‘Oh, Nadir’s aunt? That’s nice.’
Tasnim gave her a funny look. ‘No, My Lady, she means King Nadir’s sister.’
Imogen was silent for a moment as she processed that piece of information. She’d never heard of Nadir having a sister but that wasn’t surprising, really. Their short relationship in Paris hadn’t progressed past the intensely sexual phase and, whether by accident or design, neither of them had wasted their time talking about family or personal history. For Imogen that had been deliberate. She hadn’t wanted to talk about her mother’s recent death and her father’s remarriage a month later. Had Nadir chosen not to speak about his past because he was upset by it as well?
‘The King has asked me to help you prepare for the evening ahead. Would you like to do that now, My Lady?’
The evening ahead? Feeling as if her life was once again spinning out of her control and not wanting to look like a complete dill, Imogen kept her expression bland. ‘By King you mean...Nadir?’
‘Na’am, My Lady. Yes.’
A sudden sense of unease fluttered up from her stomach. Nadir couldn’t be King because if he was that would mean they were going to be here for a little longer than a day, but if he wasn’t then why were these women even here?
‘I think there must be some mistake,’ she began slowly and then Zach’s words jumped into her head from the night before.
It’s your birthright.
Was Nadir here to discuss some sort of succession planning? She hadn’t contemplated that and perhaps he would expect her to meet his father. She nearly grimaced. It was one thing to meet his brother but if his father was anything like her own then he was unlikely to approve of her.
Maab started saying something again in Arabic and there was a hint of pride in her voice.
‘Maab says that we are delighted that he has come back, My Lady. That King Nadir will be a great king because he was a great boy. Kind and loyal and very strong.’
Imogen had no doubt that Nadir had been strong but she wasn’t so sure about the kind and loyal part. Ruthless and self-serving? Now that she would have believed in an instant and she wasn’t sure how she felt hearing this woman’s hero worship of a man she was convinced was set on doing the right thing because of a guilty conscience rather than a good one.
‘That’s lovely,’ she murmured.
Tasnim nodded. ‘She was very sad to think that Nadir would not return after the death of his father.’
‘The death of his father?’
Tasnim gave her another funny look and Imogen’s pride kicked in. ‘Oh, yes, the death of his father.’
What the heck was going on here?
‘It has been a troubling two weeks for those of us working in the palace,’ Tasnim continued. ‘And not knowing what would happen...but I’m sorry, My Lady, you don’t want to hear all this.’
Not want to hear it? Imogen wanted to hear that and more. She could hardly believe what Tasnim had said so far. Had Nadir’s father truly died two weeks ago? And what did that mean? Was Nadir going to be King? Did he expect Imogen to move to Bakaan? The whole concept was totally implausible and she could feel panic threatening. She needed to speak to Nadir to sort this out. Right now.
Giving Tasnim what she hoped was a benign smile, she said, ‘Thank you, Tasnim. Would you mind telling my husband that I don’t need any help and I’d really like to see him?’
‘Your wish is my command, habibi.’
Swinging around at the sound of Nadir’s voice, Imogen’s jaw nearly hit the floor at the sight of him dressed in flowing black robes that made him look like a pirate. Absurd excitement gripped her and rational thought was whisked away on the light, hot breeze.
And she wasn’t the only female affected by the sight of him because Maab rushed to her feet with the agility of a woman half her age and threw herself on the ground in front of him.
‘Maab.’ Nadir raised the woman and hugged her tightly, speaking to her in his native language, his tone warm and deep. Tears sparkled in the old woman’s eyes and, seeing it, Imogen felt tears as well; her emotions much closer to the surface since her daughter had been born.
She wasn’t sure what Nadir had said to the women but moments later they had bowed low to them both and disappeared as quickly as they had arrived.
Nadir’s gaze swept over her and a small frown of disapproval immediately knitted his brow. ‘Why aren’t you wearing the clothing I provided?’
