Page 41 (2/2)

He folded his ar”

Not according to his body language, Lina thought hu i step for hio with it

“I have been in co Hassan of Bahania,” she said

“Why?”

She sighed “This will go much faster if you don’t interrupt me every thirty seconds”

Mukhtar raised his eyebrows but didn’t speak

She recognized the slightly stubborn expression He thought he was being protective and concerned,sure she was kept safe froht Because the very handso of Bahania was so likely to swoop down and ravish her forty-three-year-old self

Not that she would say no to a little ravishing, she thought wistfully Her e had ended years before when her beloved husband had died unexpectedly She’d always meant to remarry and have a family, but so an aunt to Mukhtar’s six boys There had been much to do in the palace Somehow she’d never found the time…or a man who interested her

Until Hassan The er king was older, but vital and charht her attention in years But was he intrigued by her? She just couldn’t tell

“Lina,” her brother said impatiently, “how do you know Hassan?”

“What? Oh He and I spent tio at a sy formally at state events dozens of times, but that had been the first occasion she’d had to speak with him for more than five minutes “He also has sons and he has been very successful in getting them all married”

That got her brother’s interest “What did he do?”

“He meddled”

Mukhtar stared at her “You’re saying…”

“He got involved in their personal lives He created circuether omen he had picked Sometimes he set up roadblocks, sometimes he facilitated the relationship It all ell”

Mukhtar lowered his ar of El Deharia”

“I know that”

“It would be inappropriate for me to behave in such a manner”