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That coolness elco taken of the the centre of so much attention with the tas a shock to her systeenuine friendliness at their arrival and the nuan to get restive in his arnised that it was time to move on and withindoide boulevard Her eyes widened when she registered the crowds of waving ishers Jaul was evidently a popular ruler Gripped by curiosity, she gazed out at streets lined with the sort of ultra-h the occasional glimpses of elaborate minarets and men in robes added a touch of exotica to the urban landscape

‘What’s the palace like?’ she asked in the rushing silence

‘It’s old-fashioned,’ Jaul warned her ‘Everything’s as old as Queen Victoria aside of the bathrooenerations since the palace had a queen to take an interest in it’

‘I’d forgotten that’

‘You can change anything you like I’sunless it’s completely weird and uncomfortable like the mansion in London,’ he conceded wryly

The limo had left the city streets behind and rocky plains of sand bounded the desert highway Dusk was falling Away in the distance Chrissie could see the loo sand dunes coloured every tawny shade fro very high turreted walls appeared a hundred yards ahead and Chrissie sat forith a look of beoodness, it’s the size of a city and it looks like a Crusader castle!’

‘The front part of the original fortress was built by the Crusaders before we threw them out,’ Jaul volunteered with aeneration added new buildings Even I haven’t been in all of theer and in those days my ancestors lived with a vast retinue of servants and soldiers, who all had to be housed’

The guards patrolling the walls aving their guns and roaring a welcoates

‘So, who’s in charge of everything here at the palace?’ Chrissie asked curiously as their vehicle passed through glorious landscaped gardens before gliding to a stately halt in front of the ancient e domed entrance porch

‘Bandar, e of domestic finance but my cousin, Zaliha, actively runs the royal household Her sister is married to Bandar, who lives here on site with most of my personal staff’

A s finely built brunette with sloe-dark eyes appeared in the doorway and perforelish, tendered her good wishes and begged to hold Soraya all in the space of one breath The welco her overheated skin, Chrissie walked into an a circular hallalls studded with mother of pearl ‘Shellsseashells,’ she remarked in disconcertion ‘It’s beautiful’

‘There’s quite a bit that isn’t quite so lovely,’ the brunette warned her ruefully

‘Don’t give htly

‘You speak incredibly good English,’ Chrissie told her companion

‘My father was on the embassy staff in London and I went to school there,’ Zaliha told her

‘Oh,into the cluttered roo at the seams with antique furniture, some of which appeared to be centuries old ‘It’s worse than Victorian,’ she told Jaul helplessly ‘It’s more likemedieval’

‘And ripe for renovation,’ Zaliha told her cheerfully

‘We will go straight to our rooms now,’ Jaul countered before the brunette could involve Chrissie in such a discussion and he curved lean fingers round Chrissie’s elbow