Tense and uncertain after what she’d just heard, Imogen was in no mood to talk about fashion. ‘Forget the clothing. Why did you lie to me?’
‘I did not lie to you. I have never lied to you.’
‘You told me we would be leaving today and I’ve just heard that I’m supposed to be attending a dinner. And that you’re the King.’ She peered at him, looking for signs that something had changed. ‘You’re not really the King, are you?’
‘No, I’m not the King,’ he said in a way that didn’t convince her at all.
‘Then why do those two women call you the King?’
‘Because they believe that I soon will be, I suppose.’
‘But why would they think that?’
His face turned grim and Imogen felt worry spike inside her. ‘A glitch.’
‘A glitch?’
‘Nobody is King until the coronation but in the meantime the country needs someone to lead it. I am acting head of state until Zachim returns.’
‘So, it’s true that your father died recently.’
He shoved his hands into the pockets of his robe. ‘It’s true.’
Imogen didn’t know what to say in the face of his implacable regard. ‘I’m sorry for your loss.’
‘Don’t be.’ He drew a weary hand across his jaw. ‘The whole purpose of my return to Bakaan was not to take over the throne but to cede it to Zachim.’
‘Oh.’ Didn’t he want to be King? And if not, why not? ‘I suppose, given that women aren’t allowed multiple husbands in Bakaan, your sister isn’t allowed to take over the throne instead.’
‘My sister?’ A muscle flickered in his jaw. Once. Twice. ‘Who told you about my sister?’
Not wanting to get the young servant into trouble, Imogen hesitated. ‘Tasnim. But don’t blame her. I pushed for the information.’
‘Then you didn’t push hard enough.’ His expression made her feel chilled. ‘My sister is no longer alive either.’
‘Oh, God, I’m so sorry.’ Imogen felt stricken as she saw a mask of pain briefly cross his face. ‘Did she die with your father?’
‘No.’ Nadir expelled a harsh breath, his emotions hidden behind the screen of his impossibly long eyelashes. ‘But you are right. She would not have been allowed to be a sheikha.’ His lashes raised and she could see that his emotions were now firmly under control. ‘Now, since Zachim has disappeared for the moment, I must attend a state dinner tonight and I need you to accompany me.’
‘But what about our return to London?’
‘It has been delayed.’
‘It can’t be delayed. I have a job I need to get back to and we’re really short-staffed at the café.’
Nadir gave her a dry look. ‘You will no longer need that job, Imogen, so you might as well quit.’
Imogen shoved her hands onto her hips. ‘I will not quit.’
Nadir let out a long sigh. ‘I hope to Allah that not every conversation we have is going to feel like I’m pulling out hen’s teeth. If you go into your dressing room you will find an evening gown for the dinner and Tasnim will help you prepare. If you need anything else—’
‘Nadir, every conversation feels like a struggle because you won’t listen. And I’m not going anywhere with you tonight when nothing has been resolved between us.’
‘Of course it has. We resolved everything last night
.’
As far as Imogen was concerned, they had resolved nothing last night. ‘When?’
‘When we talked.’
She shook her head, frustrated that he could be so obtuse. ‘You might have resolved something last night but I didn’t.’
His sigh was one of aggravated patience. ‘Okay, tell me what you need to make this work for you.’
Was he serious? ‘Time.’ For one thing. ‘You listening to what I want would help.’
Nadir pulled a wry face. ‘I promise to try and listen to you but unfortunately I can’t do anything about your first request because time is something I seem to be in short supply of right now. And I have never seen the point in stalling when the outcome is not in question.’
His high-handedness was one of the things that had attracted her to him so she really only had herself to blame. ‘I take it you mean the outcome of us marrying and if you do then the outcome is only not in question for you.’
‘For us.’
‘This is what I would call not listening,’ she said with exasperation. ‘Because at this point there is no us. There is you and me and a baby. I mean—what about where we’re going to live? What about what school Nadeena will go to? What about her emotional well-being?’
