The Sheikh’s Marriage Deal (Qazhar Sheikhs series Book 17)

by Cara Albany

  He leaned closer to her, but hesitated before even attempting to repeat the welcoming kiss he'd just given her. This time he leaned closer and kissed her on the forehead. "Just like you," he murmured.

  That kiss had seemed almost dismissive, she told herself.

  Why was he being so distant?

  To her, the added remark, and the kiss, hadn't even seemed genuine. The words had seemed forced. Labored. As if he was going through the motions.

  She narrowed her eyes at him. This wasn't what she'd expected from him. She'd assumed he'd be more romantic, more attentive, given that this was their first day as proper man and wife.

  And the first after what had been their real wedding night. A night, at one point during the previous weeks, she hadn't been sure they would even share together.

  But, they had. And all he knew to do was make light of it? Because, that was what he was trying to do, wasn't it? It certainly felt like it.

  She wasn't sure whether to say anything to him in response, but settled for taking a seat at the table and helping herself to some of the food.

  They enjoyed the food for a while, not saying very much to each other while they ate. As her hunger subsided, she got a chance to consider how he was acting toward her.

  One word came to mind.

  Uneasy.

  Why was he acting so cautiously toward her? Especially after what they'd shared. The intense connection they'd made with one another. Her body still ached wonderfully with the memory of their union.

  Abby took a few sips of her coffee and then laid the cup down on the saucer. Taliq was chewing idly on a bread roll, his gaze fixed resolutely on the desert beyond the palace walls.

  Up until now, she hadn't seen him quite like this. She tried to find the right word to describe what she was seeing in him this morning.

  Regal.

  That was the word, she told herself. Right now, it was as if he was determined to put on a show of being a proud and reserved sheikh.

  But, after last night, when so many of his layers had been peeled away, so many of his barriers swept aside, she knew he was so much more than that.

  Last night, she'd felt as if she'd touched the core of him, a part of him she'd never been able to reach before. But, this morning, he seemed set on pushing her away, again.

  "Is everything okay, Taliq?" Abby asked.

  He turned to her. His gaze was even and steady. "Of course," he replied. His eyes narrowed. "What makes you think there is anything wrong?"

  "I didn't say there was anything wrong," she replied. "You just seem a little preoccupied."

  "Do I?"

  Abby nodded. "Has something happened? Something I should know about?"

  Taliq shook his head. "Nothing has changed."

  Abby frowned. Now, what did he mean by that? It seemed like an odd choice of words.

  "Really?" she said, her voice sharp with a new urgency.

  Taliq nodded. She knew he hadn't always been comfortable expressing himself. Particularly when it came to issues around emotions and relationships. But, this reluctance was unsettling her.

  Abby leaned her elbow against the side of the chair and thought for a few moments, weighing her next words carefully. Taliq lifted his cup and drank a long sip of coffee. She was sure she could see a tension in the way he'd done that. His jaw was set in a firm line.

  Something was worrying him. She was certain about that now.

  "What do you want to do, today?" she asked. She thought about all the things they could enjoy on this first day of their married life. Even if it was just an arrangement, the least they could do was play the part well and have some fun doing it.

  He looked at her and tilted his head. "I have one or two things I need to do," he replied.

  For a moment, she was shocked. She felt the chilling effect of his words. "Need to do? Like what?" she asked sharply.

  He sighed. "I agreed to meet someone in the city, this morning," he explained.

  "A friend?"

  He nodded and glanced at her, as if he was gauging her reaction. He must have seen the shock on her face, but he didn't respond. Didn't make any kind of effort to reassure her in any way.

  He took a long sip of coffee, placed the cup down on the saucer and then stood. He tied the front of his gown and peered down at her. Abby was sure she must look bewildered. But, he didn't seem to care. Not even a bit.

  "Where are you going?" she asked.

  "I want to make an early start."

  She stood as he made his way toward her. He leaned in and planted a polite kiss on her cheek.

  What was going on? She asked herself that question as she watched him make his way toward the doors which led back into the suite.

  "I'll be back in the afternoon," he said.

  Abby followed him into the room. Her mind was full of questions. Who was he going to see? What did he think she was going to do all day, alone here in the palace?

  "What about the children?" she asked.

  He paused and faced her. "What about them?"

  "Don't you think they'd like to spend some time with us if we're here in the palace?"

  He seemed puzzled by her suggestion. "I don't think they'll expect any such thing. They understand that you and I are married now." He took a step closer to Abby and fixed her with a steady look. "And that you are their mother."

  Tightness seized her chest. Did he think he could just leave like this, and abandon her to an entire day on her own trying to deal with the children and everything that came with adjusting to her new life as the mistress of the palace? Didn't he understand that she still knew almost nothing about how to do any of that?

  "You can't leave me here, on my own, Taliq," she snapped.

  He squinted at her. "Why not?"

  She gasped and crossed her arms. "Because I don't know the slightest thing about running this place," she said. "And that's what you expect me to do, isn't it? While you're off enjoying myself."

