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‘Not as yet but he must marry,’ Hakim told her cheerfully ‘It is a monarch’s duty to take a wife and have children to provide stability for the next generation’
As far as Rashad was concerned, there was definitely a high price to be paid for all that bowing and scraping and luxurious privilege, Polly acknowledged ruefully She reht consequences and reht those consequences ho about She had been naïve and thoughtless, she reckoned ruefully, and, if Rashad was never allowed to be alone with a woot a little carried aith her hand?
Wasn’t it even possible that her request to see hi iht have believed she was deliberately inviting that kind of attention But on another level, war in her pelvis at the recollection He was a very handsouy and, for Polly, it had been an educational experience to finally realise why other peopleyour hand could make you feel that overheated… At that point, she broke off her wandering thoughts and buried them deep
Her maid wakened her with breakfast at what appeared to be dawn the nextand told her with eyes that danced withon a trip Polly was not told where she was going or why or whose company she would be in and she assu woe She wondered if Rashad hadher to her holiday plans but, when she began packing, the ested that that was not the explanation Had her kindly grandfather hted by the prospect of seeing a little more of her father’s country because all she had so far seen were the city streets and the view from the palace rooftop
Thetracery of quiet corridors and courtyards that suggested they were taking apalace They finally ee packed with opulent vehicles and with noticeable cereh the palace gates she noted that another two cars were acco them
She would phone Ellie later, she prouiltily In truth she didn’t want to hear any more of her sister’s dire predictions after Rashad had bluntly explained the status quo She didn’t like the situation and neither did he, but there really wasn’t very much that could be done about it, was there? It wasn’t his fault or hers that his people had chosen to weave her into the legend of his great-grand
While the convoy of vehicles drove out into the desert, Polly settled back in the air-conditioned cool to enjoy her sightseeing When they began to trundle up and down dunes, she told herself it was exciting although in reality the steep inclines and declines unnerved her At one stage they passed by a long train of ca of car horns and shouted exchanges When they descended the last dune she saw the oasis and her breath caught in her throat because that lush spread of green dotted by pal in such an arid dusty landscape The car came to a halt and the door was opened
Without warning, Polly was engulfed in a whooping and chattering crowd of women It unsettled her but the sociable se of intent and she smiled as much as she could in response That tolerance beca dress was presented to her with the evident hope that she would take off her trousers and tee shirt to put it on Briefly, Polly froze while she wondered if trousers on a woman were a cultural no-no in such coe for the sake of peace Furthermore the dress, which was covered with blue embroidery, was really very pretty and she surrendered, not even objecting when her hair was unbraided and brushed out because it seeive her companions so much pleasure and satisfaction
Ellie would tell her that she wasa people-pleaser to do as she liked but Polly loved to uiltily as she was escorted between black capacious tents and taken into a very large one overlooking the pool She sank down in the merciful shade and then Rashad strode in, as informally dressed in jeans and an open shirt as she was formally dressed
‘Rashad…’ sheher entire body heat as hot as the sun outside and her muscles pull taut in reaction to his sudden appearance ‘I suppose I shouldn’t call you that It’s too familiar What do—?’
‘You call me Rashad,’ he interposed without hesitation ‘How are you feeling after what Hakiht?’
‘Still shocked but htfully ‘…incredibly happy to have discovered who I aer with us I also like randfather’
‘He is a fine ant dark head to one side and lifted a broad shoulder and dropped it again in a sort of fluid fatalistic shrug that was as electrifyingly sexy as all his lithe physical one fro, however, he will be ready to kill me—’
‘You arranged for ht out here?’ Polly frowned ‘Why?’
‘It was bring you here or jump balconies to visit you in your bedroom The bedroom would have been the worst option of all,’ he told her with derisive aolden eyes