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There was nothing sinister about this room, Millie told herself firmly It smelled lovely, felt lovely, was lovely, apart fros Could people really contort their bodies like that? Angling her chin, she tried to work out the ive up Anyway, the stateroohtful place But ould sleep here? she wondered with a frown Was this a gilded cage, waiting for another broken bird?

Stop it! This was a particularly lavish suite on board a billionaire’s yacht, and nothing uest—

Khalid’s mistress?

Why should she care? He ht be married, for all she knew—

‘Mademoiselle Millie?’

She almost jumped out of her skin as the door opened, but it was only the steanting to know if she needed any help ‘I’ fine, thank you,’ she reassured him with a smile ‘I’ve nearly finished’

Aladdin’s cave could take another pop of gold, Millie concluded as the door closed quietly behind the steward And her overactive iination could take a hike The Sheikh probably wasn’t even on board And even if he were, would he have changed thatcharmer who made promises he couldn’t keep; a man who’d spirited his brother out of the country after her mother’s death

Power andher lips into an angry line Eight years ago, the headlines had read: ‘The Nightingale of London found drowned in King’s Dock’ But had her mother drowned? Or was she murdered? And did anyone care?

Millie cared, and was deteret She wouldn’t rest until she found justice for her mother Cause of death had never been established, let alone convincingly explained to Millie It felt to her as if everything had been brushed under the carpet Clai diplomatic immunity, Sheikh Saif had left the country, while his brother, now Sheikh Khalid, had remained in the UK to clear up his mess As far as Millie was concerned, he was responsible for allowing Saif to get away The coroner’s court had s had contributed to her s? Miss Francine had warned Millie to leave the past alone, but how could she ignore a chance like this? Sitting down at the dressing table, she plucked the pencil out of her hair and began to write a note on the order pad she always carried

She flinched guiltily as the door opened a second time, and stood, as if to de into his mouthpiece

‘Just collecting up s,’ she said

If he noticed that she was nowhere by the bed, he didn’t respond He was too busy talking to whoever was at the other end of the line She relaxed as he left the room Maybe now she could finish that note

Maybe not The door opened again almost immediately

He deplored ostentation Even the intricately decorated solid-gold handle of this guest stateroom jarred as he closed his fist around it, but this particular suite of rooms had been kept intact, and was in the traditionally ornate style, favoured by his late brother It served as a reminder to Khalid that extreht Tadj would appreciate the irony The last tiether had been in a basic tent when they were both serving in Special Forces

After his brother’s death, Khalid had insisted on a deep clean of the entire vessel, follohich he’d brought in several cutting-edge designers to e suite be left intact The best palace craftsmen had worked on the project, and the suite had fast beco of unique and authentic historical detail, and for the erotic hangings above the bed

‘Your Majesty’

He thought his guard seehtly uncomfortable ‘Yes?’ Khalid paused with his hand on the door

‘I didn’t expect you here so soon,’ the guard admitted

Khalid was instantly suspicious ‘Well, I’ the door wide