Princess: Stepping Out of the Shadows, стр. 53

Now, with this business trip in prospect, I knew that my husband would be delighted to know that Amani was going to finally wear some of his gifts.

Just as Amani was sipping her tea and eating her sweet treats, Maha arrived unexpectedly from Europe, saying that her father had called and that she was prepared to meet with me to train as my assistant. Sara’s eyes popped at this revelation, but she said nothing, knowing that I would fill her in soon enough. Amani, too, was surprised and clearly not amused, looking fiercely at her sister with irritation and what could only be described as a form of sibling rivalry.

Amani, for reasons unknown, has always been jealous of Maha, as my daughters are as different as two girls can be. Amani’s dislike has earned Maha’s dislike. Their spiteful relationship has been a challenge for the entire family, although after my latest health crisis I have seen their efforts to curb their outbursts, as I find their quarrels so disturbing and upsetting.

Just as I was about to explain to Amani that I could use her assistance as well, I was interrupted when my niece Dalal hurried into the room; she was clearly agitated and was speaking loudly and rapidly.

‘I went to your home, Auntie Sara, and was told you were here. So here I am! I am sorry, Auntie, but I cannot live another night with my husband. I have left him. I am going to ask for a divorce.’

Little Sultana, still being a child, spoke without thinking, breaking her earlier promise to keep Dalal and her arrogant and petulant husband’s problems a secret. ‘I believe it is good that you have left him! I heard about your husband. Tell him to do this: go into a room, close the door, do a lot of thinking and become a scholar. He needs to forget about women.’

Dalal was so astonished to hear a child give such advice that her jaw was slack and hanging open.

‘Little Sultana!’ Amani said in bewilderment. ‘Where did you hear such tales?’

‘From Jadda and Auntie Sara.’

Amani looked at me. ‘Mother!’

‘My granddaughter accidentally overheard Sara and me talking,’ I explained. ‘It was an accidental oversight. I did not know that Little Sultana was in the area.’

Maha was laughing. ‘Wait until Abdullah hears about this.’

‘He is not going to hear about it. All of you, keep this to yourself.’

I considered my granddaughter, and with Dalal now present and talking of divorce I knew the evening would be for adults only. ‘Little Sultana, can you please go to Edna and ask her to order your dinner? Tonight is special. You can have anything you want. Just tell Edna what you would like and she will order it from the kitchen. Have them prepare something special for Chanel, too. Then I would like for you to watch those documentaries I found for you, the ones you said you wanted on the history of England. Ask Edna to watch them with you. Then I will come in shortly to see how you are doing.’

‘Yes, Jadda. I know that Chanel is missing me. We will eat our meal and then cuddle in bed.’

My smiling granddaughter then left the room as I endured Amani’s look of disappointment that I had not been more cautious earlier. Just as I was going to try and soothe my most obstinate child, I was interrupted a second time when our doorman announced from the hallway, ‘Madam Sultana, you have another visitor.’

Puzzled as to who might be visiting, I stood to make a greeting and was delighted to see that it was one of my most beloved nieces, Munira.

‘Munira!’ I cried out, as I embraced Ali’s daughter.

When Munira was only a young girl, her father had forced her to marry a most horrible man who lacked any kind of moral compass. Hadi, her husband, was one of Ali’s best friends and had spent his life abusing and terrorizing women. Tragically, his favourite target was the young and innocent Munira, who had been given to Hadi by her father. The horror of her marriage to a man the same age as Ali had tormented her, as well as all the women of our family, for many years, but finally when Hadi’s lifeless body was lowered into the sands of Arabia after dying of a massive stroke Munira had been freed. Even then Ali had tried to claim ownership of his daughter once again, saying that Hadi had instructed him to regain guardianship. Munira, Ali said, needed a strong hand. But Munira’s eldest son faced Ali with determination, insisting that he and he alone would be his mother’s guardian.

My brother Ali, like all bullies, becomes a coward when faced by a powerful opponent, and Munira’s eldest son was large and physically strong, with a forceful personality. We were amused to hear that Ali was so frightened after Munira’s son paid him a visit that he fled Saudi Arabia. We were much relieved when he decided to take a tour of the Far East and was away for several months.

Mercifully, Munira’s son loved his mother and was going to do all things possible to ensure that the rest of her life was peaceful and happy.

If only all guardians were so inclined.

Everyone present was delighted to see Munira. She had been away on an extended trip to Thailand with two of her children.

‘Auntie, you invited me to come for a visit after my trip and, with the children busy with my grandchildren, I decided this might be the best time. I hope it is not an inconvenience.’

‘Any time is the best time, Munira. My home is your home.’

Maha stood to hug her cousin. ‘You are looking beautiful, Munira.’

That’s when I noticed that Munira’s physical appearance had changed dramatically. She had never been physically beautiful but was a pretty girl when her father gave her to Hadi. During her miserable marriage, she had become