  He narrowed his eyes, a sudden stern quality in his gaze. No, more than that, she told herself. He looked cold and distant, all of a sudden. "I don't remember saying anything about enjoying myself."

  She sighed heavily. "They're your children, Taliq." It was all she could think of to say. The second she said the words, she regretted them, because she knew they weren't strictly true.

  He didn't miss a beat in correcting her. "They're our children now, Abby. Or have you already forgotten that."

  She gritted her teeth and took a step toward him. He just watched her, and didn't move an inch. Simply peered at her, as if fascinated by her resistance. Of course, he wasn't used to being defied, she reminded herself. Not in anything.

  "How dare you say that," she said sharply. "You know I don't think any such thing. You've seen what I've done these past few weeks. How hard I've worked to get to know them."

  He shrugged. "And from now on, you will have every chance to get to know them even more."

  She was aghast at that statement, and at the matter-of-fact way he'd said it. "And us?" she said, emotion cracking her voice.

  He looked at her with sudden seriousness. "I thought we had an agreement, Abby. Isn't that what you keep on telling me? That we have a deal?"

  She thought of their previous conversations, the ones she'd had with him before the wedding. Of course, she knew she'd said things like that to him. And she'd meant them at the time. After all, they'd only just been reunited.

  But, after what had happened last night, she'd assumed that everything was different now. Maybe she'd been wrong. So very wrong in even thinking that.

  "I can't believe you're doing this," she told him.

  "Doing what?"

  She shook her head. "Leaving me on my own here." She waved a dismissive hand. "While you're off living your life, as usual."

  She saw his jaw tighten. His nostrils flared suddenly and she could see she had finally gotten under his skin. He gazed up at the ceiling and sighed in obvious frustration. He peered down at her. "I
don't know why you're complaining."

  "I'm not," she retorted. "It's just that after last night..." she started to say but he cut her off.

  "After last night? What about it?"

  She stared at him, incredulous that he could be so cold-hearted. She was utterly lost for words.

  He leaned closer to her. "Abby. Last night was our wedding night." He shrugged. "What we did together was what any new husband and wife would be expected to do. Nothing more."

  Abby felt her mouth drop open in absolute shock. But, before she'd had a chance to say anything else to him, he turned away from her. "I'm going to my other room to get dressed. I'll arrange to have all my things brought over here today." He turned to her before walking out the door. "I hope you have a pleasant day," he said.

  "But what about my parents," she exclaimed. "They're due to leave later today."

  He though for a moment. "I'll return in time so that we can both take them to the airport."

  She advanced on him. "I don't understand. On the one hand, you're telling me that it's business as usual. And, on the other, you want my parents to believe we're a happily married couple."

  He shrugged. "There's nothing to be gained by upsetting your parents," he said casually.

  "You don't want them to know the truth?"

  He shook his head. "Surely you understand there would be no point in disappointing them." He smiled. "Yesterday, they seemed so happy, now that you are a married woman." He ran his gaze around the room. "And in possession of everything a woman could possibly need. Is that not the case?"

  "What are you suggesting? That I married you to get all of this?"

  He narrowed his eyes. "Of course not. We both know the real reason you married me. And I'm sure your parents will be happy to return to the States where they can resume their lives safe in the knowledge that you are here with me."

  Abby gasped in spite of every effort she made to maintain her composure. She couldn't believe the sudden transformation in him.

  Only hours before, she'd felt as if he'd opened up to her, revealed everything about himself to her. And now, he was just putting up the same old barriers, again. The ones she'd thought had been destroyed once and for all.

  He lowered his head, as if bowing politely to her. "I'll see you later."

  And then he left the room, closing the door behind him.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Taliq was true to his word. He left soon after their confrontation, just as he'd said he would. Abby had followed his example and returned to her own suite and put on a plain, functional blue dress and flat shoes.

  From the balcony of her suite, Abby had watched Taliq's limo drive away from the palace and out through the open gates. A sinking feeling at seeing him carry out his threat to leave for the day, was soon replaced by the beginnings of anxiety as she thought about the day ahead.

  This would be the first time she'd been left in charge of the palace. She would have to deal with the staff, organize the priorities for the day, even supervise things. Of course, over the last few weeks, she'd witnessed how things ran in the palace. But, to a certain extent, she'd just been an observer.

  Taliq had still controlled much of what was going on. Along with Mira, the middle-aged, rather stern head of staff. Abby thought about the officious senior staff member who seemed to be involved in implementing every decision.

  She was a woman with whom Abby was still struggling to get along. Abby sensed that Mira disapproved of Taliq's choice of wife for himself and mother to the children. Nothing specific had been said, but Abby could tell that Mira held such opinions about her.

  As she readied herself to go downstairs, Abby realized she felt like a fish out of water. Didn't Taliq understand the difficult position he'd placed her in?

  Today was going to be a day for practical details. Abby knew that today, to a large extent, she'd have to try and establish herself as the head of the household.

  That wasn't going to be easy. She also faced the prospect of a difficult conversation with her parents. Trying to explain where Taliq was on the first day after their wedding was going to be awkward.

