasplingered longer than $as ne%essar& for politeness before he t!rned ba%k to his $ife"

2peaking rapidl& in Arabi%, he $as obio!sl& 1!estioning her abo!t the spilt tea" !tshe ans$ered him in English, thro$ing Lorna an apologeti% glan%e for his r!deness"

'(he handle of the %!p %ame off $hile I $as adding the s!gar,' the girl lied"

'I hope it doesn't stain,' he m!ttered %rossl& as the maid dabbed at the %arpet $ith

some $ater" 'I told &o! it $as foolish to hae $hite" !t &o! al$a&s think &o! kno$ best"'He t!rned to Lorna" '#& $ife %an be er& st!bborn and I need a great deal of patien%e todeal $ith her"'

'I am s!re #iss #asters isn't interested in hearing abo!t m& fa!lts,' Dana Rashidsaid gentl&, her %ompos!re regained"

'If she is to $ork here she $ill learn all abo!t !s soon eno!gh,' he replied, his sharp bro$n e&es not moing from Lorna's fa%e" 'I hope &o! hae agreed to take #iss Peters'pla%e'

Lorna nodded, b!t kne$ that had she met this man first she $o!ld neer haea%%epted the position" It $as apparent that the Rashids $ere not on the best of terms,

and she had no $ish to be%ome inoled in domesti% arg!ments" !t it $o!ld haelooked too obio!s if she ba%ked o!t no$"

'0e'e agreed on a trial period,' she told him"

'#iss #asters is starting on Frida&,' Dana interposed, and flashed Lorna a desperatelook, as if pleading $ith her to agree"

'In that %ase,' the man said to Lorna, his oi%e smooth, 'I hope &o! $ill be happ&here" 0e shall both do o!r best to ens!re that &o! are"'

Lorna rose $itho!t repl&ing" Hassan Rashid made her feel !n%omfortable $ith hissl& glan%es" 'I hae to be going, #adam Rashid"'

'I'll $alk $ith &o! to the lift,' the girl replied, %l!t%hing her sodden skirt in her hand"'I m!st go and %hange an&$a&"'

0ith a polite nod to$ards #r Rashid, Lorna follo$ed her o!t"

'(hanks for not giing me a$a& abo!t the spilt tea,' she $hispered $hen the& $erealone in the hall" 'I'll e4plain eer&thing to &o! $hen $e meet again"' 2he %lasped Lorna'shands in her o$n" 'I think $e $ill be good friends, no'

'I'm s!re of it,' Lorna replied, and felt a $ae of s&mpath& for this seemingl& !nhapp&


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girl" 'I'll see &o! on Frida&, then'

'Yo! are s$eet to %ome so soon, b!t m& h!sband doesn't like me to go o!t and leaethe bab& $ith the maids and on 2at!rda& $e hae been inited to dinner b& friends $hoare ret!rning to 6!$ait" (he $ife $as an old s%hool friend of mine"'

'0ere &o! ed!%ated here Yo!r English is perfe%t"'

Dana Rashid a%kno$ledged the praise $ith a smile" 'I $as at s%hool in 2$it:erland,so m& Fren%h and +erman are e1!all& good" 6halid, m& brother, doesn't approe ofEnglish boarding s%hools for girls" He sa&s the& either t!rn them o!t to be horse&, orrebellio!s bl!esto%kings"'

Considering herself neither, despite a boarding-s%hool ed!%ation, Lorna felt a t$ingeof dislike for the !nkno$n 6halid, $ith his high-handed ass!mptions"

'I %an't sa& I agree $ith &o!r brother,' she remarked dril&"

(he dark girl giggled" '.or do I" !t he has er& de%isie opinions abo!t $omen andlikes to pigeonhole them"'

(he lift doors opened and Lorna stepped in, keeping a smile on her fa%e !ntil thedoors %losed again and she $as alone" 0h& hadn't Dana Rashid told her h!sband thatshe $as Allan's sister 2!rel& that $as the most nat!ral thing for her to hae done Forthat matter, $h& hadn't Allan mentioned either of the Rashids in his letters home

(he e4planation that %ame to Lorna's mind $as one she did not %are to think abo!t"2!rel& sensible, dependable Allan $o!ld neer *eopardise his %areer b& haing an affair $ith a married $oman Parti%!larl& in a %o!ntr& $here ad!lter& $as %onsidered a %rimep!nishable b& imprisonment and not so long ago death" !t it $as pointless to spe%!lateabo!t it" In a fe$ da&s her 1!estions $o!ld be ans$ered b& Dana Rashid"

Altho!gh it $as a r!sh, Lorna managed to moe in to Lo$ndes 21!are b& Frida&, and

fort!natel& eno!gh s!blet her part of the flat $itho!t an& dela&" 2he also $ent to see#aggie Peters, the girl $hom she had repla%ed at the Rashids" 2he $as an attra%tieredhead, tho!gh she looked some$hat despondent as she la& in a small $ard on the topfloor of the %lini%"

')!st m& rotten l!%k,' she moaned" 'I took ages to find that set-!p" (here are plent& ofgood *obs going, b!t none $ith as man& perks as this one" Perhaps &o!'ll let me kno$ $hen the *ob's free again' 2he broke off to gie Lorna a %riti%al on%e-oer" '0ith &o!rlooks &o! sho!ldn't hae to $ork there for long"'

Lorna $as p!::led" 'I'm afraid I don't !nderstand &o!"'

'e ni%e to Hassan Rashid and his friends and &o! soon $ill,' %ame the retort" 'He has

1!ite a rep!tation as a pla&bo&" In fa%t it $as thro!gh an e4-bo&friend of mine that I methim and he offered me the *ob"'

'Is that $h& &o! $ere taking it' Lorna $as staggered" '(o find &o!rself a ri%h bo&friend'

'A ri%h h!sband preferabl&,' #aggie ans$ered honestl&" 'It's not diffi%!lt, be%a!semost Arabs find 0estern $omen er& attra%tie" !t &o! m!st hold o!t for marriageand not go to bed $ith them first" (hat's the $a& to %at%h them,' she adised" 'And een


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if the& eent!all& take another $ife it doesn't matter" Yo!'ll be left $ith eno!gh mone&to ens!re &o! $on't need to empt& bedpans again3 A $ord of adi%e, tho!gh" 2teer %learof sleeping $ith Hassan/he %an be er& pers!asie" !t if &o! pla& aro!nd $ith him hisfriends $ill all kno$ and the&'ll e4pe%t the same perk" (hen &o! %an sa& goodb&e to $edding bells3'

'I'e no intention of pla&ing aro!nd $ith an&one,' Lorna said abr!ptl&"

(hen $h& did &o! take the *ob 2!rel& Ann e4plained the position'

Lorna shook her head" 'I'e been ill and I needed to find something that $asn't toostren!o!s" (here $as no other reason"'

A s$ift glan%e at Lorna's set e4pression made #aggie redden" !t she %arried off herembarrassment er& $ell"

'Hassan $ill be in for a nast& s!rprise $hen he tries his l!%k on &o!,' she giggleddefiantl&" 'I'm s!re he thinks I re%ommended &o! be%a!se &o!'e got the same ideas asme"'

'(he last thing I $ant is to hae an affair $ith m& emplo&er or to marr& an& of hisfriends,' Lorna said %oldl&" 'I intend to spend my Arabian nights stri%tl& alone"'

'#ore fool &o!3 Yo!'ll *!st be $asting &o!r opport!nities"'

Lorna $as relieed $hen she %o!ld finall& get a$a& from #aggie Peters" 0ith a bit ofl!%k that sho!ld be the last time she $o!ld hae an&thing to do $ith her" (he girl'ss!ggestions had angered her, as no do!bt Ann had kno$n the& $o!ld" (hat $as $h& shehad not told her the $hole tr!th abo!t the *ob" If she had, Lorna $o!ld neer hae gonefor the interie$" !t at least Hassan Rashid's oil& familiarit& had been e4plained" Heobio!sl& ass!med that an& friend of #aggie's $o!ld also be a friend of his" 2he onl&hoped his $ife had no idea $hat $as in his mind" !t no, if she had, she $o!ld neer

hae engaged her" 0hen Daid took her o!t to dinner that eening and she told him $hat had

happened, he oi%ed his disapproal o%ifero!sl&"

'Yo! might not be interested in #r Rashid or his friends, b!t that $on't stop themfrom being interested in &o!" And the& $on't take no for an ans$er,' he added bl!ntl&"'Yo!'re a bea!tif!l girl, and a temptation for an& man" Yo! sho!ld read some of theletters Allan's sent me from 6!$ait" Fidelit& is almost !nkno$n there, and the $a& themen behae, espe%iall& $hen the&'re abroad, is !nbelieable"'

Lorna forbore to ans$er that infidelit& $as hardl& an inention of the Arabs" 2he $asmore %on%erned to find o!t if Daid kne$ of an& %onne%tion bet$een her brother and

