I hope everyone had a good Christmas and New Year and I can only hope my Australian readers are nowhere near the bush fires. It looks horrendous. Sorry for the length of time it's taken to post but a house move and Christmas have really eaten into my time. Anyway thanks for your patience with this.

The clock in the spacious entrance hall was chiming six but the assembled group, including that newly minted representative of the Foreign Office Mr Henry James Pearce, where still waiting for any indication that arrival of the uninvited uncle plus daughter, accompanied by the affectionate nephew, was imminent. The only advantage for Harry was that he now had the opportunity to make his own thumbnail assessment of the excitable Aaisha, who, as soon as they had all convened in the central space had summoned a not loath Ruth to her side. Now the pair of them were chatting animatedly, although what they still had to talk about was a mystery to Harry, given that they had spent a good sixty minutes plus together only about one hour ago. But then what went on in women's heads, outside of Grid operations presented a continual puzzle to him. His ignorance on that score having usually been compensated for by his expertise in dealing with their bodies and a casual attitude to relationships. Until of course he'd encountered Ruth Evershed. Watching her laugh and smile at just about everyone expect himself was hurtful. Never the most patient of people Harry had an additional reason for wanting to retreat back to his own suite. Although it rarely troubled him his wonky knee had chosen today to flare up with a dull pain, not improved by standing around. He could only hope that no delay had occurred, or alternatively that uncle had somehow kidnapped the groom and was even now transporting him back to Pakistan. The latter would be tough luck on Aaisha, but from Harry's selfish perspective it would enable them all to return to London and the comparative normality of the Grid. A thought he began to recant as some of the conversation between the two women drifted into his unwilling ears, allowing him an insight into just how smitten the bride to be was. Not a difficult deduction when every fourth sentence began with, 'and Ali'. And Harry, who was he to inflict the heartache that he was cursed with onto another rather more innocent human being. He just wished that the cavalcade from London would hurry up, and then, with formal greetings dispensed he could make his excuses and disappear on his own errands– the whisky Ros had provided was calling.

Ros was also carefully noting the group dynamics, including Harry's hastily disguised scowl when Ruth moved from his side, but despite her increasing enlightenment she continued to pretend ignorance as she approached Harry in her undercover persona to announce, "Mr Pearce our head of security has just informed me that the group has passed through the gates and will arrive in a few minutes". Harry just as formally acknowledging this with 'Thank you Miss Mansfield'. Before addressing Ruth peremptorily, "Miss Evershed I require you by my side'. Ruth, while doing as demanded, was still casting what could be described as an evil eye in his direction. The underlying hostility of which was sufficient to make him speculate briefly as to whether the resurgent ache in his knee was the result of his disaffected analyst having alleviated the solitary boredom of her bedroom by sticking pins into a Harry doll.

Thoughts of searching her room just in case were shelved when the crunch of gravel outside signalled the arrival of yet more government cars, this being a courtesy the Foreign Office had decided to accord to Ali's uncle, although Harry's preferred choice, having read the file on the man, would have been a tumbril. Seeing Aaisha now standing alone he felt a twinge of guilt that the cause of her vulnerable isolation was his summoning Ruth away. The woman was after all about to be subjected to hostile scrutiny. A sympathy that he damped down with the consideration that the operation came first and if the obnoxious uncle ever gleaned the slightest hint that Ruth was a more than just an old university acquaintance who happened to work for the Foreign Office, a not unusual career for a first class Oxford graduate, the diplomatic mayhem that ensued would be laid at his, Harry's door. Possibly a cunning plan of Dolby's to rid himself of the resident thorn in Section D? Not if Harry could help it.

