Sarah And The Secret Sheikh

She couldn’t fight the nausea and talk at the same time so she let him lead her across to the plump comfort of the sofa. Once seated, she shoved her head between her knees, murmuring, ‘I’ll be right as rain in a moment.’

When she was finally sure she’d mastered the nausea, she lifted her head. ‘I’m sorry about that. I—’

‘I shouldn’t have told you in such a way!’

‘I’m glad you did tell me.’

‘Has it made you more afraid to journey to Keddah Jaleel?’

‘Not more afraid, just sadder.’ And to her surprise she realised she spoke the truth. ‘Your brother...’

‘Ahmed.’

She swallowed. ‘Did Ahmed not follow proper security protocols? I assume you have security measures in place?’

He nodded. ‘It’s necessary for any ruling family. But that night Ahmed gave his bodyguard the slip.’

Nobody deserved to pay such a high price for wanting a single night of freedom.

‘Why did they kill him?’ she whispered. ‘What did they hope to achieve?’

‘My father is a progressive monarch. At some future point, he’d dearly love to introduce democracy to Keddah Jaleel. There are still those in my country, however, who cling to the old ways.’

‘Progressive? Is he working towards gender equality? Will, for example, the daughters of the ruling sheikh ever be allowed to rule?’

For the first time that morning, he smiled—really smiled. ‘Ah, Sarah, we’re progressive...and we’ll continue to work towards a fair and just world for all of our citizens...but change cannot always be introduced as quickly we would like.’

‘Meaning?’

‘Progress takes time. And we must be seen to respect the traditions of our people, even as we move beyond them. If they believe us to view our heritage as worthless, then we would lose their trust and loyalty. If our child is a daughter, and if she shows an interest in politics, then she’ll have some kind of leadership role.’

‘But she won’t be ruler?’

‘I cannot see that happening for the next generation, no. But, if we have a granddaughter, things may be different for her.’

She stared at him and her heart thumped. What a difficult task it must be to lead a country. This man was a prince—one day a ruler by birthright. She had no right telling him what he should and shouldn’t do politically, not when she had no notion of what his people held dear, what they valued and what they hoped for.

She swallowed. ‘Your family have paid a heavy price for their service to your country, Majed. I’m more sorry than I can say about the loss of your brother.’

This time when she reached out to touch his hand he didn’t flinch. Instead, he turned his palm upwards and laced his fingers though hers. The scent of amber and spices—cloves and cardamom—teased her senses as a thick, pregnant silence wrapped about them. It was all she could do not to chafe the gooseflesh that rose on her arms.

‘There is one other thing you need to know.’

His tone lifted the tiny hairs at her nape.

‘Ahmed was my older brother.’

‘Do you have any other siblings?’

He shook his head and that was when she realised what he was trying to tell her. ‘Oh!’ Her heart started to thump. ‘You... Ahmed was supposed to ascend to the throne, not you?’

‘Not me,’ he agreed.

Wow! Okay. ‘And...and that’s another reason you haven’t wanted to return?’

‘Yes.’

And yet he was prepared to face his demons because he had a baby on the way—because he wanted to be a good father. ‘I think you’ll make a fine ruler, Majed. I know you must miss Ahmed, but you haven’t usurped him.’

‘I know that in my head. But it’s not the way it feels in my heart.’

‘What would Ahmed tell you to do?’

He spoke a phrase in Arabic that she didn’t understand. But then he laughed and he suddenly looked younger. ‘He’d tell me to stop over-thinking things. He’d tell me I need to curb my impatience for change and to tread with respect in relation to the traditional ways.’ A sigh shuddered from him. ‘He’d tell me to take my place at my father’s side. He’d want me to fight for it.’

Fight for it...?

She wasn’t sure what that last bit meant but, as she stared into his face, she couldn’t agree more with Ahmed’s advice. Majed was destined for great things. It was time for him to embrace his destiny.

‘Will you come to Keddah Jaleel with me, Sarah? Will you at least come and see the life you could have there, the life I can give you and our child?’

‘What will your parents think about a baby?’

‘It will...’ The lines about his mouth deepened. ‘It will bring them joy.’

She had a feeling that there were family issues at play here that she had no hope of understanding.

‘Our unmarried status will not thrill them. It will...disappoint them. But if you find you like Keddah Jaleel then maybe you will stay.’

‘And marry you?’

‘That is my wish.’

‘And what kind of marriage do you think we can have?’

‘One based on respect and honesty. One based on friendship.’

She pulled in a breath. ‘What about love?’

He dragged his hand from hers. She immediately missed the warmth and connection. He pushed that hand back through his hair once...twice. ‘We said we would be honest, yes?’

She couldn’t speak. She could only nod. He was going to tell her that he could never love her...and she didn’t know why, but she wasn’t sure she could bear to hear him say it.

‘I do not believe in love.’

She blinked.

‘And if I did, I’d not want it in my life.’