Dana Rashid" !t she had to broa%h it dis%reetl&"'Allan's $ritten to me too,' she replied" '!t I %an promise &o! I $on't be tempted b&

offers of air-%onditioned pala%es in 6!$ait" #o%k (!dor in 0e&bridge is more m& st&le"'2he spooned bro$n s!gar into her %offee and kept her tone deliberatel& light" 'He keeps1!iet abo!t his o$n es%apades, tho!gh" For a ba%helor do%tor he seems to lead a er&%elibate life"'

Daid thre$ her a sharp look that instantl& told Lorna her brother had %onfided in


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him" And $h& not 0ho better than his best friend, himself in the medi%al profession, soable to appre%iate ho$ important it $as for a do%tor to keep his good name

'Don't $orr& abo!t Allan,' said Daid" 'I %an ass!re &o! he's not liing like a monk"'

6no$ing she $as not going to get the ans$er she $as looking for, Lorna stoppedprobing"

'0ell, I intend to lie like a n!n at the Rashids',' she *oked, 'so &o! needn't $orr&abo!t me" If I %o!ld stand the onsla!ght of st!dent do%tors for si4 &ears, $itho!t losingm& hono!r, I %an ass!re &o! no mara!ding Arabs $ill stand a %han%e"'

!t Daid ref!sed to be %onsoled, and she realised from his gen!ine %on%ern that he $as fonder of her than she had belieed" 5n%e a$are of this, she de%ided it $as betternot to see so m!%h of him" If she %o!ld neer loe him it $o!ld be better not tomonopolise his time" & %ontin!ing to see him, she $as en%o!raging him to beliee thatsomething more meaningf!l might deelop"

e%a!se of this, she hedged $hen he asked to see her again"

'I haen't arranged m& da&s off &et,' she e4%!sed herself"

'Let me kno$ as soon as &o! do" I'm free an& time/for &o!, that is,' he addedmeaningf!ll&"

Lorna tho!ght of this as she prepared for bed" If she did %ontin!e to see Daid, it $o!ld be eas& to talk herself into belieing she loed him" After all, the& liked the samethings and got on $ell together" Almost too $ell" !t there $as no magi%/no spark offire $hi%h she had al$a&s ass!med $o!ld e4ist bet$een herself and the man she $o!ldmarr&"

0as she romanti%ising to think this $a&, and $o!ld she be $iser to settle for%ompanionship and !nderstanding 2he had rea%hed the age $hen she $o!ld hae to

ans$er these 1!estions" !t for the moment she $o!ld p!t them o!t of her mind"

First things first9 and the first thing $as her *ob $ith the Rashids/and Allan'spossible inolement $ith Dana Rashid"


15/104

CH+/%0 %-1

'L5R.A , I'd like &o! to meet m& brother 6halid"'

0ith a start, Lorna looked !p from feeding the bab& her eening bottle and sa$ a tallfig!re in the shado$ of the n!rser& door$a&"

'6halid,' Dana %ontin!ed, 'this is Lorna, m& angel in disg!ise"'

'I'm s!rprised to find she isn't $earing a halo" Yo!r letters hae done nothing b!tsing her praises for the past three months"'

2t!ng b& the sar%asti% tones, Lorna tried to mask her anno&an%e, and hoped she hadalso masked her s!rprise at finding the man so !nlike his sister" He $as e4%eptionall&tall, and tho!gh his hair $as as thi%k and as sleekl& bla%k as an& Arab sheikh, the e&esthat looked do$n to meet her o$n $ere as brilliantl& bl!e as a 8iking $arrior/and%ontained *!st abo!t as m!%h $armth"

6halid al Hashib looked to be in his earl& thirties" He $as $earing an impe%%abl& %!tna& s!it and his $hite shirt emphasised the golden glo$ of his skin" His e&ebro$s $ereas bla%k as his hair, and a firm, straight nose aboe a $ide sens!o!s mo!th diided a

fa%e that $as not onl& handsome, b!t f!ll of %hara%ter" (here $as more than a hint ofobstina%& in the determined thr!st of his s1!are *a$, b!t it $as the e&es that fas%inated<as, $ell as being pier%ingl& intense, the& $ere an impossible %olo!r for an Arab"

Lorna's rea%tion $as not lost on Dana, $ho regarded her $ith barel& %on%ealedam!sement" .or $as it lost on her brother"

'I see Dana didn't tell &o! I am onl& her half-brother and that m& mother $asEnglish It's a tri%k she en*o&ed pla&ing on her s%hool friends $hen she inited themhome for the holida&s, b!t I ass!med she had o!tgro$n s!%h %hildishness"'

'I $asn't being %hildish this time,' his sister protested halfheartedl&, and t!rned toLorna" '6halid's mother $as m& father's first $ife, and $hen the& dior%ed/'

'2pare the e4planation till I'e gone,' he interr!pted %oldl&, and stepped for$ard tolook at his nie%e $ho $as dro$sil& s!%king at her bottle" '2he looks like &o!, Dana, $hen &o! $ere her age"' His oi%e $as mellifl!o!s no$, een bea!tif!l, $ith dark elet&tones, and he %h!%kled ind!lgentl& as the bab& gae him a $ind&, lopsided smile"

'Ho$ %an &o! possibl& remember' his sister asked" 'Yo! $ere onl& nine"'

'Yo! $ere s!%h a bea!tif!l bab&, ho$ %o!ld I forget' he ans$ered teasingl&, and tooka step ba%k$ards to p!t his arm affe%tionatel& aro!nd her sho!lders, as if $ishing to


16/104

atone for his earlier ill-h!mo!r" '#a& I hold Amina $hen she's finished her s!pper'

He addressed the 1!estion to Lorna, his tone %ool again, and e1!all& %ooll& he e&edher, making no effort to hide the fa%t that he $as not impressed $ith $hat he sa$"

For the first time sin%e she had started to $ork for the Rashids, Lorna $ished shehad not made her appearan%e so !nattra%tie" !t $arned b& $hat #aggie Peters hadsaid, she had gone f!rther than she had done for her first interie$, seeing it as the ones!re $a& to preent !n$anted adan%es"

2he $ore no make-!p and s%raped her hair !nder a flat n!rse's %ap/the leastflattering she %o!ld find" Her fig!re $as hidden beneath a %alf-length star%hed $hitedress $hi%h, for good meas!re, she did not belt, kno$ing gleef!ll& that it made her lookshapeless" Yet seeing the la%k of interest in those bright bl!e e&es she kne$ an!ne4pe%ted pang" It $o!ld hae gien her pleas!re if this imperio!s-looking man hadmade an adan%e $hi%h she %o!ld reb!ff"

Een before meeting him she had disliked the pi%t!re of him $hi%h Dana hadpainted and, in his presen%e, it $as %onfirmed" .ot onl& $as he domineering, b!t he $as

also disdainf!l, and she had the distin%t impression that he $as anno&ed that a strangerhad so 1!i%kl& gained the affe%tion of his sister"

Yet in spite of her antipath& to$ards him she fo!nd herself a$are of the strength hee4!ded, and to hide her %onf!sion at this mi4ed rea%tion she b!sied herself $ith the bab&9 pla%ing the empt& bottle on the n!rser& trolle& and la&ing the %hild oer hersho!lders to pat her ba%k !ntil she b!rped" 5nl& then did she stand !p and hand Aminaoer to her !n%le"

At fie feet si4 Lorna $as fairl& tall, b!t she felt almost short as she rea%hed !pto$ards him" His height alone gae a$a& his mi4ed birth, be%a!se in all the months shehad been $orking here, no Arab had to$ered aboe her as this man did"

He held the bab& firml& in the %rook of his arm, sho$ing none of the a$k$ardnessthat Amina's o$n father displa&ed"

'2he's heaier than she looks,' he %ommented after a fe$ min!tes of ind!lgentadmiration"

'0eaning her earl& hasn't done her an& harm,' Dana replied" '#other kepttelephoning me $ith all sorts of old-fashioned notions abo!t the foll& of p!tting her onthe bottle so earl&, and if it hadn't been for Lorna, I'd still be breast-feeding"'

'From &o!r letters to me, I gather &o!r nann& thinks most of o!r $a&s old-fashioned"'He looked at Lorna, a hint of $arning in his e&es" 'Yo! $o!ld be $ise to remember that 0estern ideas are not appli%able to o!r $omen" (o pers!ade m& sister other$ise isdangero!s"'

'I'e neer tried to infl!en%e &o!r sister, #r al Hashib,' Lorna replied stiffl&" 'I *!stgie m& opinion $hen it's asked for" eing a 0esterner doesn't %ome into it" As far asI'm %on%erned, as members of the same se4 $e pres!mabl& hae the same feelings"'

'5n the %ontrar&" A different %!lt!re leads to different feelings/regardless of &o!rse4 being the same"' His mo!th $as tight $ith anger, making it %lear that he did not liketo hae his beliefs 1!estioned" 'earing that in mind, it $o!ld be better if &o! kept &o!r


