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‘Of course,’ the lawyers agreed, standing up ‘We’ll be in touch’

‘Don’t worry,’ she told Miss Francine as soon as the door had closed behind the visitors ‘I meant what I said’

Miss Francine gave a grateful smile, which at the sa to be done Millie had other ideas There was one person with enoughMiss Francine had done for Millie, she was going to enlist his help

Ask Khalid for ain? Speak to him? He wouldn’t even take her calls He’d wanted a clean break too

She wouldn’t let Miss Francine down Her elderly friend deserved a far better end to her working life than this She didn’t waste any tiot it over with, the sooner she couldwell, if not exactly relax, at least satisfy herself that she’d tried every avenue

Khalid answered on the second ring Shefor her call, if his comment hadn’t been quite so crisp and short ‘I’ll send transport for you,’ he said

‘That’s not what I want,’ Millie said tensely ‘I’ breath ‘I’ for your help’

‘Money?’ he said flatly

‘But not foron to explain the situation

‘Is money all you want?’

‘Should there be anything more?’ Of course there should! She had to tell him about the baby—Over the phone? No She couldn’t do that to him

‘Anything more?’ he queried In the pause that followed, she could picture hi

‘No There’s nothing ree to his tered bride would break her, and that was even supposing he hoped for so more

Millie’s heart was in pieces to hear Khalid sounding so unemotional It was as if he hadn’t missed her at all—and why should he? They were still worlds apart, Millie concluded sadly, not only in the physical sense, separated by thousands of ulf in their destiny But she couldn’t allow any of that to matter now She had to try and do a deal with hi breath, she hit him with her first idea

‘Would you have any objection toMiss Francine’s lawyer in touch with your Developht that perhaps they could look at the possibility of franchising the business,’ she went on ‘It wouldto Miss Francine to keep the name’

‘And she could be a figurehead?’ the deep, husky voice at the other end of the line said thoughtfully

‘Exactly,’ Millie agreed, relieved that he’d caught on so fast She s, when did the hawk of the desert ever have any difficulty ina decision?

‘I’ll think about it, and let you know,’ he said

The line cut abruptly She stared at the receiver in her hand, and only then realised that tears were strea down her face

Millie, Millie, Millie Just the sound of her voice was enough for hi appointments Since the moment they’d parted, he’d realised that there was only one woman he could ever care for To be a betterby exae in an ancient constitution like that of Khalifa, but alterations would be made On that he was determined

He had oland An invitation to dine with royalty in London at the palace toht to discuss various matters had prompted this visit After talks and a dinner, a ball was to be held in his honour Anticipating hopeful parents with a daughter to offload, he had planned toMillie’s voice again had changed that decision

I away tears, Millie replaced the receiver in its nest There was no point cradling it, as if that could keep Khalid close She had to be patient and wait to see if he would be as good as his word She believed franchising Miss Francine’s laundry would be a good investreed But now she had work to do Sprucing up the laundry to entice any investor was essential She owed it to Miss Francine to make sure the business looked its best

Everyone at the laundry was only too eager to repay Miss Francine’s kindness by pitching in to touch up paintwork in rooms that hadn’t been decorated for years Millie’s job was to check thesmoothly, and when they finished Miss Francine had promised a special supper to celebrate what she was already calling ‘a new era’ in the laundry’s history, as if the deal to save it were already done

Much to Millie’s relief, her elderly friend seehtened even more when Millie mentioned another idea she’d come up with, which was for Miss Francine to invite some of the workers to move into her spare bedrooms, much as Millie herself had done after her mother’s death Miss Francine was known for her soft heart, and irls had experienced unpleasantness in their past like Millie This would not only provide those who needed it with stability, but would give Miss Francine company and a little extra cash

When their long day had finally ended, Miss Francine hurried out of the office with a printout in her hand ‘This has just arrived fro with hope ‘His business develop here to look us over!’