Desert Prince, Bartered Bride

As a diplomat's daughter, Silvia Bruntsfield has navigated many sticky situations with her sharp mind and practical nature. Now, a grave misstep y her father could cost him his career and the very tenuous alliance etween Britain and the desert kingdom of D!aradh. So Silvia disguises herself as a man to plead her father's case with Prince "unir al#$hash%ar, ruler of D!aradh. But nothing prepares her for what happens when the sheikh sees through her ruse and unveils her as an imposter&. "unir is intrigued y the plucky 'nglish girl. And he decides to make her a proposition( save her father and the alliance& y ecoming his ride. )hapter *ne $ingdom of D!aradh, Ara ia, +,+.er heart was racing. /ittle wonder, with so much at stake. 0hat if her plan ackfired1 No, don't even think a out that2 'ven this early the heat was searing, ut the all#enveloping cloak and headdress she wore to disguise her identity was also welcome protection from the fierce sun. Around her, the city's souks were open for usiness, the air redolent with the scent of fragrant spices, heady perfumes and roasting meat. 0ell#travelled as she was as a career diplomat's daughter, she had never seen anything %uite so colourful, nor so very e3otic. But now was not the time for sightseeing. .er father's entire career was at stake. Silvia tightened her hold on the tasselled reins of her camel, resisting the urge to clutch at the sides of the high o3 saddle which swayed most unnervingly. 4inally, she reached the massive portal to the royal palace. 5he letter, written in an elegant hand and stamped with the prominent royal seal, got her safely past the ornate iron gates and the impassive guards with their wicked scimitars. A tall earded man in his fifties greeted her, his e3pression set in stern disapproval. 67 am Bakri, his highness's )hief of )ouncil. .e is e3pecting you, Sir 4rancis,6 he said, as he waited impatiently for Silvia to dismount. .ead lowered, she followed him along a la yrinth of cool mar le corridors and through a pair of heavy dou le doors, where he owed curtly and departed. .er heart was pounding so hard she could scarcely reathe. .er mouth was dry. Silvia linked in the multihued light that streamed down into the long room through a stained glass window. A tall figure, dressed in a royal lue tunic trimmed with gold, was standing on the dais at the end of the room. Prince "unir al#$hash%ar, ruler of the kingdom of D!aradh. Silvia's first impression of the man who held her father's fate in his hands was one of almost palpa le power. .ere was a man accustomed to rule, a man accustomed to un%uestioning o edience. Sinking into a low ow, she stole a closer look at him. 8ounger than she had e3pected9in his midthirties, she estimated 9with no trace of over#indulgence in that hard, muscled physi%ue. A little frisson of awareness rippled through her. Prince "unir was as fiercely attractive as the desert kingdom over which he ruled. 6Sir 4rancis, 7 id you welcome,6 he said. 6As#salamu alaykum, your highness. 7t is an honour,6 Silvia said gruffly, masking her voice. .e came toward her suddenly, and, efore she could snatch her hand away, knowing it would etray her, he engulfed it in an une3pected handshake. 5he dark tan of the sheikh's skin made her own seem milky white9and unmistaka ly feminine. A tingle shot up her arm at the contact. .er startled ga:e met his. Dark rown eyes flecked with gold narrowed suspiciously at her. 68our .ighness,6 she egan, 67 can96 But it was too late. 5he prince gra ed the igal which held her headdress in place and yanked it free, causing her hair9a heavy fall of urnished gold9to tum le down her shoulders. 6'3plain this treachery26 )hapter 5wo "unir ga:ed in utter astonishment at the attractive woman dressed incongruously in male clothes, a female who was %uite clearly not the British diplomat Sir 4rancis Bruntsfield. 5all, slim and

creamy#skinned, there could e no greater contrast etween this woman and the sultry eauties who occasionally occupied his harem&yet there was something strikingly attractive a out her nonetheless. Perhaps it was those wide#spaced ha:el eyes staring at him defiantly, or the determined tilt to her mouth1 ;egardless, her ehaviour was outrageous2 60ho are you1 0here is Sir 4rancis16 Silvia had visited any num er of royal courts, met countless mem ers of the aristocracy, ut none had had the effect on her of this man. 5here was an edge to him that oth attracted and frightened her at the same time. /ike the wicked lade of his scimitar, glinting and deadly. Prince "unir could e ruthless when necessary, she knew9the rigands who had em roiled her father in their crime had een summarily e3ecuted. .e glowered at her, his sensual mouth at odds with his for idding frown. She took a deep reath. 8ears of playing the diplomatic hostess came to her aid. 68our highness, there is a perfectly rational e3planation. 7 am Silvia Bruntsfield, Sir 4rancis's daughter. <nfortunately, my father was taken ill today. $nowing how very gracious it was of you to agree to the meeting, he sent me in his stead.6 67t is discourteous to send a mere woman on such an important mission26 .e spoke the 'nglish words softly, his accent smooth as silk, though there could e no mistaking the menace in his tone. But it was his words that made Silvia ristle. 67 have no dou t that my father would elieve it more discourteous still to have failed to keep this appointment.6 6.e does not know you are here16 She met the prince's ga:e defiantly. 6.e was too ill to e consulted, ut he would e3pect it of me. 7 am no mere woman. 7 have acted as his emissary on numerous occasions. 7 came to plead his cause, since he cannot do so himself. And to return this.6 Pushing ack her cloak, Silvia unclasped the little leather pouch fastened to the elt of her tunic and handed it to the prince. 67 swear he did not know its significance. 7n all the years he has served his country, Papa has never taken plunder, and certainly nothing so valua le. .e thought it was a trinket.6 "unir opened the pouch and e3tracted the idol. /ooking at the huge yellow stone set into its middle, he had to acknowledge that an untrained eye could easily mistake the diamond for glass. 65he fact remains that your father effectively stole a priceless artefact. 5he men who sold it to him in the ruined city of D!aradh#/askit were rigands, thieves. 8our father should have known etter than to take any artefact from such a sacred place. 5here are still many people here in my kingdom who elieve in the old ways, that the city is the home of the ancient gods. 0ere his actions made pu lic, 7 could not guarantee his safety.6 67t was wrong of him, and foolish, ut&6 6'3tremely foolish2 As a conse%uence of his actions, 7 intend to cancel the treaty that would have granted your 'nglish government e3clusive rights to use our port. 7 cannot e seen to do usiness with foreigners who violate our traditions.6 67 know,6 Silvia said %uietly. 65hat is why 7 am here. 7 intend to make you change your mind.6 )hapter 5hree "unir arched his row in%uisitively. 6)hange my mind1 .ow, pray, do you intend to make me do that16 67 hadn't %uite worked that part out,6 Sylvia confessed. 65hrow myself on your mercy, most likely.6 5he prince laughed. 7t was an attractive laugh, deep and sonorous with !ust a hint of devilment. 65hat assumes 7 am merciful. 8ou do reali:e that you have risked death y coming here16 67f 7 had not come, if 7 cannot change your mind, my father's life will not e worth living. .e will e ruined, the earldom he has een promised for thirty years of dedicated service to his country withdrawn. After so long a road, he has een looking forward to returning to 'ngland, taking up his seat in Parliament and spending time with my sister and her family. "y father is an honoura le man, .ighness. .is unwitting crime weighs heavily upon him. 7 eg of you, do not punish him or his country, nor deprive your own kingdom of what will e a most profita le partnership.6 "unir could not help eing impressed y her daring. She did not drop to her knees. She did not even lower her eyes. Did she know she was eing disrespectful1 .e should call the guards and have her thrown out. 7f he had listened to Bakri, his )hief of )ouncil, he would not even have