17/104

opinions to &o!rself"'

'6halid3' Dana $as %learl& sho%ked b& her brother's bl!ntness, and as if he realised it,he gae her a half-smile"

'I think it's best for me to sa& $hat I feel"' His oi%e $as gentle this time" '.o do!bt &o!r n!rse, like most English$omen of her %lass, prefers to hae the tr!th"'

'I'm a great belieer in the tr!th,' Lorna said $itho!t e4pression" '2o perhaps &o! $illforgie me if I do not agree $ith the %omment &o! made a moment ago" .o matter ho$different the %!lt!res, $omen share a %ommon bond in their feeling %apa%it&, and menshare a %ommon bond in their la%k of !nderstanding of $omen"'

(here $as a short silen%e before 6halid al Hashib spoke again"

'(hose are fighting $ords"'

'I don't $ish to fight $ith &o!/sir"'

'I'm glad to hear it" I'e neer lost a battle &et"' (he look he gae her $as %old andhard before he t!rned to his sister" 'I'll hae a bath and a %hange of %lothes,' he saidabr!ptl&, and handed his nie%e ba%k to Lorna"

His long bro$n fingers lightl& br!shed her arm, and she $as anno&ed that she %o!ldnot s!ppress the tingle of e4%itement his to!%h aro!sed" e%a!se of this she remained bent oer the %ot !ntil he and Dana had left the room" 5nl& then did she tid& the n!rser&and go into her bedroom"

7ns!re of the arrangements for this eening, Lorna did not %hange immediatel&".ormall& she dined $ith Dana/!nless there $ere g!ests/for Hassan $as rarel& homefor dinner" !t 6halid's arrial might %hange things, for he gae the impression that hesa$ her as a s!bordinate/and one $ith $hom one did not partake salt" He $o!ld haeliked her een less had he kno$n of his sister's relationship $ith Allan"

As al$a&s $hen she tho!ght of her brother and Dana, Lorna kne$ a deep sense ofdis1!iet" Dana had told her the tr!th abo!t their relationship $ithin a $eek of her%oming to the flat, and tho!gh it had sered to bring the t$o of them %loser together, ithad also added to Lorna's fears"

Dana had met Allan some time after her marriage to Hassan, $ho $as her %o!sin"(heir betrothal had been arranged bet$een the t$o families $hen the& $eres%hool%hildren" It $as a marriage Dana had not $anted and she had pleaded $ith 6halidto allo$ her the freedom of %hoi%e that a 0estern ed!%ation had ta!ght her to see as herright" !t he had ref!sed" Her 0esternisation $as e4pe%ted to %ome to a halt after the%ompletion of her ed!%ation, and she $as ordered to %ompl& $ith the $ishes of her

famil& in the traditional manner" As head of the ho!sehold sin%e the death of their father in a plane %rash, 6halid's

$ord $as la$, and to hae disobe&ed him $o!ld hae made Dana a so%ial o!t%ast" Asm!%h as he loed his sister, 6halid $as not prepared to disregard his father's $ishes,and it $o!ld hae taken a stronger-$illed girl than the eighteen-&ear-old Dana to haedefied him" esides, she had no mone& of her o$n and $as onl& ed!%ated to spend it,not earn an&"


18/104

At least Hassan $as &o!ng, single and good-looking, $hereas man& of her friends $ere for%ed into marriages $ith m!%h older men $ho sometimes had other $ies"(herefore she had a%%epted the ineitable and had determined to make the best ofthings" Arranged marriages had been a $a& of life for her people for %ent!ries, and it had $orked o!t 1!ite happil& for others, in%l!ding her o$n parents, so perhaps it $o!ld for

her"7nfort!natel& Hassan made no effort to make the marriage $ork, and regarded his

entr& into the fab!lo!sl& $ealth& al Hashib famil& as li%en%e to ind!lge himself $itho!tfinan%ial restraint" He sa$ Dana's role as that of the a%1!ies%ent mother of his %hildren, $hile he himself %ontin!ed his role as a pla&bo&"

'.at!rall& I $as a irgin $hen $e married,' Dana had e4plained some$hat sh&l& toLorna"

'!t I kne$ the fa%ts of life, $hi%h is more than I %an sa& for man& of m& friends" Ikne$ that se4 sho!ld be en*o&able for me as $ell as for him" !t he ref!sed to see m&point of ie$" He had the same anti1!ated ideas as most of o!r men/that a $ife is a

man's most pre%io!s possession, and therefore to make loe to her, as opposed to mak-ing her pregnant, $o!ld dishono!r her"'

'Dishono!r her' Lorna had 1!estioned"

'Yes" 5!r men beliee the& sho!ld onl& take pleas!re from their $ies/not gie it"(hat is $h& a lot of them hae 0estern $omen" .ot to marr&, of %o!rse, p!rel& foren*o&ment"'

'5f %o!rse,' Lorna had said dr&l&, restraining her abhorren%e of s!%h anti1!atedthinking"

'0hen I $as married for a &ear I begged m& brother to let me get a dior%e,' Dana%ontin!ed" '!t he $o!ldn't hear of it" He said it $as m& d!t& to a%%ept $hateer m&

h!sband did" He told me to hae a %hild and said it $o!ld o%%!p& me and perhaps bringHassan to heel, espe%iall& if I gae him a son"'

In the eent it had not $orked" Dana had had a mis%arriage and Hassan had%ontin!ed on his merr& $a&" In%reasingl& !nhapp&, Dana obtained her h!sband'spermission to do ol!ntar& $ork in the $omen's $ards at the 2a!d hospital" It $as therethat she had met Allan" !t the friendship did not deepen !ntil si4 months later, b& $hi%h time she $as alread& pregnant again"

2he pleaded $ith Allan to leae 6!$ait $ith her after the bab& $as born, and had been prepared to relin1!ish her maternal rights if he $o!ld agree" !t Allan had kno$nthat on%e Dana held her %hild in her arms she $o!ld not $ish to abandon it, and he had

been proed right" Realising Hassan $o!ld neer let her take Amina a$a& $ith her, sheand Allan had agreed to stop seeing ea%h other, and the& had both been relieed $hen6halid said he $anted Hassan to lie in London and manage the famil&'s b!sinessinterests there"

'I *!mped at the %han%e,' Dana had told Lorna, 'be%a!se I kne$ I $o!ld neer forget Allan if $e $ere liing in the same %it&" I belieed that if $e $ere tho!sands of milesapart I $o!ld stop $anting him, b!t I miss him more than eer"'


19/104

Lorna had so!ght for $ords of %omfort, b!t the& all seemed too banal for her to !tter,and she had satisfied herself $ith tr&ing to look as s&mpatheti% as she %o!ld" Yet $ith allhonest& she $as glad Dana $as no$ liing in England" For Allan to hae an affair $ith amarried 6!$aiti $oman $o!ld spell disaster for him"

'Do &o! think it $rong of me to loe &o!r brother' Dana had asked !ne4pe%tedl&"

'.ot $rong,' Lorna had said 1!i%kl&" '!t !n$ise" .o one %an help falling in loe" !t &o! sho!ld make eer& effort to forget him"'

'I %an't3 7ntil Allan %ame into m& life I neer !nderstood $hat it $as to loe a man $ith all m& heart, and no$ $e hae to spend the rest of o!r lies apart" & the time Amina is gro$n !p and I feel free to leae her, Allan $ill hae fo!nd someone else"'

Lorna had not replied" (o her $a& of thinking it $as not onl& Dana's loe for herda!ghter $hi%h made marriage to Allan impossible, b!t the fa%t that he $as a do%torand head of the +&nae%olog& Department of the hospital $hen he had met Dana" 2!%h afa%t/een tho!gh he had not been her o$n personal do%tor/$as eno!gh to dis%redithim in the e&es of the ritish #edi%al Asso%iation" 2he kne$ Dana $o!ld not see things

this $a& and $ondered if fate had bro!ght her into the girl's life in order to make s!rethat she %ontin!ed to keep o!t of Allan's/at least !ntil he $as safel& married tosomeone else"

.o$ that she had met 6halid, Lorna $as een more afraid for her brother" 0ere6halid to s!spe%t ho$ his sister felt, he $o!ld hae no %omp!n%tion in destro&ing Allan"

It $as in%redible to think that 6halid, a man of obio!s ed!%ation/he had grad!ated $ith hono!rs from 54ford/%o!ld so adhere to the past and !phold old-fashioned andharsh traditions" 2in%e taking oer the famil& b!siness on his father's death, he had b!iltit into a m!lti-national %ombine" In that respe%t at least, he lied er& m!%h in thepresent"

Lorna $ondered if he applied the same anti1!ated standards to himself and $o!ldmaintain an !nhapp& marriage *!st be%a!se it $as the %!stom" 2he kne$ he $as stillsingle and she pitied the $ife he $o!ld eent!all& %hoose" 2he $o!ld hae to bes!bserient and !nthinking, prepared to regard him as her master, and to s!b*!gateherself to his eer& desire" .o do!bt she $o!ld also be kept in p!rdah behind the $allsof his air-%onditioned harem3

