Charis (9 page)

“I told you…I was very flattered.”

“You knew? I mean you knew back
then
?”

“Yep,” he grinned. “I knew.”

“I was that obvious?”

“No, it wasn't anything you said or did. You were very circumspect.
But if you ever want to keep something a secret, don't ever tell Jennifer, even
if she is your best friend!”

“But she didn't know. I never told anyone.”

“She knew somehow and she told me.” He remembered the conversation
well.

Jennifer had said to him, “Jane likes you, you know.”

“Well that's good, I like her too. She's a very sweet girl.”

“No, that's not what I mean. She really,
really
likes you.
She talks about you
all
the time and blushes when anyone says your
name.”

“She'll grow out of it,” he’d said, a little embarrassed and changed
the subject.

Ben’s thoughts switched back to Charis lying quietly beside him, and
he said, “I think you knew the minute I walked into the room didn't you?”

“Yes, and I almost ran into your arms to beg you to take me home. But
then you spoke and I knew it couldn't be you. Jennifer's brother
couldn't
be a prince and speak Arabic.”

“Jennifer's half-brother. Sir Giles is my stepfather.”

“Well, I know that
now
, but I didn't then.”

They were quiet for a few minutes before Ben asked some more
questions.

“Just a couple more things to make decisions about. Where are we
going to live? And what about a honeymoon?”

“I have a house,” she smiled. “It's in Chelsea and is big enough.
Where do you live in London?”

“I room with a couple of other doctors. Your house sounds perfect.
St. Anne's Hospital is in Chelsea - it could work out well. Shall we try it? At
least to start with?”

She smiled in agreement and he inquired where she'd like to go for
their honeymoon.

“Could we not just stay at home?” she asked.

“Is that what you'd really like to do?”

“Yes. I just want to be with you. It would be a waste to go anywhere,
unless you want to, of course.”

“I think staying at home would be perfect,” he agreed. “Almost as
perfect as you! Everything I learn about you makes me love you more and more as
each minute goes by.”

*****

At eleven o'clock the next morning they were sitting in the British
Embassy in Cairo trying to arrange their wedding for the following Saturday.
The Ambassador was empowered to perform marriages but they were required to
fill out, not a seven day notice of intent to wed as Ben had thought, but fifteen
days, which meant some of their plans had to be changed. After the formalities
were over he took Charis to meet Gary and Joanne who had a flat in the
compound. It turned out that Gary was a friend of Ben's from schooldays and
Charis immediately liked his wife, Joanne. They’d been married for less than a
year and Joanne was happy to see another English girl of similar age. When she
was informed that Charis and Ben were to be married in two weeks, and Charis
was staying at the Embassy, she immediately started discussing plans for the
wedding. Ben could see that Charis might have a hard job curbing her
enthusiasm.

Ben and Charis made their apologies as they needed to shop for
wedding rings and spend a few short hours together before Ben flew off to
Dubai. Charis didn't know how she would manage with him gone for a full week.
It seemed to her that they had been together forever, not just three days and
nights. Her life before she met Ben faded into insignificance. They chose their
rings and Ben bought her a beautiful engagement ring, even though she insisted
she didn't need one. It consisted of a diamond in the centre, with a sapphire
either side of it, and then another smaller diamond at each end. Ben said the
sapphires were to match Charis' eyes.

The rest of the day flew by. They had dinner at a little cafe they
found near the Embassy before they returned to Gary and Joanne's flat. Ben
ordered a taxi to take him to the airport and Charis tried not to cry when they
said their good byes.

“I will phone you whenever I can and text you every day so you know
what is going on all the time,” Ben assured her.

They kissed and then he was gone.

PART IV

LONDON

Ben phoned Charis when he landed in Dubai.
She’d gone to bed but desperately hoped he’d call. They spoke for just a few
minutes then said good night and when Ben entered his room at the palace, there
was a message from the King that they would breakfast together in the morning.

The next morning he was up early, showered, shaved and dressed and
prepared to spend a couple of hours reporting to the King on the trade
agreement, but as he had several other things he wished to discuss, he hoped
the official topic of conversation wouldn't last too long. 

The King was pleased with the work Ben had done on the trade
agreement and, as hoped when he explained the situation, Ben was relieved that
his uncle was expecting him to return home to England and resume his medical
career, especially after what he’d done for his granddaughter.  The King
thanked Ben once again on her behalf and informed him that both mother and the
baby boy were doing well.

Of course, the King was unaware of Ben’s desire to be married, and of
the circumstances surrounding his meeting Charis. Ben knew that Charis wouldn’t
be happy with anyone knowing about the situation, but he was unsure what should
be done…about Ravi…about Henry…about the abhorrent practice of girls being sold
for sex. He decided to confide, in part, in his uncle. He didn't know what his
uncle could do either, but at least he was in a more powerful position than Ben
to
try
. He hoped that his circle of influence would reach beyond Qumrai.