granted Sir 4rancis an audience. But the deal with the 'nglish was too lucrative to walk away from without a second thought. .is neigh our, Prince ;ami: of A'=adi:, had made !ust such an alliance, and his kingdom was already seeing enormous enefits from the increased trade. 68ou have risked a great deal,6 "unir said carefully. 65ell me, "iss Bruntsfield, what is in it for you16 Silvia stiffened. 67'm here only for my father's sake. And for my sister, who would e tainted y association,6 she added, ecause despite everything, she had never wished /ouise ill. Nor "atthew. Despite having !ust cause. An idea, an outrageous idea, was eginning to form in "unir's mind as he eyed Sir 4rancis's courageous daughter. She was slim, ut the man's tunic she wore could not conceal the curve of her reasts, the length of her legs, the indent of her waist. Desire shivered through him. .er father would e in "unir's de t and could prove a worthy and lucrative ally9particularly if the de t were cemented with an even stronger alliance. And yet "unir's idea would undou tedly enrage the )ouncil. 0as it madness to risk estranging them after he had worked so hard to repair the damage his father had done1 *r more accurately, .alimah had done1 No. 5he )ouncil would luster as usual when presented with an idea that was not theirs, ut once they understood the manifest advantages, he had no dou t he could win them over. 5he plan was appealing to him more and more. "unir ran his finger down the curve of the 'nglishwoman's cheek. 6Are you a virgin16 She !erked away. 65hat is none of your usiness26 .e smiled at the lush that stained her throat. .er reaction told him all he needed to know a out her e3perience9or rather lack of it. She smelled of flowers. A delicate 'nglish rose transplanted to the sultry desert heat. 5he com ination could e into3icating. 7t was most certainly arousing. 67t would e very much my usiness,6 he said, 6if you were to ecome my wife.6 '3hilarated y the %uite unaccustomed recklessness of his offer, he pulled her into his arms. )hapter 4our Being enfolded in the sheikh's arms was, if anything, even more une3pected and shocking than his outrageous proposal of marriage. Silvia was so startled that y the time she thought to protest it was already too late. .is kiss was like the desert9hot and e3otic, e3citement spiced with danger. By comparison, "atthew's kisses seemed tame. As "unir's tongue stroked along the soft skin inside her lower lip, a !olt of pure pleasure shot through her, and she opened her mouth to him. .is hands were warm on her ack, her waist. She felt tense and limp at the same time. .is ody was hard against her yielding flesh. Solid. She had never een this close to a man. Not even "atthew. "uch too late, Silvia struggled to free herself. 6.ow dare you26 "unir released her reluctantly. 5his haughty 'nglishwoman had a slum ering passion !ust waiting to e ignited. 7n fact, what he wanted to do was to take her on the dais and pleasure her, right here in the throne room. 7t was an esta lished fact that no one woman could satisfy a man, ut he suspected he would not tire easily of this one. 7t was a wholly une3pected and e3tremely distracting onus. 0ith difficulty, he forced himself to turn his mind to usiness. 68ou are %uite right. 5here are other, more important matters to e settled first.6 68ou weren't serious a out marriage26 Silvia e3claimed, desperately trying to assem le her thoughts into something vaguely coherent. 67 never say what 7 do not mean,6 "unir replied crisply. .e rarely spoke so impetuously, either, ut there was no need to admit that. 65ell me, why are you not already married16 67 have no desire to e married,6 Silvia replied, folding her arms across her chest. .er nipples were hard against the oning of her corset. She felt&she could not articulate what she felt. 60hy not16 "unir persisted. 67 cannot elieve there has een any shortage of willing suitors.6 A verita le procession, many actively encouraged y my father in his o sessive desire to find his daughters an advantageous match, Sylvia thought itterly. ;eali:ing that she would get nowhere with "unir y prevaricating, she opted for the truth. 67 never married ecause the one man 7 did love9who said he loved me9married my elder sister instead,6 she said aldly. 6/ouise inherited our mother's fortune, and was etter connected through her godfather. "y father arranged the match with "atthew9the earl of 7nverkip, that is.6

6And as a result, you have re!ected any attempts since y your father to find you a suita le hus and16 Silvia's smile was twisted. 68ou make me sound petty. 5he real reason is that 7 have no intention of em arrassing myself y falling in love again. 7 have no wish to su !ect myself to the pain of that e3perience more than once. So you can see that your preposterous notion that 7 might e your wife is doomed to failure.6 "unir smiled. 67n my kingdom, what 7 want, 7 have.6 )hapter 4ive 67n my kingdom, what 7 want, 7 have.6 Silvia folded her arms across her chest even more firmly as the intimidating desert sheikh held her ga:e. 6Somehow, 7 do not dou t that, Prince "unir. So it is well for me that my visit to your kingdom will e a rief one. 7 will e returning to 'ngland with my father as soon as my usiness here is settled.6 68ou are looking forward to going home16 6.aving spent most of my life travelling with my father to his various postings, 7 don't really think of 'ngland as home.6 60here will you live16 60ith my sister and her family. She has four children. 7 will no dou t e e3pected to play the good aunt.6 Silvia could not keep the itterness from her voice. 6By heaven, you cannot wish to reside in the same house as the man who re!ected you for your sister26 67 don't have much choice.6 6But your concerns are not confined to your domestic arrangements, 7 think16 .is perception surprised Silvia into admitting to her innermost fears. 6"oving in the diplomatic circles my father occupies, 7've ecome accustomed to a great deal of independence and to making a contri ution. 7n 'ngland it will e&different,6 she said. 67 confess 7 am afraid that 7 will find myself somewhat redundant.6 67f you ecame my wife, your contri ution would e great indeed. 8ou would e facilitating the forging of a ond etween our two countries,6 "unir pointed out. 68ou would e the first, and therefore the most important, of my wives. 5he harem would e yours to rule.6 65he first26 Silvia could not keep the horror from her voice. 67t is a fact that no one woman can satisfy a man. 7n 'ngland, men have one wife and many mistresses, and it seems to me that in that circumstance all women are treated disrespectfully. .ere in D!aradh we respect and honour each of our wives.6 Silvia it her lip. She could not argue with the truth of what he said. Not when everything she had seen in her travels9to say naught of her own e3perience9proved him right. But there remained, uried deep inside her, the illogical, romantic notion that true love could make one woman more than enough for one man. 8et she would never e that woman. And Prince "unir, y his own assertions, would most certainly never e that man. She swallowed hard. 0hether she was his first wife or twentieth was of no conse%uence, what mattered right now was saving her father. 67f 7 did agree to this fantastical notion of yours, my influence would e confined to the harem16 she asked carefully. 68ou would not consider a more pu lic role for me as consort16 6As prince, 7 must e seen to rule alone. A prince must e invulnera le, infalli le, superior to all men.6 6And women, apparently,6 Silvia said dryly. "unir thought of his aunt, .alimah, who in her ruthlessly manipulative ways had played his father like a puppet. .e thought of the destruction her am ition had caused. 5he loodshed. 6And women,6 he said, more harshly than he'd intended. 5he 'nglishwoman's eyes widened at the itterness of his remark. .e took a calming reath and moderated his tone. 6)onsider the enefits. As my wife, you will have your own palace here. 8ou will not have to return to the man who scorned you, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you have saved your father's career and will e a le to assist promoting your country's long#term relationship with mine. 8ou will also have the honour of eing the mother of my sons,6 he said softly, tilting her chin so that she had to meet his ga:e.

