‘The school is very new.’ He paused, as if choosing his words. ‘Until Sheikh Ashraf there was no funding for local schools here. Now even the children in small settlements have access to education. It will give them a brighter future.’
Tori felt pride stir at his words, as if she had a vested interest in Ashraf’s achievements. Perhaps she did. She was well past the stage of pretending indifference.
‘Sheikh Ashraf tells me there have been a number of changes in the region?’
‘There have, indeed.’ The teacher said something to the women surrounding them and received nods and eager comments in response. ‘Life is better here now, with plenty of food and even visiting doctors. It’s peaceful too.’ He shot her a sideways look. ‘In the past there was a problem with evil men...lawless men who did bad things.’
Despite the warmth of the day ice slid down Tori’s spine. ‘Yes. I’ve heard about that.’
The man nodded. ‘But now they are gone and we have the Sheikh’s law. Things are much better. The people are safe.’
His words stayed with Tori through the rest of their visit, as she watched the boisterous children and the women’s smiles.Safe.Ashraf made her feel safe too. Except for her doubts about accepting a convenient marriage and living in a country where his word was law.
When she was with him she felt different. Better.Happier.
Were those feelings enough to compensate for accepting a loveless marriage? She was surprised even to be considering it.
‘Is everything okay?’ Ashraf asked as the helicopter took off and they left the waving villagers behind. ‘You’re very quiet.’
It was because she was distracted by conflicting feelings. The more she learned of Ashraf, the more she understood his idea of marriage was rooted in good intentions. He didn’t plan to take advantage of her.
Yet good intentions weren’t always enough.
Tori looked down at the silk scarf on her lap, a kaleidoscope of sumptuous colour.
‘This present is so beautiful but I didn’t have anything to give in return.’ It had been pressed into her hands by the woman whose house she’d visited—the silk weaver. ‘Weaving is her livelihood and I’m not sure she can afford to give it away.’
Ashraf shook his head. ‘Your interest in her life is enough. That is something these people haven’t had much of in the past. Besides, they’re proud. They brought out their very finest for our visit, but they didn’t expect an exchange of gifts. You did the right thing, accepting this.’ He paused. ‘Don’t worry. No one will be worse off because of our visit.’
Tori knew without asking more that he’d be as good as his word. She leaned back in her seat and turned to watch the foothills slide into the distance. This time she felt no nervous tingle of apprehension at the sight.
‘It sounds like they’re already better off because of you.’
In her peripheral vision she caught his shrug. ‘We’ve had some useful initiatives. They’re beginning to bear fruit.’
‘Like medical services, education, electricity and reliable clean water.’ She ticked them off on her hand. Most men she knew would crow about their personal role in such successes. Her father especially.
Ashraf wasn’t like the men she knew.
He caught her gaze and a surge of emotion enveloped her. Tenderness, yearning and something more. All sorts of feelings that she knew made her weak but which she couldn’t suppress.
Ashraf captured her hand, setting off whorls of eager sensation just under her skin.
‘What are you thinking,habibti?’
His voice had dropped to an impossibly deep note on the endearment.
Tori opened her mouth, about to give voice to the tremulous emotions that filled her. But at the last moment caution surfaced. She forced a casual smile. ‘Just wondering how Oliver is doing with the nanny.’
Was that disappointment in his eyes?
The impression was gone in an instant, yet Tori couldn’t banish the feeling that she’d been cowardly and less than generous with Ashraf.
* * *
That suspicion grew as her first week in Za’daq became a second. Instead of seeing Ashraf only in the evening she began to be taken out daily, introduced to his country and his people.
Despite her reservations, Tori looked forward to their outings and his company. She told herself she was relieved that he no longer pressed her to marry. Yet, to her chagrin, nor did he come to her bed.