Lucy held the woman’s stern gaze. “These other matters must have been brought forward. He wasn’t expecting them until next week.”
Did she imagine it or did the woman look surprised at Lucy’s knowledge? The woman cleared her throat. “Indeed, Princess Neelam decided to surprise His Majesty.”
“I’m sure she’s done that.” Lucy looked impatiently over the woman’s shoulder. “I’ll wait.”
And she did. The hours ticked by but by then Lucy’s heels had dug in and she refused to move on principle. The anger sparked at the news of Razeen’s betrothal had been fanned by the revelation of the needless suffering being endured by Aakifah and her family and, no doubts, thousands like them. And she held on to that anger like a talisman that would see her safely through the next few days until she could leave.
At last the door opened and a number of people emerged, but not Razeen. The doors closed again. Razeen’s assistants had disappeared with the rush of people, presumably to show them out. Lucy rose and tapped at the door.
She heard a grunt that sounded vaguely encouraging and she pushed open the door. Razeen sat, his elbows on the table, his fingers steepled and pressed to his mouth in an expression of thoughtful despair.
He jumped up when he saw Lucy and moved toward her. “I was just thinking about you.”
“I’m not surprised.” She stepped away, keeping both her body and voice as cold and stiff as possible. “I’ve been sitting outside for two hours.”
He stopped short of her, the smile that had hovered on his lips now gone. “I’m sorry.” He paused, too long, as if he was apologizing for more than just her long wait. He cleared his throat. “I’ve been busy but you should have told my assistant, she’d have—”
“I did, and she didn’t let me see you.”
“I see.” He stepped closer to her, his eyes searching hers. “I’m glad you waited.” He reached out to her but she stepped back, her mouth twisting in pain, as she tried to rein in her own desire to hold him close.
“How could you, Razeen? How could you?"
He frowned. “You heard, then.”
“Of course. It would have been hard not to.”
“She’s waiting for me. I’m to dine with her.”
They stood a stride apart from each other but the distance felt insurmountable. “You’re not going before you hear me out.”
“Of course. I deserve anything you care to accuse me of.”
Her lip curled. “You flatter yourself that I came to talk about personal matters. They’ve gone. Dead. You killed them. Nothing more to be said. No, why I’m here is that I saw Aakifah today. The woman I met at the market.”
He frowned. “I remember.”
“Her youngest sister is suffering from anemia. She needs urgent medication.”
“Then she should go to the clinic.”
“The clinics are corrupt, Razeen,” she shouted, allowing all the pent-up emotion she was holding close, to erupt into anger. “Don’t you know that?”
“Medicine is accessible to those in need. There are laws.”
“Laws that don’t work.”
He shook his head. “Ridiculous.”
“If you or your assistants went and spoke to the people once in a while you might know that. It would cost them a month’s earnings—which they don’t have saved—to buy the medicine. The disease is rife—the iron in the bread they make is inaccessible because it’s rich in phytates: too many phytates, no iron. The women breastfeed exclusively for too long and are only just getting by, themselves.” She was shaking with rage and frustration, furious at him for so many things. Tears gathered in her eyes but she had to continue. “Aakifah’s sister needs a doctor.” She pressed a piece of paper with the address into Razeen’s hand. “Urgently.”
He pressed his lips together for control, but control of what—anger at her, frustration at his government—she couldn’t tell. “I’ll make sure she gets help.”
“Thank you.” She rose to go.
“Lucy, where are you going?”
She didn’t turn round. “To my room.”
“I’ll see you later.”
“No. It’s over.” He was beside her in a second, forcing her to turn to him. “Razeen, don’t you understand? You wanted me to trust you. I did. But you didn’t trust me with the truth, did you? You didn’t ever mention you were to be married; never said anything about a fiancée visiting you within a week of our making love. Did you think it would spoil the ambience?” She couldn’t prevent the bitterness creeping into her words. “Did you think I’d say ‘no’? Well, I would have said ‘no’ because it’s not fair on her; not fair on the woman who is pledging her life to you. How do you think she’d feel if she knew her fiancée-to-be had been sleeping with someone? No doubt you’ll find out when she discovers our relationship. You’ve hardly kept it a secret.”