6And daughters.6 "unir laughed, as roused y her refusal to e em arrassed as he was y the challenge in her eyes. "arriage to this woman held a most definite appeal. 6Sons and daughters. 7t will e a pleasure.6 Silvia flushed deeply. Desire hung in the air etween them, heady as a perfume. "unir's fingers stroked down the long column of her neck, raising goose umps, lighting sparks. .is eyes darkened. She saw the sharp intake of his reath eneath the silk of his tunic. .is latant arousal was provoking. 60hat is your answer, "iss Bruntsfield16 he whispered seductively. 60ill you e my ride16 )hapter Si3 68our ride26 Silvia pushed "unir away. 68ou cannot e3pect me to give an instant answer to such a %uestion, asked y a man 7 have never met efore.6 6*h, ut 7 do. 7s it really so different from the marital matches your father has tried to foist on you16 .aving set upon this reckless course, "unir wanted the deal concluded efore her father or his )ouncil had time to interfere. D!aradh deserved prosperity. 5he kingdom needed an heir. 5hat he personally craved this woman was serendipitous. 65he terms are simple. 7f you accept my proposal 7 will sign the treaty and smooth over your father's indiscretion. 0e will e married efore he departs for 'ngland and a hero's welcome. 7f you do not, you, your father and your country must endure the conse%uences.6 "unir stifled the tiny sta of guilt his ultimatum provoked. .e was ruthlessly e3ploiting the situation, of that there was no dou t. 65hat's lackmail,6 Silvia said itterly, seeming to read his thoughts. "unir's e3pression hardened. 6A arter. "ay 7 remind you that you came here, un idden, with the e3press purpose of making me change my mind. 8ou implied you would do anything to save your father's reputation. 7 am offering you the opportunity to do !ust that.6 Silvia flinched. 5he stark choice she faced was of her own making. .er mind raced. 5o marry a virtual stranger, to commit herself to living in a country where she might e even more suffocated and constrained than she would e in 'ngland9it was madness. But to e forced to live in the same house as her erstwhile lover, to see him every day acting the hus and to her sister, and to have nothing more to e3pend her energy on than playing aunt to their growing rood of children. No2 5hat didn't ear thinking a out. 7t may well e a choice etween two evils, ut Prince "unir's proposal most certainly seemed the lesser of the two. 6But 7 know nothing a out D!aradh and its people,6 she said distractedly. 67 know nothing a out you.6 6D!aradh has a history more ancient than any sovereign state in 'urope, and our traditions and culture are richer y far than most 0estern civili:ations. All of which you will learn in time. As my wife, you will want for nothing. And as to your knowing little a out me&7 am a prince and an honoura le man. 7 do not offer love9we are oth too wise to place any value on such empty protestations9 ut 7 will always treat you with respect. .ow many 'nglish wives can rely on that16 .e did not love her. *f course he did not, and nor would he. Besides, she'd told him herself that she had a andoned any thoughts of love, which she had. .is offer was tempting&. After all, would sharing a harem with his other wives and their children really e so different from life in 'ngland with /ouise1 Still, Silvia hesitated. 'ven though she did not love "unir, she didn't think she could live like that. She had no wish to share her hus and or her household, and what's more, she wanted her hus and to value her for more than her a ility to ear him children. But there was a chance that she could prove herself to him, and y doing so, forge a future for herself in this alien country. "ay e, if she had a year& 5he idea appealed immensely. Silvia relished a challenge almost a ove all else. .er stomach lurched at the thought of what would happen if she failed, ut she had already decided. She smiled, not her usual, %ui::ical smile, ut a real one that lit up her eyes. 6>ery well. 7 have an answer for you.6

)hapter Seven Silvia e3amined herself in the long mirrored tiles that formed the wall of the harem's athing

cham er. After the e3cited chatter and giggling of the army of maidservants it had taken to dress her in her wedding finery, the silence was a welcome relief. 7n the past week she felt as if she had een in a play acted out at top speed in her head. .er father's initial anger at the news that she was to marry "unir %uickly shifted to relief and then astonishment at his good fortune. .is talk was all of settlements and spheres of influence. .e was so carried away with the conse%uences of his daughter's astounding etrothal that it didn't occur to him to %uestion her actions. .e'd said his good yes this morning after the formal signing of the contracts. 67'm damned proud of you. 'ngland will e proud of you,6 he'd said gruffly. After the ceremony, he would leave for 'ngland, and her last tie with her old world would e severed. 5oday, she would enter another world entirely. 5he figure ga:ing ack at Silvia from the mirrored tiles was an alluring creature. .er skin was soft with scented oils, and her hair gleamed like urnished gold against the urnt#orange silk of her kaftan, which was weighted with semiprecious !ewels woven into the gold#threaded passementerie. 5he pantaloons eneath were crimson organdie, full and pleated into her waist, yet almost transparent. ?old ells tinkled on her wrists, ankles and on the head and that held the gossamer#fine veil in place. .er hands and feet were painted with henna. .er kid slippers were em roidered with pearls. Around her neck was an intricately designed gold necklace with a shower of pink and yellow diamonds that "unir had given her. "unir& )ustom for ade contact etween them in the whirl of preparations efore the wedding, and so she had spoken to him !ust three times since he had very reluctantly agreed to her terms. 5onight he would e her hus and. And for the ne3t year, she had made him promise she would e his only wife. 6A year to prove that you can e all the woman 7 will ever need1 7 look forward to it,6 he had said with a wicked smile. As she followed her coterie of female attendants from the harem to the main ody of the palace, an unsettling thought rever erated in Silvia's head. Before she could egin to erode the arriers that confined her to the harem, she must first prove herself within it. Before she could e useful, she must e desira le. And she had a solutely no idea of how to go a out such a thing. 0ith her nerves !angling, she could eat nothing of the feast laid out efore her on gold plates. 5hrough the grille that separated the men from the woman in this strange ceremony, she could hear the low rum le of masculine laughter. 0hen they finally led her to the dais where "unir stood, magnificent in gold and lue and even more fiercely attractive than she remem ered, her heart lurched. .er moods swung like a pendulum, from e3hilaration to agitation, from anticipation to dread. And when "unir finally slipped the ring onto her finger, panic flared. 0hat was she doing2 .er eyes flew to his a ove her veil, sending a frantic message. Stop2 Stop2 "unir took her hand. .e smiled at her reassuringly, anchored her firmly to his side. 6Are we married16 Silvia asked tentatively. 67s it over16 .e pulled her to him. 67t has arely started,6 he whispered huskily, 6for now the honeymoon egins.6 )hapter 'ight Stars glittered overhead, a thick carpet woven through the inky# lack midnight sky. Silvia reined in her camel alongside "unir's. Before she could dismount, his hands were around her waist and he effortlessly lifted her clear of the seat. 60hat do you think16 he asked. Silvia ga:ed around her at the inviting cool of the deep, crescent#shaped oasis. A huge tent lit with ra:iers stood under the shade of the palms that fringed the water. 67t's eautiful. Breathtaking.6 Silence lay heavy as a lanket. 60here is everyone16 "unir smiled. 65his is our wedding night. 0e are %uite alone.6 6*h.6 Nerves clutched at Silvia like tiny tugging fingers. 6Prince "unir, 7&6 6@ust "unir. 7 am your hus and now, Silvia.6 6*h.6 7t was the first time he had spoken her name. No one had ever made it sound like that efore. So much depended on her doing this right. But suddenly, fiercely, she wanted it also to e special. 6"unir, 797 don't know9 0ill you tell me&what 7 should do1 7 want this to9 7 don't want to disappoint you.6