It $as eas& to pi%t!re him in the role of an Eastern potentate, and she $onderedabo!t his mother, $hose infl!en%e on him had eidentl& been nil"

'.ot %hanged &et' Dana's lilting oi%e interr!pted Lorna's reerie" 'Dinner is in halfan ho!r and I $ant &o! to hae a drink $ith !s first and get a%1!ainted $ith 6halid

before Hassan %omes ba%k" 5n%e the t$o men get together the&'ll dis%!ss b!siness forthe rest of the eening"'

Lorna $as %ertain 6halid had no desire to get a%1!ainted $ith her, b!t did not oi%ethis opinion to Dana"

'I $asn't s!re if &o! $o!ld $ant me to dine $ith &o!,' she said"

'5f %o!rse I do, tho!gh I $ish &o! $o!ldn't make &o!rself look so fr!mpish" 0hen &o! %ame here the first time &o! looked m!%h better"'


20/104

'I'm here as Amina's n!rse, and I sho!ld dress a%%ordingl&"'

Dana looked as if she $ere going to disagree, then she tho!ght better of it" 'At leastp!t on a bit of make-!p" Amina's fast asleep and she'll neer kno$3'

It $as a temptation for Lorna to do as she $as told, b!t she resisted it and merel&took off her %ap"

Dana looked disappointed $hen she entered the lo!nge a short $hile later, stilldressed in her !niform" !t she made no %omment, onl& raising one e&ebro$1!i::i%all&"

6halid, $ho had been seated in an arm%hair sipping a $hisk&, stood !p politel& asshe entered and gae her a faint smile" He appeared to be more rela4ed, and had%hanged into another dark s!it of the same impe%%able %!t" !t his shirt $as light bl!eand emphasised the %olo!r of his e&es" Her traitoro!s p!lse 1!i%kened as he %a!ght herga:e and held it, and she $as relieed to seat herself ne4t to Dana and aert her e&es, $hile he b!sied himself at the bar after en1!iring $hat she $o!ld like to drink"

'Dana told me &o!r brother $orks at the 2a!d hospital,' he said, handing her a drartini"

His remark $as so !ne4pe%ted that she had to fight to %ontrol the trembling of herhand" 0hat on earth had possessed Dana to tell her brother abo!t Allan !t then sherealised she $as being foolish" .o one in Dana's famil& kne$ that the girl loed Allan,and to hae hidden Lorna's relationship $ith him $o!ld hae looked s!spi%io!s"

'Yes,' she ans$ered as %as!all& as she %o!ld" 'Allan's been there for a %o!ple of &ears"I gather from his letters that he's er& happ&, altho!gh he finds the %limate !npleasant"'

'Don't $e all3 (hat's $h& those of !s $ho %an spend their s!mmers abroad" (here's amass e4od!s in April that ni%el& %oin%ides $ith the rise in ho!se and flat pri%es in

London and the Home Co!nties"'Lorna %o!ld not s!ppress a smile at his remark" 'Are the $inters m!%h better Allan

sa&s the nights are %old and the da&s $ind&"'

'At least the&'re predi%table/!nlike &o!r $inters here/or &o!r s!mmers, for thatmatter"'

He ret!rned to his %hair, $alking $ith an eas& gra%e that made her $onder $hat he $o!ld look like in Arab robes" 'Hae &o! neer tho!ght of going to isit &o!r brother,#iss #asters I'm s!re &o! $o!ld find o!r %o!ntr& most interesting"'

'I'm s!re I $o!ld,' Lorna agreed" 'I had intended going this &ear, b!t I $asn't $ell,and I had to %an%el it"'

'Ah &es,' he m!rm!red" 'Dana mentioned it in one of her letters" Are &o! in goodhealth no$ If &o!'re looking after a bab&;"'

'I'm perfe%tl& all right no$,' Lorna interposed h!rriedl&, $ondering if he $erelooking for a $a& to get rid of her" '0orking for &o!r sister is like a holida& %ompared $ith m& *ob at the hospital"'

'0hen do &o! intend ret!rning' he asked"


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'I'e managed to pers!ade Lorna to sta& on for another %o!ple of months,' Dana %!tin" '!t please don't talk abo!t her leaing me" I/'

'0ho's leaing &o!, m& pet' (he oil& smooth oi%e of Dana's h!sband %ame floatinga%ross the room as he fl!ng his brief%ase do$n on a %hair and %ame for$ard to pe%k heron the %heek before greeting his brother-in-la$"

'0e $ere talking abo!t Lorna,' his $ife replied"

Hassan's dark fa%e %lo!ded" 'I hae alread& offered her more mone& to sta& $ith !sfor a &ear" 0hat else %an I do'

'#& $ishing to leae has nothing to do $ith mone&,' Lorna $as 1!i%k to point o!t"'!t I'm a hospital n!rse and I $ant to get ba%k to that kind of $ork" In an& %ase, &o!pa& me more than eno!gh alread&"'

'(hen perhaps &o!r fondness for m& $ife $ill pers!ade &o! to sta&"'

Lorna did not repl&" 2he had alread& had this %onersation $ith Hassan and kne$ it $as !seless to go on arg!ing" He $as a spoiled man $ho $as too !sed to haing his o$n

$a&" 2in%e he had learned she intended to leae, he had bombarded her $ithind!%ements to make her %hange her mind/not so m!%h for Dana's sake, b!t for hiso$n" It s!ited him to hae her here be%a!se Dana had been m!%h easier to lie $ithsin%e her arrial, and their 1!arrelling had almost %eased" Indifferen%e had taken itspla%e, and Dana no longer ob*e%ted $hen he spent his nights at the %asinos or $ith $omen" 0ith Lorna as a %ompanion, her ho!rs $ere al$a&s $hiled a$a& pleasantl&, andshe $as no longer lonel&"

'I don't !nderstand $h& &o! prefer to slae in a hospital $hen &o! %an remain here,'Hassan %ommented into the silen%e" '5r do &o! find the la%k of male %ompan& irksome'

Aoiding Hassan's e&es, Lorna t!rned her head and sa$ 6halid's bl!e ones" (he&

held am!sement and she kne$ he $as $ondering ho$ an& man $o!ld $ant to $astetime in the %ompan& of s!%h a do$d&-looking girl" 2he moed in her %hair and herstar%hed dress, a si:e too big, r!stled forbiddingl&"

'.either men nor mone& has an&thing to do $ith Lorna's de%ision"' Dana glan%edreproingl& at her h!sband before looking at her brother" 'Lorna doesn't find lookingafter Amina s!ffi%ientl& o%%!p&ing"'

'(hen &o! sho!ld gie her some more %hildren to look after,' said 6halid" 'Haing%hildren and taking %are of them is a nat!ral o%%!pation for all $omen"'

'It's not the onl& role for !s to pla&,' Lorna interened %oldl&" '5!r genes hae made!s %hild-bearers, b!t $e don't hae to deote o!r entire lies to it" 0e aren't all born to

be earth-mothers, &o! kno$"''It is a $oman's main f!n%tion"'

0ith an effort, Lorna held on to her temper" 'It $o!ld be a $aste of m& training if I $ere to gie !p $ork %ompletel& $hen I hae %hildren"'

'0ill &o! allo$ someone else to bring them !p and abdi%ate &o!r responsibilities'6halid en1!ired" 'I am not s!rprised the 0estern $orld is f!ll of *!enile delin1!ents" 0e beliee a $oman's pla%e is in the home and no one en%o!rages her to feel g!ilt& for


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$ishing to remain there" 0estern so%iet& has made the female go against her nat!ralinstin%ts and for%ed her to feel inferior sho!ld she $ish to pla& a p!rel& domesti% role"'He gae a %ondes%ending smile" 'In fa%t, it is the one role that s!its her best"'

Lorna longed to slap him" It $as in%redible that an ed!%ated man sho!ld think in this $a&, and een tho!gh there $as an element of tr!th in $hat he said, his insisten%e that

eer&one sho!ld feel the same destro&ed the for%e of his arg!ment"

'Een $omen $ho en*o& domesti%it& often $ant to pla& another role too,' she said"'Feminine intelle%t is no different from that of the male"'

Lorna %a!ght Dana's e&e and dete%ted both %a!tion and admiration" 'Altho!gh &o!think $e're %o$-like %reat!res $ith no minds of their o$n,' she %ontin!ed, 'I/'

'I kno$ $hat you think,' 6halid %!t in" '!t sin%e $e'e *!st met, aren't &o! beingpres!mpt!o!s in ass!ming &o! kno$ $hat I think'

'It isn't hard to g!ess $hat's in &o!r mind,' his sister interpolated" 'Yo! make it er&%lear the $a& &o! regard $omen" !t I s!ggest $e %hange the s!b*e%t and go in for

dinner"'Considering the eening's ina!spi%io!s beginning, the meal passed off $ell" Lorna

