'With Hana.'
'Of course with Hana,' he reassured her, 'Like a proper family.'
Beth's face lit with hope.
'That is what you want, isn't it?'
'More than anything in the world.' She couldn't believe it. She couldn't believe Khal was telling her they could be together. But now his face had darkened, and Beth watched in concern as he stared without seeing into some place that gave him pain.
'The dust storm in the desert when I almost lost you … '
'Oh, Khal … ' Remembering his confession about his sister, Beth realised Khal was not in a position to enjoy the type of joy she was feeling. Touching his arm, she stared into his face. 'You saved my life, and I can never repay you.'
He seemed surprised. 'You don't owe me anything. If I'd lost you-'
'But you didn't lose me, I'm here. I'll always be here for you.'
'I know you mean that.'
'I do,' Beth declared passionately. Khal, who had never revealed his feelings to anyone, was sharing them with her. She couldn't remember when she had felt so moved, or so full of love, apart from the moment when she'd first held Hana in her arms. And now her dreams had come true, and they were all going to be together like a proper family.
'Until the sandstorm I didn't realise how much you meant to me. I didn't realise what life would be like without you. And with Hana living here in the palace with us … My daughter, Hana.' Khal's strong face softened momentarily. 'Say you'll stay with me here in Q'Adar.'
'You'd do this for us?' She searched his gaze. When she thought about all the difficulties Khal would have to face, and the criticism for taking a wife from such a very different background, she admired him even more. 'You're serious about this, aren't you?'
'Never more so,' he assured her firmly. 'Hana and you are all I want. I didn't realise how far I would be prepared to go to ensure our future together. The events of last night have crystallised everything in my mind and helped me to see clearly where you're concerned.'
'Oh, Khal … ' Reaching up, Beth touched his face with her soft, warm hands. 'You pretend to be so hard, but you're just like me, aren't you? We both have that empty space inside us that only one person can fill. It's recognising that person when they come along.'
With Khal's love shining down on her, and Hana safe and well, Beth knew everything would be all right. She wasn't going to waste another minute worrying about the likelihood of a Liverpool shop-girl marrying the ruler of Q'Adar. She would just get on with it as she always did. She would take instruction from Khal and his advisors. She would learn the language and study the culture and history of Q'Adar. She would seek out charities she could champion and learn how best to help them. And, most important of all, she'd help Hana to understand the richness of her heritage from both sides of the world.
'So will you stay with me, Beth Tracey Torrance?' Khal asked her gently, bringing her in front of him. 'Will you live with me and love with me?'
Trustingly holding his gaze, Beth whispered, 'You know I will … '
He wanted to reward Beth for the courage she had shown during the sandstorm, and most of all for facing up to her new life in Q'Adar with such strong-minded determination. He wanted to give her a taste of what she could expect as his mistress in Q'Adar.
'What's this, Khal?' she said, her face lighting with surprise as he brought her into his private sitting-room. He had been impatient as she'd settled Hana in her cot, having made these preparations earlier. He couldn't wait to see Beth's face when she saw all the gifts he had for her.
'Are you excited?' he said as she stared at the gift-wrapped packages. He realised she must be overwhelmed, and wanted to reassure her as she started opening them. 'If the jewels aren't to your taste, I can easily send for more-'
'More?' Beth breathed as she stared at him, and then at the tumble of jewels falling through her fingers. 'Are these real?'
'Real? Of course they're real.' He was pleased with her reaction, and this was only the start. Clapping his hands summoned a servant, who brought a bronze casket and placed it on the table where Beth was sitting. The man retired at his signal and closed the door. Reaching inside the pocket of his robe, he gave Beth a key. Instead of pouncing on the casket as he had expected her to, she frowned and turned the heavy old key over in her hands. 'Why don't you open the box instead of fiddling with the key?' he suggested. He was impatient to move on to the next part of his surprise, and had to stop himself taking the key from her and opening the box himself.
He managed to restrain himself as she fumbled with the ancient lock. He noticed then that her hands were shaking, and tried to tell himself that excitement was the cause-but her face said something else. She looked apprehensive, which made him feel mildly irritated. He couldn't understand, when he was trying to give her all the things she'd never had, why she should be hesitating.
What did all this mean? Beth wondered. Hadn't she told Khal over and over again that he didn't need to buy her, and that she didn't want anything from him? An ugly suspicion had begun to take root in her mind, and that suspicion said Khal hadn't changed, and was using his wealth to tempt her to stay on in Q'Adar. When she had already agreed to do so, Beth thought, frowning.
She prayed she was wrong as she opened the lid of the old box. She stared inside, and didn't know whether to be relieved or not. There was nothing in it except for a bunch of keys and some photographs. 'What are these?' she said, lifting them out. The photographs showed a very grand house that appeared to be in England. Set in parkland, there was a lake to one side of it, and a garden formally laid out at the front. She told herself it probably meant nothing, and that the wife of a sheikh would have to have a grand residence-even though all she wanted was Khal and Hana and a proper family, just as he'd promised her. 'House keys?'
Khal's lips curved. 'Do you like it?'
'Is this our new residence in England?'
'I bought it for you, Beth.'
'For me … ' She should be thrilled, but her guts were twisting. 'You mean we'll live here together?'
'You know I live in Q'Adar. It's for you whenever you want to return to England. I may visit you there from time to time. I don't ever want you to feel trapped here, Beth. That's why I bought it for you.'
He made it sound as if they would live part of their lives completely independent of each other. Did married couples do that?
'Once you're under my protection, you'll have to have an appropriate residence in England.'
Under his protection? Beth's apprehension grew. Were all her dreams about to come crashing down? She gazed at the discarded jewels on the table, and then at the photographs and keys.
'You made it clear you didn't like the penthouse,' Khal went on when she looked to him for answers. 'And so I bought you another property. You will need a garden, I can see that.'
'A garden?' Beth's voice was shaking uncontrollably. 'I need more than a garden, Khal.'
'And you shall have more,' he soothed. 'You will have a home here in Q'Adar, as well as a mansion in Liverpool.'
'But I don't want a mansion in Liverpool.'
'I understand this has all come as a shock to you,' Khal said indulgently. 'But as my mistress you must get used to accepting gifts.'
Shaking her head, Beth stumbled to her feet.
'And I want to give you the old fort too.'
'Khal, please … ' She held out her hands; they were shaking. 'Please, stop this!'
'I thought you liked the old fort,' Khal said, frowning. 'I thought you were fascinated by its history-'
'I am!' Beth wailed, knowing if the stones had fallen down and buried her she couldn't have felt as bad as she did right now.
'Well, then?' Khal said, clearly thrown by her lack of enthusiasm.
This was not the tender lover she had known in the desert, the man who had sheltered her and saved her life. This was the ruler of Q'Adar, a man who expected his every wish to be a command, and who knew less than nothing about love.
'I'm determined to have the old fort renovated,' he went on, as if oblivious to her torment. 'And it will be good for you to take an interest in the project.'