Castles Of Sand

‘It is unlikely. I intend to return to Khadesh at the end of the week.’ He paused. ‘I shall be taking Hussein with me.’

It was a bitter blow, but not unexpected. Nevertheless, she still had one more card to play, a card which had only just occurred to her.

‘And—his education?’ she asked. ‘What about that?’

‘I will make other arrangements,’ declared Alain curtly, rapidly recovering his composure. ‘That need not concern you—–’

‘Oh, but it does,’ she contradicted him softly. ‘You see, I think he might benefit from private tuition.’

‘Private tuition?’ Alain frowned. ‘Well—perhaps.’

‘And I can supply it,’ inserted Ashley quietly.

‘What!’ Alain was incredulous at first, and then he gave a harsh laugh. ‘You are not serious!’

‘Oh, but I am.’ Ashley held up her head. ‘And unless you want me to create a great deal of unpleasantness, you should agree with me.’

Alain stared at her. ‘Are you threatening me, Ashley?’

Ashley’s skin prickled at the sudden malevolence of his gaze. Only rarely did Alain assume the arrogant hawklike countenance of his father’s forebears, those wild and lawless Arab tribesmen who for centuries had lived like lords in their desert kingdom. But right now he possessed all their savage ruthlessness and hauteur, and she faltered for a moment on the brink of submission.

But then the realisation of what she was fighting for strengthened her will, and facing him bravely she said: ‘And if I am?’

Alain speared her with his scorching glare. ‘And how do you propose to create this unpleasantness?’

Ashley’s lips parted. ‘I—I—–’ she faltered again, and then, as his lips curled contemptuously, she burst out: ‘The—the authorities. I could go to the authorities. I could tell them how you intimidated me, how you made me hand my baby over to you—–’

‘You would not do such a thing!’ Alain menaced her, but she held her ground.

‘I would. Yes, I would.’ She fought free of his mesmerising stare. ‘And they’d listen to me, too—you know they would. You could face court proceedings, particularly if I said you threatened me—–’

‘Be silent!’ Alain was furious. ‘You must be crazy if you imagine I’ll let you blackmail me!’

Ashley backed away from him. ‘Not crazy, just desperate,’ she spat at him resentfully. ‘And don’t think that’s all. There are other ways.’

‘I am sure there are.’ Alain’s eyes were dark and brooding now, their blueness overlaid by a film of frustration. ‘Nevertheless, you are insane if you think I will permit you to teach the boy. If that were so, what point would there be in my taking him away from the school?’

‘Private tutoring is different,’ Ashley declared, touching her bruised lips with a nervous finger. ‘And—and you would be there to—to watch your—investment.’

Alain shook his head. ‘And for this—privilege, you will promise—what?’

‘Not to tell him who I am.’

‘And why should I believe you?’

‘Because I don’t tell lies,’ retorted Ashley forcefully. ‘I don’t. I never have—–’

‘Enough of that!’ Alain paced the floor in evident impatience. ‘And how can I be sure that once you have achieved this objective, you will not demand others?’

‘What others?’

‘Do not be naïve,’ he snapped. ‘You think to insinuate your way into his life by one means or another.’

Ashley licked her lips. ‘And are you going to let me?’

‘My father would never permit you to enter the palace.’

‘Your father need not know who I am. He’s never seen me.’ She paused. ‘Only you—and—and Hassan ever—–’

‘Enough!’ rasped Alain again, stopping his pacing to stare at her once more. ‘And if I still refuse?’

Ashley shrugged. ‘I—I’ll get to Andrew, somehow. And I’ll tell him everything. Everything!’

‘Knowing he would never forgive you for it?’ mocked Alain coldly.

‘What have I to lose?’ she retorted. Then: ‘Well? Will you do it?’

Alain’s mouth was a thin line. ‘I will have to think about it.’

‘For how long?’

‘I don’t know.’ He turned away abruptly. ‘Give me—time. I need time. Twenty-four hours at least.’

‘Very well.’ Ashley pulled open the door behind her. ‘You know where to find me.’

‘Oh, yes,’ he said bleakly, ‘I do indeed.’

And without another word he walked out the door.

CHAPTER THREE (#ue92955bb-7a4a-5392-be8a-0e904887c4aa)

ASHLEY’S elation lasted only so long as it took for Alain to get in the car that was waiting for him, and drive away. As the long black limousine bearing the coat of arms of Prince Ahmed of Khadesh disappeared round a bend in the road, she realised she had no idea where Alain was staying. He had gone, albeit promising to contact her again in twenty-four hours, but if he did not, if he chose to ignore her demands and leave the country, she had no way of stopping him.

Frustration engulfed her, and she sank down on to the couch with a little sound of helplessness. She had been a fool, a stupid fool, and even now Alain was probably exulting over the simple way he had thwarted her. But she had been so excited at the prospect of seeing her son again, of getting to know him, and of having him get to know her, she had not considered the inevitable flaws in her reasoning. She should have known she could not succeed so easily. She should have suspected something was wrong when Alain did not waste time arguing with her.

Getting up from the couch again, she walked restlessly across the room. What should she do? What could she do? And if Alain chose to walk out on her, how was she ever to see Andrew again? Apart from anything else, she was still employed by the governors of the school, and it would be foolish to resign her position there if she had no other employment.

She pushed her fingers into her hair, holding them there as she acknowledged the hopelessness of her position. If only she had not gone into school that morning, she thought despairingly. If Alain had withdrawn Andrew’s name, she might never have known anything about it, and her life would not now be suffering the turmoil she was presently experiencing.

A tap at her door brought her round with a start, and almost tripping over herself she rushed to open it. A small, dumpy little woman, wrapped in a dressing gown and wearing carpet slippers, her hair coiled around a series of rollers, stood on the threshold, and Ashley expelled her breath unsteadily as her neighbour began to speak.

‘Did you want me, love?’ the little woman asked anxiously. ‘I was in the bath, but I thought I heard you shouting, and I came round as quickly as I could.’

‘Oh, Mrs Forrest.’ Ashley caught her lower lip between her teeth, feeling ashamed that she had disturbed her. ‘Er—no. No, I wasn’t trying to attract your attention. I—I had a visitor. What you heard was—was probably him going.’ She crossed her fingers.

‘Ah!’ Mrs Forrest nodded. ‘That would be it, I suppose.’ She smiled, patting her rollered head. ‘I must look quite a state.’ She chuckled. ‘And there was me thinking you’d been attacked!’

Ashley coloured. ‘I’m very grateful,’ she said, almost glad of the diversion. ‘Thank you.’