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Numb

His hand tightened on the

“Your Highness, Miss Taylor is asking to see you”

He whirled around to see Hassan, his chief of staff, in the doorway of his office

“Send her in,” he said abruptly, then silently jeered at hi away from her

Hassan briefly bowed his head, but as he turned to go, he hesitated, then turned back “If I hnesswould you think it inappropriate if I were to ask Miss Taylor to acco—”

“You are forbidden” The hard words came out of Sharif’sHassan’s eyes widened with shock

“I see,” he said slowly “Is there some reason that you—”

Sharif tried to be calh hilare on his trusted friend that would have decimated a lesser man

Hassan blinked

“Ah,” he said quietly “So that’s the way of it Does she—”

“No,” Sharif said tightly “She doesn’t know and she never will Once my sister is wed, Miss Taylor will return home That’s the end of it”

“I see” He paused “The staff love her, sire Though she was not born in Makhtar, it’s clear she loves this country Your people would joyfully serve her, I think, if you were ever to decide that she—”

“My engagement to Kalila Al-Bahar will be announced next week,” Sharif said flatly

“Oh” Hassan stared at him He didn’t have to say how the palace staff felt about Kalila After two disastrous visits in the past, Sharif already knew

“No one s for Miss Taylor,” he said quietly “Least of all her She cannot know It is bad enough that I do”

“I am sorry,” Hassan said He hesitated “Shall I stillsend her in now?”

Sharif looked at him and shook his head “It’s all over your face” His lip curled “Go out the back I will let her in”