His crooked grin made her breath catch and she wondered if that wasn’t exactly the outcome he’d been trying to achieve. ‘You will live where I live. Nadeena will go to a good school and we both want what is best for her.’
‘You’re simplifying.’
‘And you’re making it complicated.’ It was he who sounded exasperated now.
‘It is complicated.’
‘It doesn’t have to be.’
Imogen’s eyes shot to his as the tenor in his voice roughened and, just like that, sex was in the room again. Or at least in her thoughts. ‘Be serious, Nadir—we don’t even like each other any more.’
‘I like you.’
About to tell him that what he thought of her was inconsequential anyway, she found the words dissolving on her tongue as she watched him hunker down and start trickling water over Nadeena’s feet. Nadeena reached forward and grabbed one of his thick fingers in her chubby hand. Imogen closed her eyes and then opened them again when Nadeena giggled and splashed the water with her feet.
Nadir smiled. That smile that had melted a thousand hearts, including her own.
They looked so beautiful together. Her daughter and the man who had once made her so impossibly happy she’d thought she would burst. Both dark-haired and with goofy smiles. Nadir started saying something softly to Nadeena in Arabic and Imogen felt that strange tug in her chest she knew was a type of longing. A type of longing that she really didn’t want to feel again.
‘Don’t you want more?’ The words were out of her mouth before she knew she was even about to say them and when Nadir looked up her heart stuttered at how incredibly virile he looked.
His eyes skimmed over her and if she wasn’t mistaken lingered on her lips. Heat suffused her cheeks. ‘More what?’
Imogen didn’t want to say it but it was as if someone else was directing her mouth. ‘Love. Don’t you want to marry for love?’
His grimace spoke volumes. ‘Love is for greeting cards and grandmothers, not for marriage.’
‘Which shows you how wrong we are for each other because I only want to marry for love.’
‘I already told you my parents married for love. It caused nothing but grief.’
She could tell by his tone that he was deadly serious. ‘You really believe that, don’t you?’
‘No, I know it. Otherwise you would not still be arguing with me and resisting this marriage. You would be embracing the fact that I can give you a life few others can.’ His mouth tilted mockingly at the corners. ‘Including your friend back in London.’
Ignoring his last comment, Imogen was shocked by his view. ‘You would prefer that I marry you for your money? That’s so cold and...empty.’
‘It’s honest.’ He gave a frustrated shake of his head, keeping his face soft for Nadeena’s sake. ‘And tonight is important, Imogen. Or I wouldn’t ask.’
She swallowed and lifted her eyes to his. ‘Why?’ she asked bleakly. ‘I got the impression that Bakaan doesn’t mean anything to you.’
‘That’s complicated too.’
‘How?’
His face closed down and she knew he wouldn’t answer her.
‘Let’s just say that it is and leave it at that.’
‘So much for listening,’ she muttered.
He looked at her. ‘I have answered every question you’ve asked.’
‘You think?’
He rubbed a hand across his jaw. He needed a shave, she thought absently, and how was it possible for his mouth to be such a perfect bow? He caught her staring and awareness pulsed between them.
The kiss they had shared the day before jumped into her mind and by the way his eyes had now dropped to her own mouth she suspected it had jumped into his as well.
His silent scrutiny unnerved her and she moved sideways to get around him and hoped to heaven that he didn’t touch her because she wasn’t sure how she’d react if he did. Or at least she was sure but she didn’t want to have that reaction. She had a horrible way of mixing sex up with love when it came to this man and given his miserable views on love it would be emotional suicide for her to risk her heart—and Nadeena’s—on him again.
‘My country suffered a great deal because of my father’s reign. I will not worsen that by ignoring my current duties. Now, as much as I enjoy arguing with you, we are out of time. Will you come with me tonight?’