Any last chance of altering the line up vanished when the doors flanking the entrance, oak doors open outside and the inner automatic sliding glass partitions, parted to allow the entrance of the tall, very handsome Ali whose dress, while traditional, somehow seemed borderline racy when compared to that of the shorter, thick set individual who marched in behind him. Uncle had arrived, complete with snowy white thobe sporting an equally white starched ghutra tied around his head. Radiating a palpable air of disapproval he resembled an aggressive snowdrop. The cause of his annoyance was not difficult to discern, Aaisha although clothed in the standard shalwar kameez garb of Muslim women was nonetheless bareheaded, while behind uncle a heavlily shrouded female figure was shuffling approximately three paces behind, as was no doubt deemed proper by her father. Even without catching the eye of either Ros or Ruth Harry could sense their mutual wave of feminist fury at this exhibition of male domination, while a glance at Aaisha suggested that her smile of welcome had become a trifle strained. Observing the very appraising look she was given by uncle Harry decided that that was hardly surprising. Uncle's sour expression deepening as Ali approached, wrapped his arms around her saying, "It's good to see you Aaisha", the smile developing into one of genuine pleasure as Aasiha almost laughed, "Really Ali it's only been about three hours."

Watching this touching passage Harry, feeling somewhat queasy, couldn't decide whether to attribute this emotion to envy, - if only Ruth would look at him like that - or an urge to locate the nearest sick bucket. Possibly this was having the same effect on uncle who harrumphed, bringing Ali back to what presumably passed for his senses. Harry while not be a member of the diplomatic corps proper had experienced enough fraught situations to sense a storm in the offing, so living up to his pretended role, he stepped forward holding out his hand in formal greeting.

"Mohammed Abdul Rashid, I'm Mr Henry Pearce here on behalf of Her Majesty's government to welcome you and the members of your family to England. As you know our country values the friendship of your state, so we are delighted that Ali and Aaisha have chosen to marry in England."

Harry in suggesting that now he'd met uncle the happiness of his life was complete, while personally housing thoughts that were the exact opposite, was proving much the better actor. In contrast the face of dear old uncle Abdul suggested that he would win a lemon sucking contest with no effort whatsoever, although his tone was at distinct variance with his features as he attempted to infuse a gratitude that no one present believed into his response to Harry, "Obviously we thank your government for its courtesy. As I am representing Ali's father I am delighted to formally invite you and Miss er.." Uttered with a dismissive look that implied total indifference to any answer that might be forthcoming.

It was Aaisha who interrupted this display of oblique discourtesy, "Miss Evershed, Ruth Evershed, and it was very good of the Foreign Office to send an old friend of mine with Mr Pearce." Uncle's face was making plain what he thought of this intervention, and if anyone present doubted his views, the presence of the material wrapped Zahra was a living symbol, although Harry snatching a glance in that direction thought he detected a quiver of possible laughter rippling through that otherwise silent frame. Recalling that Ruth's Intel had gleaned that Zahra was no keener on a cousin marriage than Ali Harry was speculating that Mohammed Abdul Rashid's issues may encompass more than just Aaisha's bareheaded attitudes over the next few days.

Even as Harry was watching, in an afterthought the elder statesman of the family, with casual wave of his hand, without even a turn of his head introduced the pillar of breathing cloth behind him, "And to support the bride I have brought Zahra, who will instruct her into the mores of the state and the expectations of conduct expected."

An authoration statement that was responsible for a flickering mutinous look spreading across the faces of the happy couple, but before either could speak Zahra drew the attention away from them by the expedient of pulling off her niqab and scarf to reveal her face, - a very lovely one Harry automaticially noticed - which did explain, or so he supposed why her father was indulging in the hope that Ali might suddenly dump his preferred fiancé. The cowed by tradition substitute now proceeded to indicate that she hadn't read the script as she registered her presence with a drawl worthy of Ros, "I'm sure Ali can instruct her in all the necessary father." With an inflection that could be interrupted as verging on the lewd, daring her father to risk a scene in front of the strangers who were present to spectate the joyous family occasion. As a gamble she'd calculated correctly, her loving parent's best avoidance technique being to demand sternly 'Zahra please veil. Now."

