by Anne Herries
‘Yes, of course,’ she said and felt an icy tingle at the base of her neck. ‘Is something wrong?’
‘No. At least, not yet. I’ve just been told that my uncle is making an unexpected visit to Paris this week. He arrives tomorrow and I have to be there to meet him.’
‘Oh…’ Chloe’s heart was beating so fast that she felt sick. ‘What else, Pasha? There’s something you aren’t telling me.’
‘The man we spoke of that night…’ Pasha’s voice was guarded, but she knew exactly who he meant. ‘He eluded my men and we have been warned that he is on his way to Paris.’
‘Oh, Pasha.’ Chloe’s breath caught in her throat. ‘Is he…will you be in danger?’
‘Perhaps,’ he said. ‘I am very sorry, Chloe. I can’t discuss this on the telephone. I have to go.’
‘Pasha…’ Her stomach was churning. She wanted desperately to tell him that she loved him, but the words stuck in her throat. ‘Please, take care.’
‘Yes, of course,’ he said. ‘And you, Chloe. Don’t answer the door to strangers while I’m gone. At least you will have Mariam with you after tomorrow. Until then be very careful. Why don’t you ask Justine to come and stay with you? If it weren’t for Mariam’s visit I would tell you to go down to Henry and stay there until I get back.’
Chloe felt chills running all over her. ‘You are frightening me, Pasha. Really, there’s no need to worry about me. I shall be perfectly all right.’ It was he who would be in danger, but she didn’t know how to tell him how she felt about that.
‘You are all I care about, Chloe,’ he said, and his voice was harsh with emotion. ‘Remember that if something happens. Whatever you think of me…remember that I loved you…’
‘Pasha…’ she whispered. ‘I love you…’
But it was too late, the receiver had gone down at the other end, and she had no way of calling him back. She hadn’t bothered to inquire where he would be that day, and she knew nothing about his business or even a telephone number where she could contact him.
What a fool she had been! Chloe paced the floor of the apartment, realising that she was going to find the next few days very hard. She wasn’t sure what she would do if anything happened to Pasha.
The realisation that he might be killed, and by the man who had assassinated his father, suddenly made her see things from a different perspective. All at once, she could understand why Pasha had been prepared to order Abdullah’s execution.
She found herself wishing that someone would find this assassin and kill him before he could harm Pasha. Wild thoughts of taking a gun and shooting him herself filled her mind, and she laughed at her foolish thoughts.
Where were her morals now? She had been so high-minded, declaring that she couldn’t live with Pasha because he was capable of ordering the execution of a murderer…and now look at her!
She was frantic with worry over a man she had been determined to leave at the first opportunity. It would be amusing if it were not so tragic.
Chloe spent the next morning rushing around to get the apartment ready for her guest. She went out to the news-stand nearby and bought all the daily papers, and saw there were a few lines to say that Prince Hassan, the ruler of a small but important oil state, was expected in Paris, but there was nothing else. No report of an attempt on his life, or of the arrest of an assassin.
Chloe listened to the news on the wireless that lunchtime, but there was still nothing that might cause her alarm. She began to relax and think that nothing terrible was going to happen.
Perhaps Abdullah had gone into hiding, and would not dare to make any more attempts on the life of the prince or Pasha. Surely he must know that they would be looking for him, that this time he would be killed himself if he attempted to harm the prince? She could only pray that he would not consider it worth the risk.
It was almost three in the afternoon when her visitor arrived bearing an armful of expensive flowers as a gift. Mariam was a woman in her late forties, but still very attractive and extremely smart. She spoke with a slight American accent, and her make up was heavier than Chloe was used to seeing on her friends, but she was a charming woman and Chloe liked her at once.
‘I am so pleased to meet you,’ Mariam told her and kissed her cheek, rubbing at the red mark her lipstick had made with her fingertips. ‘I was afraid Pasha would never forgive himself for letting Lysette down. He seemed to withdraw into himself for a long time, and I thought he might never find happiness.’
‘She was your daughter,’ Chloe said, after she had shown her visitor into the sitting room. ‘Pasha told me about her. I think he loved her very much.’
