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And finally, Chloe believed once more in the magic of love and the truth of fairy tales. Because she’d found herself right in the middle of one, and it was every bit as perfect as she’d hoped and dreamed.
THE END
Following is an excerpt from the Number One Bestseller BARTERED TO THE SHEIKH by Clare Connelly
BARTERED TO THE SHEIKH
Clare Connelly
All the characters in this book are fictitious and have no existence outside the author’s imagination. They have no relation to anyone bearing the same name or names and are pure invention.
All rights reserved. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reprinted by any means without permission of the Author.
The illustration on the cover of this book features model/s and bears no relation to the characters described within.
First published 2015
(c) Clare Connelly
Photo Credit: dollarphotoclub.com/nizas
Contact Clare:
http://www.clareconnelly.co.uk
Blog: http://clarewriteslove.wordpress.com/
Email: [email protected]
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CHAPTER ONE
Her fiancé’s eyes watched her as she entered the stateroom, but he didn’t move.
Sally tried to remember the hasty training she’d been given. The instructions were clear. Walk quietly and sedately to the empty throne and take her seat. After all, in two short weeks, she would be taking her place as the Crown Princess of Tari’ell, and it was her duty to act as though she was ready.
Even though her knees were knocking together and the valley between her small breasts was filled with perspiration, she needed to outwardly appear calm. Even though she’d had only a month to adjust to the idea that she would be going through with the betrothal contract. Even though she wasn’t ready to be a princess and might never be.
Don’t overthink it, she reminded herself. Sit in the chair. It was the first step. After that, she would speak to her husband-to-be for the first time in her life. An important threshold to cross, she knew she would feel better once they’d passed that awkward introduction.
Her pale pink lips trembled as she sucked in a deep breath.
Sally had two problems. First, there was no other throne. In fact, there was no other chair. Only the single throne, gold and heavily embellished with rubies and diamond, was placed in the centre of the stage.
And in it sat the exalted Crown Prince Sheikh Khalid ash-Hareth.
The second problem that faced Sally was that the Sheikh wasn’t moving. His pale brown eyes were resting curiously on her face, but he was yet to speak. A frown puckered her brow as she allowed herself a cursory inspection of the man she was to tether herself to for life.
Despite the ornateness of his dress, he was far less intimidating than she’d been led to expect. Her governess Abigail had described him in great detail. From his legendary toughness to his physical strength, his excellent education and the type of rugged good looks that had made him a much adored ruler. Abigail had also belaboured the fact that Khalid ash-Hareth was renowned for his devotion to his country and people. A devotion that would never waver, and never be sacrificed to a wife’s needs.
Abigail had been against the union from the moment it was suggested. How could someone as gentle and delicate as Saaliyah Ibarra marry a man like him? True, Sally had been born to this ancient land, and carried the life-blood of its founders in her petite frame, but she had been raised in England. She had been given a first rate education and all the advantages of parents with money and a governess who loved her like her own child.
To leave the life she had been offered to return to Tari’ell and marry a man she’d never met – it was the kind of foolhardy move that beggared belief. Abigail simply couldn’t understand what could have possessed Sally.
But Sally had her reasons.