She was lushing, ut still she held his ga:e. .e could not ut admire her courage and her honesty. "unir raised her hand to his lips. 68ou won't disappoint me, Silvia. 7 promise. 5rust me.6 .e kissed her palm, licking into the soft skin etween each finger. .is lips lingered on the wildly eating pulse at her wrist. She tasted delicious. 65rust yourself,6 he said huskily. 6Do as your instincts tell you.6 All her life, Silvia's instinct had een to use caution. 5o wait. 5hink. 'valuate. But this could not e what he meant. She looked up at "unir. .is eyes glittered, dark with something that she hoped was desire. 0hat she wanted was for him to kiss her. 0hat she wanted was to see her hus and naked. 0hat she wanted& She stepped closer, inhaled his scent. Desert heat. Something very male that made her feel a surdly powerless. 7n thrall. 6"unir,6 she said in a voice she didn't recogni:e. She reached up to push ack her veil, then she tugged his headdress off. .is hair was !et# lack and close#cropped, emphasi:ing the sharp planes of his face. She curled her fingers into his neck, pulling him toward her. Desire flared in his eyes. She heard the intake of his reath. 5hen she touched her lips to his. Not like efore, his kiss. Deep, passionate, dark and hot, it set her instantly aflame. She twined her arms around his neck and he pulled her closer, moulding her against the solid muscle of his ody, stroking her ack, the curve of her ottom, all the while urgently laying claim to her mouth. .eat surged through her, pulsing out from where he touched, pooling in her elly. .e picked her up in his arms as if she weighed nothing and carried her to the tent. She had a rief impression of sumptuous hangings when he set her down, then she forgot all a out her surroundings as "unir9her hus and, "unir9 ecame the focus of her world as he set a out inha iting every fi re of her eing. )hapter Nine .e undressed her slowly, as if he was unwrapping a precious gift. $issing, stroking, caressing every part of her as it was revealed9her neck, her arms, her reasts. 'specially her reasts. .is hands moulded them, his mouth licking, sucking, making her moan, a strange sound that aroused her further. .e discarded his own clothing at the same time, taking her hands, showing her how to touch him, to learn the map of his ody, the contours of his shoulders, his chest, the concave of his elly. Naked now, she resisted the urge to wrap her arms protectively around herself and saw that she had done the right thing in the way he looked at her, with a hint of admiration and a gratifying la:e of desire slashing crimson on his cheeks. .is focus intensified. .e, too, was naked. She slanted her ga:e down to the proud, thick length of his arousal. She urned with wanting and wondered how he could possi ly& .ow they could possi ly& 65ouch me,6 "unir said, taking her hand and laying it on his shaft. .ard and silken, so very, very different from anything she had known. So very, very arousing. .e laid her down on the low divan and gently parted her thighs, his fingers stroking into the hot wetness etween them, making her moan again. 6"unir, what should&6 .e kissed her. 6Nothing,6 he commanded, 6you should do nothing. 7 am your hus and, Silvia. 7t is my pleasure to teach you pleasure.6 .e kissed her again. .er mouth. .er throat. .er reasts. .er elly. /ower. .is mouth was on the tender skin etween her thighs, his fingers parted her and then his tongue licked in. 5here2 She gasped. Shock. 5hen a olt, a surge of heat, as he licked into her again, coa3ing and circling, stroking and stoking up the spiralling, clenching, tightening heat until she gasped again and let go ecause she could not hang on any longer, though she wanted to. She was hurtled and spun into the air, high, higher still and higher, and she wanted only this. 5o fly effortlessly. 'ven as she soared, "unir was kissing her mouth again, his ody covering hers. 5ilting her toward him, he eased himself inside her, riding on the e and flow of her clima3. .er maidenhood gone, he pushed deeper still, so that Silvia felt herself gathering anew, tightening anew. .e paused, waiting. 4or what1 She arched, dug her hands into his uttocks, saw from the tautness in his face that he liked it. She arched again. .is hands on her hips, "unir pulled her even closer to him. .is wife. .is wife2 .is. So strange to feel so possessive. And for this to e so much more intense than he'd ever e3perienced, much more so than he had ever imagined.

.e thrust into her, his length enveloped in her slickness, his movements making her shiver and tighten around him. .arder, higher, deeper he thrust, feeling himself swelling inside her until she let go, and then he spilled himself with a harsh moan, kissing her, clutching at her, lost in the raging tempest of his clima3 as he had never een efore. )hapter 5en Save for the mysteriously invisi le servants who delivered food regularly, Silvia and "unir were entirely alone at the oasis. Seven days passed of lissful, sy aritic pleasure. 5hey athed naked in the warm, almy depths of the pool y the light of the full moon, and lay together in the shallows, the water lapping over their skin as they stroked and caressed each other to fulfilment. Silvia e3alted in the sensual power she held over her new hus and, growing older in her touch, in giving as well as takingA her own pleasure increased y the pleasure she saw etched in his face when she sheathed him inside her. 60e must return to the palace in the morning,6 "unir said at the end of the week, as they lay entwined in the cool of the dusk. 67 have already een away far longer than 7 intended.6 6Doesn't the )ouncil have the authority to act in your a sence16 65he authority, ut not the will. A legacy from my father's rule.6 Silvia propped herself up on her el ow to study his e3pression. 4or the first time since their wedding, "unir had that distant, for idding look on his face. A week ago, she would have hesitated to ask, ut now her desire to know more a out the man she was to spend her life with overrode her natural caution. She stroked his cheek. 6.ow so16 "unir sat up, knocking her hand away. 6Silvia, 7 am well aware that you hope to use this year to persuade me to give you a role outside the harem, ut it cannot e. Perhaps 7 should have made it plainer efore we married, ut the truth is&6 .e roke off, ru ing his forehead. 67t is a painful su !ect.6 7t was his hesitancy that touched her. 5hough she knew what he was a out to confide was going to e unpalata le, she was moved y his wish to do so. Silvia took his hand. 65ell me.6 "unir closed his eyes, frowning. 5hen he nodded several times, something she'd noticed he did when he'd made up his mind. 6"y father was a very weak man,6 he said. 6.is sister, .alimah, was his elder y five years. .alimah means gentle. Never was a woman more wrongly named. She was self#seeking, am itious, a tyrant who elieved her royal lood entitled her to everything she wanted, and she would stop at nothing to achieve it. "y father was her puppet, and the )ouncil learned the hard way not to interfere. But her policies devastated the country, and 7 have spent the entire period of my reign unravelling the conflicts that are .alimah's legacy. 'ven now, some of our Bedouin tri es live on the knife#edge of war. 5he least little thing can set them off. 5here was this one time&6 7t was as if a wall had een reached. All the painful memories, the vicious arguments that had arisen as he'd grown up and attempted to e3ert his own authority, the agonies of conscience he'd had as he was torn etween loyalty to his kingdom and to his father, it all poured out. "unir talked as the sun rose higher in the sky and the tent grew hotter, and Silvia listened in growing horror and dreadful understanding. 6So you reali:e now why you must confine yourself to the harem,6 he concluded. 6Never again can a prince e seen to defer to a woman.6 Silvia it her lip. 68ou do that when you disagree with me, do you know that16 "unir said. 6Do 71 7 don't know what 7 think, save that&7 thought you valued my opinions. 5hese last few days&6 67 do, you have the mind of a man when it comes to politics, ut such discussions can only ever e etween us.6 67 see.6 4or the first time since their wedding day, Silvia felt the fluttering of dou t, like a small caged ird trying to set itself free. She wrapped her arms around her hus and and urrowed her face into his chest. 5he rough hair on her cheek, the scent of him, the hard maleness of him eneath her started up the thrumming pulse of wanting. .e had pulled ack the princely cloak of infalli ility and let her into his confidence. 7t was a step. A ig step. 7t would e enough for now.

