But there would be time for smiles and celebrations later. For now he must pray, and she must eat a light supper. For two days he would not make love to her, for two days he would pray for his father and for his country, but when he climbed into bed that night it was sweet relief to hold her—a relief he might never have known, for with the old ways this night would have been a long and lonely one.
‘Are you scared to be King?’ she asked as they lay together.
‘I am never scared.’ He answered the same way he had the first time she had asked.
‘I would be.’
‘I would be too,’ he admitted, ‘had I not found you.’
‘You’re going to be a wonderful ruler.’
‘I know.’ He was not vain. He was right. ‘I am good for the people.’
‘So too is Emir—as would be his girls.’
He did not respond, and tonight she chose not to push it, but one day she knew that she would.
‘We will die in this bed together.’ He held her. ‘Or lie alone and grow old thinking of the other …’ She had his heart for ever.
Deep in the night she awoke, her light supper not quite enough, but because they were in mourning she checked with him just to be sure.
‘Have some of the custard.’ His voice was sleepy, his arms around her. ‘It is good for you.’
As was Rakhal for her.
As was Natasha for him.
And she smiled as he reached for the rope.
All the characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.
All Rights Reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises II BV/S.à.r.l. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the prior consent of the publisher in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
® and TM are trademarks owned and used by the trademark owner and/or its licensee. Trademarks marked with ® are registered with the United Kingdom Patent Office and/or the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market and in other countries.
First published in Great Britain 2012 by
Mills & Boon, an imprint of Harlequin (UK) Limited.
Harlequin (UK) Limited, Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR
© Carol Marinelli 2012
ISBN: 978-1-408-97448-3
Banished to the Harem Page 14