Their meeting was significantly longer than originally anticipated
while Ben explained how he’d known Charis as a child and a young woman, and about
her sudden arrival in Cairo. How he’d been so lucky, or blessed, to be there
when she needed help so desperately. He outlined his plans for the next week
and invited the King to attend the wedding, if it was at all possible for him
to be in Cairo in two weeks. They said their goodbye’s mid-morning. 

Ben's flight to London didn’t leave until very early the next
morning. Impulsively, he decided to fly to Qumrai - taking up his uncle's offer
to use the royal family's helicopter - to see his cousin with her new baby and
perhaps some of his half brothers and sisters. He didn't have a chance to phone
Charis until after he’d returned to Dubai that evening, and by then it was too
late. He texted her to say he’d call when he arrived in London the next day.

About the time that Ben was landing at Heathrow, Charis was making
plans for their wedding.   Joanne insisted that some of Ben's family would be
sure to come and they would need a reception of some sort. They met with the
Embassy's catering staff and discussed the amount of food they would need and decided
on having a buffet menu with cold meat and salads, sandwiches, quiches, sausage
rolls, éclairs and a variety of small cakes. Charis chose a design for a
wedding cake. Joanne suggested an ornate three-tiered one but Charis chose a
simple, single layer cake instead.

They went shopping for a dress. Joanne took Charis to her favourite
dressmaker and they spent time searching through fashion magazines until Charis
found a picture of a dress she liked and requested the dressmaker make several
alterations. With materials chosen and measurements taken they were on their
way back to the Embassy.

Ben rang late in the morning, just after she’d returned from her
shopping expedition. He’d taken a taxi from Heathrow into London and they relished
the time to talk and catch each other up on what they’d both been doing.

Ben's first stop was the bank where he met with the manager, then it
was off to Graham's office where all the legal documents for the partnership
were ready and waiting for his signature. The other partners were there to
congratulate him. He knew them all well, as he’d worked with most of them for the
past few years while completing his studies at local NHS hospitals. Now that he
was finished, and fully qualified, they were delighted to have him as a
partner. He was a talented doctor and seemed to have an inborn instinct for the
work. It helped that his patients seemed to adore him and they certainly had
complete faith in his abilities to take care of them. The partners greeted the
news that he was getting married with approval – a young, good-looking doctor
was safer to have around if he was married. Ben handed over his bank draft for
the £500,000 to buy into the practice and officially became the newest partner
in St. Anne's Hospital and Centre for Women's Health.

Ben spent some time in what was to become his office and talking to
a few of the staff, then he rang James to ask if he would have time to see him
in the morning…he had something personal he needed to discuss with him. He and
James knew each other through him taking care of Helen throughout her pregnancy
and birth of their twin girls, as James had gone with Helen to as many of her
appointments as possible. He agreed to see Ben at nine thirty when he could
spare half an hour.

It had been decided that Ben would stay at Charis' home in Chelsea, as
it would soon be
their
home.  She’d given him her key and warned him to
be careful of Mrs. Everett next door. If she saw him coming she’d interrogate
him as to who he was and what he was doing there. Ben planned to spend the
first two nights in the Chelsea house, Wednesday at his parents’ home, back to
Chelsea for Thursday night, then fly back to Cairo on Friday, a very busy week.
He thought of Charis almost every moment and hoped she wasn’t too busy. He
wanted her to be rested and relaxed for their wedding.

Dinner with the Carruthers, Graham and Allison, was pleasant. Ben
had been to their home many times. Graham had not only been his boss but he was
a good friend and Ben was now Allison's doctor. Her previous pregnancy, when
she was carrying Nicholas, had seemed to be going well, but when her usual doctor
became ill, Ben took over her care and was concerned about something that he
thought not quite right. He mentioned it to Graham and together they had
diagnosed and treated her. It wasn't overly serious, or life threatening, but
it had certainly worried Allison, so she was thrilled to see that Ben was back
and had already made an appointment at St. Anne's Hospital to be his first
patient when he returned to work in four weeks’ time. Nicholas, who would be a
year old next month, kept them entertained with his antics until his mother
took him up to bed.

*****

Charis had been lying in bed and trying to sleep for an hour or more
when she heard the quiet ‘ding’ – a text! Picking up her phone she smiled as
she read the message from Ben. He’d arrived at the Chelsea house and would call
her in the morning. She dialled his number immediately.

“You should be sleeping,” he said. “It's late.”

“I’m finding it difficult to sleep without you beside me,” she
replied.

“If I was there with you, you most definitely would
not
be
sleeping,” he told her.

“Nor would I want to be,” she said with a smile in her voice.

“I'm in the house and safely avoided Mrs. Everett.”

“What do you think?” she asked. “Will it be okay? Will you be happy
there?”

“I’ll be happy anywhere with you, but yes, I think it will be
perfect.”