$as seated opposite 6halid and often %a!ght him staring tho!ghtf!ll& at her, as if tr&ingto s!m her !p, and no do!bt pigeonhole her too" He had the dis%on%erting habit of notaerting his ga:e $hen it met her o$n, and she $as al$a&s the first to t!rn a$a&"

In spite of her antipath& to$ards him she fo!nd him an interesting ra%onte!r, and%o!ld not help *oining in the la!ghter that his tales prooked" He gossiped am!singl&abo!t friends and famil&, and told ane%dotes abo!t his holida&s, mentioning the namesof the people $ho had a%%ompanied him"

#ost of them $ere also kno$n to Dana and Hassan and appeared to be mainl&

0estern b!siness friends" If he had had a girl-friend $ith him, he did not mention her"Perhaps in 6!$aiti so%iet& it $as not %onsidered 'good form' to dis%!ss one's affairs infront of other females"

As a maid %leared a$a& their %offee %!ps and pla%ed a bottle of %ogna% and t$o brand& balloons on the glass-topped table, Dana rose and signalled Lorna to follo$ her"

'I'm s!re the men are d&ing to talk b!siness,' she said"

.either of them bothered to den& it, and as Hassan rea%hed for the bottle, 6halidstood !p and opened the door for them" Lorna met his ga:e and he made no effort tohide his am!sement"

'Aren't &o! !sed to haing the door opened for &o!, in &o!r liberated so%iet&, .!rse'

0ith a shake of her head she dis%laimed the 1!estion, b!t ans$ered it $ith anotherof her o$n"

'I didn't think Arab men obsered the ni%eties of %hialr&, sir.'

'0e are ta!ght to prote%t o!r $omen,' he replied"

'As se%ond %lass %iti:ens I'm s!re the& need it"'

(he momentar& narro$ing of his e&es $as his onl& %on%ession to anger, b!t he $as


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1!i%k to hide it and made no %omment, merel& giing her a smile that dis%losed perfe%tl&formed $hite teeth" It $as almost as if he $ere telling her that he kne$ he $asirresistible and $o!ld eent!all& $in her oer"

Lorna $alked slo$l& do$n the %orridor, a$are of his e&es b!rning into her ba%k" 2heresisted the !rge to r!n and it $as $ith a feeling of relief that she heard the dining-room

door sh!t behind her" 2he alread& regretted haing been so frank $ith him" It had beentantamo!nt to r!deness, and as he $as the brother of her emplo&er, she sho!ld haeheld her tong!e"

Yet $hen she said as m!%h to Dana, the girl disagreed"

'It $ill do 6halid good to hae a $oman gie him an arg!ment" Een tho!gh hespends so m!%h of his time in the 0est, he isn't !sed to someone like &o!" (he $ies ofhis b!siness friends are %aref!l not to disagree $ith him, and his girlfriends treat him asif he's a god"'

Lorna's e4pression spoke ol!mes and Dana giggled" 'His latest girl-friend is *!st likeall the rest/high in bea!t& and lo$ in brains"'

'Doesn't he find them boring' asked Lorna"

'.ot if the&'re good in bed" He gets his mental stim!l!s from his men friends"'

'Ho$ long has his present affair lasted'

'Almost a &ear/$hi%h is something of a re%ord"'

'Do &o! think he'll marr& her'

'6halid $o!ld neer marr& a 0esterner,' said Dana, and then looked embarrassed"'I'm sorr&, Lorna" I/'

'Yo! haen't offended me,' Lorna smiled" '0hat &o! mean is that &o!r brother thinks

0estern $omen are s!itable for bedding, not $edding"'

Dana nodded" '6halid $ill appl& the same r!les to himself as he applied to me"' Her oi%e lo$ered" 'I onl& hope he $ill be happier"'

'I %an't see him allo$ing a $oman to make him !nhapp&" He's too f!ll of his o$nimportan%e to allo$ an&one else to be important to him"'

Dana %h!%kled" 'I %an see you $eren't bo$led oer b& him3 !t I %an ass!re &o! that $hen &o! get to kno$ him better &o! $ill like him"'

Lorna do!bted this, b!t did not sa& so" '0h& didn't &o! tell me he $as onl& &o!r half- brother' she asked"

'e%a!se I neer think of him that $a&" He is so m!%h like o!r father that Isometimes feel as if Father is liing again thro!gh 6halid"'

'!t &o!r brother is half English"'

'It is a half he prefers to forget"'

Dana ki%ked off her high-heeled sandals and %!rled her feet !nder the soft t$eed%!shion on the settee" In a s%arlet kaftan that emphasised her gloss& bla%k hair shepresented s!%h a loel& and e4oti% pi%t!re that Lorna %o!ld !nderstand $h& Allan had


24/104

fo!nd her so desirable" !t thank heaens he had managed not to lose %ontrol ofhimself"

2he s$it%hed her tho!ghts ba%k to 6halid" 'Considering his mother $as English, I'ms!rprised he's so adamant abo!t not marr&ing a 0esterner"'

'Yo! $o!ldn't think so if &o! kne$ the $hole stor&"'

Lorna $ished she %o!ld, b!t ref!sed to admit it, and she $as delighted $hen Danapro%eeded to re%o!nt it"

6halid's father A%hmed had been st!d&ing la$ at 54ford $hen he had met andmarried the girl $ho had be%ome his first $ife" (o begin $ith the marriage had beenhapp&" 6halid $as born in England, b!t $hen he $as a &ear old, A%hmed had beenordered to ret!rn to 6!$ait b& his o$n father, $hose health $as failing" It $as then thatthe tro!ble began"

'6halid's mother ref!sed to leae England,' Dana said, 'and for the ne4t fe$ &ears o!rfather %omm!ted" !t of %o!rse he $as er& !nhapp& and eent!all& his famil&

pers!aded him to take another $ife/the %o!sin to $hom he had originall& been betrothed" (he& $ere married a%%ording to #oslem la$, $hi%h as &o! kno$ permits aman to hae more than one $ife"'

'Did 6halid's mother a%%ept that'

Dana shook her head" 'It %a!sed the final rift" 2he 1!arrelled bitterl& $ith o!r fatherand ref!sed to hae an&thing more to do $ith him" & this time she $as r!nning a er&s!%%essf!l de%orating b!siness and that be%ame her onl& loe"'

'0hat happened to 6halid' asked Lorna"

'2he sent him to 6!$ait" 2he had no time for him and $o!ldn't een hae him to sta& $ith her for the holida&s" (hat's $h& he has a hang-!p abo!t 0estern %areer $omen"'

'His mother %ertainl& so!nds a horror,' Lorna agreed" '!t he sho!ldn't *!dge all of!s b& the same &ardsti%k"'

'Yo! sho!ld tell him that3 (hen sit ba%k and $ait for the e4plosion"'

Lorna %o!ld $ell imagine it" '0here's his mother no$'

'In .e$ York" 6halid neer sees her, b!t I'e kept !p $ith her %areer thro!gh thede%orator maga:ines" 2he's top in her field, so she's often 1!oted and photographed"'Dana stared tho!ghtf!ll& at Lorna" 'Don't *!dge m& brother too harshl&" At heart he isgood and kind"'

'& his o$n standards, perhaps"'

'(he& are the standards of o!r ra%e" (hat is something &o! sho!ld tr& to !nderstand"'

'Do &o! !nderstand them' Lorna asked" 'If &o! $ere a 0esterner &o! $o!ldn't befor%ed to remain $ith a man &o! don't loe" Yo! $o!ldn't hae had to marr& him in thefirst pla%e"'

2he bit ba%k the rest of $hat she $anted to sa&, kno$ing she dared not en%o!rageDana to rebel" If she did, it might rebo!nd on Allan"


25/104

Almost as if she g!essed $hat Lorna $as thinking, Dana's e&es filled $ith tears" '.omatter $hat differen%es there are bet$een one ra%e and another, the& be%ome!nimportant $hen loe steps in" 7ntil I met &o!r brother I had for%ed m&self to a%%ept6halid's $ishes for me to remain $ith Hassan" !t on%e I kne$ the meaning of tr!e loeI $o!ld hae gien !p eer&thing for Allan/eer&thing e4%ept m& bab&" Yet sometimes

the tho!ght of liing like this for the rest of m& life is more than I %an bear" If onl&6halid $o!ld agree to help me I know he %o!ld pers!ade Hassan to dior%e me and letme keep Amina"'

'!t he $on't help &o!,' Lorna stated flatl&" 'He's made that 1!ite %lear"'

Dana gae a deep sigh" '6halid doesn't beliee in loe" 7ntil he kno$s for himselfho$ it %an tear at the heart"

'I do!bt if he eer $ill,' Lorna replied, and then deliberatel& %hanged the s!b*e%t, sothat b& the time the t$o men %ame into the room the& $ere %omposedl& talking abo!t%lothes"

