Page 56 of The Sheikh's Bride of Convenience

Well, Qazim would soon find out all about that, he told himself.

Qazim nodded and thought for moment. Just how much should he tell Zaheer? In fact, just how had people already worked out? Grace's pregnancy wasn't really showing. It would soon, though. Qazim and Grace had discussed it, and they'd both agreed that they would announce the baby as soon as was feasible.

Probably within a few weeks. That way Grace could be spared any unnecessary awkwardness. Not that she needed such protection, Qazim reflected. It just seemed like the honorable thing to do, given the circumstance.

Once everyone knew about the upcoming birth, there would be so much excitement that all other questions would be quickly forgotten.

Zaheer glanced down the corridor. "I better get back, or Becca will start wondering what's going on."

Qazim nodded and rested a hand on the door handle to the suite. It occurred to him that Zaheer didn't know that Grace wasn't behind that door. That she wasn't in his bed, resting for the moment.

He didn't want to lie to Zaheer. Hadn't he done that already in concealing the existence of the baby? He pushed that thought firmly out of his mind.

Zaheer turned away. "Give my best wishes to Grace," he said, giving Qazim a casual wave of his hand.

"I will," Qazim replied, opening the door.

He watched Zaheer walk away and then went inside his suite. He was relieved when he closed the door, but that was quickly replaced by the painful awareness of the emptiness of the suite. It was only a few rooms down from Grace's suite, but it could have just as well been on the other side of the world.

A sickening sensation filled his stomach. He was alone, and he knew that he shouldn't be. Not on a day like this. He walked away from the door and went to the open doors which led out onto the terrace. Out beyond the terrace he could see the marquee and all the guests. He could hear the laughter and the music.

Qazim groaned quietly, went back inside and closed the doors to the balcony. He couldn't stand to look out at that scene. Not when he didn't have Grace by his side. Not when his wife was so far away from him.

How was he going to get through the coming months? How was he going to survive the coming torments? Because that was what was heading his way. He knew it as certainly as he'd ever known anything in his life.

He was married, but in name only.

And that thought made him feel both indignant and determined.

At least he'd given himself a chance.

Now, all he had to do was see out the coming months.

See what games fate would play with him.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

ONE YEAR LATER

It was going to be another good day, Grace told herself as she finished getting the baby dressed.

Her baby.

Their baby, of course.

Zarif.

That was his name. The name she and Qazim had chosen.

She smiled as she gazed down at Zarif. She knew she'd never get tired of taking in the sight of his cute little features, his bright eyes, his infectious smile.

She reached down and poked him gently and playfully in the ribs. Zarif giggled loudly, the sound filling the large sitting room of Grace's palace suite. As always when Zarif laughed like that, she felt a rush of warmth in her heart.

No. More than that, she told herself. What she felt for Zarif was pure, unadulterated love.

Zarif was only a few months old yet, already, Grace felt a bond with him which she knew was utterly unbreakable.

She looked down at him and finished buttoning up the front of his loose fitting gown. There he was, lying on his back on the bed, smiling right back up at her.

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