)hapter 'leven *n the following day they returned to the city, and so, too, did Silvia's dou ts as the reality of her situation confronted her. "unir led the way imperiously through the city to the gates of the royal palace. .is su !ects threw themselves to their knees as their prince passed, leaving Sylvia to ring up the rear, arely acknowledged y the cheering throng. .alimah's legacy had not only een wholesale unrest, she had o viously engendered in "unir's people an innate distrust of royal princesses. Bakri awaited them at the palace. 60e did not e3pect you to e gone from us for so long, .ighness. 5here are many matters now re%uiring your attention.6 6)ome, Bakri, 7 am !ust married. Surely even you would allow my wife to claim my undivided attention for such a short period,6 "unir replied. 65he wife of a great prince must learn not to make demands,6 Bakri said, making no effort to disguise the enmity in his tone. 6"y intention is to e a support to my hus and, not a hindrance,6 Silvia said hurriedly, meeting Bakri's hostile glance with a placatory smile. 65he urdens of state can e heavy, and 7 hope&6 She stopped, for Bakri was staring at her in horror, and then he spat at her feet. /ooking to "unir, she saw his mouth was set in a firm line. 68ou will e3cuse me while 7 see my wife settled in the women's %uarters. 5hen 7 will e free to conduct our usiness,6 he said to Bakri in clipped tones. 6"unir2 5here is no need96 .e ignored her protest, sweeping her along the cool corridors, ignoring the hurried salutes of the guards. 5he harem doors closed, leaving them alone in the s%uare courtyard with its central fountain shaded y lemon trees. "unir released her so suddenly that Silvia stum led. She could see his pulse eating furiously at the ase of his throat. ;ecalling her very first impression of him, that he was not a man to e trifled with, Silvia felt a flutter of fear. But it was lost as her own temper woke slowly, like a creature that had een hi ernating. 60hat on earth have 7 said to make you so angry16 67 told you how things were with .alimah. 8ou should not have spoken to Bakri of usiness.6 6Business2 All 7 said was96 67 know what you said.6 68ou were the one who made light of it in the first place. 7f you had not !oked that 7 demanded your undivided attention96 67 am aware of what was said26 "unir cursed under his reath, something he very rarely did. .e should have known etter than to !oke with Bakri, ut in this last week with Silvia he had forgotten all his own dire warnings. .e was furious with Bakri for the insult to Silvia, furious with Silvia for compounding the mistake, ut more furious with himself for having made it in the first place. Snatching off his headdress, he ran his fingers through his hair. 68ou saw how Bakri reacted. 8ou see now how it will always e.6 67 see that you will not change it,6 Silvia replied tightly, too hurt y the unfairness of "unir's anger to guard her tongue. 6)annot change it,6 "unir snapped. 6And now, as Bakri pointed out, 7 have usiness to attend to. 7 will come to you when 7 can.6 Before Silvia could protest further, the heavy doors of the harem shut ehind him. )hapter 5welve "unir had intended to wait efore seeking Silvia out, thinking that y introducing a distance etween them it would enforce her understanding of the situation. But after a usy day of official usiness with every one of his opinions deferred to, he missed the counter alance of her sharp mind. And after a sleepless night on a divan, which seemed to have grown far too wide, he ached for her ody. 67've made a decision,6 he announced the ne3t morning as he strode into the harem, surprising her at her reakfast. 67t will e good for my people to see us together. 8ou were right,6 he continued in answer to her unasked %uestion, 6some things can change. 7 don't want you following in my wake like a servant as you did yesterday. 7 will have you treated with respect.6

65hank you.6 5he previous day had shown Silvia the e3tent of the attle ahead of her, and she'd spent the hours since fighting off the depression that had followed. She was delighted at his une3pected change of heart. She had missed her hus and9not !ust his ody, ut the man himself. Perhaps too much. She would do well to have a care, for it would not do to fall in love with a man who loved only his kingdom. 5hough when he took her around it, she could easily see why he was so devoted to it. D!aradh, city and desert, captivated her, and her o vious rapture, the %uestions she plied "unir with, delighted her hus and. 5he hours passed too %uickly. Afterward, in the sultry, sensuous am iance of the harem, their lovemaking took them oth to new heights. .e needed no encouragement to show her more of the sites the ne3t day. And the ne3t. *ver the ne3t few months, he forgot all a out putting distance etween them. 6A new gold mine has een found in the east,6 "unir said as he sank down on the cushions eside Silvia. Dinner was spread out on the ta le efore them. .e had not eaten in his own %uarters for some time. Spending every spare minute he had in the harem with Silvia had ecome a ha it. 6<nfortunately, it spans the order of some disputed territory. 8ou remem er the two Bedouin tri es 7 mentioned16 65he ones your aunt set against each other1 A idding war over a ride, 7 seem to remem er.6 Silvia it into a delicate parcel of pastry filled with spiced meat. 65his is delicious.6 68ou are delicious.6 "unir leaned over to kiss away a tiny fleck of pastry from her lips. 65he ride was only part of it. 5he enmity etween the tri es has deep roots. A dispute over ownership of this mine could easily cause war etween them.6 6And you're worried that it wouldn't e confined to those two tri es16 "unir nodded. 6Bakri advises us to wait and see.6 60hen does Bakri ever advise anything else,6 Silvia said wryly. "unir smiled. 68es, ut in this case, he's pro a ly right. 5here is no dispute yet. And 7 have more than enough9how do you say it9on my serving dish16 6Plate,6 Silvia said with a chuckle. She hesitated, ut forged on. 68ou know, 7 could help you if96 6Please don't. 8ou do help.6 6But 7 could do more if you would let me, "unir.6 68ou are my sanctuary. "y confidante. And my lover. 0hat more can you want16 8our love. Silvia clasped her hands to her reast, as if to capture the words efore they could escape, ut already the truth had urrowed itself into her heart. 5he one thing she had sworn never to do again, and she'd done it all the same. She had fallen in love.