He found himself standing in a big living room. There was a small
entry way, a staircase to the upper floor immediately opposite the front door,
but the entry opened up into the large room he found himself in. The kitchen
was at the front of the house and open to the rest of the room. The cupboards
were an ivory colour and the work surface black granite. The sink was under the
window and there was a large side-by-side fridge-freezer, a range cooker and a
small walk-in larder. 

Between the kitchen and living area was an oak refectory table with
several chairs. It backed onto a sectional sofa which was facing the back wall
where the television was placed between two sets of french windows that opened
onto a small back garden. A large stone fireplace with a wood burning stove was
on the wall opposite to the staircase. Between the chimney breast and the
kitchen was an oak Welsh dresser and on the other side of the fireplace, floor
to ceiling shelves which housed Charis' DVDs, and few photos and lots of books
– next to her passion for music came her love of reading - with a comfortable
armchair diagonally in front, facing into the room.

The floor was fieldstone in shades of dark cream and light browns
and a carpet in different tones of beige lay in the sitting area. There was an
oak coffee table in front of the curved sectional sofa; a soft beige with
turquoise, green and blue cushions scattered on it. The walls were painted cream.
The whole room looked restful, warm and inviting. Beyond the staircase he saw
her desk and computer and next to it a door leading into a utility area. From there
a door led out to the back garden, another door into the garage at the front of
the house. Ben saw a wall of laundry appliances, a downstairs WC and a walk-in
storage room complete with a large upright and well stocked freezer and lots of
shelves. He opened the door that led into the garage that was as good as empty
and large enough for the car he wanted to buy. He suggested to her that they buy
one when they’d returned to London. He rather fancied a Jaguar XF, a luxury
sports car. He liked its understated elegance. Ben asked her what she thought.
Charis didn't mind what they had, but she preferred it in dark blue or green. 

He climbed the stairs, covered in soft beige carpet, and stood in
awe of the incredible room he was in. Open to the stairway was the room Charis
called her sitting and music room. It was divided into two sections. He stood
facing an elegant open fireplace. On the back wall another pair of french
windows opened onto a small black wrought iron juliet balcony. A large sofa
faced the fireplace with a comfortable arm chair either side and ivory display
cabinets each side of the chimney breast. The whole room was done in shades of
cream, splashes of colour coming from lovely accessories placed tastefully
around the room and the burgundy and dusty rose coloured curtains and cushions
on the sofa and chairs.

But what took his breath away was the picture above the mantelpiece.
It was a painting of a little girl, maybe two or three years old. She was
sitting in a field of grass engrossed in making a daisy chain. There was already
a daisy chain in her deep golden curls and a look of concentration on her
sweet, pretty face.
Charis!
Charis when she was a little girl in her
happy times with her father. He thought it was the most charming and sweetest
picture he had ever seen.

“Are you still there?” he heard her ask.

“That picture – is it you?” he eventually managed to ask.

“Yes,” she said. “Do you like it?”

“I love it.” He was quiet for a moment and then added, “If we have
children they must all be girls and look just like their mother.”

“And some boys who are just like their father,” she replied.

He laughed and it broke the spell the picture had cast on him.

The front third of the room was dominated by the impressive grand
piano. One wall was covered entirely with shelves, filled with books, sheet
music and photos. He saw a full set of her father's books, a photograph of her
parents at their wedding, one of her mother, and he could see the likeness to
Charis. Her mother's hair was lighter than Charis', her eyes not quite such a
deep blue.  She was undoubtedly beautiful but not as lovely as Charis. In the
middle of the wall was another large picture. About half way up the wall a few
shelves were missing, in their place this photograph of a wonderful house
nestled in its surroundings and looking as though it had been there forever. He
knew instantly it was Meadow Lea Hall and he now understood why she loved it so
much.

On the wall opposite the picture of her house was a montage of
photos of Charis as a little girl, and he knew she’d put them there as a
reminder of the happy times in her life. There was one of her at about three years
old blowing a dandelion clock and one of her a bit younger with a butterfly
poised on her finger, a look of rapt delight on her little face. He noted a
photo obviously taken at the beach, the sea behind her, a sunhat half covering
her face and partly hiding a cheeky little grin and another one where she was
covered in mud, bent over and peeking through her chubby little legs, and one
of her slightly older peeping out from behind a tree trunk, and a formal
portrait of her and her father together. 

And then he saw one that he immediately recognised - Charis as a
teenager. It had been taken at a school concert and he remembered being there,
at her school, one of the rare occasions when he’d gone with his family to support
Jennifer. Charis had performed a short ballet solo as part of a group.  She’d
been wearing a diaphanous white dress over a white leotard. This photo had been
taken with her back to the camera, her face turned sideways, in profile, her deep
golden hair tumbling over her shoulders in soft curls. She looked exquisite and
once more she took his breath away. He studied them all as they talked quietly
together on the phone. He told her he loved her and would talk to her tomorrow…that
she should try and get some sleep.

“Less than two weeks now, my love, and you will be my wife, and we
will be here together.”

Charis smiled, whispered good night and hung up, knowing that now
she’d be able to sleep.