!t as she la& in bed later that night, Lorna's tho!ghts again t!rned to 6halid and his

%o!ntr&" 0ith all the $ealth 6!$ait had, it seemed reasonable to s!ppose that as itdeeloped te%hni%all& it $o!ld also deelop intelle%t!all&, and $o!ld allo$ its $omenthe same progress" !t this might take another t$ent& &ears, and girls like Dana andprobabl& Amina too, $o!ld hae to %ontent themseles $ith a restri%ted e4isten%e" (he& $o!ld be %osseted like dolls and treated as if the& had the same sense" 2he tho!ght ofthe life Dana had to lead and felt a great deal of s&mpath& for 6halid's ritish mother $ho, had she gone to lie in her h!sband's %o!ntr&, $o!ld neer hae been allo$ed todine in a p!bli% pla%e or be seen in mi4ed %ompan&"

Lorna tried to enisage $hat her o$n life $o!ld hae been like had she been born a6!$aiti" From %radle to grae she $o!ld hae been dominated and ans$erable to father, brother or h!sband" It $as eno!gh to make her ha%kles rise" 0ith all its fa!lts, England $as not s!%h a bad pla%e to lie after all"


26/104

CH+/%0 %H0

F5R the ne4t fe$ da&s Lorna onl& sa$ 6halid d!ring his brief isits to the n!rser&, $herehe $o!ld ga:e !pon his nie%e $ith an !n!s!all& tender e4pression" He did not speak toLorna, e4%ept for a polite greeting, and she kne$ he had relegated her to the position ofserant"

5n the fo!rth eening of his isit his sister $as giing a dinner part& for him, and at

Dana's re1!est Lorna arranged the flo$ers for it" 2he $as in the middle of doing the%entrepie%e for the dining-room $hen the girl so!ght her o!t-again"

'I'e *!st had a %all from Lad& Hartl&" Her da!ghter's ill and %an't make it thiseening, $hi%h means $e're a $oman short"' 2he pl!%ked pet!lantl& at the petals of anorange %hr&santhem!m" '0here %an I possibl& find another attra%tie girl at s!%h shortnoti%e'

Lorna looked !p from the siler rose bo$l she had been $orking on"

'0h& not ask &o!r brother I'm s!re he's got a long list"'

'I'e a m!%h better idea,' Dana replied, her bro$n e&es sparkling" '0h& don't &o!

help o!t Yo!'re b& far the prettiest girl I kno$/or at least &o! are $hen &o! take offthat dreadf!l !niform"'

'Ho$ %an &o! be so s!re' Lorna asked, aerting her fa%e"

'e%a!se I sa$ &o! in a dressing-go$n one night $hen Amina $oke !p $ith a feerand $e both $ent in to see her" I don't kno$ $h& &o!'re pretending to be plain, b!t Ithink &o!'re mad"'

'#ost $omen emplo&ers prefer it"'

'5h"' Dana's response $as telling" (hen she shr!gged" '0ell, I don't ob*e%t" I'd loe &o! to look &o!r normal self and I'd adore to see 6halid's fa%e $hen he dis%oers $hat &o! reall& look like"'

Lorna shook her head" 'I still don't think he'd appre%iate haing to make polite%onersation $ith &o!r nann& all eening"'

'Don't be so st!ff&3 He kno$s I regard &o! as m& friend" An&$a&, on%e &o!'re o!t ofthat star%h& dress he'll see &o! as a $oman/and nothing else"'

'I don't think I like that either"'

Dana giggled like a s%hoolgirl, making Lorna realise that for all her o!t$ard


27/104

sophisti%ation, she $as er& &o!ng" It seemed mean not to help her o!t" esides, itwould be f!n to see 6halid's fa%e $hen she $alked into the room in all her nat!ral glor&"

'8er& $ell,' she said" 'I'll stand in for &o!r si%k g!est"'

As soon as Lorna had settled Amina for the night, she $ent to her room to %hange"(he first thing to do $as to dis%ard her seere hair-st&le, and she $ashed her hair andset it in Carmen rollers $hile she had a bath" After riffling thro!gh her $ardrobe shesele%ted a simple b!t e4pensie pleated %hiffon dress $hi%h had been a birthda& presentfrom her parents" (he h&a%inth bl!e %olo!r made her skin seem fairer, $hile the narro$sho!lder straps that held !p the tightl& fitting bodi%e sho$ed off her %ream& sho!ldersand gra%ef!l ne%k" 2et free from its pins her hair glinted like s!n-kissed %orn, and she letit fall in loose $aes from a %entre parting"

'Yo! look like a golden-haired #adonna,' Daid had said $hen he had first seen herin this dress, and she $ondered if 6halid al Hashib $o!ld think so too"

I don't gie a damn $hat he thinks, she tho!ght irritabl&" I'm onl& dressing !ptonight to please Dana"

.eertheless she felt de%idedl& nero!s as she made her $a& into the lo!nge, herskirts s$a&ing aro!nd her slender legs"

2he $as not the first one there" (he famil& $ere alread& gathered and on their firstdrink" Dana looked eer& in%h the $ife of a millionaire in her emerald silk 2t La!rent, $ith da::ling *e$els to mat%h, $hile the t$o men $ore dinner *a%kets/ Hassan's a%onentional bla%k and 6halid's of $ine elet" It gae a $arm glo$ to his skin and madehis hair shine like bla%k satin" It $as impossible not to %ompare him fao!rabl& $ith his brother-in-la$, for he stood head and sho!lders aboe him in both senses of the $ord"

At her entr& both men stood !p, and both looked at her en1!iringl&, as if the& did notkno$ $ho she $as" It $as 6halid $ho g!essed first, and his astonishment $as so

profo!nd that Lorna $anted to la!gh in his fa%e"

'0ell, $ell,' he dra$led" '2o the d!%k has be%ome a s$an3 I had a feeling &o!rstar%hed !niform $as hiding something more than skinn& legs and a flat %hest" !t tellme, $h& hae &o! hidden &o!r %harms !ntil no$'

'Amina doesn't mind a star%h& !niform,' Lorna said %omposedl&" 'And I'm here to bein %harge of her"'

'!t this eening I hope &o!'ll be taking %harge of me, Lorna I ma& %all &o! that Iref!se to %all &o! .ann&"' '

2he shr!gged, a$are of him $at%hing her" He $as standing so %lose that his breath

stirred her hair, and she took a step a$a& from him"'Yo! m!st %all me 6halid,' he m!rm!red softl&" 'It is m!%h better than referring to

me as Dana's t&ranni%al brother" I hope I %an %onin%e &o! I am no$here near as hard-hearted as &o! imagine /at least $here bea!tif!l $omen are %on%erned"'

'0hat are &o! sa&ing to make Lorna bl!sh' Hassan asked, his sharp e&es missingnothing" 'I'e neer s!%%eeded in doing so"'

efore 6halid %o!ld repl& the first g!ests $ere anno!n%ed, and Lorna did not hae a


28/104

%han%e to speak to him again"

A middle-aged Ameri%an monopolised her for most of the time, $hile the other mene&ed him $ith en& at haing %ornered the prettiest girl in the room" All the %o!ples $ere middle-aged, the $ies e4pensiel& $ell dressed and $ith little to talk abo!t e4%eptthe so%ial s%ene, so that she $as relieed $hen dinner $as finall& sered and she fo!nd

herself seated ne4t to 6halid"

Altho!gh she $as !sed to the e4%ellent food sered in the Rashid ho!sehold, tonight#ar%el, the Fren%h %hef, had e4%elled himself" Hassan had enti%ed him a$a& from one ofParis' finest resta!rants, and he no$ traelled all oer the $orld $ith him" Ea%h %o!rsehe presented $as a masterpie%e, not onl& a *o& to taste b!t also to see" Lobster so!ffl= $as follo$ed b& i%ed i%h&ssoise, then a golden boe!f en %ro!te, the pastr& lined $ithfoie gras" For dessert there $ere %r>pes s!:ettes, flamb=d b& #ar%el, %omplete $ith $hite %hef's hat, at the table" 5nl& Dom Perignon %hampagne $as sered, and it flo$edas genero!sl& as if it $ere $ater"

Lorna tried to do *!sti%e to the food, b!t fo!nd it impossible $ith 6halid beside her"

0hether it $as the %hampagne that had heightened her senses she did not kno$, b!tshe $as !ltra-%ons%io!s of ea%h moement he made, parti%!larl& $hen he t!rned andhis leg inadertentl& to!%hed hers"

'Yo!'e hardl& eaten a thing,' he remarked as one of the serants %leared a$a& her barel& to!%hed dessert" 'Has the old bore ne4t to &o! taken a$a& &o!r appetite'

'0ith a%tions rather than $ords,' Lorna m!rm!red"