Zahra however having pegged the situation not only failed to obey her father, but contented herself by reminding him, "Father, Ali is family." And before the now struggling uncle could state the obvious, continued, "The only other man present is Mr Pearce and I think it unlikely that the Foreign Office would employ a rapist." Following up with a statement that had Ros and Ruth, in unspoken simultaneous agreement, mentally punching the air, "And really isn't it a little insulting to suggest that men are so uncontrollable that the sight a women's face will..." She wasn't allowed to finish as her father having failed to draw the veil back over her face sought to draw one over the conversation as he hastily interjected "Yes, yes well….."

Privately Harry, recognising a fellow, or rather female, opportunist was applauding the girl for nerve and decided then and there that he would do his best to ensure that she didn't return to Pakistan. Her present safety was less of a worry, her utterly obnoxious father might harangue her in private, but, given the presence of the diplomatic corps, appearances were important. Actual physical damage would be noticed and a sudden disappearance likewise. Trying to avoid any especial expression of interest in this debate, not only would her father notice this and make Zahra's life more difficult but so would Ruth, who needed no encouragement to do likewise with his own, but Harry couldn't avoid noticing that Zahra in feature did resemble Aisha. Something that had also been observed by Ros, who was contemplating whether uncle could meet with an accident in the hotel: a slippery staircase, a food poisoning turned fatal, some loosened statuary falling, a gun happy operative hiding in the woods covered up with 'oh dear poachers can be violent'...

Before her father could slap down Zahra's declaration of independent thought, something he clearly despised in women, Aaisha leapt in addressing her future uncle in law tactfully, "Thank you. That was very considerate. Can I suggest that Zahra rests from the journey in my suite and she can begin instructing me."

If this had been a game of chess Harry was inclined to think that this was check, if not quite checkmate with Zahra showing no disclination to argue as she moved towards Aaisha saying quite clearly, "That would be lovely. I do hope we are going to be friends"

Trying to retrieve his position uncle suggested, "Perhaps Ali could go with you, it's quite some time since he and Zahra had a chance to talk." At which exact moment a further body strolled into the foyer, his eyes flitting around the company before exclaiming, "Ruth, Aaisha said you were here in a work capacity – how nice, we must catchup."

From Aaisha came the suggestion, "Faizan before you snaffle Ruth can I introduce you to Ali and his cousin Zahra?" Faizan glanced at Zahra, the intended cursory cast of his eye transformed into a fully drawn out look of admiration as he smiled, "So nice to meet not just Ali but some of his family." The emphasis on 'some' recalling to Harry the row Aaisha had confided to Ruth, especially when Faizan having shaken Ali's hand and bowed his head towards Zahra totally ignored her father. Occasionally Harry did regret that he was minus any close kith and kin, the death of his father and brother in quick succession having been an emotional blow that still lingered although rarely admitted to, but watching the current dynamic playing out he could see some advantages to be solo, and anyway he currently had enough drama in his life – Ruth had seen to that.

While uncle was preparing to open his mouth Aaisha beat him to it, "Faizan, Ali and Zahra are coming to my suite to catchup why don't you and Ruth join us?" And before uncle could make the obvious objection added, "Ruth can be a chaperone and after the wedding Faizan will be family so there can't really be any objection can there?"

Harry was beginning to understand why uncle saw Aaisha as a threat. If you espoused his attitudes she most certainly was, but contented himself with saying, "That seem like a sensible suggestion." With Ros supporting him unobtrusively by suggesting to uncle, "Please allow me to show you to your suite." and then with a pretence of cultural sensitivity towards an point of view that she would normal stamp over with her boots having noticed Adam lurking just behind a service door added "Although perhaps you may prefer our porter to do so."

Defeated but forced to maintain a good face uncle was led away by Adam and Ros while the rest of the group dispersed. Harry, left alone, decided that he'd make a bee line to Malcolm's eerie as he wanted to listen into the various conversations including what he thought might be the inevitable one from Mohammed Abdul Rashid to home.

Thanks for reading and review of the slowness of my writing I have a nerve but if you have a moment a review would be appreciated.