He gripped her arms. “You said you’d be here for a few more days only. Do I understand you correctly when you say you want no more than that?”
“Why? Do you think I’m going to start making demands on you? Razeen, I don’t stay in one place. It’s not me. I’m just saying I trust you, not that I want to marry you.” She flung off his hands. “Look, forget I ever said anything. Forget last night too, while you’re at it. It was obviously a mistake.”
The blood-red sun was beginning to fill the sky behind him, making his face even darker, more unreadable than before. “I’m sorry, Lucy. You misunderstand. It was not a mistake, from my point of view. It’s just that I don’t wish to see you hurt.”
“You flatter yourself. You give yourself too much power. I can look after myself. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll get ready to go out. If that’s all right with you, that is? I have Your Majesty’s permission?”
“Of course you may go. Providing you take someone—”
Lucy didn’t hear his last words. The slam of the door behind her swallowed them up. It didn’t matter. He had no power over her as a King or a lover. She’d do as she damn well pleased. Just as she always did. That was what life was all about, wasn’t it? Experience, fun, moving on. Not being dictated to by anyone.
As she walked through the gardens, now being hosed down to remove the dust and sand that settled everywhere, a residue of the storm, her mind rested on Maia and doubt swept through her. Maia had always been more adamant than her about moving on, taking life lightly, but she’d changed. Part of Lucy felt betrayed and yet part of her felt doubtful now. Especially now she realized the depth of her feelings for Razeen. Not that they made any difference to her future. Maia might be able to ignore her past but Lucy couldn’t ignore hers.
There were people everywhere after the storm, cleaning out the sand, tidying up. As Lucy passed by the gardens, sprays of water filled the air, casting rainbows in the sunshine. The interior of the palace was also being given the same treatment. Everyone was busy brushing out the sand that had crept into every corner, that had found its way through all the city’s inadequate defenses: defenses which were powerless against such a force of nature.
Outside the palace, Aakifah was waiting for her and the two embraced as if they were long-lost friends and walked off down the street, toward Aakifah’s home.
“Everyone’s real busy today. What’s going on? Just the usual clean up?”
“It is the visit of Her Royal Highness Princess Neelam. I have a friend in the palace. Apparently they’re all surprised by the visit. She should have arrived next week.”
“I’ve heard of her. Isn’t her father a big landowner?”
“Yes, a very important man. A very fine family.”
“That’s a lot of trouble to go to for someone calling in.”
“It is not just someone.”
“Who, then?”
“Princess Neelam is to be King Razeen’s fiancee. It is expected their engagement will be announced this weekend.”
CHAPTER TEN
Engaged! Lucy doubled up, gasping, as if all the air had been punched out of her.
“Lucy! What is the matter?”
Lucy eased herself upright, fighting for breath and fighting the images that raced through her brain: of Razeen laughing with her, making love to her, talking to her of anything but the fact that he was engaged to be married. She hadn’t realized until that moment just how much she felt for him, how much she really had trusted him. That was a joke. No wonder he’d been so angry with her comments. He knew he wasn’t to be trusted and he hadn’t even bothered to tell her why.
“I’m fine, I think. Must be the heat. How about we stop for a moment.” She glanced around and saw they were outside a coffee shop. “I’ll buy us some coffees, yes?” From the excited light in Aakifah’s eyes, Lucy realized her new friend had no money for such luxuries. “Perhaps you could order for us? Coffee and how about some date cake?”
They sat at a rough bench and drank and ate while watching the people go about their business: some already back on the street, selling their goods but most still cleaning up after the storm. Lucy half-listened to Aakifah’s talk of her friends and TV shows but Lucy’s thoughts were dominated by Razeen and his betrayal. Yet, not his betrayal, she realized. He’d always been clear they would be together for only two weeks. The fact it had turned into one week appeared to have surprised even him.
“Lucy, what is the matter? You do not hear what I am saying.”