‘He was devoted to her.’ Mariam nodded and sat down in one of the comfortable sofas. ‘It was because he lost his father that way,’ she said. ‘It was a terrible time for all of us, Chloe. We all knew that lives might be at risk, especially Pasha’s. I wanted him to come to America with me, but his uncle insisted that he be educated in Britain. I suppose it was the right decision, but I’ve often regretted that we were parted. I was fond of him, and I believe he needed to be loved. Pasha visited whenever he could, of course, but if he had been around more—’ She broke off and sighed.
‘You feel that Lysette might not have…?’
‘Got into trouble with that man?’ Mariam nodded. ‘She admired Pasha so much, looked up to him, saw him as a cross between a brother and a father, I think. He adored her, but he was very strict with her. I think she would have done anything rather than let him down.’
‘Then why…’ Chloe hesitated. ‘I suppose she was in love with the man.’
‘I think he dominated her,’ Mariam said and frowned. ‘I’m not sure. She wouldn’t talk about him, and that wasn’t like Lysette. She may have been afraid.’
‘What do you mean?’ Chloe asked and frowned. ‘You don’t think she was afraid of Pasha?’
‘No, not afraid. She would have hated to let him down, but she knew he would never harm her. It was the other one who frightened her, I think.’
‘Did you know who he was?’
‘I thought at first it was that film director,’ Mariam said. ‘He had offered her a part in one of his films and she was very excited about it, but then all at once she changed.’
‘How do you mean, changed?’
‘She said that it wouldn’t be right for her to take part in a film, because she was the daughter of a Sheikh, and that it would bring shame on her family.’ Mariam frowned. ‘And there were other things…’ She sighed and shook her head. ‘But there is no point in talking about all that now. It is over and done. Please, tell me about you—and how you came to meet Pasha.’
‘We met on a cruise ship,’ Chloe said. ‘It was all rather strange…’
She explained about the accident that had first made them notice each other, and then about Brent Harwood being on the same ship.
‘So you see, if he had not tried to…well, I might never have run away and—’
‘Yes, that was odd, especially as Brent Harwood was involved with Lysette at one time.’ Mariam nodded, looking thoughtful. She gave a little shrug of her thin shoulders, her bones standing out against the silk of her dress. ‘These things are written, my dear. I believe that with all my heart. If you were meant to be with Pasha, you would have met somehow…somewhere.’
‘Yes, perhaps,’ Chloe said. ‘That is what Sashimi says.’
‘Sashimi?’ Mariam arched her brows. ‘I am afraid I do not know who you mean.’
‘You do not know Ahmad’s wife?’
‘Ahmad Al-Hadra?’ Mariam looked thoughtful as Chloe nodded. ‘I had not realised he was married. He visited us once, a few weeks before Lysette…’ She paused and her forehead wrinkled. ‘I have wondered if…but no, I do not think so.’
‘You are not thinking that Ahmad might have been involved?’ Chloe stared at her in surprise.
Mariam’s expression was odd, as if she were trying to come to terms with her own thoughts. ‘It had crossed my mind, b
ut of course it was just a foolish fancy.’
‘Sashimi is very lovely. I do not think Ahmad would—’
‘No, of course not,’ Mariam agreed. ‘I am just surprised that he did not mention his wife—but perhaps he was not married then.’
‘No, perhaps not. Pasha said they had not been married many months—but a marriage would have been arranged long before, wouldn’t it?’
‘Yes, as a rule,’ Mariam said. ‘It is often the custom. Pasha’s uncle wanted to arrange a marriage for him some years ago, but he refused. He made it clear that he would make his own choice when the time came, as his father did before him.’ Mariam smiled. ‘My husband was a man of independent thought, Chloe, and I believe his son takes after him in that respect.’
‘Yes.’ Chloe’s lips curved despite herself. She could not imagine Pasha agreeing to having anything arranged for him. ‘I would certainly say that Pasha knows what he wants, and nothing will turn him.’
‘He is a wonderful man,’ Mariam said. ‘Generous and considerate, and a great deal of fun to be with—but I am sure I have no need to tell you any of this, Chloe.’
‘No,’ Chloe said slowly. ‘But I would like to hear about him, Mariam. It would be interesting to know more about what he was like as a young boy.’