)hapter 5hirteen Silvia paced restlessly from one end of the harem's courtyard to the other. She had fallen in love with her hus and. 5he man ehind the princely cloak had secured a permanent place deep in her heart. 7f only she could elieve the same was true for him, ut at times she felt as if she could actually touch the arriers he had placed etween them. 0hy could he not see that his attempt to protect his kingdom y doing the opposite of what his father had done was only isolating him1 .e said he trusted her, ut always there was a limit to that trust, and without trust there could e nothing of su stance etween them. )ertainly not love. 6And it's love 7 want from him, more than anything,6 Silvia said to the mar le eauty in the centre of the fountain that had ecome her confidante. 67 don't !ust want to e a helpmeet, a political pawn, a sultry secret hidden away in his harem. 7 want to e all the woman he ever wants or needs. 7 want him to see that 7 could make him so much happier, that with me at his side, he could e so much stronger. 7 want him to love me as 7 love him. 7 love "unir.6 A warm glow suffused her as she spoke the words aloud for the first time, ut the statue, to Silvia's eyes, appeared unconvinced. 67 know what you're thinking. /ook what happened the last time, ut this is different. "y love for "unir makes my feelings for "atthew seem like smoke.6 She it her lip. 68ou're %uite right, it simply means "unir can hurt me even more. .e doesn't love me. 'ventually, perhaps even efore our year is over, his passion for me will wane. 7 can't ear

the notion of sharing him. 7 !ust can't2 7f he will not love me, and me only, then 7 must find another way of eing y his side. 4or my own sanity, 7 must carve out a meaningful role for myself, else 7 would have een etter off to return to 'ngland with Papa. '3cept that then 7 would not have loved "unir, and 7 cannot regret that. 7 have to find a way to convince him. 7 will.6 5he opportunity to do so arrived when "unir appeared in the harem not long after. .e looked tired. A crisis had lown up, the details of which she managed to e3tract y gentle %uestioning. .er suggested solution made him smile. 67t is an e3cellent idea. 7f only 7'd thought of it9 ut it is done now. 0e settled it another way.6 67f you'd talked to me earlier, perhaps&6 67 could hardly have walked out of a )ouncil meeting saying 7 had to go and consult my wife26 "unir laughed. 67s it so unimagina le16 .is smile faded. 68ou know it is. /et us not go over old ground again. Already, 7 spend far more time with you than other men do with their wives.6 67 should e grateful, you mean,6 Silvia said, frustration and disappointment making her rash. 6?rateful1 4or what16 "unir demanded. 67n si3 months our agreement will e over. 8ou will have another wife to make demands on your time,6 Silvia said, una le to keep the hurt from her voice. "unir stared at her in astonishment. 5he idea of another wife, another woman who was not Silvia, here in the harem&he could not imagine it. 7n fact, he had almost forgotten their agreement. A year had seemed such a long time. 6Are you saying you are growing tired of me16 .e held his reath while he awaited her answer. )hapter 4ourteen 67t is rather you who will tire of me,6 Silvia threw at him, a ruptly losing control of her temper. 67t is you who said that one woman can never e enough. 8ou are unfailingly attentive now, ut in si3 months, perhaps earlier&6 67 am unfailingly attentive ecause you are unfailingly satisfying,6 "unir snapped, unsettled and confused y the way she was looking at him. 'ven more unsettled and confused y the feelings those looks were rousing in him. .e felt as if the rock he'd thought he was standing on was instead turning out to e only sand. Silvia flushed. She was angry, frustrated, hurt. And still she wanted him. She could not understand it, ut she could not deny it. She wanted him !ust as fiercely as he wanted her. 7n this aspect of their relationship at least, they were e%uals. =uite deli erately, she ran her palm over her reast. .er nipple udded. 65hen we should make the most of it,6 she said. 67n si3 months&6 "unir shook his head. .e didn't want to think a out what could change in si3 months. 6Silvia, you cannot dou t that 7 want you.6 7n truth, he could not imagine a time when he would not. 6Prove it.6 7t was a challenge he could not resist. "unir dipped his head and sucked on the hard ud of her nipple through the silken arrier of her clothes. Silvia clutched at his shoulders. 5he air was potent with their arousal, a salty, vanilla perfume all their own. 7t into3icated them, making them tear at their clothing, clutch at each other, kissing thirstily. Silvia's nails dug tracks into "unir's ack. .is mouth ruised her lips. She tore his tunic to get at his chest. .er pantaloons fell to the tiled floor of the courtyard. .e ent her over the fountain. She raced herself on its mar led edge, her hair trailing into the cool waters, scattering the silver fish that swam there. .is first thrust made her cry out with pleasure. She pushed ack against him. 5heir coupling was like a continuation of their argument, the thrust of one against the other, pushing to the limits, determined not to surrender until finally they came together in an e3plosive, shattering clima3 which left them reathless. Shaken y the depths of emotion their union had roused, "unir pulled his ruined tunic ack over his head. .e had always en!oyed their !oining ut this&this had een something different. .e felt as if they had fought, and he wasn't sure who had won. Silvia's hair dripped water. .er skin was flushed. .e wanted to take her in his arms, to sleep curled into her. .e had never spent the night in the harem( it was one of the lines he kept rigidly in place and he was not a out to cross it now. .e turned and strode away. But as he walked toward the harem door, he sensed her ehind him, standing ereft. 7t took all

his resolve to keep going.

