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‘Sapphire, you’re not leaving us already?’
‘I’m sorry, Khaled,’ she replied, trying to ignore the long, hard glare she earned from Saleem, ‘it’s been a long day and I wish to get started early in the morning.’
‘Of course,’ he said, ‘I should have realised. Is there anything else that you need?’
‘Only some idea when I might get to meet your bride. It would be good to at least talk to her about the design before I get too far along the process.’
Saleem uttered something rapid-fire and urgent in Arabic. Khaled answered simply and briefly in English, ‘No,’ at which response Saleem’s nostrils flared and he rose from the cushions, muttering a few more words in his cousin’s direction as he stormed out without another glance at her.
‘Did I say something wrong?’ she asked, recalling Khaled’s warning not to upset his cousin.
He shrugged. ‘Saleem is…anxious, as are we all, for the welfare of the bride. Now is not a good time. I will let you know when she is available.’
‘Is she in the palace?’
‘Oh, yes,’ he said, his eyes sparkling. ‘She is already here, but she is not yet ready for the excitement of the wedding. It is too early. I will tell you when.’
‘But it will be soon?’
He nodded. ‘Indeed, it will be soon.’
It would have to do. She bade him goodnight and turned to go. Work on the dress would have to commence as best it could. And some time soon she’d have to hope for a series of fittings, while there was still time to make any adjustments if necessary.
‘Oh, and one more thing.’
‘Yes?’ she said, looking over her shoulder.
‘Everyone who is a guest of the palace receives a gift.’
‘That’s not necessary,’ she said, shaking her head. ‘I’m working here—’
He held up his hand in a stop gesture. ‘It is necessary. You are still my guest. And you will receive traditional Jebbai garments as your gift. You would not think of offending Hebra’s finest dressmakers surely? They are most honoured to be designing something for you, a famous designer from the fashion capital of Milan.’
‘No,’ she conceded. ‘Of course I wouldn’t want to offend them. Thank you.’
‘Good,’ he said with an air of finality. ‘Someone will be sent to measure you for them tomorrow morning. Goodnight.’
CHAPTER FIVE
SAPPHY threw herself into her work over the next few days. She organised her staff, planning a schedule and putting those she could to work immediately. She’d never had so many people to work on her designs so in one way it was luxury, in another it was a challenge keeping them all occupied and coordinating what they were doing.
But they were excellent. It was clear straight away that Khaled had supplied her with top dressmakers and seamstresses, expert at sewing and beading. Some she’d been able to set tasks immediately, to work on the delicate veil, or bead the intricate panels that would be inset later into the dress. Even the language difficulties she’d expected didn’t eventuate.
And while she hadn’t been permitted to meet with the bride, she’d been provided with a set of measurements, allowing her to draft the pattern and run up a model in a simple fabric to test the design. And now, one short week after her arrival in Jebbai, the dress itself was starting to take shape.
Her new life was taking shape too, already assuming some kind of pattern. In the mornings she took breakfast in her suite, usually fresh fruit with dates, dried figs and creamy yoghurt, while she arranged her schedule for the day.
Then she would work solidly until four or five o’clock, depending on the day’s progress. While her staff took a midday break she in spected their work, which was for the most part faultless, and that ensured better than anticipated progress.
Azizah would let her know when it was time for the evening meal and, as she had on the first evening, she would join in a shared meal with Khaled and Saleem. Khaled would ask after her health and seek a report on the dress, and she would tell him what he wished to know.
She was still reluctant to open up and talk freely with Saleem present—somehow she didn’t feel comfortable with him knowing anything about her and it was clear he didn’t welcome her input. So for the most part she left the two men to discuss matters amongst themselves and she’d then excuse herself after coffee, removing herself while doing her best to ignore Saleem’s frosty glare and Khaled’s hooded gaze.
It wasn’t exactly pleasant, but at least now she was becoming used to the routine and learning not to feel so uptight in their presence.
