Chapter 31
I want the ground to open up beneath my feet. Not because of what Kaled said—I would never accept infidelity in a marriage, even a loveless one—but because, ever since this conversation began, my brother, with his overprotective ways, has been acting as if I don’t have a brain.
“My relationship with Jazmina is outside your jurisdiction, Kaled,” Rodrick says.
“Like hell it is. I know you very well.”
“Just as I know you. Are you sure you want to talk about the past in front of Adeela?” Rodrick challenges.
“Yeah, I think I’ll enjoy sitting down and hearing what you have to say, Rodrick,” my friend says, and I watch my brother’s face go pale.
Serves him right.
“The past is the past.” The clever sheikh backtracks quickly. “Jazmina, are you sure about what you’re doing?”
“Yes. I want to marry Rodrick. And there’s one more thing: we won’t have a religious ceremony.”
I feel Rodrick’s gaze on me, but I keep my focus on my brother.
“Why not?” he asks.
Because maybe this marriage won’t last long enough to justify all that celebration.
I don’t say it. Instead, I take a different route.
“Because we’re from different religions. I don’t intend to convert to his faith, just as he probably won’t convert to ours.”
“We could still do the ceremony in both religions, just for the symbolism,” Rodrick argues, and when I look at him, his brow is furrowed as he studies me, as if trying to read between my words.
I know that both members of my family and the man who is now my fiancé are waiting for me to take a stand, but I won’t back down.
“Father can give us his blessing in private. I don’t want a party. And we won’t even have time for one, since Rodrick needs to be married before he turns thirty-seven.”
“In a few weeks. How convenient,” Kaled snarls, and I can’t stop myself from rolling my eyes.
“That may be exactly why this is a marriage of convenience, brother,” I say, hearing Adeela snort with laughter. “Now we have to go. Tomorrow I’ll call Father and tell him the news.”
“The news, as you call it, he already knows—so does the rest of the world. What you’ll need to convince him of is the speed of the wedding, even though I doubt he’ll give you any trouble. He’s always given in to your whims.”
“Like that time we did the belly dance performance,” Adeela recalls, and when I feel Rodrick’s eyes on me, my face heats up.
“Your mother isn’t happy, Jazmina,” my brother says. “Prepare for a battle when you call her.”
“She’s never been happy with me, Kaled. Ever since I arrived in London, she hasn’t called. She only replies to messages. She never takes the initiative.”
“We’ll speak with former Sheikh Kamran tomorrow,” Rodrick says. “The civil ceremony will most likely take place here, and then we’ll fly to Rheadur so your sister can receive your father’s blessing.”
“We’ll attend the wedding,” Adeela steps in. “I don’t know if your mother will show up, but I won’t let my best friend get married without me being there.”
“Since Jazmina doesn’t want a party, I was thinking of holding the ceremony at my castle in Kindubh.”
“Yes, we can do that,” my friend says, smiling enthusiastically. “And if you want, I can fly to you so we can go together to the same designer who made my dress in Paris.”
We talk for a few more minutes, even after Kaled and Rodrick excuse themselves and leave.
I know Adeela wanted to speak to me alone because she’s worried.
“You don’t look excited,” she says.
“I feel like I forced him.”
“I can’t believe what I’m hearing.”
“Why not?”
“Have you really looked at the man you’re going to marry?”
“Unfortunately, yes. He’s devastatingly handsome.”
“That’s not what I mean, you idiot. Do you honestly think Rodrick or Kaled would marry against their will? If he accepted your proposal, it’s because he wanted you too.”
“He needed to get married, that’s a fact, but I’m not stupid. There’s a strong physical attraction between us.”
“Since when? Did he try to cross a line with you?”
“No. He has a filthy mouth and made it very clear what he wants from me after the wedding,” I say, blushing, “but before today, we’d only exchanged a few kisses.”
“What? Did something happen today?”
“I can’t believe you’re asking me that! Do you think I forgot that before marrying my brother, you were locked in Vicenzzo’s yacht cabin with him? Don’t start throwing stones when your roof is made of glass. Besides, nothing happened. Just kisses and words . . . promises, I’d say.”
“Those are the best kind,” she says dreamily, and despite all the chaos of the day, I laugh out loud.
“As for what you asked, I can only speak for myself. I think I’ve been attracted to him since the first time I saw him in person. The moment we’re in the same space, it’s like my body goes crazy.”
“I know exactly how that feels. Any chance love might enter the equation?”
I decide not to say anything about the inevitable divorce in the future. My friend would worry, and there’s no reason to add more tension to today. If Kaled knew what I proposed to his friend—my future freedom in exchange for his ducal title—he’d lose his mind.
As if echoing my thoughts, she says, “I thought Kaled was going to have a heart attack when his advisor delivered the engagement news. I swear, he roared. And now the news has spread through Rheadur like wildfire. It's all anyone is talking about.”
“Tomorrow I’ll call my parents, and everything will be fine. Thank you for supporting me unconditionally, my friend.”
“I’m only not more worried because it’s Rodrick, but I truly don’t know how it’s possible to reconcile a relationship with someone from such a different culture.”
“You managed. Kaled is much more Western now. Or at least he was, until he became sheikh.”
“Maybe you’re right. I don’t want to ruin your moment, Jazmina. I just want to be sure you’ll be happy.”
“Who in life ever has that kind of guarantee, my friend? If you know where they sell that certificate, let me know. I need one urgently.”
She hangs up because Tajj has woken up and wants her attention, but I remain seated in front of my laptop, staring at the screen without really seeing anything. Lost in my thoughts.
Rodrick left to give me privacy with my friend.
I get up and walk to a floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the London night, trying to think about the future.
Despite the crooked path that brought me here, I’m not afraid. In the end, when everything is over, I won’t have to return to Rheadur.
A strange sensation, like an emptiness, a hole really, spreads through my chest. It’s odd, knowing there will be an end even before our marriage begins.
I rest my forehead against the cold glass, wondering if I made the right decision. Adeela said Rodrick wouldn’t do anything against his will, and I believe she’s right. Still, this wasn’t the way I imagined getting married.
“Jazmina.”
I turn around, and he’s standing in the doorway. How long has he been watching me?
“The view from here is beautiful.”
He nods, but the look in his eyes makes me shiver.
If the way my body reacts to him is any indication, at least when it comes to sex, our marriage will be perfect.
Rodrick must be very experienced. I want to learn everything from him. If physical attraction is what we have to start our life together, I’ll make that part flawless.
“What are you thinking?”
“I don’t know if I have the courage to say it out loud.”
He steps closer. “Say it. You’re going to be my wife. You don’t need to be ashamed in front of me, princess.”
“I don’t want you to miss other women in your bed. Teach me everything. Show me how I can give you pleasure.”