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The h to make Millie’s stomach churn ‘Some water would be nice’

‘And a light meal, surely?’ the kindly housekeeper pressed

She had to force herself to say, ‘Thank you, that would be lovely’

‘Call down on the house phone if you need anything else It’s manned twenty-four hours a day, but there’s iced water in the fridge in your dressing room, as well as a selection of soft drinks and snacks’

Soft drinks and snacks? Millie’s stos were as attractive a prospect as a sto at the ball, but she thanked the housekeeper with a warm smile, and when she’d left, walked into the bathroo into the mirror, she knew she had to tell Khalid now It couldn’t wait Not if she wouldn’t see him until the ball

‘I need to contact His Majesty,’ she told the impersonal voice on the other end of the house phone

‘I will infor else?’

‘No Thank you’

She sat by the phone, and didn’t have long to wait ‘Millie?’

‘Khalid! Thank goodness’

‘Is so?’

‘No, but I need to talk to you, and not over the phone’

‘I thought the housekeeper would explain that I’m tied up’

‘She did, and I’m sorry to call, but—’

‘Is it soent or can it wait?’

For nineto boil Khalid had never had any difficultytime for her when he’d wanted her in his bed For the sake of the child inside her, she bit back her angry words ‘It’s nothing urgent,’ she confirmed

‘Then, I’ll see you at the ball,’ he said, sounding vaguely irritated

‘Until to this to an already dead line

He had been granted the singular honour of standing next to the ruling uests, but all he could think about was Millie Their reunion had been disjointed and unsatisfactory, and now their secondwould be carried out in front of a crowd He hadn’t realised howin front of each other and he’d stared down into that intelligent, co about her, even the pencil sticking out of her hair

As good uests as they moved at a snail’s pace in front of hirand entrance doors to the ballroo theracious sweep of marble steps

He hoped

Each new arrival was announced before being escorted down the stairs by their companion Millie had no one to do that He had hoped to return to his London home to surprise Millie and escort her to the ball, but his s had run over They were too important to miss when the future of Khalifa depended on their outcome

He turned as his aide whispered in his ear, ‘Ms Dillinger has arrived, Your Majesty’

‘Excellent,’ he h alert

Frouests politely and give them his full attention, when all he wanted to do was hunt for Millie How frustrating, he thought with sos available to hi he wanted most was out of reach