‘Very studious and clever,’ Mariam said. ‘But he could also play surprising pranks when he chose. He was a very lively boy and full of imagination. He would sometimes tell us the most amazing stories, and they were not always strictly true.’
Chloe smiled. ‘That doesn’t sound like Pasha. He is always telling me that I let my imagination run away with me!’
‘Ah…you must not always take what he says at face value,’ Mariam said and gave a tinkling laugh. ‘He can be the most dreadful tease, and he comes up with some surprising ideas. The only predictable thing about Pasha is that he is unpredictable.’
Chloe nodded. ‘I am so glad that you came to see me,’ she said. ‘And Pasha will be sorry to have missed you. I do hope you will come again before you return to America?’
‘How long will Pasha be away?’ Mariam asked. ‘I wanted to ask his advice about something.’
‘A few days, I am not sure.’
‘Then I shall return to you in two weeks’ time,’ Mariam said. ‘I planned to spend two days with you before I fly to Paris. I have to see my doctor there.’
‘Oh.’ Chloe looked at her anxiously. ‘I hope there is nothing seriously wrong?’
‘It may be just a false alarm,’ Mariam said. ‘I have seen a doctor in New York, who thinks I may have a tumour in my stomach and wants to do an operation, but I would like another opinion.’
‘That sounds serious,’ Chloe said. And for the first time she realised how thin the other woman was—and wondered if perhaps her illness was a reason for the heavy make up. She felt sympathy for her, and wished that there were something she could do for her. ‘Is there anything I can do to help you? Anything at all…’
‘How sweet of you to ask,’ Mariam said and touched her hand. ‘You mustn’t worry too much, Chloe. At the moment I am quite well, but there may be a problem—and if there is I should like to settle my affairs. I must talk to Pasha. He has always looked after that side of things for me—’ She broke off and frowned.
‘Perhaps you could contact him in Paris,’ Chloe suggested.
‘Oh, not if he is with the prince,’ Mariam said and pulled a wry face. ‘You must know that His Excellency does not approve of me. I went my own way after my husband’s death, and refused his protection. Indeed, I advised Pasha to break all ties with him some time ago for his own sake—but of course he refused. Your husband is very loyal, my dear.’
‘Yes…yes, I know that,’ Chloe said. ‘I do hope your trip to Paris will prove worthwhile. I hope you will find that there is nothing seriously wrong.’
‘If it is written I shall have many years spared to me yet,’ Mariam replied with a little smile and a shrug of her shoulders. ‘And if not…I have lived my life as I wished it, Chloe. You must not be sad for me. You are young and you have everything to live for.’
‘Yes…’ Chloe’s eyes stung with tears. Mariam was right, she did have everything to live for. But only if Pasha came back to her safely…
Chapter Ten
Mariam’s visit was very quiet. Chloe enjoyed their comfortable conversations together, and she learned a lot about when Pasha had been a boy. Everything she learned made her realise that she loved him more, despite the barriers between them.
However, Chloe soon became aware that her visitor was not as well as she might have been when she took an early morning drink into her. Without her make up, Mariam looked pale and drawn, and Chloe was anxious about her. Her own mother had suffered for some months before she died, though Chloe had been away at school for a lot of the time.
Perhaps because of Mariam’s illness, the two became close during the time they spent together, and Chloe was sorry when it was necessary to part from her new friend.
‘I wish Pasha had telephoned so that you could have spoken to him,’ she said as the car came to take Mariam to the airport. ‘I know he would want to help as much as he can.’
‘You are a sweet girl, Chloe.’ Mariam kissed her warmly. ‘I am so glad Pasha has you now. But he is very naughty not to have been in touch with you these past two days, and I shall scold him when I see him.’
‘I expect he is busy,’ Chloe said and smiled. ‘He will contact me when he can.’
She was determined not to show her anxiety in front of Mariam, who had more than enough to worry her, but she was fretting inwardly. Where was Pasha? What was he doing and why hadn’t he phoned her?
Sashimi had given her a number to ring, and she telephoned shortly after Mariam had left.
