Products of their destiny, she thought. Trapped. Just like her.

Chapter Ten

“I’m not sleeping at all,” Lina complained as she sat on the stone bench in the garden.

“Thank you.”

It took her a moment to realize what Hassan meant. She laughed. “All right. Yes, you’re a part of my exhaustion, but not the only part. Playing matchmaker is hard work. I feel guilty in a way. I started all this. I brought them together.”

“You introduced them and then removed yourself from the situation. You did not lock them in a room together and insist they become intimate. They chose that course themselves.”

“I agree, in theory. But I planned this from the beginning. I thought Kayleen would be good for As’ad and that she secretly longed for more than teaching at the convent school. But what if I was wrong? What if I messed up both their lives?”

Hassan leaned in and kissed her. “You worry too much.”

“I’m very good at it.”

“Perhaps it is not a gift one should cultivate.”

She smiled. “You don’t actually expect me to change, do you?”

“Not really.”

“Good.” Her smile faded. “I just wish I knew I’d done the right thing.”

“Why would it be otherwise? As’ad proposed and Kayleen agreed. Now they will be thrown together even more. Who knows what might happen.”

He was so confident the outcome would be positive, but Lina wasn’t so sure. What if As’ad couldn’t open his heart to Kayleen? What if she stopped falling in love with him?

“I can see I do not have your full attention,” Hassan complained. “I forbid it to be so.”

She laughed. “You are not king here, sir. You are my guest.”

His dark eyes brightened with humor. “I have enjoyed being your guest. Spending time with you makes it difficult for me to consider going home. But I must.”

She didn’t want to think about that. “You have many sons to rule in your place.”

“For a time, but the ultimate responsibility is mine. I must also consider my people. I do not want them to believe I have abandoned them.”

“I know.” She didn’t want to think about that. She didn’t want Hassan to leave, but couldn’t ask him to stay. She looked at him. “I will miss you.”

“As I will miss you.” He squeezed her hand. “I suppose it would be presumptuous to ask that you could come with me to Bahania.”

She steeled herself against hope. “As a visit?”

He smiled. “No, my love. Not as a visit. It has been so long, I’m doing this badly.” He kissed her. “Lina, you are an unexpected treasure in my life. I did not think I would find love again. I certainly never expected to find such a beautiful, enticing woman such as yourself. Your physical perfection is only matched by the gloriousness of your spirit and your mind. You have bewitched me and I wish to be with you always. I love you and would be most honored if you would consider becoming my wife.”

Kayleen stood frozen on the garden path. She’d been walking as she did each morning, only to accidentally stumble into a personal moment.

At first she’d only heard the low rumble of voices and had thought nothing of them. There were often other people in the garden. Then she’d heard King Hassan say something about his people. The next thing she knew, he’d proposed.

Now she held her breath and looked desperately for a way to escape so they could be alone. She turned slowly, intent on creeping away, when Hassan spoke again.

“Tears are unexpected, Lina.”

“They’re happy tears. I love you so much. I never dreamed, either, that I could fall in love.”

“So you will be my queen.”

“Oh, dear. A queen. I never thought of that.”

“My people will adore you nearly as much I do. I have the added delight of knowing every part of you.”

There was a soft giggle and silence. Kayleen took advantage of their attention to each other and quietly moved away.

So Lina and the king had fallen in love. She was happy for them. The thought of her friend moving to Bahania was a little sad, but also exciting. Kayleen had never known a queen before.

She made her way back to her suite. As she climbed the wide staircase leading to the second floor, she paused, remembering the king’s emotional proposal and how happy Lina had been. Even from several feet away, Kayleen had felt the love they shared.

“I want to be in love,” Kayleen whispered. “With As’ad.”

She wanted to love the man she would marry and she wanted him to love her back. Could it happen? Was it possible? Or was she like a child, hoping to catch the moon?

As’ad walked into the suite Saturday morning. “Are you ready?” he asked.

The girls all called out that they were, while Kayleen hovered behind them. For some reason, she felt shy with As’ad. How strange. She’d never felt awkward with him before. Perhaps it was because they were engaged now. Everything was different, yet it was oddly the same.

“You never said what we were going to do,” Dana told him.

