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“She is. And that is one of the many things I love about her.”
Kadar turned from looking at Sarah, and the sheikh smiled for the first time. “I can see what you say is true. It is in your eyes, and in your heart. Maybe it also is in hers. I’ll ask her to come to you.”
Kadar nodded and watched through the fretwork screen as the sheikh went to talk with Sarah, who rose to greet him. She listened carefully to what he had to say. Whatever the sheikh was saying, it was taking him longer than Kadar had imagined. It was no swift instruction that Kadar wished to speak with her. She said something, but the sheikh put out a hand on her arm, as if to reassure her. Kadar just hoped the sheikh was on his side and wasn’t issuing words of warning. Sarah nodded and finally walked towards him.
Once again he remembered her graceful walk, and how her warmth captivated anyone who came close to her. She drew your eyes as if there were no one else in the room. Or maybe that was just him?
“Kadar,” she greeted quietly as she stood in the doorway, as if reluctant to move in case she had to bolt away. He took a step back to reassure her he would not force her to do anything.
“Sarah,” he said. “Please, may I have a few minutes of your time?”
She nodded, and took the seat he indicated, spreading her robes around her as if she’d been wearing them all her life.
“You are well?” he asked. He was suddenly nervous. It didn’t appear that she was going to give an inch.
She nodded. “Yes. You?”
“Sarah,” he breathed. “What do you think? I’ve handed the throne over to my brother, relinquished all ties to it.”
“And he did not mind?”
“No. He’s looking forward to being in control. He is excellent at diplomacy, but his range of skills is much broader than that, more than most people know.” He smiled. “He hides his integrity well under his charming exterior. He will make an excellent king. Much better than me.”
She nodded, looked down and then looked up suddenly with those beautiful hazel eyes. “Why did you do it, Kadar?”
He reached over and took her hand in his. He took it as a good sign that she didn’t resist. “For you, Sarah. I could think of no other way to show you I want to marry you—that I love you, that I want us to be together—than by proving to you I have nothing to gain from such a union other than being with you. I was an idiot before.”
He ignored her grunt of agreement. “I was raised to think of everything in terms of my duty to my country. And when I discovered who you were and how our union could help bringpeace to my country, I didn’t hesitate. But I should have. You made me see that. Sarah, please, I have abdicated the throne for you.”
She shook her head. “Don’t tell me you abdicated the throne for me. That’s too much pressure to put on me.”
“I’m sorry, but it’s true. But I also did it for me. My brother will make a far better ruler than me. My place is with the people on the land. It always has been. Sarah, I?—”
She raised her hand to stop him from speaking. “Kadar, please say nothing further. I need to tell you something. Something which I’d hoped to tell you last time we met.” She shrugged. “But I didn’t have an opportunity.”
“What is it?”
“I’ve kept something from you. Something important.”
“What is it?” He frowned. “You look scared. What is so important that it would frighten you.”
She looked up at him and swallowed. “I’m scared of your reaction.”
He hated seeing fear in her eyes. His frown deepened. “Tell me.”
“I’m pregnant.”
A sweeping sense of bliss filled him, and he roared with laughter.
It was her turn to frown. “What is so funny?”
“You!” He put one arm around her waist and tilted her chin so she was looking up at him. “That you should fear my reaction to you telling me you’re pregnant.Habibti, I’m not angry! You have made me so happy. There is only one thing which could make me happier.”
She smiled back. “And what’s that?”
“Marry me. Please. I made a terrible mistake before by putting my duty before my heart. I’ll never let that happen again. And the only way I could prove it was to propose to you again,except this time I have nothing to gain by the marriage except you. Nothing else. I need you to trust me. Please, put me out of my misery and tell me if you trust me. If you can see a future together with me?”
Her smile broadened, and her eyes shone. She nodded. “Yes,” she gasped, but slipped her hand from his and walked away.
