Adele said. ‘I would never break your confidence.’
‘Even with Zahir?’
‘Especially with Zahir,’ Adele said. ‘You’re my patient and he’s not your doctor, he’s your son. If I have any concerns I would speak with Mr Oman.’
‘My husband is very stubborn and Zahir wants to make changes,’ Leila said. ‘Maybe I am worrying over nothing. I am a bit weepy. It says in the leaflet to expect to be.’
She handed the leaflet to Adele and she read it as the Queen spoke.
‘I don’t have to worry about not doing housework or heavy lifting,’ Leila said.
‘And no intercourse for six weeks,’ Adele added.
She would not avoid subjects just because Leila was a queen.
‘Poor Fatiq.’ Leila smiled and then she surprised Adele. ‘Poor me. I do think six weeks is a bit excessive.’
Adele remembered her time in training and often the women would joke that they’d consider it a little holiday, or ask if the doctor could change it to ten weeks instead.
No wonder the Al Rahal brothers came with reputations. It would seem that the whole family was highly sexed.
‘I hate sleeping alone.’ Leila pouted.
‘You can still share a bed.’ Adele smiled but Leila shook her head.
‘We have to sleep separately till I am healed. It was the same when I had my babies.’
Oh, no, Adele thought. At the time they must have needed each other most they had been apart.
‘Once I am home I shall meet with the healer,’ Leila told Adele. ‘I’m sure I will feel brighter then.’
The Queen had selected a gown in a very deep shade of fuchsia and for someone who had just had surgery she looked stunning.
‘I am going to do my make-up,’ Leila told Adele, ‘and then I’ll be out.’
Adele sat in her seat and breakfast was served. She watched as Leila came out and took a seat at the gleaming table and then she turned her head and smiled.
And Adele fought not to.
It was Zahir.
As he walked past she quickly averted her eyes and looked out at the ocean.
He was wearing black robes and a keffiyeh that was tied with a rope of silver.
She looked again and saw that his feet were strapped in leather and that he was holding a scabbard that contained a long sword, which he put down on the sofa with the same ease Adele might put down her bag.
She had only ever seen him in a suit or scrubs, sometimes in jeans if he came in at night...
Adele had known the day they had met that he was a crown prince, but she had never really given it proper thought.
He had always been Zahir, Emergency Consultant, and the man she’d had a serious crush on.
Not any more.
Before her eyes he had become Crown Prince Sheikh Zahir Al Rahal, of Mamlakat Almas.
And that was scary at best.
Breakfast was cleared and they all took their seats.
Now the jet descended and to the right she could see a glittering ocean and then a palace. As beautiful as it was, Adele knew that soon, if they were discovered, she might not be welcome here.
As they landed she watched as he picked up the leather scabbard from the sofa and put it on.
The hilt of his sword was jewelled and for a brief second he looked up and their eyes met.
She was used to him flicking his gaze away.
Now she knew why.
Adele stood by Leila’s side to help her down the steps as the cockpit door opened.
The Queen had wrapped a scarf around her head and over her mouth and Adele attempted to do the same with hers.
The wind gave her the first taste of the desert.
Her scarf slid straight down and the hot air burnt in her lungs and she thought of the traditions and legends that Zahir had touched upon.
She doubted the desert was welcoming her.
THEY WERE DRIVEN the short distance from the runway to the palace.
As the car slowed to a halt Adele was pleasantly surprised when the door opened and she realised that it was Fatiq who had rushed to help his wife out of the car.
Leila gave a small cry of delight when she saw him and he was clearly pleased to see his wife and greeted her warmly.
For a moment Adele relaxed and she almost forgot he was a king.
But then she saw the look he shot at Zahir and she would never forget again.
They came into the entrance and Leila smiled at Adele. ‘I am going to go up to my suite. You will be taken care of.’
‘Thank you. Would you like me to help you up the stairs?’ Adele offered.
‘I will be fine.’
As Fatiq helped Leila up the steps she paused and held onto her stomach midway and bent over a little and he looked down at Zahir again.
Zahir stared back and Adele could feel the stand-off between the two men and it gave her goosebumps.
‘Samina will take care of you from now,’ Zahir informed her, and he walked off. She watched as guards opened two large engraved doors, which he went through.
The palace was splendid, and Adele had only seen the entrance.
There was a gentle, cool breeze and tiny hummingbirds were taking nectar from flowers even though they were inside. She looked at the dark staircase and ancient walls and heard the delicate sound of fountains.
She was shown to her suite and, as Leila had said, there was a stunning array of gowns for her to choose from.
Samina gave her some lessons, such as how to tie a scarf so it did not slide down and how to greet the King or Queen if they passed in the corridor.
‘We have a system,’ Samina explained. ‘If Queen Leila needs you, she will summon you with this...’ There was a small tablet by the bed. ‘If you are not in your suite the message will go directly to your phone.’
It was a surprisingly modern system, yet there was nothing modern about her suite which was beautiful.
There
