Thanks to BG for the suggestion!
PREPARING FOR THE WORST
Clarice cuddled into the nest of pillows assembled on her bed congratulating herself on the prank she played on her husband. For one brief moment she felt a slight pang of regret for the awkward position she put him in but quickly brushed that aside.
Heck he had to deal with that eventually and he is a psychiatrist so he sure as hell can handle one little love struck teenager.
She giggled aloud imagining Hannibal's skin crawling as the girl poured out her love to him from emotional buckets brimming with teenaged angst.
I almost feel sorry for you, H…almost.
It was thoroughly amusing and her enjoyment was immense until the very moment she got the call on her cell from Pearsall that the prime minister was returning to the home. Suddenly panicked, she ran downstairs, watched the security cameras and nervously awaited his arrival.
Jesus, if he walks in on the middle of it he'll probably go bat shit insane and ruin that girl for life. Oh, God…Hannibal is going to kill me. I didn't even consider Bashandi might be back by now. Dammit! How could I have been so freaking stupid!
As the car pulled up Clarice anxiously stood on the landing and greeted Anwar Bashandi at the door.
"Good evening Mr. Prime Minister, did you enjoy your time at the White House?"
Though the exhaustion of the day was evident, Bashandi cut an impressive figure dressed in a meticulously tailored tuxedo and white tie. The prime minister's posture was uncharacteristically stooped as he entered the home, Clarice anticipated from a combination of jet lag and the strain of the day.
He looks exhausted so he'll be on edge. That's not promising.
Bashandi's voice was thick with phlegm as his vocal cords, unaccustomed to the burgeoning pollen of a Baltimore spring, cracked somewhat the moment he spoke, "Not especially, these things are more for show than anything else as nothing of substance takes place. I allowed Mariyah to leave early. I trust, as the driver informed, that she arrived safely and has been no trouble. Do you know if she is in her room? I should like to discuss our travel plans for the morning."
Clarice's stomach turned as she anticipated and braced herself for the inevitable misunderstanding.
How the hell am I going to explain this?
Clarice "Yes, she is in her room. May I ask that you postpone your visit for a time? She is with Hannibal now and the situation is a bit…sensitive."
Bashandi's spent body stiffened as his face flushed full red. He made no effort to temper the insinuation shaping his tone, "Your husband is alone with my daughter in her bedroom and you wish me to stay away? Is that what you are suggesting to me?"
Clarice remained unflappable, "Yes, Sir that is precisely what I am suggesting."
Bashandi was not amused, "Mrs. Lecter, this is inappropriate in the extreme and cause for immediate concern. How long have they been unsupervised? Were you with them up to this point?"
Her tone measured, Clarice was both restrained and reserved hoping Bashandi might take a cue from her emotional state and thus calm, "No, this is something Hannibal needs to handle alone. Please, may I ask that you join me in the family room? I'll explain everything but I can see you're upset and I don't want our voices to carry up the stairs. It's really important that your daughter doesn't know you've returned."
Indignity now fully entrenched Bashandi protested vehemently, "Mrs. Lecter!"
Clarice very gently took the larger man by his elbow and began to physically guide his movement. "Please…please, I'll explain everything. Join me."
Clarice led Bashandi into the family room. Turned loose like a bull released from a chute Bashandi immediately chose the seat of power standing beside Hannibal's chair next to the fireplace. Unconvinced, he did not sit but instead dropped his hands on the back of the chair and, clearly angry and supremely frustrated, gripped the tufted fabric until his knuckles drained white. A shroud of anger began to mask his face.
Believe me…please, hear me and believe me…
Clarice perused his expression as she framed the argument in her mind watching him carefully trying to determine whether or not she had thrown her beleaguered husband to the proverbial wolves.
It was obvious not only by Bashandi's expression, but also his body language that he was very agitated. His voice reflected not only concern, but, true offense as he demanded, "Please explain to me immediately why I should not barge into that room and drag your husband either off of or from my daughter?"
Drag Hannibal? I'd like to see you fucking try!
Though she was enraged at the blatant accusation, Clarice understood the stress this man was under and very quickly regrouped. Calm restraint, though not her strong suit, was what was now needed.
Okay, let's see how trusting you are my friend. For H's sake, I need you to work with me.
The concerned wife took a very deep breath and presented her case as dispassionately as possible.
"Hannibal is dealing with a situation that is very important to your daughter's future emotional development. He is, I'm sure by now, offering her some very therapeutic attention."
