LITMIR.BIZ

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      ‘The King’s sister, My Lady.’

      ‘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

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