)hapter 4ifteen 7n the weeks that followed, a distance opened etween them that %uickly yawned into a chasm. Simple self#protection made Silvia close herself off from her hus and. 7t was an agony, ut nothing compared to the agony she would feel if she gave herself to him completely and he took another wife, as she was certain he would inevita ly do. She knew it would kill her inside, and so instead she tried to kill her love for him. 5heir lovemaking took on an edge of desperation. .er retreat confused "unir, and she wished fervently that he would find a way to ridge the gap. But he left her every night, and she lay wide awake long into the morning, so alone. But her love refused to die, and Silvia reali:ed she didn't want it to. So if she could not e his only woman, then she could still at least try to e the most valua le one. 7t was not enough, ut a crum was etter than nothing. 0hen "unir announced that the British )onsul was coming to inspect the newly refur ished port, Silvia grasped the opportunity like a drowning man grasps at a rope. 67 know /ord 0incester very well. .e attended the same school as my father9they are old friends,6 she told him. "unir dropped onto the cushions eside her. 65he trip should take three or four days.6 67 look forward to it,6 Silvia said with a right smile. 68ou can't come with me,6 "unir said flatly. 68ou know how resistant some of the elders on the )ouncil have een to change. 8our presence would make it look as if this deal were your doing.6 Silvia frowned. 6But it was my doing, in as much as our marriage facilitated it. And it is a good deal for the future of D!aradh.6 6A good deal, too, for your 'ngland.6 67t is not my 'ngland2 "y loyalties lie here now, with your kingdom.6 0ith you, she wanted to tell him, ut could not. *ur kingdom, she wanted him to say, ut he did not. 7nstead, "unir shook his head. 6Such usiness is the preserve of men.6 Silvia's temper flared. 68ou do not think that e3ploiting my personal connection to the )onsul is more important than nursing your )ouncil's fragile egos16 she asked tightly. 65hat clutch of children would run in terror at the very idea of making a decision. No wonder your aunt found it so easy to wrest control from them. 7 am your wife, "unir. 0hy will you not have me y your side16 67 am a prince first, and hus and second,6 "unir replied, his mouth tight with anger. 67 rule alone.6 65hen your destiny is always to e alone, no matter how many wives you take.6 Silvia dashed her hand to her eyes. She never cried in front of him, she would not do so now. 6And 7 am destined to e a very lonely woman. 7f you are not willing to let me prove myself then&6 An uneasy silence reigned for some moments. 6.ave a care, Silvia. 5hink, efore you utter another word.6 5he telltale pulse at his neck leapt. )olour streaked the sharp contours of his cheek ones. Silvia clenched her fists eneath the long sleeves of her kaftan. 67 want you to leave,6 she said shakily. "unir stared at her for a long moment. Determinedly, she held his ga:e. .e turned swiftly on his heel and walked away. Silvia dropped onto the scatter of silk and velvet cushions and let go a storm of tears.

)hapter Si3teen Silvia woke up drained from her crying and the restless night that followed. 0hy did love have to e so painful1 She loved "unir not !ust with her ody, nor even !ust her heart, ut with her soul. She loved him, ut "unir would never love her. .e ruled alone and he lived alone, inviolate. 7t was not that she wanted him to change, merely that she wished he would make room in his heart, in his life, for her. But she would always e3ist on the periphery, in the shadows of the harem. .e would not admit to needing another person, for he would e admitting to eing as weak as his father had een. "unir lamed .alimah for ringing D!aradh to the edge of ruin. But he couldn't see that had his father een stronger, his aunt would never have grasped power. "unir thought that isolating

himself made him strong, ut it only made him weak in a different way. .e could not grasp that love, true love, could make him so much more powerful. 5wo days after he left for the meeting with the British )onsul, Silvia was wandering listlessly in the palace's main courtyard when a messenger arrived. 5he gold mine that had een discovered on the order of the two Bedouin tri es was erupting into the very dispute that her hus and had een worried a out. Prince "unir was most urgently re%uired to ar itrate, for the tri es were upon the rink of war. 7n the midst of the commotion caused y scurrying, harassed palace officials and an emergency meeting of the )ouncil, Silvia went in search of "unir's !unior secretary, Da ir, whom she had efriended in the long hours she spent reading in the palace li rary. She had already coa3ed the full story from him when Da ir, reali:ing far too late that he should not have confided in the princess, egan to retreat nervously. 60ait. 5ell me, what has the )ouncil decided to do16 Silvia asked. 65hey will dispatch a messenger to recall the prince from the port.6 6But he is more than a full day's travel away. And then it is at least another to the order.6 6All the more reason for a messenger to e dispatched urgently.6 67s the situation really so grave16 67ndeed, Princess Silvia. Apparently hostilities may reak out at any moment.6 6Surely it makes more sense for Bakri to ar itrate in my hus and's place16 67 am afraid that the )ouncil& 5hey will not act without the prince, .ighness.6 Silvia knew how proud "unir was of the hard#won peace he had esta lished in his kingdom, knew that he feared a dispute like this could %uite easily escalate into nationwide war. .ow could the )ouncil not see it, too1 Briefly, she contemplated petitioning them, ut %uickly a andoned this idea as eyond foolish. 5hey would not listen, she would offend them with her presence and, more importantly, they would have lost precious hours. 65here is no time for this. 5he matter must e addressed now.6 68es, .ighness, ut Bakri and the )ouncil will not96 Silvia clapped her hands together decisively. 6Never mind them. 7 will resolve the matter personally.6

)hapter Seventeen Da ir stared at Silvia, openmouthed at her decision to deal with the political crisis herself. She would have laughed at his e3pression if her mind hadn't een whirring with possi ilities. 67'll need a camel. No, two camels. And supplies. And96 68ou cannot2 7f the prince discoveredB .ighness, you must not26 60hat do you think my hus and would prefer1 5o have war reak out ecause no one took responsi ility to prevent it1 8ou know the answer to that, even if the mem ers of the )ouncil do not. 7 am not afraid of the danger. 6Don't worry, 7 will travel in disguise,6 Silvia said in a hasty attempt to reassure the horrified secretary. .adn't she done so once efore, and hadn't it paid off1 Pushing past Da ir, she hurried ack to the harem. She still had the outfit somewhere. Dou t assailed her as she pulled the headdress over her hair and fastened the and in place. She was not only defying "unir, she was pu licly usurping his authority. *r at least she would e, if he did not authori:e her as his envoy. 0hich he could do retroactively. 'ncouraged y the thought, Silvia fastened a leather elt around her waist and slipped a !ewelled dagger into the sheath, conscious that she was, with this single act, risking everything. 'ven if she did manage to roker a deal, even if "unir did place the veneer of authority upon it, it was possi le, very possi le, that far from eing impressed with her resourcefulness, he would never forgive her. She would lose everything. Perhaps he might even divorce her. 7t was possi le in his country. She would e shamed. She would have to return to 'ngland. And if that happened, "unir might even renege on the deal he was at this very moment going to discuss with the British )onsul. But he had given his word, and that was one thing she did not have to dou t. 0as she eing foolish1 <ndou tedly. )ould she live with herself if she did not act1 No. 5his was

her one opportunity to make the man she loved see her in a new light. 5hat was worth any risk. ;esolutely, Silvia pulled the voluminous cloak around herself and made her way out to the main palace courtyard. Da ir was waiting, dressed for travel. 67f 7 cannot persuade you to reconsider, .ighness&6 68ou cannot,6 Silvia said, clicking her tongue so that her camel fell to its knees to allow her to mount. 65hen 7 will e your escort,6 Da ir said. 65hank you, ut 7 cannot allow you to get into trou le on my ehalf.6 67 am already in trou le,6 Da ir said sadly. 65he prince will e angry with me for not preventing you from going. 7f 7 come with you, .ighness, at least he will know that 7 tried my est to protect you. And esides, you are right. .e would want everything possi le done to prevent a war.6 Silvia hesitated. An escort would undou tedly e useful, especially one she knew and could trust. 67 will intercede with the prince on your ehalf,6 she said. 64ear not.6 Da ir smiled weakly. .is actions might cost him his !o . But did the 'nglishwoman reali:e she might well lose her head1 .e could not help ut admire her courage. Any man would e proud to have such a wife. Any man, with one nota le e3ception. 6"ay the fates smile on us oth,6 he said fervently, as he followed the princess out of the courtyard.