‘Oh, I am so glad to hear from you,’ Sashimi said. ‘I was about to telephone you myself. Ahmad went off somewhere on business, and I have been so bored here alone. Why don’t we meet for lunch and spend the afternoon shopping together?’
‘Yes, why don’t we?’ Chloe agreed, feeling that she didn’t want to spend the day alone. ‘Justine is coming over this evening and we’re going to the cinema together, but as long as I’m home by six o’clock, that will give me time to get ready.’
‘Oh, you will be home well before then,’ Sashimi said. ‘Ahmad may be back this evening so I don’t want to be too late myself.’
‘I’ll meet you in an hour’s time,’ Chloe said. ‘Goodbye for now, Sashimi.’
The phone rang the second she replaced it, and she snatched it up, her heart racing.
‘Pasha?’ she said breathlessly.
‘I am sorry to disappoint you, my dear.’ Henry chuckled. ‘I was just ringing to see how you were, Chloe. Is there any chance of your coming to visit me soon?’
‘Yes, of course,’ Chloe said. ‘And it isn’t a disappointment. I love to hear from you. Pasha is away at the moment and I thought it might be him, that’s all. But we will come down, Henry. As soon as he gets back we’ll arrange something.’
‘We shall look forward to that. Dora is eager to meet you. She has done nothing but talk about you since she got back from her son’s. I’ve been getting it in the neck because I didn’t keep you here until she came home!’
‘Oh, poor you.’ Chloe laughed. Henry was such a dear and she enjoyed talking to him.
‘I dare say I shall survive, but how are you, my dear?’
‘I went to see the doctor you recommended,’ Chloe told him. ‘He confirmed that I am pregnant.’
‘That’s wonderful, Chloe dear! I am delighted for you both—and for myself.’
They talked for several minutes, which made Chloe a little late in getting ready for her appointment with Sashimi. She tore round the bedroom, snatching the first dress she came to and leaving her discarded clothes on the bathroom floor.
She had planned to leave a note for Pasha just in case he should return, but now there simply wasn’t time.
Sashimi was waiti
ng for her at the restaurant. She looked a little put out and glanced at her watch pointedly as Chloe joined her at the table; the watch was an elegant diamond and white gold wrist bracelet and very expensive. Everything Sashimi wore was obviously the best available, and Chloe thought that Ahmad must be very generous to his lovely young wife, which made her wonder about Sashimi’s sullen expression. She didn’t look anywhere near as happy as she had seemed in Morocco.
‘I was beginning to think you weren’t coming…’
‘I am sorry,’ Chloe apologised. ‘Pasha’s grandfather telephoned just after I had spoken to you, and we talked for longer than I expected. I didn’t want to tell him I had an appointment in case he thought I wanted to get out of talking to him, which I didn’t—because he’s so pleasant.’
‘Well, it doesn’t matter now,’ Sashimi said, her frown lifting. ‘I’ve ordered Russian caviar, lobster salad and pheasant in a rich sauce. I hope that appeals to you?’
‘Good gracious,’ Chloe said, shocked at such an extravagant menu. ‘Are we celebrating something?’
‘I like the best,’ Sashimi said carelessly. ‘There is no point in eating out unless you make a little splash, is there?’
Sashimi had ordered a vintage champagne to accompany their meal. Chloe was surprised to see that Sashimi drank several glasses of it. She hadn’t expected this, but Sashimi seemed to do exactly as she pleased, although she only picked at the expensive food she had ordered.
Chloe thought it was rather a waste, but didn’t say anything. She offered to pay her share of the bill, but Sashimi merely signed and said it was an account. She shrugged her elegant shoulders and told Chloe that Ahmad would pay.
This surprised Chloe, because she remembered Sashimi telling her that they were nowhere near as wealthy as Pasha. Yet now Sashimi seemed to have money to throw around.
Chloe was even more surprised when they went shopping in one of the big shops in Knightsbridge. Whenever she had bought something from there in the past, Chloe had considered it very extravagant and taken her time choosing carefully. Sashimi seemed to buy recklessly, hardly bothering to check the price of the expensive items she bought—handmade leather shoes and bags, and belts all to match. Three silk blouses, and an evening dress that had such a huge price ticket that Chloe winced.
