But as soon as I’d said it, Omar felt right to me. There were others with whom I used first names straight away, and others still who didn’t really have names but were known by their position, like Cook, of course. In Esher there were always a few servants with whom I never progressed beyond formal address Sir Alick had a butler everyone, including Sir Alick, called Mr Roberts, even after he had been in the household for more than a decade. Then I realised I had used his Christian name, not his Christian name of course, but his given name, and said, "I’m so sorry, Mr Abu Halaweh," I bowed my head and placed my palms together the way he did when he was showing respect and wished I had a veil to draw across my face.
"Omar!" I shouted, and I attempted to swot him with my spoon but he ducked down low and got away. "Besides," he said to me one morning when I tried to relieve him, "you might poison her with your food." Mr Abu Halaweh continued to cook for us, which both my Lady and I thought was beyond the call of duty, but he wouldn’t have it any other way.
All activity in the French House slowed to a snail’s pace in the daytime as no one had the energy to do much of anything, except me, and I found I could think of nothing but food all day, even though I was not fasting. Ramadan arrived, the holy month of fasting from dawn till dusk.
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