laughed, and even Kedah smiled.
‘Come, Kedah,’ Rina said. ‘I will walk with you.’
They walked through the palace and his mother stopped at a large floral arrangement and chose a bloom, which she placed in her hair, and then she selected a few more.
‘It is so good to have both my sons home. Stay a while longer, Kedah.’
She was oblivious to the tension between him and Mohammed, and the terrible rumours had been kept from her. Kedah did not know how much longer they could remain so.
‘I cannot stay. I have been away for a few weeks, and Felicia...’
He halted. Since when did he take into consideration the fact that his staff had not been home for a while?
And while Rina was oblivious to many things she was alert to others.
‘Careful, Kedah.’
‘Careful?’ He frowned and stopped walking.
He almost wanted to confront her—to say that he was old enough now to understand an affair—but it was imperative, if he was to fight his brother, to know first that he was the King’s son. But then he looked into her smiling chocolate-brown eyes that were flecked with gold like his and he couldn’t do it.
There was a fragility to Rina—an air of impulsiveness and a little river of vulnerability that ran through her that sometimes darkened that winning smile.
If he confronted her now, Kedah would watch her fold and crumple. If he questioned her about what had happened all those years ago their relationship would never recover. That much he knew.
Yet if Mohammed called his lineage into question her shame would be held up for the elders and ultimately the people to discuss.
He was scared for his mother.
‘Be careful with Felicia,’ Rina said. ‘Be careful with a young woman’s heart.’
Kedah shook his head. His mother did not have to concern herself with his sex life, and especially not with Felicia’s heart. This was a business arrangement, and if anyone could handle it, it was Felicia—she was the toughest person he knew.
‘You don’t have to worry about her.’
‘But I do. You have never brought one of your lovers to the palace.’
They walked on and Kedah said nothing. But his mother was right. It was in part the reason he would not be staying longer. He wanted Felicia in his bed, and that could never happen here.
‘You are choosing a bride soon,’ his mother warned. ‘It is not fair to her to be here.’
‘Felicia is fine.’
Rina wasn’t so sure. She had seen Felicia’s angry glare as Kedah had made her walk behind him and ignored her.
And now there Felicia was, standing on a balcony, looking out at the view.
‘Think about staying for a little while, Kedah,’ Rina said, and kissed his cheek. ‘I miss you.’
‘I know.’
‘Come home.’
He wanted to.
‘I cannot sit idle for years like...’ He halted.
‘Like your father has?’
He nodded, and after a moment of sad thought Rina cupped his cheek.
‘I do understand.’
Could he ask his mother for the truth? If he was his father’s son then he could confront the rumours and douse them before the sun went down on this day.
If he wasn’t...?
Kedah was ready to know.
‘Mother...’ He stood there and felt as if he had removed his sword and now held it over her head.
‘Yes?’
Rina smiled. And he did not know how to ask her.
‘Why don’t you give Felicia these?’ she suggested.
‘You tell me to be careful and then you suggest that I give her flowers?’
‘I often pick some flowers to sit on Vadia’s desk while she works.’
Indeed Rina did.
‘I need to get on,’ he said to his mother.
No, he would not go to Felicia with flowers.
* * *
Felicia didn’t turn when he came to join her—she was still smarting. She was a very modern woman, and while careerwise she would have been fine walking two steps behind him and being ignored, having just left his bed she could not accept it—though she was doing her best not to let it show.
‘I want you to take some photos of this wing while I go and have my portrait finished...’
‘Sure.’
They walked around the Crown Prince’s wing as the staff prepared his office and brought in the artist to add the final touches to the painting.
‘I think this area could be better used,’ he mused. ‘Perhaps as a pool or spa area?’
Felicia tried to keep her features expressionless, though she was aghast at the very thought. It was an ancient palace and absolutely beautiful. To think he would consider tearing up these walls and floors to transform them into some modern gym was appalling.
‘You don’t approve?’
‘I think that it’s far too beautiful to risk spoiling.’
‘You’ve seen my work?’ Kedah checked, and she nodded. ‘So why do you think I would ruin it? I want to enhance what is already here. I want somewhere I can live rather than a museum.’
They stopped by the portraits, and possibly she could see what he meant. Cool grey eyes seemed to follow them, and they were a forbidding sight indeed.
‘I’m meeting with Vadia in an hour,’ Felicia said. ‘We just spoke on the phone. She wants to take some time to go through your schedule. September is the King’s birthday, yet that week you’re booked to be in New York.’
‘I have a friend’s wedding.’
‘Oh, and speaking of weddings... Vadia wants to go through potential dates for yours.’
She said it so calmly that Kedah honestly thought his mother was wrong and Felicia was fine with their arrangement.
‘Tell Vadia that, given I haven’t chosen my bride yet, it’s a bit early to be discussing dates.’
‘Sure.’
