Winning the Heart of the Chieftain's Wife

Chapter 1: Leaving Ardeth Bey

As the sun rose of the small medjai village. Everyone was still asleep in their tents as a woman snuck out of the tent she shared with her husband. Sneaking away to the stables she settled her horse and led it to the outskirts of town before climbing on and riding swiftly toward her parent's estate in Cairo.

The normal three day ride took her a day due to her riding through the night only to arrive at the estate in the early hours of the next morning. Putting the horse in the stable, she made sure that he was groomed fed and given water. She then entered the house and went up to her room. She quickly bathed and threw on a silk night gown before climbing beneath the sheets on the queen sized bed.

Early the next morning the woman rose and stretched. She looked around the room and smiled, happy to be back in her own room and not in a sandy tent in the middle of the hot desert. Getting up she saw a box on her dresser with a blue ribbon and a note.

Layla,

Happy your home darling. This is a little gift from us to you

Love,

Mom and Dad

Layla smiled and opened the box. Inside was a beautiful ice blue dress , matching shoes, jewelry and white gloves. Smiling even brighter she rushed to bathe and do her hair before donning her new attire. She felt spectacular. It felt good to be spoiled and wear soft smooth clothing. She spun around multiple time in the mirror before going down stairs to greet her parents.

Walking down the stairs she noticed that the manor had not changed one bit since she left. She walked through the sleek marble halls until she reached the dining room where her mother father and sister were seated.

"Well good morning there sunbeam" her father Seth greeted with a smile.

"Good morning daddy" she said cheerfully and moved to hug him.

"Oh my darling is home!" her mother Celine gushed as Layla hugged her.

From the corner of her eye Layla saw her sister Makara grimace.

"I see some things never change." Layla spat at her sister.

"I see you finally came to your senses and left that desert beast you call a husband." Makara said.

"You shut your mouth! He is not a beast!" Layla thundered while slamming her hand down on the table.

"Enough!" their father bellowed.

"Layla my sunbeam come join me in my study" Seth said and offered his daughter his arm

Layla accepted and walked out of the dining room with her father. They walked in silence until they entered the study and shut the door. As if on que Layla cracked and flung herself into her father's chest sobbing.

" Daddy I had to come back. Ardeth is insufferable! I thought he loved me , he told me he did, but the more I loved the more I got hurt. He never listens, he ridicules, he puts everything before me. I know it's his job to protect the most powerful ancient relics but should he put the same effort into protecting and loving me." She said through her sobs.

Seth looked down at the top of his daughters head and held her close. He gently cooed and soothed her, and soon she stopped crying. He handed her his handkerchief, and she whipped her eyes and nose.

" There there sunbeam, everything will be alright. You did what you thought best, and honestly I'm glad you left him. Ardeth Bey was not the best match for you. But I do have some good news for you." He said softly

"What is it?"

"James Bergenfield has been asking about you" he said gently

"James? I haven't seen him in ages. How is he?" she asked

"You can ask him yourself later this evening. We invited him and his family over for dinner" Seth informed his daughter.

"Daddy I just left Ardeth I can't possibly start anything with James right now."

"I know but at least consider it my dear. I only want what's best for you and so does your mother. Always remember that you are a Rahal woman. Your strong and you deserve the best. " Seth said while placing his hands on his daughter's shoulders.

Layla nodded and then excused herself to her room to freshen up her face. She met her sister on the steps and the two hissed at each other like two cats fighting over territory. However at the sound of their mothers sharp clapping the two separated and went about their business.

Reaching her room Layla looked out of her window and out toward the desert. Ardeth had been gone for a month and their last correspondence via his bird Horace had not gone well. She knew he would be arriving back in the village sometime that afternoon and that he would probably be furious when he found out that she left.

She shook her head to remove the thoughts from her head that dared to soften her heart toward Ardeth Bey. He probably wouldn't even notice she was gone and he probably wouldn't care. He barely noticed or paid attention to her anyway. How could she stay somewhere when the person that was supposed to want here there the most acted as though she was invisible? No, she would move on from Ardeth Bey, after all she is a Rahal.