'2orr& abo!t that" !t he spe%ifi%all& asked to sit ne4t to the loeliest girl in the room,and sin%e he's %hairman of the bank that finan%es o!r oil tankers, I tho!ght I'd betteroblige"' His oi%e $as serio!s, b!t there $as a t$inkle in his e&es"

'I tho!ght &o! $ere ri%h eno!gh to finan%e &o!r o$n oil tankers,' she %ommented

dr&l&"

'0e are" !t I prefer to !se other people's %ash"'

'Ho$ interesting that &o!r dislike of 0estern $a&s doesn't appl& to 0estern mone&"'

'I neer %onf!se b!siness $ith pleas!re,' he said %oldl&" 'In an& eent, the remark &o!hae made is more appli%able to &o!r people than to mine"' 2eeing her p!::lement hesaid smoothl&< 'Yo!r %o!ntr&men ma& profess to despise o!r old-fashioned traditions, &et the& are $illing to do an&thing to benefit from o!r ne$-fashioned $ealth"'

e%a!se his %omment $as *!stified, she made no attempt to disagree $ith him"

'Hae &o! nothing to sa&' he asked, dark bro$s raised"

'I %annot arg!e against the tr!th, #r al Hashib"'

'Indeed I neer tho!ght I'd hear &o! sa& that" (hank &o!, Lorna" !t &o! $o!ldso!nd more friendl& if &o! %alled me 6halid, as I asked"'

'I'm sorr&, b!t it's hard for me to think of &o! that $a&" I still see &o! as;"'Embarrassed b& $hat she had been abo!t to sa&, she let her oi%e trail a$a&"

!t he $as not going to let her off and he leaned %loser" A lo%k of silk& dark hair fell


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oer his forehead and he smoothed it ba%k $ith long bro$n fingers"

'As an Eastern potentate' he said" 'I %an see &o! still haen't forgien me for m&attit!de to $omen"'

'0h& sho!ld that s!rprise &o!'

'e%a!se I didn't mean half of $hat I said"''Een the half &o! did mean is intolerable3'

He fl!ng ba%k his head and la!ghed" 'Yo! hae a sharp tong!e, Lorna" I like it"'

'I'm so pleased,' she said sar%asti%all&"

'+ood" (hat makes t$o of !s"'

2harp-tong!ed or not, she %o!ld not think of a s!ffi%ientl& %!tting repl& and%on%entrated on peeling a pea%h"

'It has the same bloom as &o!r skin,' 6halid said in her ear"

'0hat an original %ompliment,' she said, poker-fa%ed" 'Yo! sho!ld $rite adertising%op&" Yo!'d make a fort!ne"'

'I'e alread& made a fort!ne,' he said %ompla%entl&"

'I $as !nder the impression &o!r grandfather made it"'

'5nl& the first million/$hi%h $as prett& good going %onsidering his offi%e $as the ba%k of a %amel and his hori:ons $ere limited b& sand"'

'!t think $hat la& beneath that sand"'

'I do,' he replied, and $as !ne4pe%tedl& serio!s" '5il $as a gift from Allah and $em!st !se its benefits $isel&"'

Lorna tho!ght of the e4traagan%es of the Arabs $hose names fig!red in the gossip%ol!mns, and $ondered ho$ this man $o!ld defend them"

'Yo! hae a er& e4pressie fa%e, Lorna" And I agree $ith &o! that man& of m& fello$-%o!ntr&men don't $ear their $ealth in a $a& I admire"'

'Ho$ do &o! spend &o!rs' she asked"

'& %reating $ork and *obs for m& people" Admittedl& the salar& I allo$ m&self is%onsidered phenomenal b& the standards of the aerage man, b!t I ass!re &o! it is aminimal amo!nt %ompared $ith $hat I inest in ind!str& and %ommer%e"'

He spoke $ith s!%h serio!sness that she %o!ld not a%%!se him of %on%eit, and kne$

that on his o$n terms he $as indeed an admirable man" Yet she still had to prookehim, tho!gh she did not kno$ $h&"

'Yo! don't beliee in false modest&, do &o!, 6halid'

'I leae that to the ritish"' (here $as a mo%king glint in his e&es $hi%h intensifiedtheir bl!e-ness"

'Yo!'re half ritish too,' she said, and sa$ his fa%e harden"


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'I prefer to remember m& father's blood"'

'(hat's a ridi%!lo!s thing to sa&3'

He $as s!ddenl& so still that she kne$ she had oerstepped the mark"

'I/I'm sorr&,' she st!mbled" 'I had no right to/'

'Don't $orr& abo!t it,' he said thinl&" '0omen al$a&s let their tong!es r!n a$a& $iththem" (hat is $h& one sho!ld neer take them serio!sl&"'

Anger s$amped her, b!t she s$allo$ed it ba%k, glad $hen the& $ere able to ret!rn tothe lo!nge for %offee"

2ome$hat to her %hagrin, 6halid e4%!sed himself from her side and moed to talk toanother of the g!ests9 nor did he ret!rn to her side $hen his %onersation $as oer"Instead he *oined a gro!p of men and $as soon so immersed that she kne$ he hadtotall& forgotten her" !t that $as the $a& he regarded $omen< as ob*e%ts of passion andlight entertainment, to be pla%ed on a shelf $hen something more serio!s $as at hand"

Ho$eer she did not la%k %ompanionship, tho!gh the man $ho offered it $as not toher taste, and she $as relieed $hen his $ife signalled him that it $as time to depart"(his heralded eer&one else's leaetaking, and 6halid *oined his sister and brother-in-la$ in the hall as the& said goodb&e" 5ertl& Lorna st!died him, noti%ing ho$ self-possessed he seemed, his bearing firm and a!thoritatie"

'I think the eening $as a great s!%%ess,' Hassan remarked $ith satisfa%tion as thefamil& ret!rned to the lo!nge"

'And so $as Lorna,' 6halid added" '2he $as the delight of all the men and the en& ofall the $omen"'

'I noti%ed #rs 2m&the-#orton giing her a fe$ odd looks,' Dana agreed, and t!rned

to Lorna" '0hat $as she sa&ing to &o!''2he seemed p!t o!t to dis%oer I $as &o!r nann&" In an !pper-%r!st English

ho!sehold this sort of fraternisation is fro$ned !pon"'

'0e're m!%h more demo%rati% in 6!$ait,' Dana %ommented"

'I %an't agree $ith that,' 6halid %ontradi%ted" 'It's onl& be%a!se Lorna is English that $e treat her differentl&" 0e $o!ldn't ask o!r serants at home to *oin !s for dinner"'

Hassan &a$ned lo!dl&, obio!sl& bored b& the %onersation" 'I'm going to bed"' Helooked at Dana and d!tif!ll& she stood !p" 'I'll be leaing at nine tomorro$,' Hassaninformed his brother-in-la$" '0ill &o! be %oming to the offi%e $ith me or shall I send the%ar ba%k for &o! later'

'I'll see ho$ I feel in the morning"'

'Yo! sho!ld feel $onderf!l,' Hassan %h!%kled, and looked so sl& that Lorna $ondered if the& had p!lled off some b!siness %o!p this eening"

As the door %losed behind him and Dana, she stood !p" 'I'll sa& goodnight too" Amina $akes !p at seen no matter $hat time I go to bed"'

'Don't leae &et"' 6halid rea%hed o!t and lightl& en%losed the narro$ %ir%le of her


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$rist" '2ta& and talk to me for a $hile,' he said, and p!lled her gentl& do$n on to the%o!%h beside him"

Lorna's heart began to po!nd and she per%hed nero!sl& on the edge of the seat" 2hedared not let him g!ess ho$ dist!rbing she fo!nd his pro4imit&" 2he had felt his strongattra%tion from their first meeting, and there $as no point pretending other$ise"

2!ppose he asked her o!t, $o!ld she go $ith him, een tho!gh she kne$ it $o!ld%ome to nothing (he temptation to kno$ him better $as strong, and she %o!ld not helpremembering that his mother $as ritish" (ho!gh he had affirmed he $o!ld neermarr& a 0esterner, he might not feel the same $a& if he fell in loe $ith one"

2tartled at $here her tho!ghts had taken her, she moed f!rther a$a& from him onthe settee"

'Yo! reall& are $asted here,' 6halid dra$led s!ddenl&"

'I hope &o!r ne4t remark isn't going to be ?0hat's a bea!tif!l girl like &o! doing in a *ob like this? ' she retorted"

'(hat's e4a%tl& $hat I $as going to sa&,' he grinned" '!t I $as also going to ask if I%o!ld lien it !p for &o!"'

