‘No luck, Your Highness.’
‘Fine. Set a place for Imogen.’ Nadir turned to leave the room, already thinking about what needed to be done before the evening dinner when Omar’s next words stopped him cold.
‘And your wedding?’
‘Excuse me?’
‘Your wedding? You may have forgotten but a Western marriage is not recognised as legal for a member of the royal family. It would be best, Your Highness, if you formalised the marriage in a traditional ceremony as soon as possible.’
Hoping that the issue of his legal ties to Imogen wouldn’t have arisen in the small amount of time he was supposed to be in Bakaan, Nadir sighed. ‘I suppose you have a perfect date available, Omar?’
‘As soon as possible, Your Highness. There is some unrest in the northern part of the country and some who would wish to destabilise the throne. It is important that the people observe their crown prince behaving in a way befitting the leadership.’
‘You know I do not intend to become the next leader of Bakaan, Omar, so the timing doesn’t matter,’ Nadir said tightly.
‘As you wish, Your Highness.’
Realising that he was being obstinate and the council members had no idea why he didn’t want the damned leadership role, Nadir softened his position. ‘I know you’re worried, Omar, but don’t be. Zachim will most likely be back before the evening meal is served. In the meantime, if you think that formalising my marriage is absolutely necessary then organise the ceremony for a week from today.’
That would give Zach plenty of time to stop playing his games—if he was actually staying away on purpose—and get back here. And on the off-chance he was still holding out on him in a week then they would marry. It wasn’t any big deal because it was going to happen, one way or another.
* * *
‘I’m sorry—who did you say you were?’
Imogen placed Nadeena in the baby recliner beside the beautifully paved swimming pool and fastened the safety catch, the fronds of the palm trees overhead keeping the scorching sun from burning her. When she was done she turned to the two women standing in the open doorway. One was young and striking-looking in the traditional cream-coloured outfit that denoted the palace servants and the other woman was much older and dressed in faded black garments. And her eyes were transfixed by Nadeena.
‘My name is Tasnim and this is Maab,’ the younger one said with a wide smile ‘We are your servants, My Lady.’
‘Oh.’ Imogen smiled kindly. Used to fending for herself and preferring it that way, she had no need for servants. ‘Thank you, but—’
Before she could say anything, Maab had moved closer to Nadeena and was crooning something in Arabic. As if sensing Imogen’s regard, she turned and bowed her head, speaking in rapid Bakaani.
‘I’m sorry,’ Imogen said, ‘I don’t understand.’
‘Please excuse Maab, My Lady. She does not speak very much English but she is excellent with babies and helped raise the royal siblings when they were little. She is asking if she might approach the little princess.’
‘Well, of course she can.’ Imogen smiled encouragingly and the old woman knelt down in front of Nadeena and gasped in surprise. She started spouting the name Sheena and smiling broadly.
Confused, Imogen turned to Tasnim for clarification.
‘Maab says that the little princess looks just like Sheena.’
‘Sheena?’
‘The King’s sister, My Lady.’
‘Oh, Nadir’s aunt? That’s nice.’
Tasnim gave her a funny look. ‘No, My Lady, she means King Nadir’s sister.’
Imogen was silent for a moment as she processed that piece of information. She’d never heard of Nadir having a sister but that wasn’t surprising, really. Their short relationship in Paris hadn’t progressed past the intensely sexual phase and, whether by accident or design, neither of them had wasted their time talking about family or personal history. For Imogen that had been deliberate. She hadn’t wanted to talk about her mother’s recent death and her father’s remarriage a month later. Had Nadir chosen not to speak about his past because he was upset by it as well?
‘The King has asked me to help you prepare for the evening ahead. Would you like to do that now, My Lady?’
The evening ahead? Feeling as if her life was once again spinning out of her control and not wanting to look like a complete dill, Imogen kept her expression bland. ‘By King you mean...Nadir?’
‘Na’am, My Lady. Yes.’
A sudden sense of unease fluttered up from her stomach. Nadir couldn’t be King because if he was that would mean they were going to be here for a little longer than a day, but if he wasn’t then why were these women even here?