So why was he here?
Kindness—Marni was a stranger in his land and at the moment needed some support.
Right! said the cynic within him. You couldn’t have made sure Tasnim or one of your other sisters was with her?
And was support the only reason you wanted to be with her?
Honesty compelled him to admit it wasn’t.
He’d wanted to see her.
Needed to see her!
Not only to see her but to touch her, even just minimally as touches must be in public.
This was crazy!
This was a betrothal of convenience and somehow he’d allowed himself to become attracted to the woman.
Allowed?
Did one allow such reactions to happen, or were they beyond human control?
Surely not! He’d always been able to control such impulses before.
‘Sir?’
The waiter had obviously asked him a question as both he and Marni were looking at him, obviously puzzled.
‘Sorry!’
He dragged his mind back to the present. This was hardly the time to be questioning his behaviour.
‘This time you will choose what we eat,’ he said to Marni. ‘There is an explanation for all the dishes in English, so you decide.’
He smiled, hoping she’d forget his distraction.
Some hope! She’d no sooner finished ordering and the waiter had disappeared than she asked, ‘Are you worried about something? Is it still Safi or was it more important than you made out, this dinner you’re missing? Because if it is, or if there’s something else you should be doing, I’ll be fine on my own. I could even go to Jawa’s rooms and wait for the phone call there. She’d understand.’
He gazed at the woman across the table from him, aware how worried she must be beneath her cool exterior, yet here she was worrying about him! When had anyone last concerned themselves about his welfare—apart from Mazur and a couple of his closest servants?
She disturbed him in ways apart from the purely physical…
‘Ghazi?’
His name, softly spoken, reminded him she’d asked a question and deserved a reply. But there was more—the name itself—more internal disturbance.
‘That is the first time you’ve used my full name,’ he said, reaching out across the table to touch her hand where it rested beside her water glass.
Her smile stirred the more usual disturbances.
‘That’s because when you’re in your prince gear I can’t help but think of you as Ghazi. Gaz is just a bloke—an Aussie term for an ordinary man—but in that get-up you have to be Ghazi.’
She paused then added, ‘But don’t think you’ve distracted me with this talk of names. You’re obviously worried about something and if it’s that I’m keeping you from where you should be, please believe I’ll be okay on my own.’
He had to smile.
‘I know you would. I am coming to realise just how strong and capable my betrothed is, but I want to be with you tonight.’ It was his turn to pause, though what he added was, ‘In many ways,’ which made the colour rise in her cheeks and his own body harden.
Fortunately their dinner arrived, the waiter setting down plates and different dishes in the middle of the table, offering them first to Marni, who had chosen them.
They ate, and talked of food, but he could see her anxiety growing, and noticed the quick glances she was giving her watch.
‘Come,’ he said, ‘we can get a snack at Tasnim’s later if we’re hungry, but for now we’d be better waiting somewhere quiet. I’ve an office here, on the floor below. I’ll order some coffee and sweetmeats to be sent there and we can both be comfortable.’
The relief on her face told him he’d made the right decision, and although she smiled her thanks as she pushed back her chair and stood up, he knew all she wanted to do was be somewhere private when she heard the results of the operation.
He distanced himself when the phone rang, standing by the windows while she burrowed deep into one of his armchairs, the hand that held the tiny mobile to her ear trembling slightly.
He only heard her end of the conversation but could tell from the relaxation in her voice that all had gone well, so he was surprised when she’d said goodbye to turn and see the tears trickling down her cheeks.
‘Marni? It’s all right, isn’t it? I heard you saying “That’s good” all the time. I realise it will be a while before he’s out of the CCU but your grandfather’s come through it well, hasn’t he?’
Marni scrubbed at her cheeks, ashamed of her tears when everything had gone well. Far better than the surgeon had expected, according to Nelson.
‘Are they tears of relief?’ Ghazi asked.
He’d taken off his headdress and come to sit on the arm of her chair, his hand resting gently on her shoulder.