Sheikh's Scandal

His handsome face filled with satisfaction. “Then I am honored to be in her company.”

*

Sayed was grateful for the looser conventions in his country than many surrounding Zeena Sahra when Liyah laid her hand on his arm at his invitation.

Just that much connection helped soothe the ever-growing need to touch her, though what he really wanted was to kiss her senseless.

He opened the door to his mother’s private reception room and led Liyah inside.

“Good, you have both arrived.” His mother’s pleased expression made him immediately nervous.

“Good afternoon, Queen Durrah.” Aaliyah smiled at his mother, but did not step away from Sayed’s side.

And with unfamiliar weakne

ss, he was glad.

“Good afternoon, dear. I thought you might enjoy a tour of the capital today.” His mother gave him a look of censure. “You have not yet left the palace.”

“I thought it was for the best.” Aaliyah’s reply told him nothing of how she felt about that.

And though she was undoubtedly right, he did not like the fact she felt constrained to remain in the palace.

“You are not our prisoner, as I have stated before.” His mother turned an expectant expression on Sayed. “Is that not right, my son?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Good. You can accompany Aaliyah. Who better to share the history and points of interest of our beloved city?” she asked, unconsciously echoing his unacted-upon invitation to Aaliyah.

“But I have—”

“Nothing on your calendar for this afternoon,” his mother interrupted him with uncharacteristic lack of tact.

If his schedule was clear, this was the first he’d heard of it. Which meant his mother had arranged the break from meetings.

She was committed to this course of action.

Even knowing the futility of arguing, he still had to try. “I am the last person that should be seen with Aaliyah.”

“You brought her as a guest to our home, did you not?” his mother asked, her tone a mixture of censure and steel-hard determination.

“You know I did and that I had little choice in it.”

“Regardless, she is your guest and you have shamefully neglected her the past two days. You were not raised to display such a lack of consideration.”

“This is hardly a normal circumstance.”

“Circumstances are rarely normal in the life of a royal, Sayed, as you well know.”

“And if we are seen together?” he challenged. This was not a good idea. She had to see that.

“What if you are? I am certain it will not be in a compromising position. It would do your image some good to be seen with such a lovely companion after Tahira’s defection.”

“But the media will speculate as to her identity.”

“I would recommend taking an unmarked car on the tour,” his mother said dryly. “And offering no one Aaliyah’s name.”

“My keeping company with a hotel maid will cause a scandal and we do not need another one of those.” He’d spent the past two days working nonstop to put a lid on the one they were facing already.