“I know. It’s a surprise.”

He crossed to Kayleen and smiled at her. “You are quiet.”

“I’m caught up in the moment.”

“You don’t know what the moment will be.”

“I’m sure it will be wonderful.”

“Such faith.” He captured her hand in his, then glanced down. “You do not wear my ring.”

She pulled her hand free and hid it behind her back. “I, um, thought it was best. After talking to Fayza and all.”

“Who is Fayza?”

“From the protocol office. I think that’s where she’s from. She wanted to talk to me about the wedding and how to behave, now that I’m going to be, you know, a princess.”

She could speak the word, but it was hardly real to her. It was the same as saying she was going to wake up an aardvark. A princess? Her? Not possible.

“I see,” As’ad murmured. “What were her instructions?”

Kayleen tried to remember them all. “I shouldn’t go out by myself. I shouldn’t talk to any man who isn’t staff or a member of the royal family. I shouldn’t wear my ring until the engagement is officially announced. I shouldn’t talk to the press, dress inappropriately.” She paused. “There’s more. I wrote it all down.”

He touched her cheek, then lightly kissed her. “It seems there are many things you should not do. Perhaps it would have been easier to give you a list of what is allowed.”

“That’s what I thought.”

His dark gaze settled on her face. “Kayleen, you may do whatever pleases you. In all things. I would ask that you not travel outside of the palace walls without a bodyguard, but you may come and go as you wish. You are my fiancée, not my slave.”

She liked the sound of that. “But Fayza was very insistent.”

“I assure you, she will not be again. Would it please you to wear your engagement ring?”

She nodded. Somehow wearing the ring made her feel as if she belonged.

“I would like you to wear it, as well.”

She went into her bedroom and slipped on the ring. When she turned, she found As’ad behind her. He pulled her close and settled his mouth on hers.

His kiss was warm and insistent, with just enough passion to make her breath catch. She liked the feel of him next to her, the way he held her as if he would never let her go. She liked the taste and scent of him, the fire that burst to life inside of her.

“What are they doing?” Nadine asked in what Kayleen guessed was supposed to be a whisper.

“They’re kissin’,” Pepper told her.

As’ad straightened. “There are issues with children I would not have guessed,” he told her. “Such as privacy.”

She smiled. “It’s because they’re excited about the surprise. You never said what it was.”

“You’re right. I did not.” He led her back into the living room and faced the girls. “We are going shopping. All three of you need new wardrobes, now that you are to be my daughters.”

Nadine spun in place. “Pretty dresses and party shoes?”

“Of course. Riding clothes, as well. Play clothes and whatever else Kayleen thinks you require.”

“I want a crown,” Pepper announced.

As’ad laughed. “I am not sure the store carries crowns, but we will ask.”

Kayleen laughed. “Maybe we can make one here.” She turned to him. “Thank you. The girls will love getting new things. They’re all growing so quickly.”

“You will be shopping, as well,” he told her.

“What? I’m fine.”

“You need a wardrobe that befits your new position.” He shook his head. “What you have will not do.”

She felt herself flush and tried to tell herself that it made sense a prince wouldn’t be impressed by her plain, inexpensive wardrobe.

“I’ve never been much of a shopper,” she admitted. Growing up, she’d made do with hand-me-downs and donations. When she started working, she’d never made a lot of money and her clothing budget had been modest at best.

“You will have to learn,” he told her. “You are a beautiful woman and you deserve to wear beautiful things. Silks and lace with jewels that glitter. You will sparkle like the stars in the sky.”

She’d never heard him talk like this before, she thought happily. She liked it.

The store was like nothing she’d ever seen before. It was on a quiet street with pale buildings that had striped awnings at all the windows. There was no sign overhead. Just discreet gold lettering on the door.

“I have called ahead,” As’ad told her as they got out of the limo. “Wardrobes have been collected for each of the girls.”

“How did you know the sizes?” she asked, wishing she’d had something nicer to wear into the store. She felt frumpy.

“Neil phoned the laundry and asked them to check. A selection has been made for each of them but the final decision is yours. If something has been forgotten, it will be ordered.”

Kayleen had a feeling this was going to be a different experience than the sixty-percent-off sales at the discount stores she usually frequented.