Vanity and the desire for him to admire her had triumphed over conscience. Reddening at that awareness, Faye would have put on her own clothes had she still had them but unfortunately she had dumped the lot. The not-thinking-of-tomorrow rule she had observed in recent weeks had made her reckless. She selected an elegant skirt suit in a rich shade of old gold. When she told Tariq that she wanted a divorce, she wanted to look good—she wanted him to feel he was losing out even if it was only on a convenient bed partner.
Having eased on tights beneath the sapphire anklet and put on toning high heels, Faye went downstairs, only to discover that Tariq was not at home. He was at his office in the Haja. Discovering that only made her all the more determined to confront him and discuss what had to be discussed. After an exasperating long wait at her request for transport, a limo which flew two small Jumarian flags on the bonnet finally drew up.
She was taken aback when two police outriders on motorbikes took up position in front of the limo outside the palace gates, even more uneasy when she glanced out of the rear window and saw another two cars filtering out behind them. When the cavalcade she had naively not foreseen her outing might require reached the city, red stop lights were totally ignored and traffic was held up for their benefit on every approach road. For the first time, it began to truly dawn on Faye that being married to Tariq was not quite like being married to anyone else and that even the most minor thing she might choose to do could have consequences.
Latif awaited her at the side entrance of the giant building. He was full of concern about her fall, amazed she was already up and about, and assured her that every spiral staircase in the Muraaba was now to be renovated and hand-rails installed for greater safety.
As Faye was shown into Tariq’s office, her heart began beating very fast. Sheathed in a light grey suit, immaculate as always, he was by the window, fabulous bone structure taut, stunning dark golden eyes slamming straight into hers in a look as compelling as his touch. ‘I was astonished to hear you were on your way here. You’re very pale. Sit down,’ he urged. ‘The doctors said you should take it easy for a few days.’
‘I’d prefer to stand.’ Meeting the sincere concern in his gaze, feeling the instant leap of her senses to the powerful magneticism of his presence, Faye reacted in self-defence, seeking hostility rather than pleasantries. ‘Just as you let me stand sweltering out in that courtyard on my first visit here a few weeks back.’
‘You should know me better. My lack of courtesy was not deliberate but an oversight. I too was under strain at that interview.’
She flushed at that hint of reproach. ‘It didn’t show—’
‘It was quite a shock for me that day to discover that my wife did not appear to have the foggiest clue that she was my wife,’ Tariq extended with gentle irony.
‘Well, all that stuff doesn’t matter now and I don’t know why I mentioned boiling alive in that stupid courtyard—’
Tariq drew closer with fluid grace. ‘Don’t you? I have a good idea of what you’re thinking and feeling right now, aziz. Do you imagine I am not aware that you are drawing up a great long list of my every past and present sin? So that you can impose them as a barrier between us?’
Disconcerted, Faye breathed, ‘I—’
‘Once I went through the same process with you. Even without seeing you, I was able to stockpile more sins at your door. You did not even write me a letter of condolence when my father died,’ Tariq pointed out. ‘We were estranged but you were my wife and I was never not aware of that. I thought you were heartless—’
‘I…I did think of writing,’ muttered Faye in deep discomfiture, having turned pale as a ghost at that reference to an omission which now seemed inexcusable. ‘But I didn’t know what to say so…so in the end I didn’t bother.’
‘You didn’t appreciate that you were still my wife but I didn’t know that,’ Tariq reminded her. ‘When that plane went down six months later and I lost my cousin, who was my closest friend from childhood…his wife and his parents, my aunt and uncle, who were all like a second family to me…what did you think I thought then of you when I still heard nothing?’
Feeling the tables had been turned on her with a vengeance, Faye squirmed and could no longer look at him direct, for her eyes were prickling with tears of sympathy. ‘I didn’t hear about the crash—’
‘Yes, I am aware of that now and I am not trying to make you feel bad…’
Faye hung her head, wondering what he might achieve if he really tried, for she was feeling dreadful.
‘I only want to illustrate how anger and hurt pride build on mistakes and misunderstandings. Don’t do that to us now when we had already found our way through those barriers,’ Tariq spelt out levelly.
Her tender pride took fire and she flung her head high, violet-blue eyes sparkling with angry resentment. ‘Already? Where was I when this healing miracle was taking place?’
‘Faye…if you love me, there are no true barriers and there is nothing that with time cannot be overcome.’
Rage was clawing at Faye. She had come to stage a confrontation with dignity. She had felt strong, committed to her purpose. But from the minute she had walked into his office, Tariq had been running verbal rings round her and making her cringe like an awkward schoolgirl in the presence of an adult. She could not bear to be reminded that she had gone on at such length about having been crazy about him only a year earlier.
‘But the point is…I don’t love you,’ she snapped between gritted teeth. ‘I discovered the joys of sex with you…that’s all!’
Tariq studied her with unreadable cool but she could not help noticing that he had lost colour at that retaliation. ‘It’s good to know that I excelled somewhere.’
‘I came here to discuss us getting a divorce,’ Faye announced.
‘You could not wait an hour for me to come home?’
Her colour heightened. ‘Tariq—’
‘I have no intention of continuing this conversation in my office,’ he murmured levelly. ‘Now go home.’
At that level command, Faye sucked in such a deep and charged breath she thought her lungs might burst.
Tariq stepped past her and cast wide the door. Her trembling hands closed into furious fists. ‘I—’
‘Her Royal Highness wishes to travel home before the rush hour begins, Latif.’
Faye was so dumbfounded to hear herself being referred to as ‘Her Royal Highness’ that she almost collided with Latif in the corridor.
The older man escorted her to a stone bench and hovered.
‘Am I a princess?’ The shaken enquiry just erupted from her and she went pink.
‘From this moment on,’ Latif informed her in a tone of great approval. ‘The gift of that title is in the power of Prince Tariq alone. You are only the second princess in the history of our royal family—’
‘Really?’ she whispered dazedly.
Latif was now in full flood on a subject evidently close to his heart. ‘Prince Tariq’s lady mother first enjoyed the distinction but only on the birth of her son. However, I feel it is most appropriate that, in these more forward-thinking times, His Royal Highness should honour you early within your marriage.’
‘Honour me…’ Faye echoed weakly.
‘It may be of interest to you to learn that you may now sit in His Royal Highness’s presence in public and walk by his side as his equal without it being said that you are showing disrespect.’ As Faye slowly raised her head, eyes very wide, Latif straightened his shoulders with immense satisfaction. ‘Yes, we will be setting a precedent and an example in this part of the world.’
CHAPTER TEN
TARIQ did not actually return to the Muraaba until eight that evening. Having dined with the children and seen them off to bed through the usual baths, high jinks and bedside stories, Faye believed she had attained a much calmer frame of mind.
Tariq glanced into their sitting room where she was pacing the floor and flashed her a warm, appreciative smil
e as if everything was well between them. ‘I’m going for a shower…I’ll be with you soon.’
Her teeth gritted.
His brilliant golden eyes rested on her frozen face. ‘You could always join me.’
Faye flew out of her seat and took the bait. ‘How dare you suggest that?’
‘Just testing the water,’ Tariq murmured smooth as glass. ‘No pun intended.’
She contained herself for all of ten minutes and then she headed into their bedroom. The bathroom door stood wide. Tariq was in the shower. She paced again, but the instant she heard the water switching off she lodged herself in the doorway.