are you saying, Khalid?’ she interrupted sharply. Couldn’t he see the truth? Her future didn’t lie in Khalifa. ‘I have a course to finish in the UK.’
‘And when you have finished, come and work for me.’ The fire of desire and bold intention blazed fiercely in his eyes. Khalid was used to conquering problems, and couldn’t envisage a situation that wouldn’t bend to his will, Millie thought. ‘We’re always looking for new ideas, and ambassadors to spread the word.’
‘No,’ she said quietly. How could she be close to him and not part of his life? ‘But thanks for the offer. I really appreciate it.’ She tried her best to sound sincere, and untouched emotionally by Khalid’s suggestion that she could live in his beautiful country, perhaps within a stone’s throw of the palace, and not have her heart break in pieces. She didn’t want to hurt him, or seem ungrateful, but neither could she face the heartache that would bring.
‘My loss,’ he said thoughtfully.
And mine, Millie mused.
Khalid’s stroking touch was more gentle than usual as he brought her to rest on his chest, as if his thoughts were plaguing him, and he was still on the hunt for a solution. She couldn’t bear it, and had to tell herself not to cry. You can’t have everything you want, and nor can he, she told herself firmly. But she only wanted this, and it seemed so unfair that she couldn’t have it, Millie thought as Khalid stroked her hair, reassuring her, as if he sensed her distress.
It was as if they were already saying goodbye, she realised. A great surge of distress accompanied this thought, and threatened to overwhelm her. She had to be strong. She would be.
They swam again, and it was lovely and cleansing, and the tiredness she’d experienced after the long ride had fallen away. But there was sadness too. After a lifetime of carefully guarding her emotions, she was finding it harder and harder to hide them, and this was beginning to feel like the final act in a play. Being alone in the desert with Khalid had undoubtedly strengthened the bond between them. Whether that was good or bad remained to be seen. Feeling like this after making love was wonderful—so why was she crying again? Millie wondered as she floated on her back in the cooling water, gazing at the sky. She had to pull herself together and fast. She’d always known they would have to go their separate ways to live their very different lives. And she would always feel different, as if part of Khalid would never leave her. A sense of rightness and completeness filled her, taking over from the tears. It was a feeling she would have to try and remember for always and ever, she accepted as she tried her best not to think about returning home.
‘Come on,’ Khalid prompted when she shivered involuntarily. ‘You’ve had enough swimming for today. You must eat something now.’
‘To keep up my strength?’ she teased, wondering why just the mention of food should make her stomach churn.
Khalid soon made her forget. Drawing her into his arms where she felt safe, he made sure that the only hunger she felt was for him.
Don’t play with fire.
Why not? Brushing away the shadows that briefly darkened her elation, she put on the fresh robe that, miraculously, or so it seemed to Millie, had been laid out on the bank for her, together with a robe for Khalid, as well as towels for both of them, and simple sandals to slip on. Millie’s robe was so pretty. Diaphanous rose-coloured silk, it was a perfect foil for Khalid’s stark black. What else would a hawk of the desert wear? she thought as he turned to look at her. Then it occurred to her that there must be invisible helpers, and she glanced around red-faced with embarrassment at the thought that they might have been watched. ‘I thought we were alone,’ she exclaimed.
‘We are.’ Khalid shrugged, unconcerned.
‘And the gold table covered in a crisp white linen cloth?’ She’d just noticed it now. ‘Did Burkan set the table for us?’
‘He’s a horse of many talents,’ Khalid told her straight-faced.
And the line of tents and portable buildings that had been erected in the shade behind the dune? How had she missed those? She’d been too preoccupied with Khalid, Millie realised. Of course the ruling sheikh of Khalifa would have staff and security wherever he went, and she was naïve for not knowing this from the start. A little more discretion would be required in future, not to mention muffling her screams of pleasure, she thought as Khalid took her by the hand.
‘No one will disturb us,’ he promised with a long stare into her eyes. He confirmed this with a lingering kiss, but the shadows were back. What was the point of trying to pretend they were lovers on the bank of an oasis, with nothing to stand between them and their passion, when there was an entire tented city at Khalid’s beck and call, just a few yards away?
Duty first, duty always, Millie thought as he excused himself to check with his people if there were any outstanding issues to be dealt with in Khalifa before they settled down to eat.
I love you, she thought as he strode away.
Turning, she entered the royal pavilion on her own. She’d better get used to that feeling of being alone. She loved him madly, deeply, passionately, but must keep that to herself. Khalid had always made it clear where his duty lay, and, wonderful though this trip to the desert had been, their time together was almost over.
DETERMINED TO MAKE the most of whatever time was left, Millie kept a lookout for Khalid’s return. She blenched to see him arriving with a group of grandly dressed men. Quickly retreating into the private section in the depths of the pavilion, she remained by the dividing curtain to listen. It could only be a deputation from his court. Khalid brought them inside, and she could tell by the tone of his voice that he was furious.
‘I gave clear instructions that I was not to be disturbed while I was in the desert. Speak in English,’ he rapped when the leader of the men, with an obsequious bow, began to say something. Khalid knew she was here, and he wanted her to hear everything. It filled her with warmth and confidence to know he was protecting her even now. Though the sense that they would be parting soon hadn’t left her, and her heart was aching with real physical pain.
‘Forgive me, Your Majesty,’ the same man said. ‘Urgent news from the capital.’
‘Which is?’ Khalid demanded, looking every inch the hawk of the desert as he spoke, Millie saw as she stood in the shadows.
‘Another bridal party has arrived, this time from a Mediterranean kingdom—’
She heard Khalid’s sound of disgust. ‘Have these people no manners? Are they so desperate to offload their daughter? That’s enough. They have been told not to come, and nothing has changed.’
‘We know you had forbidden this, but the Mediterranean royal family decided to bring the Princess, anyway.’
‘In direct contravention of my wishes.’
‘Yes, Your Majesty.’
A Mediterranean princess, Millie thought. She could imagine someone beautiful, who had been groomed to rule at Khalid’s side—not a tomboy with oil on her overalls. She had always known this would happen. There was no point in getting upset about it. She shouldn’t feel so brutally let down. Khalid had done everything
