Master of the Desert

Would he pay her off when the child was born…?

Antonia might shun money now, but didn’t they say everyone had their price? ‘I won’t part you from your child; I’ll help you.’

‘Thank you.’ Her face softened and hope returned to her eyes.

‘If only to ensure you do a proper job at the citadel.’ His tone was brusque and businesslike as he struggled to remain immune to the Antonia effect.

‘Oh, I will,’ she assured him, her face transformed by happiness and wreathed in smiles. ‘You have no idea how hard I’ll work.’

‘Not at the risk of your pregnancy,’ he commanded.

‘Of course not. I’ll be sensible,’ she promised him fervently.

‘No more wild adventures.’

Only with you, flashed briefly across her eyes. ‘None. I promise,’ she said. And then she flung herself at him, hugging his unresponsive body, exclaiming, ‘Thank you, thank you!’

There was such rapture on her face, and such vulnerability in her expression, while his mind was full of the fact that he was going to become a father—the very best of fathers—and he would be ruthless in achieving that end.

Thanks to the narrow windows it was surprisingly cool inside the many rooms, and far less threatening than Antonia had originally thought. In fact, now she was inside the citadel, it seemed to welcome her, though there would have to be some fairly major changes. During the renovations she would ask the architects to find a way to bring in more light and make the place seem more welcoming.

If only Ra’id could welcome her, Antonia thought wistfully as he accompanied her on the tour. But, of course, Ra’id was only doing this because she was expecting his baby. He probably wouldn’t let her out of his sight now—but not for the reasons she had hoped. He might be walking at her side, but she was on her own—as her mother had been before her. Antonia was looking for a very different resolution. Her mother had wanted to escape, while Antonia was determined to stay. She wanted to bloom where she was planted and make a go of things here.

They had looked inside many rooms, but when Ra’id stopped outside a particular door she got the strangest feeling. ‘This is my mother’s room, isn’t it?’ she said, not really needing Ra’id to confirm that it was.

He said nothing as he opened the door onto what, at first sight, appeared to be yet another soulless, dusty room.

Antonia was determined to keep her emotions in check this time, but there wasn’t a part of her that wasn’t aware of Ra’id or a fragment of her heart that didn’t yearn to have him close to her again. She missed the easy camaraderie they’d come to share on the island, when it had been just a girl called Tuesday and a man called Saif. But now there was a king and a girl who was nobody, except for the fact that she was expecting the king’s child. She had value as the incubator of Ra’id’s child, Antonia acknowledged, but equally she was a liability to him.

So she must plan for the future.

She stared around walls that seemed to beg her to linger so she could see the possibilities. ‘I’d need some form of transport to get in and out of town,’ she murmured out loud, thinking of all the shopping she would have to do to turn this place into a home.

He stared at her long and hard, and then he said briskly, ‘A four-wheel drive should suffice. It isn’t far to the city—and, of course, you’ll have a full complement of staff. You can have a driver and a helicopter at your disposal, if you think that’s necessary. I’m sure we can come to an accommodation that suits both of us equally.’

‘An accommodation?’ That sounded like a cold, soulless thing. And, as for suiting them both equally, she doubted Ra’id knew much about equality, and cared to learn about it even less. ‘Will I be free to use the resources on my land?’ She was thinking local wildlife, the flora and fauna, when Ra’id’s expression darkened.

‘Do you imagine you’re going to find oil here?’ he demanded.

‘No, of course not, but I was hoping you might allow a number of specialists to advise me on the best way to showcase local wildlife and crafts.’

‘I could make some enquiries when I return to the capital,’ he conceded.

‘When you return?’ Antonia’s courage dwindled to nothing, but then she firmed her resolve. Ra’id had never pretended they would be living anything other than separate lives; it was up to her to get used to it.

‘I’ll leave you to take a look around in private,’ he said.

‘No. Please stay.’

‘As you wish. I’ll open the shutters for you.’