‘What will happen when the Accession Council meet?’
‘Mohammed shall state his case, and I shall state mine, and my father shall be asked to make a formal choice.’
‘And if it isn’t you, you’ll take it to the people to vote?’
And it was then that she knew him. Or rather she knew for certain that there was far more to this than Kedah was admitting to.
She did not blush. She had been trained not to react from an early age. And Kedah was the same—he never revealed fear. And so the hand on her arm did not tighten, nor did his breathing change, but as she carried on speaking she heard his heart rate quicken.
‘And who would the people chose?’ she asked.
‘I believe...me.’
‘No problem, then.’
‘None.’
His response was measured and calm. Had they been having this conversation standing and facing each other, she would not have known of the nerve she had just hit, but his heart beat like a jackhammer in his chest.
‘So why are you busy making billions just in case?’
He did not answer, and she lay there listening to the rapid thud of his heart.
‘Does Mohammed have something on you?’
‘I told you,’ Kedah answered evenly. ‘I don’t regret my past.’
‘I know there’s a scandal looming.’ Felicia smiled. ‘I can smell them a mile off.’
There was.
For the first time in his life he needed advice. The question as to how to approach his mother had been rolling around in his head like a ball bearing in a pinball machine. Ideas were bounced around and were rapidly dismissed, but over and over he returned to one small corner that said he should speak with someone.
Who?
And, though he kept flicking the thought away, always the ball rolled back and settled in a pocket marked ‘Felicia.’
He trusted no one, and yet...
‘Felicia?’
She was sleepy and warm in his arms, though her low murmur in answer to her name told him she was awake.
‘If I were to tell you something, would it remain between us?’
‘Of course.’ She smiled again. ‘Hit me with it—a pregnant prostitute?’
‘Excuse me?’ he said, and then smiled in the darkness as he realised she was still trying to guess what his secret was. ‘Was that before or after I got married in Vegas?’
She pulled herself from his arms and onto her elbow and she looked at him as his smile faded. The truth was scary sometimes, and she felt its brief threat.
‘What is it?’
He shook his head, and Felicia knew when to remain silent. Any guessing now would only irritate, so she lay back down and played with his chest instead as she thought how best to respond.
‘If you decide to tell me it shan’t go any further.’
‘Thank you.’
The gift of time was the best he had known, and he was grateful for it. He was aware it would be all to easy to say what was on his mind in this post-coital haze only to regret it later.
Even that didn’t make full sense to him, though, for he did not usually indulge in pillow talk.
There was a small buzzing sound. It would seem that their flying time was nearly over. He reached out and flicked on a light and for the first time Felicia took in their splendid surroundings. Apart from the hum of the engines there was no sign that they were on an aeroplane.
The bed was vast, and rumpled from their lovemaking, and there was no place in the world she would rather be.
‘Can we be late?’ she asked, and lifted her face for a kiss.
Kedah was tempted to lift the phone beside the bed and inform the captain there was a change of plan, and yet some things needed to be faced.
‘Get dressed,’ he told her, though it was said with regret. ‘I’ll have your clothes brought through.’
‘Can you at least wait until I’m in the shower?’
He smiled at her modesty, but did as she asked and waited until she had gone through to the bathroom before calling for her overnight bag to be brought to his bedroom.
Felicia washed her hair and dried it, and then she came out.
Kedah lay on the bed with his hands behind his head, clearly deep in thought.
Another buzzer sounded, and now it was Kedah who rose from the bed and headed to the shower as Felicia put on the robe she had chosen to wear. It was a dusky pink with long sleeves and a high neckline. From neck to floor the gown was done up with a row of embroidered buttons, each one individually made. Felicia had bought it while they’d been on their travels and was glad to be able to wear it. Again she chose to wear no make-up.
Kedah soon reappeared, wearing just a towel around his hips. He wished she did not move him so. For the first time in his life he perhaps regretted sex.
She had never looked more beautiful.