Whatever her motive, she could not be permitted to keep the boy.
That was out of the question.
He would not leave the child to be raised in squalid surroundings by a woman who, at best, might euphemistically be called a dancer.
With him, the boy—Ethan—would have everything Rami could have given him. A comfortable home. The best possible education. The knowledge of his ancient and honorable past.
He would not have a mother but Rami had not had one, either. For that matter, neither had he, and he was none the worse for it today.
Karim looked at the closed bedroom door and frowned. What was taking her so long? Changing a diaper could not be a complicated procedure.
Did she expect him to stand here, cooling his heels?
He had things to do. Settling Rami’s debts, of course. And now he’d have to make arrangements for taking the child to Alcantar. What would he need? Clothes? Formula? The boy’s birth certificate?
Not really.
He had diplomatic status. Only the Sta
te department had the authority to question him, and they would not do so.
What else would he require?
Of course.
A nanny.
That was the primary requirement. A woman who’d be capable of knowing a baby’s needs. She could care for the boy from now until Karim had him back home, where he could make more permanent arrangements.
Relatively simple, all of it.
Assuming Rachel Donnelly didn’t cause trouble—but why would she? He would write her a handsome check and if she balked he’d make her see how much better off her son would be in his new life as a prince in his father’s kingdom.
He might even agree to permitting her to visit a couple of times a year—
And, dammit, he was wasting time!
Karim strode to the closed door and rapped his knuckles against it.
“Miss Donnelly?”
Nothing.
“Miss Donnelly, I cannot spend the entire morning waiting for you. I have other business to conduct.”
Still nothing.
Hell.