put down her coffee cup with a clatter, spilling the dark liquid into the saucer. ‘When is the baby due?’
‘At the end of October.’ It was this very fact and the possibility that things could even now go wrong in his sister’s pregnancy that necessitated Jafar’s marriage. He was well aware that Simdan was already making moves to launch a claim for Shamsumara. If the unthinkable happened and his sister lost her baby, he would at least be the married ruler tradition demanded.
‘So where exactly do I come into all this?’ The panic in her voice was clear and he quickly realised where his explanation had taken her thoughts.
‘I only require you to be my bride. I have no intention of making a real marriage or having my own children, not when my nephew or niece will soon be born.’ He saw those expressive eyes widen and knew exactly what she was thinking. Three months was a long time and anything could happen. It was his aide’s main concern too.
‘If that is the case, why do you need to marry at all?’ Was that a hint of relief he detected in her voice? She pushed her coffee cup away as if the conversation was coming to an end, as if she’d already decided she would not take him up on the deal. He couldn’t allow that. He had much to lose and so did she. Something he would remind her of. ‘Can’t you name the baby now as your heir?’
‘In order to continue to rule in my brother’s place I must be married the day after the feast of Shams, which is two weeks from now, or my cousin has every right to claim the kingdom.’ Just as she had done yesterday, she laughed. He bit down hard against the irritation. How dared she when her own life was in such a mess? ‘I must then remain for two years.’
‘Two years?’
‘You would only be required to remain in Shamsumara as my wife and Queen for three months or until my sister’s baby is born. We will have to remain legally married for two years, but after that a divorce will be easy to procure. And, of course, you will have a very substantial settlement.’
‘And because of my job and my financial situation you thought I would be desperate enough to be your hired bride?’ The amusement in her voice held no malice but it didn’t soften his mood. He was not used to having to cajole women around to his way of thinking.
‘I would rate imminent repossession of your sister’s home desperate, but, of course, if you don’t...’ He left the sentence unfinished, his withdrawal of the deal, which he knew full well she needed, hang in the morning air between them. It felt like the biggest gamble he’d ever made. She looked at him in silence, something other than strained tension zapping between them. Raw desire.
‘I find it alarming that you know so much about me, Mr Al-Shehri.’ The curtness of her tone when she finally spoke left him in no doubt he’d touched a raw nerve.
‘I thought we were on more informal terms now, Tiffany.’ He added her name, enjoying the flash of anger in the depths of her eyes. He leant forward in his chair and lowered his voice. ‘We are, after all, almost engaged.’
‘Not so fast. Not until you have agreed to my terms—all of them.’ He admired the fire of defiance burning within her, revelled in the challenge she was unwittingly creating. He thrived on challenge, hated meek-willed individuals who would agree to anything he said just because of who he was.
At last he’d met a woman who was more than a match for him. The next three months of living as man and wife would prove very interesting indeed. ‘I think it’s about time you told me just what they are.’
She sat back as she looked at him, the haughty lift of her chin showing her spirit, reminding him of an unbroken horse. She had as much spirit as a stallion and, just as he did with his horses, he looked forward to harnessing that spirit, to turning her into one of his graceful falcons that would fly at his bequest and return willingly to his arm.
The thought shocked him. Did he want a woman to return to him, to want to be with him? It was something he’d never sought before so why now? Because she would be his wife, his hired bride?
‘First of all I want a payment up front. Today.’ She looked at him, as if waiting for his objection, but he merely sat and studied her. ‘I want a quarter of a million pounds in my account before the end of the day and a second payment the day we marry.’
Was that all? He’d planned on offering her much more than that. ‘Consider that done. Anything else?’
* * *
Tiffany looked at Jafar, at the handsome and very regal figure he cut sitting opposite her. Had he really agreed to that amount of money without so much as a flicker of a reaction? Was he that used to buying everything he needed he didn’t care what it cost?
She still couldn’t believe that by her simply agreeing to stand beside this man and become his wife, all Bethany’s problems would be over. It was almost too good to be true. The saying of looking a gift horse in the mouth drifted through her mind as she looked at the firm line of his full lips. Was it really going to be this easy to help her sister and secure a future for her niece, Kelly?
‘I will need to continue my business.’ His frown slashed her confidence and her words stalled.
‘You have other bridesmaid contracts such as yesterday’s?’
She hadn’t taken any bookings for the next six weeks because Kelly was about to finish nursery school for summer holidays. It was her chance to give Bethany a break and really be there for Kelly as she prepared to start big girl school in September. It was also a reminder that being an aunt could well be the closest she’d ever come to being a mother herself, with her dreams of finding true love and a happy marriage sabotaged by this man’s deal. She would put aside her dream for her sister and niece because she could never be happy knowing she’d walked away from the only chance to sort things out for them.
‘The next wedding is booked for early September and I will need to visit the bride between now and then.’
‘You will remain in Shamsumara for the full three months specified unless I accompany you.’ The harshness of his tone shouldn’t have surprised her, but it did. She was helping him out as much as he was helping her. Maybe it was time to remind him of that.
‘In that case you will have to do exactly that.’
‘No, that is out of the question.’
She pushed her chair back and stood up, slowly and full of poise and dignity. ‘In that case, Mr Al-Shehri, we will not be able to strike a deal.’ She was calling his bluff and he damn well knew it, but she didn’t care. This was her stand. If he’d managed to find out all about Bethany’s financial situation, then he knew just how desperate she was, but there was no way she would ever act it in front of him.
‘I don’t think for one minute you intend to walk away from this deal.’ The vibrancy of his eyes pierced into her, dragging her secrets from the depths she’d hidden them. ‘And while I do applaud your honour to your business commitments I insist you stay in Shamsumara for three months. My cousin must see our marriage as real if it is to achieve its objective.’
‘And what does that mean?’ Irrational anger bubbled away within her like a hot spring. ‘I can’t continue my business? That I can’t return to England and make arrangements for my client?’
‘It means that you can continue with your business but I would prefer you to remain in Shamsumara. How many other weddings do you have to attend to?’