It wasn’t really a question. ‘Do you always have to be so pushy?’ she complained.
A cloud came across his face and, just like that, he was a stranger again. ‘I will watch Nadeena while you get ready.’
Frustrated at the way he just seemed to corral her into a corner as if she was a rogue horse, she tried to think of some way out. ‘She needs a bath.’
‘Then I will give her one.’
‘By yourself?’
‘Don’t look so surprised. I doubt it’s rocket science but if it makes you feel better I will have Maab present so that Nadeena can bond with her.’
Outdone by his logic, Imogen gnashed her teeth. ‘It will be a mistake taking me.’
‘Why do you say that?’
Because she had no experience of dealing with world leaders and dignitaries and she’d likely embarrass them both. ‘I’m a dancer. I danced at the Moulin Rouge. Surely everyone will think I’m unsuitable to be the wife of a king.’
‘No doubt some will.’
That stung and his ready agreement was like the flick of a knife across a wound that hadn’t quite healed.
He glanced at her impatiently. ‘But I won’t be King so it doesn’t matter.’
‘Why not? Too much responsibility for you?’
He shoved his hand through his hair and turned it into a sexy mess. ‘Are you trying to annoy me to get me to change my mind about our union?’
‘Would it work?’
‘No.’ His brow quirked with a mixture of frustration and humour. ‘Now, stop with the delaying tactics. Nadeena will be fine and, as beautiful as you undoubtedly are, yesterday’s jeans and T-shirt aren’t going to work tonight.’
‘I hate you,’ she said, but the words lacked the heat they had carried the day before and by the way he smiled he knew it.
‘I got that memo last night. Now, let’s get this duty over and done with, hmm?’
Yes, Nadir was all about duty but Imogen knew that duty was a poor motivator that led to anger and neglect and resentment unless it was backed up by something deeper and she feared that was exactly where they were headed if she conceded to his demands.
CHAPTER EIGHT
‘KID, THAT’S SOME pitching arm you’ve got on you.’ Nadir leant down and picked up the ball Nadeena had lobbed from her high chair for the millionth time. It was a game she never seemed to tire of. ‘I can see you being a softball star when you’re older.’
She babbled gleefully when he placed the soft fabric ball back in front of her but, instead of throwing it straight away, she reached towards him with a big grin and tried to grab his keffiyeh. ‘Not that.’ He grinned down at her and pushed his headdress back over his shoulder. ‘I’ve explained that it doesn’t look so good scrunched up by grubby baby hands.’ Redirecting her attention to the ball, he checked his Rolex again and spied the empty doorway.
If Imogen didn’t show up soon they wouldn’t have time to stop for him to give her the ring that was burning a hole in his pocket and he didn’t want her facing a room full of dignitaries and gossips without it. And somehow it seemed important to solidify things between them. Important to remind her that she was with him now and always would be.
Their earlier conversation and her look of surprise when she’d asked him if he wanted more—and he’d said no—replayed in his head. For a moment she’d looked so vulnerable that he’d wanted to snatch the words back but there had been enough misunderstanding between them and he didn’t want there to be any more. But he supposed he should have realised that she was a romantic. That she would want love. It still irked him that she had said she didn’t want to marry without it because clearly she didn’t love him and he didn’t love her.
Which did not mean that their marriage was doomed. He had feelings for her and she might not think great sex was any reason to get married but it was a start and he knew she wasn’t as immune to him as she tried to pretend to be. Hell, that kiss had been proof enough of that, as was the way she held herself so carefully whenever he got close to her.
Nadeena clapped her chubby hands together with delight when he returned the ball to her yet again. ‘If only your mother was so easily pleased,’ he said softly.
She blew him a raspberry and he stroked his hand over her silky head. His daughter was a revelation to him—as was the depth of his feelings for her. Which only made him more determined to forge ahead with this marriage. Nadeena would not suffer the division of two parents’ expectations for her the way he and his sister had.
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