Bashandi spoke through gritted teeth, "Is therapeutic attention a euphemism for some sort of sexual contact?"
Standing in the doorway with her arms folded defiantly across her chest a very pregnant Clarice Lecter stood her physical and emotional ground as well, "Mr. Prime Minister, out of respect to you I am going to ignore that offensive accusation as it is patently ridiculous."
The prime minister paced around the chair dragging his hand along the top of it as he moved back and forth. He was deliberate and precise in his speech as he thoroughly pressed his point.
"Mrs. Lecter, I would be amiss if I didn't fully disclose to you that I have an extremely thorough security team and during the vetting process I was informed that you have had some very severe complications to your pregnancy that precludes intercourse. I am forced to question if my young daughter is at this moment servicing your husband in your stead?"
Clarice was devastated by the comment but had learned from Hannibal not to be obvious in her emotional responses. She could hear Hannibal's words ringing in her ears.
Information is power. Do not be free in relinquishing it. Turn your anger to advantage Clarice and bend it to your will.
She drew in a breath and gathered herself.
Don't give him the fucking satisfaction, Clarice. Don't show him you are upset or he'll think you doubt Hannibal. Be calm. If he knows you trust H…Maybe he will too.
"Your daughter has undergone very serious and still very recent emotional trauma. She is, right now, upstairs pouring out her heart and soul to him so if you go up there and barge in like you've got something to prove and she'll be embarrassed and emotionally retreat. Let him do what he does best. He's a Doctor and he really cares about her. Stay away and let him help."
Bashandi circled the chair as he processed what she said and attempted to justify his concerns.
"She is a vulnerable girl and could easily be taken advantage of. As I said, I have a very thorough security team and have myself, visited several sites on the internet dedicated to your husband's…interests. While that proclivity may have given him the tools to find Stuart Miggs that information, though admittedly almost two decades old, gives me additional pause in regards to trusting Hannibal Lecter with my daughter."
But it was okay when you needed him to find that pervert! Fuck you, Mr. Prime Minister! Fuck you!
Clarice stood deadly still. Her mind was reeling and she felt it necessary to conserve her movement so as not to falter. She honed the edge to her voice without oiling it with anger.
"What are you intimating, Sir?"
A tall man, Bashandi took two long steps toward Clarice. As she was pregnant and feeling emotional, there was unintended menace to the gesture.
"Only that I am acutely aware your husband has had quite a rapacious past and as had some very, shall we say, adventurous exploits. It is well-known that his varied tastes ran to the extreme."
Clarice stood firmly on both legs careful not to shift her body position and signal either physical or emotion weakness. Her voice was confident and steady with an unambiguous air of defiance as she stepped toward Bashandi, closing the distance and seizing the power in the room.
"If you are attempting to shock or offend need I remind you that I'm married to Hannibal Lecter so just so we are very clear, he and I have no secrets…None. I've been on the internet and I've spoken with my husband at great length in reference to his sexual rapacity. I assure you that he is, by his very nature, monogamous and while his libido's admittedly more active than most I take pride as his wife in keeping him very, very fulfilled. Let me also confirm that while his exploits had been unusual, his attraction, even at the height of his sexual experimentation, was to women, not children."
Bashandi was now feeling a bit embarrassed and more than a bit contrite. His voice softened somewhat.
"She thinks highly of him. It would be very easy for Doctor Lecter to manipulate those feelings."
Clarice began to drive the point forward, "She doesn't only think highly of him, she's in love with him. Busting in to break up a situation that isn't happening due and embarrassing her would injure her immensely. She's telling him how much she loves him…maybe even how much she wants him…sexually. That makes her unbelievably vulnerable and if you burst into the middle of that it will be mortifying for her. Hannibal is a trained psychiatrist. He was the best in his field. He won't hurt your daughter. He only wants to help her but this is a very tricky task. She is indeed vulnerable as you said yourself. You and I both know that he won't hurt her but your presence might."
Bashandi attempted to exit the room. Clarice moved in front of him very effectively blocking is path. The prime minister was becoming more and more agitated by the moment. He stabbed at the air with his index finger as he pointed to the second floor of the home.
"Mrs. Lecter I understand your desire to defend your husband but I'm going up those stairs and I am going to see for myself exactly what is going on."
Bashandi attempted to move to past her in the doorway but truly believing she needed to protect her husband, Clarice again blocked his egress with her tiny, pregnant body and stood her ground.
"I'm sorry Mr. Prime Minster, forgive my impertinence but I am not letting you by me unless you make me a promise."
Frustrated by this dance of refusal he questioned, "What promise?"
