Maia reached for Lucy’s hand and squeezed it. Lucy held it tight as if she’d never let it go again. “Not me, sis, I’m made of tougher stuff than that. It would take more than a baby to destroy this woman.”
Lucy’s grin grew broader, less soppy. “Yeah, well, I guess you always were the drama queen, Maia. You couldn’t let something like childbirth go without a scene.”
“Once a drama queen always a drama queen. I was pretty spectacular, wasn’t I? I’d never seen Mohammed so shocked. I guess that means he loves me.” She grinned smugly at Lucy.
“I think there’s no doubt about that. He’s besotted with you both. I can let you remain in your cave happy in the knowledge that you might be living in a cave but your caveman will always look after you.”
Maia shook her head in mock irritation. “You’re a fine one to talk. You’re meant to be the practical one, Luce. What’s all this I hear about you nearly fainting in Razeen’s arms?”
“Had to do something to make him hold me.”
“You really like him, don’t you?”
“More than like. But there’s no future. I don’t want to settle down. Even if I did, he doesn’t want me. He’s stuck with the idea that I’d be unhappy here and that I wouldn’t fit in, etc etc. He’s so responsible, he has to do what he thinks right for both the country and for me. But,” she shrugged, “that’s irrelevant. Staying in one place isn’t for me.”
“He has to be responsible because he’s King.”
“And because he has to prove to himself that his father was wrong: prove that he deserves to be King and he can be trusted.”
There was silence for a few moments while Maia shifted the baby to her other breast, her expression thoughtful.
“And you came here believing Razeen had kidnapped me. Which, don’t get me wrong, was very sweet of you but I doubt it went very far to improve Razeen’s belief that he could be trusted when the woman he loves didn’t trust him.”
“What makes you think he loves me?”
“Even a drama queen can see he loves you. It’s just you and him who can’t seem to put two and two together.”
“If it’s true—even a little bit—I guess my suspicions about him would have thrown him more than I thought.”
“Perhaps you just need to make him see how much you trust him.”
“There’s no point. If I show him I trust him, what then? I’ll be leaving in a few weeks.”
“But you love him, Lucy. Isn’t that enough to make you stay?”
Lucy shook her head and shrugged her shoulders awkwardly. “No.” She shook her head again. “As I say, I’ll be leaving.”
“Because of what happened so many years ago?”
“Yep, I guess. Still…”
Maia grabbed Lucy’s hand. “Will you do something for me?”
Lucy was relieved at the change of subject. “Of course. You know I will. Anything.”
“Tell Razeen what happened to you.”
“That’s just silly. Why? Why would you want me to do that?”
“Just tell him. You need to share it with him.”
“Why?”
“You said you’d do anything for me. You agreed. I’ve Noor as my witness.”
“Maia! No wonder Mohammed fell for your charm. You’re impossible to say ‘no’ to. OK. I’ll tell him, if I must.”
Maia smiled a very self-satisfied smile. “Good.”
“Although there’s no point. I won’t be staying here.”
“Just tell him. As soon as you get back to Sitra, tell him.”
The soft beams of sunlight filtered through the fretwork of the ancient screen, casting intricate shadows on Razeen’s desk. He closed his laptop and rubbed his eyes.
“Your next appointment is here, Your Majesty.”
Razeen frowned. “I don’t have one.”
“The person showed up and I thought you’d want to see her.”
“Her?”
His new assistant grinned and Razeen leaped up. It could only mean one thing. “Show her in.”
Razeen waited for her to enter. He wanted to stride over to her and sweep her into his arms but he couldn’t rush her. She’d kept a reserve with him, despite all that had happened. He gripped the back of the chair in an effort to stop himself from going to her. He failed.
He walked over to her and pulled her into his arms. “Lucy.” He tipped her chin up so he could see the expression in her eyes. It wasn’t reassuring. He let his hands slide back to his side and he showed her to a seat. He sat in his chair on the other side of his desk, hoping he’d be able to keep his distance. “How’s Maia settled back into her home?”