He wore a white djellaba, and his hair was loose and curled beneath his ears. He looked as haunted as I felt and did not manage the smile of a groom elated to at last meet his bride. I watched him carefully, my heart thundering in my chest, as he clambered onto the bed and sat across from me, his legs folded beneath him as mine were.

His family circled us, and one of his cousins came forward with a silver bowl filled with rosewater.

“That had better not be for the bed,” I said, and his cousin grinned. I recognized him—one of the few who had been allowed to grow up in Al Hoceima: Fouad.

“Don’t worry, cousin,” he said cheerfully. “It’s to purify mouths and hearts.”

I stared at him, uncomprehending.

“To drink,” Idris said gently. It was over quickly—Idris dipped a cup into the bowl and held it for me to drink, and I in turn dipped a second cup into the bowl and held it for him to drink. His hand wrapped around my wrist and his grip tightened when his eyes fixed on my face.

He knows.

I drew the cup away and Fouad pulled it from my fingers. I heard a roar in my ears as the Salihis recited a short prayer over us, and then filed out of the room. The serving girls, including Tala, filed out after them, the doors clicked shut, and we were alone.

For long moments we sat in the center of the bed, neither one looking at the other. His hand reached forward and he linked his fingers through mine.

“She sent you in her place,” he said softly.

“Yes,” I replied and at last moved.

“Is she … she’s alright, isn’t she?”

“Yes.”

“Then why—”

“She’s afraid,” I said. Afraid, and carrying a secret, I thought. But I couldn’t say so to Idris. I wouldn’t betray her trust.

“Of me?” he asked, bewildered.

“Of marriage.”

“Oh. Do you—”

“I’m fine,” I said, sliding off the edge. A moment later I stumbled but managed to right myself easily.

“Amani.”

I didn’t respond. There was a vanity at the far end of the room, and it was there I went. The process of removing my jewelry was a slow one. None of the bracelets were large enough to pull off—each required that a link be undone. I worked methodically and single-mindedly, as if no one else were in the room. So focused was I on my work that I didn’t hear Idris climb off the bed and walk up behind me. His hand covered mine where it worked on the last bracelet.