Chapter 15: Triple Palace

The Emir’s palace was visible from some considerable distance away. It looked the sort of building a child might have made, if given a truly tremendous number of Lego bricks which were all yellow. It had six floors and there were perhaps a hundred windows at each level. It was flanked by two smaller versions of the same style, but one green and the other red.

Close up, they looked even more massive and Nicola realised that the yellow was caused by some form of glittering gold paint covering the exterior; she later learned that it was tiny facets of the stonework which had been given a coating of gold leaf. The red and green buildings had been treated with rubies and emeralds in the same way. Inside it was airy, light, spacious and cool. She vaguely noticed high ceilings and ornately painted walls as she and Sharifa were hurried through a corridor from a side entrance.

It was only when they reached the end of the corridor that led deep into the building to the harem that Nicola began to realise just how spacious the building really was. When she looked up she was astonished at the height of the ceilings. The other thing that struck her was the sheer luxuriant comfort of the carpeted floors and the beautiful ornate walls. When they reached the harem proper Nicola was shocked at the sight of the women dressed in pastel coloured silk dressing gowns that were very short and had just one button at the collar. The women were obviously of many nationalities and races.

Nicola had never seen so many women totally shaved. They all clearly had their own friends because they were sitting around in groups chatting and joking. It was, she knew, their only task to please their master and they were obviously very eager to do so. They were also very friendly and keen to talk to Sharifa’s friend.

“There you are, darling,” came a very upper class voice from behind Nicola. She turned around to see a woman in her mid or late forties smiling.

“Nicola, this is Princess Ayda, one of my father’s wives,” said Sharifa.

“How do you do?” said Nicola. She was about to curtsey when Princess Ayda put her hand out. “Oh, we don’t have any of that here,” chuckled Princess Ayda, “We’ve been dying to meet you ever since we learned Sharifa was bringing a friend from Oxford. Perhaps you would honour me by having tea?” concluded Princess Ayda.

Nicola looked at Sharifa who nodded her head.

“Splendid,” responded Princess Ayda, and led them both to her room and beckoned them to a divan. She clapped her hands and gave instructions to the servant girls in Arabic and they disappeared with a respectful nod. A few minutes later they returned a tray with beautifully ornate cups and a large silver teapot.

“You sound very...”

“Posh?” interrupted Princess Ayda.

“Well, I was going to say aristocratic,” answered Nicola.

“Bless you, dear,” chuckled Princess Ayda, “Well, yes. In the outside world I was the Honourable Diana Featherstone, younger daughter of the Earl and Countess of Bargoed. My first husband was killed in the Second Gulf War, he was in the British Army, and much later I met and eventually married the Emir, may he live forever, and had his children,” concluded Princess Ayda with a smile, leaving Nicola puzzled and awe struck. “Ah, Alima dear. How nice of you to join us,” said Princess Ayda as a younger woman appeared, “This is Nicola Price, Sharifa’s friend,”