Page 61 of Unknown Royal Baby

Another pang of disquiet arrowed through him.

‘Thanks for your efforts with the head librarian and the mayor.’ He smiled, remembering the way both men had responded to her attentive questions. ‘I’d feared that, given their past differences, we’d have some awkward moments, bringing them together. But it worked out well with your help.’

Instead of looking pleased, Avril nodded and frowned down at her drink. Each day she seemed to withdraw further from him. Despite their physical intimacy, something had changed. Something that made her eyes sad when she didn’t think he was looking.

He couldn’t bear it. ‘Avril—’

‘Isam, I—’

‘You first,’ he said.

His expression was unreadable and Avril was worried. Despite his encouraging words she knew Isam had something weighty on his mind.

Was it the trouble she’d caused? Hessa hadn’t given details but it was clear there’d been problems Hafiz had used as ammunition in his campaign against Isam.

‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ She leaned forward. ‘I had to find out from Hessa of all people that I’d done wrong.’

Isam frowned as if he didn’t know what she was talking about. How much had he withheld? ‘I don’t know—’

‘Don’t, Isam. I know Hafiz used something I did recently, somethingsI did, trying to discredit me and, through me, you.’ She looked at the glass grasped tightly in her hands and put it down before she spilled anything. ‘You treat me like a child, not trusting me with the truth.’

‘Hardly like a child!’

Heat blazed in his eyes, a combination of sexual awareness and indignation, as if he wasn’t used to being called on his behaviour. Of course he wasn’t. He’d been raised royal, trained to expect deference and obedience.

It was a side of him she didn’t see often. But those occasional glimpses of innate arrogance, however tempered, were an important reminder of who he was. Sheikh first and foremost. Not her soulmate, however much she wished it.

‘You withhold important information. How can I learn if I don’t know when I’ve done things wrong? How can I feel confident I’m doing the right thing in public?’

The royal aspect of this new world was daunting. Yet she’d happily face that if she felt she and Isam were truly partners. Increasingly, however, she realised that was a pipe dream.

‘There was nothing important—’

‘You’re still denying it. Why can’t you be straight with me?’

Isam shook his head. ‘Iamstraight with you. Despite what you heard from Hessa, you didn’t do anything wrong. It was just Hafiz trying to twist things.’

Isam sighed, scraping his hand across his scalp. In his dark suit, tie undone and hanging loose around his open collar, he reminded her of the vital, fascinating businessman she’d met in London.

Her heart squeezed as she wished, not for the first time, that he were just that, an ordinary man. For there was a chance an ordinary man might fall in love. But royals in Zahdar were immunised against that, taught from the cradle to expect loveless marriages.

Isam had so much love to give. She’d seen how deep his feelings ran for his sister and father, and she saw every day how much he loved Maryam.

But romantic love? He’d inferred romantic love wasn’t for him. and Avril feared he was right. Even after everything they’d been through he was busy protecting her. He didn’t see her as an equal, just a responsibility.

The enormity of what she faced overwhelmed her. She’d thought she had enough love for the pair of them. That she could make do with what he offered her.

Was she fooling herself?

‘The main thing to know is that Hafiz wasn’t successful.’ Isam paused, as if making sure she digested that. ‘He saw a video of you dancing at the community centre last week and spoke out about it in an interview.’

Avril frowned. She’d been at the centre with Hana and some of her friends, attending a women’s afternoon. It hadn’t been an official royal function and she’d enjoyed relaxing with the welcoming group.

‘I wasn’t very good at it but they were all eager for me to try.’ There’d been laughter and encouragement and her participation had broken the ice. ‘I did stumble a lot, not a good look in someone about to be Queen.’

Hessa would know the dance and probably perform it flawlessly.

‘It wasn’t about your competence.’ Isam’s mouth compressed. ‘It was because the dance is one traditionally performed by young women before marriage. By virgins.’