  Nevertheless, she prepared herself as well as she could and made her way downstairs. She didn't go to the children because she knew that it was too early for them to be up.

  When she arrived downstairs, she was met by the sight of five of the staff standing in a line in the hallway. Mira stood at the bottom of the stairs, watching as Abby descended.

  "Before he left, the sheikh informed me you would be down to supervise the staff," Mira said. "Give them some instruction on how you'd prefer things to be done."

  Abby wasn't sure she liked the dry, slightly sardonic tone of Mira's voice. But, it matched the woman's appearance perfectly, she told herself as she reached the bottom stair.

  Mira was dressed in a plain, gray traditional Qazhar gown, and her white hair was tied back in a tight bun. The woman had thin features, the bones of her face prominent and stark. She had dark eyes which had a habitually steadiness about them which Abby sometimes found disconcerting.

  It was as if the woman was always judging, always assessing. She stood, hands clasped, in front of the staff and waited for Abby to say something.

  Abby thought hard for a few moments. What was she supposed to do? How dare Taliq put her in such a difficult position, she told herself. Didn't he realize how hard this would be for her? Especially on a morning such as this.

  Abby was sure she could see some questioning looks and even disapproving glances from the staff members. At first glance, they looked polite enough, she told herself. But, really she knew what they must be thinking about her.

  The foreigner who'd found herself a wealthy sheikh.

  Were they asking themselves why the sheikh had left his new wife like this? And after the wedding night, too? Perhaps they were speculating on what could have happened upstairs in the suite.

  She was even sure that they had all known about the surprise Taliq had sprung on her with the revelation of the newly married couple's residence inside the palace. It seemed that she had been the last to know.

  Maybe they weren't even on her side in all of this. Was this another battle she'd have to fight? To get acceptance as the sheikh's wife.

  "What is usually done in the mornings?" Abby asked.

  Mira frowned slightly. "There is a routine which the staff go through, of course," she replied. Her English was accented but clear and easy to understand. Mira had worked with an American family many years before. At least there was that to rely on, Abby told herself.

  "And what is that?" Abby continued.

  Mira straightened, clearly put out by Abby's ignorance of the palace routines. "Perhaps, if I have some time with you ma'am, I can go over it. Since you seem a little confused."

  Abby felt herself bristle at that. "I'm not confused, Mira. I merely wish to ensure that I understand what is needed. You realize I am new here."

  Mira nodded slowly. "Of course, I do, ma'am," she said evenly.

  "Then, I am sure you also understand that it may take me some time to become accustomed to life here in the palace," Abby added. "It's all very different to what I've been used to."

  Mira peered at Abby. "I'm sure it is, ma'am," she said.

  Abby sensed a lack of respect in Mira's reply. She looked directly at Mira. "To begin with, I wish to acquaint myself with how the days begin here. Starting with breakfasts for the children. And, of course my parents, who I'm sure you know are leaving today."

  Mira bowed. "Of course. I understand. If you wish to accompany me, I can take you through how things are done."

  Abby nodded firmly. "That would be a good start, I think," she said. "I would like the children to join me and my parents for breakfast, this morning." Abby peered at Mira. "I'd like them to get to know their grandparents a little more before they leave," she said.

  Mira's eyes narrowed at the mention of Abby's parents and how she understood their relationship to the children. It was
true. Lacking any other family, Abby's mother and father were the only extended family on her side that the children would have. And she wanted to make the most of the remaining time while her parents were here in Qazhar.

  "As you wish, ma'am," Mira replied in an even voice.

  Abby smiled at the gathered staff, thankful that, not understanding English as well as Mira, they probably hadn't understood much of what had been said.

  The staff members smiled back at Abby. "Now, Mira. Where can we start?" Abby asked.

  Mira took Abby to the kitchens and showed her the preparations for breakfast, and then to the dining room where the breakfast table had already been set.

  Abby made a few observations about how she would like things to change. The dining room needed a woman's touch, as far as she was concerned. Mira listened to Abby's suggestions with great patience, and occasional surprise.

  But, after a while, Abby could see that the woman did want to try as much as possible to comply with Abby's wishes. Even if some of the sheikh's wife's preferences didn't immediately fit with the customs which were already in place in the palace.

  Over the next hour or so, Abby and Mira went around the lower level of the palace, discussing such things as the cleaning routines, and general maintenance. The palace was huge, bigger than anything Abby had ever lived in. She could tell that there would be many challenges in the coming weeks and months.

  After all of that, it was time for the breakfast to be served. Her parents appeared, looking fresh and well rested. They were surprised that Taliq wasn't around.

  Abby explained his absence with the truth. He had gone into town but would be back in time to take them to the airport. The explanation seemed to go down well, although Abby did get one or two questioning looks from her mother.

  Then the children came down, looking sleepy-eyed and hungry. Everyone settled around the table. Despite not feeling hungry herself, Abby forced herself to join in and eat a small amount of food.

  Her parents and the children got on really well. Watching the children talking in perfect English with her parents made Abby swell with pride. She realized that, even if Taliq's behavior this morning had put into question the bond she'd believed they'd forged, her maternal bond with the children was much more secure.