Yes! He may be willing to consider an alternative. Just offer a valid compromise…you have one shot at this, Clarice.
"Go upstairs. They are in Mariyah's room just outside on the balcony with the telescope. From that angle, they can't see the bed so you can sit and listen to everything that's happening but you have to promise that under no circumstances will you interrupt the process. Don't let Mariyah know you are listening. Don't let on that you are near. No matter what you hear, don't react to anything Mariyah says. Listen only to Hannibal. You will see that he is not only a perfect gentleman but you'll know that he has absolutely no sexual intentions in regards to your daughter. He is your good friend. He wouldn't jeopardize that friendship as he has too much admiration and respect for you. He is your friend."
Bashandi seemed willing to entertain this contingency, "How will I know when to leave the room without being seen?"
Convinced of her husband's predatory gifts, Clarice knew her husband would be aware of Bashandi's presence the moment he stepped off the staircase and onto the landing. She wouldn't need to warn him, but she hoped he would trust her and continue. Otherwise, Bashandi might sense disrupt and believe that Hannibal had, indeed, been up to something unseemly.
Just do what you have to do, H…leave the rest to me…
"Hannibal will invite Mariyah to exit the balcony when he's decided they need to go back into the room."
"What if he doesn't? I would have no warning and she might see me."
He needs to know he won't hurt his daughter by his presence. We're making progress.
Seeking to offer the guarantee he needed, Clarice was adamant. She knew Hannibal would pick up Bashandi's scent the moment he entered the bedroom. He would definitely be very clear in his warning hoping she had explained the situation.
I trust you, H…don't let me down…you're gonna have to trust me too. It's not like I can tell the man you'll smell him a mile off.
Speaking with the confidence of knowing her husband, Clarice offered, "He will absolutely without any doubt clearly direct her to precede him. My husband is of noble birth. He would never ignore his home training or his manners by preceding a woman through a doorway so he'll verbally invite her to exit. When he does, you can quickly step out and she will never know."
Bashandi considered the man who had sacrificed his own safety to find Mariyah. There was a measure of guilt in his voice as he considered Hannibal's innocence in this.
"What about Doctor Lecter? If it is as you say and there is no ill intent, will he not see this as an intrusion?"
"You can let him know you listened to the conversation in your own time and your own way."
"Will he not be offended?"
"He'll understand your intention is to protect your daughter. Trust me…he won't take offense."
"All right, I won't intervene. I'll listen. Not because I truly believe your husband means to do her harm but because it is my responsibility as her parent to supervise her in all things. This is no different. I would be shirking my duties as her father if I ignored this untidy element of her life."
Clarice sighed her relief slowly so as not to be obvious to Bashandi.
"May I say, Mr. Prime Minister, that you are an exceptional role model in that regard, Sir. I hope to show the same dedication to my child as you are showing to yours. Mariyah is a fortunate young lady."
His paternal ego sufficiently preened, Anwar Bashandi smoothed his ruffled feathers. "I'll enter the room and sit quietly. If you are correct, when Doctor Lecter invites Mariyah back into the bedroom, I will slip quietly out."
Clarice stepped to the side and allowed Bashandi to pass, walking with him quietly to the staircase, "And for Mariyah's sake, you promise you will not under any circumstances interrupt?"
Bashandi gripped the ornately carved bannister and looked up the stairs with a mind to what he would encounter, "I will not interrupt unless harm is coming to my daughter. One would think that would be an acceptable caveat."
Clarice stood beside the taller man grateful for his cooperation, "That's a more than acceptable caveat. Thanks for showing trust where your daughter and Hannibal are concerned. I'm sure it's difficult."
He began to ascend with Clarice a step behind, "You are passionate in your defense of you husband. He is an unusual man. I hope I do not find your defense of him is misplaced. Your husband is an unusual man and as such it is difficult to predict his behavior."
When finally they reached the top of the stairs and faced each other Clarice explained, "Mr. Prime Minister my husband is indeed an unusual man, but he is a man not some sort of monster. If there is a thing called a life essence, where most people have a pilot light, he has an inferno, but he is an honorable man. I trust him with my life."
"And I am again trusting him with my daughter's life."
"He was equal to the task the first time. He is even more equal to it now. Not to worry, she is in good hands, figuratively speaking of course."
"Of course."
Anwar Bashandi slipped quietly into the bedroom his daughter occupied prepared for the worst.
Clarice cuddled once again in her nest of pillows prepared for the same.
Until the next chapter my friends!
LH