'Lien it !p'

'5ffer &o! a %hange of s%ener& for a fe$ da&s /sa& Paris or Rome'

5ne look into his deep bl!e e&es $as s!ffi%ient for Lorna to !nderstand the f!llimpli%ation of his $ords, as $ell as to !nderstand Hassan's sl& look" Her naieda&dreaming anished" 6halid $anted her all right, b!t not in the $a& she $anted"

'Yo! disappoint me,' she said in d!l%et tones" 'I e4pe%ted &o! to sho$ a little morefinesse than &o!r brother-in-la$" !t m& ans$er to &o! is the same one I gae to him/

no"''A pit&,' he replied matter-of-fa%tl&" 'I e4pe%ted to be l!%kier than Hassan" After all,

he's married and &o! $ere sensible to t!rn him do$n" !t I hae no en%!mbran%es and I $o!ld be more than genero!s $ith &o!"'

'It's s$eet of &o! to offer"' Her oi%e $as still gentle" '!t I'm not interested" If &o!'redesperate, tho!gh, I might be able to s!ppl& &o! $ith a %o!ple of phone n!mbers of $illing girls"'

He st!died her tho!ghtf!ll&, in no $a& p!t o!t b& her %omment"

'A man doesn't hae to be desperate to $ant to make loe to a bea!tif!l girl like &o!"He $o!ld hae to be o!t of his mind if he didn't $ant it"'

Lorna $ent to rise, intending the gest!re as a termination of their %onersation" !tagain his hand en%ir%led her $rist, onl& this time his grip $as not gentle b!t like a bandof steel, and $ith one s$ift moement he p!lled her to him and ro!ghl& took possessionof her mo!th"

2he tried to p!ll a$a&, b!t he held her so tightl& to him that she %o!ld barel& breathe,and his %loseness made her ibrantl& a$are of the hard m!s%les of his %hest and thepo!nding of his heart against her breasts"


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2he tried to t!rn her head a$a& to es%ape his h!ngr& mo!th as it moed e4pertl& ba%k and forth against her o$n, b!t her franti% efforts onl& sered to e4%ite him f!rther"2he $illed herself to rela4 and he took this as a sign of s!rrender and loosened his grip"Instantl& she $ren%hed free of him and stood !p" Her legs felt like r!bber, b!t her e&es $ere bla:ing $ith a passion bro!ght on not b& desire b!t f!r&" (here had been no

tenderness in his to!%h, onl& naked l!st, and for this she hated him"'Ho$ dare &o!3' she panted"

'(here $as no daring re1!ired"' His p!pils $ere dilated and his e&es still lang!oro!sas he stood !p to fa%e her" 'Don't tell me &o! didn't $ant it as m!%h as I did 5r do &o!think that pla&ing hard to get $ill make &o! more desirable to me'

Her hand rose, and before he g!essed her intention she bro!ght it do$n $ith all herfor%e on his tanned %heek"

6halid stepped ba%k, his e&es glittering $ith s!%h fero%it& that she feared for hersafet&" His o$n hand lifted and she re%oiled" !t it $as not to strike her ba%k, as she hadfeared, b!t to r!b his fa%e $here the red $eals of her fingers $ere beginning to s!rfa%e"

Lorna alread& regretted her a%tion" 2he had behaed like a heroine in a 8i%torianmelodrama/ and a bad one at that" After all, $hat did a kiss/ ho$eer passionate/mean these da&s If she $anted to be honest $ith herself she kne$ the reason for heroer-rea%tion" It $as be%a!se 6halid $o!ld neer hae attempted the same intima%& $ith an Arab girl, and it proed ho$ little respe%t he had forher.

'(hat's the first time I'e been ans$ered 1!ite so painf!ll& sin%e I $as a small bo&,' hesaid r!ef!ll&" '!t a simple ?no? $o!ld hae sered *!st as $ell"'

Anger b!bbled to the s!rfa%e again at his %omment" He didn't een hae the de%en%&to apologise"

'I felt m& ans$er needed reinfor%ing,' she retorted" 'It's time &o! realised that not all 0estern $omen are &o!rs for the asking"'

'.o$ that does s!rprise me,' he said sar%asti%all&, and sa!ntered oer to the bar, $here he po!red himself a large brand&, first proffering the bottle to$ards her in a $ordless 1!estion" 2he p!rposef!ll& ignored him" Altho!gh she %o!ld hae done $ith adrink, she had no intention of letting him kno$ it"

'Ho$eer,' he %ontin!ed, 'it seems I made a mistake $ith &o!" I sho!ld hae realised &o! $eren't the t&pe to gie in to a man &o! barel& kne$"'

'Is that &o!r idea of a %ompliment' she en1!ired"

'If I read the e4pression on &o!r fa%e %orre%tl&, I %an ass!me it isn't &o!rs"'

'For on%e o!r %omm!ni%ation is perfe%t,' she told him frostil&" 'And for &o!r addedinformation, $hen I do ?gie in?, as &o! so s!%%in%tl& p!t it, it $ill be to m& h!sband,and no one else"'

His e&es glinted and she had the impression that he fo!nd her ans$er am!sing"

'In that %ase, I shan't bother &o! again,' he said indifferentl&, and t!rned a$a& to setdo$n his glass"


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0ith as m!%h dignit& as she %o!ld m!ster, she $alked from the room"

Altho!gh Lorna g!essed that Dana's h!sband $as partl& to blame for 6halid's behaio!r, she $as bitterl& disappointed that he had belieed Hassan's lies" 2he realisedshe had made a mistake in ass!ming that be%a!se he $as half English, he tho!ght like a 0esterner/in spite of his %learl& e4pressed opinions to the %ontrar&" 6halid sa$ $omen

either as %hattels, mistresses or/like herself/as good for a one-night stand" 0h& hadshe been st!pid eno!gh to think other$ise 0as it be%a!se she had $anted to beliee it

Her %heeks b!rned at the admission" 6halid's professed interest in her ie$s oerdinner had been solel& for the p!rpose of disarming her" And she had fallen for it" !t atleast she had sho$n him that his %harm didn't al$a&s $ork"

#omentaril& she relied his kiss, and the memor& of it made her tremble" It $asfoolish to den& that she $as ph&si%all& attra%ted to him despite the fa%t that she dislikedhis ie$s on eer&thing and despised his $a& of life"

7ntil 6halid, no man had pier%ed her armo!r of se4!al resere, and she had al$a&s been in f!ll %ontrol of her emotions" It $as ironi% that the one man $ho had s!%%eeded

in aro!sing her sho!ld be the one man she %o!ld neer hae on her o$n terms"

And to hae him on his $as something she $o!ld neer do"


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CH+/%0 F140

L5R.A $as relieed that for the ne4t fe$ da&s she hardl& sa$ 6halid"

0hen the& did meet, he a%ted as if nothing had happened bet$een them and treatedher $ith the same polite friendliness as before" .either b& $ord or gest!re did he giean& indi%ation as to $hether he $as still anno&ed or een disappointed at her re*e%tionof him, and she %o!ld onl& ass!me that the in%ident $as so meaningless to him that he

$as able to forget it"

If onl& she %o!ld do the same3 !t !nfort!natel& she %o!ldn't" 2he $as ibrantl& alieto his eer& look, to his eer& $ord" Had he been sta&ing here for long, she $o!ld hae been for%ed to leae, and she s!stained herself $ith the kno$ledge that he $as soonret!rning to his homeland"

2he also sa$ little of Dana" 2he flitted in and o!t of the flat d!ring the da&, b!sil&shopping for presents to send home to 6!$ait, and her eenings $ere spent dining o!t $ith Hassan and her brother"

0hen the& did manage to snat%h some time together she noti%ed that the &o!ngergirl appeared to be in e4%eptionall& high spirits, and Lorna gae 6halid %redit for this" Inspite of treating his sister as if she $ere still a %hild, $ith %onstant teasing and a ref!salto take an& of her !tteran%es serio!sl&, it $as eas& to see the deep affe%tion he felt forher" (hat $as $h& it $as diffi%!lt to !nderstand $h& he had for%ed her into a loelessmarriage"

(he da& before he $as to leae for 6!$ait, Lorna had the afternoon off" 2he spent itat the hospital, and after %at%hing !p on the gossip $ith her friends, she $ent into#atron's offi%e to tell her she $o!ld soon be ret!rning to $ork"

'I'm glad to hear it,' said #atron $ith a smile" 'I $as afraid &o! $o!ld be spoiled b&l!4!r&"'

'I'm not the t&pe to be spoiled that easil&,' Lorna replied, and fleetingl& $ished she $ere" 2omeho$ she had the feeling that, as a loer, 6halid $o!ld be !nforgettable"

#atron $as not the onl& person $ho $as glad to hear Lorna intended to leae theRashids'" Daid had %onstantl& gr!mbled at her !naailabilit& and she had still notpl!%ked !p the %o!rage to tell him she $anted to stop seeing him"

It had not been diffi%!lt to fob him off $ith the e4%!se that Dana $as er&demanding and gae her little opport!nit& to go o!t in the eenings" !t he had beenparti%!larl& insistent for the past %o!ple of $eeks, and had ref!sed to listen to her


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e4%!ses, !ntil she had finall& agreed to meet him for dinner tonight"

He $as $aiting for her at the entran%e to 0altons, and

kay clifford - no time for love

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