Tess Awakening Read Online Free PDF

to force
me to serve him.”
    Tess closed her eyes. “I am sorry. I didn’t
mean to criticize you.”
    Kejal turned her head, tears in her eyes.
“It’s all right. It’s not your fault.”
    Tess put on a touch of makeup. ‘If I am do
battle posing as a helpless woman, I might as well look good.’
    Both women started walking through various
rooms of the ornate mansion. Unlike Saddam’s modern palaces, this
house looked as if it had been around a long time. The décor was
tasteful and expensive.
    Kejal led Tess to a large dining room. A long
table had two place settings at one end. “I must go now,” she
said.
    Tess looked around. The Lord of the Manor
must have been heavily influenced by the Brits when he built this
place some time ago, she thought. Lots of wood paneling and plush
furnishings, brocade on the windows, a little faded. The room did
not look exotic at all.
    “Do you like my house?” The General suddenly
appeared. He had cast off the uniform in favor of an exquisitely
tailored suit, probably Savile Row.
    Tess decided to keep it light. “It’s a
beautiful house, tastefully decorated. How old is it?”
    The General seemed pleased that Tess appeared
interested. “It’s almost one hundred fifty years old. My great
grandfather built it. He spent most of his time in foreign
countries. He was a diplomat for the Ottoman Empire and continued
in a similar capacity after a British general drew a line on a map
and created Iraq in 1922. My ancestor lived a long time in England.
He liked it very much there; very civilized country, with clear
class distinctions. No confusion.”
    Tess decided not to express her views about
class systems at this time. “Very interesting,” she noted without
much conviction.
    The General went to a carved cabinet and
opened a door, revealing a well-stocked bar. “Would you care for a
cocktail?” he solicitously inquired.
    Tess was surprised. “Aren’t Muslims
prohibited from consuming alcohol?”
    “Some of us are a little more flexible.”
    ‘I sure would like a drink,’ Tess thought,
‘but I’d better not. He seems to be setting me up like the fly to
the spider.’
    “No. Thank you, General; I am very tired.” ‘I
can’t believe that I am thanking this guy,’ she thought.
    “Amir, please. Call me Amir,” he
suggested.
    I am not ready for this, Tess thought.
“General, I am a prisoner of war. I would prefer to follow
protocol. I will respect you, and I expect the same treatment.”
    The General affected an oblique smile. “Of
course, but this does not mean we can’t enjoy our dinner, no?” Tess
thought it best to remain silent.
    “I don’t like to drink alone, so I will pour
you a glass of light white wine, or perhaps you would prefer an
aperitif?” Amir extended his arm with the hand palms up and pointed
at the bottles in the cabinet, offering a libation as if he was
bestowing a gift. Tess saw that he would not be deterred, and
agreed to a glass of wine.
    Amir invited her to sit on a sofa while he
brought her the drink. “My youngest sister’s clothes fit you
beautifully. She is very much like you; very beautiful. She has
large black eyes, yours are green. She has long, luxurious black
hair, you are blonde; a crime to cut it so short. No matter; I
appreciate female beauty in all its forms.”
    Tess sidestepped the compliment and took a
sip from the glass. It was a very nice Sauvignon Blanc. The man had
taste. The General moved closer. “Major, may I call you Tess?”
    ‘How the hell did he know that people call me
Tess?’ Her captors must have heard her men use the name.
    “My sister never liked to live here. She
found it too confining. Perhaps her education in Switzerland
corrupted her.”
    “Corrupted?”
    “Maybe the term is too harsh.” The General
affected a slight smile. “Perhaps I am personally responsible for
encouraging her Western education. After all, she is from a great
family, and will be a great lady. She will be quite useful when