)hapter 'ighteen 5he missive dispatched y the highly insulted Bakri on ehalf of the outraged )ouncil reached "unir early the ne3t morning. /ord 0incester, the British )onsul, was with him when he roke the seal of the note. 6Something wrong, .ighness16 67 must leave at once. 7 am afraid the conclusion of our treaty must e postponed.6 6Postponed2 But there are only a few formalities, a matter of a mere hour or so&6 /ord 0incester spluttered. 6A matter of a mere hour or so could e the difference etween life and death,6 "unir said curtly. 6"y wife's.6 .e lanched as he said the words. 6So you will understand&6 /ord 0incester fanned himself with his copy of the contract. 0hat was it a out these 'nglishwomen who came to Ara ia1 4irst /ord Armstrong's gal, and now this one. 6>ery well, very well,6 he said, making no attempt to keep the irritation from his voice. 67 will await your .ighness's pleasure.6 But the door had already closed ehind the prince. "oments later, he could e seen disappearing out into the desert, a cloud of dust in the wake of his pri:ed white camel the only thing visi le, so fast was the east travelling. "unir did not stop for sleep. .e did not stop for food. .e drank water from his goatskin flask while his camel pounded out the miles across the sand. 5ime and again his hand crept to the reassuring weight of his scimitar. At an oasis, waiting impatiently for his camel to take on water, he honed the wicked lade of his dagger on a rock. 0hat was Silvia thinking, putting herself in such danger1 She knew how delicate the peace was etween these two particular tri es. 0ith a sick feeling, he reali:ed that her understanding of the situation was precisely why she had acted. Because his )ouncil had not2 .e cursed. Silvia was raver, more resourceful and more courageous than every man on his )ouncil. But she was not a man. $icking the camel once more into a thunderous gallop, "unir tried desperately to %uell the churning in the pit of his stomach. 0hen the Bedouins discovered who they had in their midst, they would not hesitate to use her. She would not !ust e a pawn in the artering game, she would suffer for .alimah's crimes. 5hey would& 5hey would& 6No26 .e ellowed the word out loud at the moon that hovered fat and full over his head. Silvia was his. *nly his. Always his. .is wife. .is heart. .is love. 6No26 5his time the word contained a lifetime of anguish. .e loved her. .e needed her y his side. She was a part of him. .ow could he not have reali:ed1 0hy had he not reali:ed1 She was the only woman he needed. 5he one woman he needed. .e loved her. And Silvia9his eautiful, proud, rave Silvia9loved him. .e could see that now, understand her retreat from him these

past weeks as an attempt to protect herself from the threat of another taking her place. As if any woman could2 .ow close .alimah had come to lighting his life along with his father's. .ow could he not have seen9as Silvia had so clearly9that his self#imposed isolation was wrong1 5hat Silvia was no .alimah1 5his old play of hers, to prevent war, she had done only for the good of his kingdom. 5heir kingdom. .e'd never said it. .e did not deserve her. 6But 7 will learn to, if only she is safe,6 "unir shouted to the wind. .e cursed his lindness. .e cursed his history, which until today had ound him as effectively as .alimah had ound his father to her will. And then "unir prayed. /et Silvia e safe. /et her still love him. ;iding pell#mell across the desert to come to the rescue of his love, "unir cast off the chains of his past. .e forgot he was a prince. .e was !ust a man. And he simply wanted his woman ack. )hapter Nineteen As he reached the orderlands, "unir reined in his e3hausted camel. Drawing out his scimitar and !umping down from the saddle in one lithe movement, he strode toward the largest of the tents, intent on murder if necessary. But he stopped short as the heavy curtain that formed the doorway was thrown ack and Silvia stepped out, wearing a man's tunic and cloak, ut no headdress. .is heart leapt. "unir ran toward her, sweeping her up in his arms. 6Are you hurt16 6"unir, 7 must tell you96 6Are you unharmed16 She didn't recogni:e his e3pression. An3iety1 4ear1 No, something else. .e looked stunned. Silvia's heart egan to eat too fast for her to reathe. She had to warn him& ut the words fled. 6"unir.6 She touched his face. Dusty, hot from the sun. 67'm perfectly fine. 7 promise.6 67 thought& 7 thought&6 She touched a finger to his mouth. 6"unir, please don't e angry. 7 had to do something to prevent war. 7t was not Da ir's fault. .e could not stop me9no one could have stopped me9so if you must e angry&6 67'm not angry with anyone, save my )ouncil.6 6*h.6 5he way he was looking at her made her nervous. .e had never ga:ed upon her like that efore. As if& As if& 65he gold mine,6 Silvia said distractedly. 67 should e3plain what's een agreed to so you can formally endorse it. 5hey were only willing to accept me as your envoy if 7 promised that you would come personally. Da ir told me the )ouncil had summoned you so 7 hoped9knew you would come. 7 need to e3plain, efore the head tri esman&6 6No.6 4or once, "unir had no interest in either his people or his kingdom. 6No, whatever it is can wait. 7 have something of far more import to tell you.6 4or a terrifying moment, the urgent note in his voice made Silvia fear the worst. .e was done with her. As he strode away from the Bedouin settlement to the relative privacy of a rocky outcrop, pulling her along ehind him, Silvia wondered if she could ear losing him. She felt nauseous, ut gathering up the remnants of her courage, she prepared to fight one last time for her future. 4or their future. 6"unir, let me e3plain&6 .is smile stopped the words in her throat. 65here is no need. 7 understand,6 he said, pulling her to him, pressing her into his ody as if he would make her part of him. 68ou did it for D!aradh. *ur kingdom.6 6*ur kingdom,6 she repeated in wonderment. 6*urs,6 "unir said firmly. 6<nlike my )ouncil, you were willing to risk your life to protect it. *ur kingdom. 7 am so proud of you, Silvia. But you must promise me never to risk your life like that again. 7 could not ear it.6 6*h.6 "unir laughed softly. 67t is not like you to e lost for words. Don't you want to know why 7 could not ear it16 She could not speak, could manage only a tiny nod. "unir took her hands in his. 65he clouds have finally een lifted from my eyes. 7 have discovered that there is something9someone9even more important to me than D!aradh. 7 love you, Silvia.6

)hapter 5wenty 67 love you,6 "unir said tenderly. 67 love you with all my heart, Silvia. 7 didn't know. 7 didn't reali:e it, ut 7 do now. Say it's not too late.6 6"unir26 6Say you love me, Silvia. 7 want you y my side. 7 want everyone to see you y my side, as my e%ual. 5hat is where you elong. 7 understand now that my thinking has een so skewed y the past9 ut you are different. So very different. 8ou are more than enough woman for me. 7 could never want another. 7 eg of you, put me out of my misery26 5ears sparkled on her lashes. 5he world narrowed, so that it contained only the two of them. 67 love you, "unir. 7 feel like 7've loved you forever. 7 can't elieve& Do you really mean it16 She was crying and laughing at the same time. 67 have never meant anything more in my life,6 "unir said. .is lips touched hers. 5here was a tenderness in his kiss that melted her. Silvia wound her arms tightly around her hus and's neck, opened her mouth and her heart and let him in. 7t was the cheers from the Bedouin tri esmen that rought them to earth some moments later. "unir colored, grinned, ut did not release his wife. 6So, diplomat's daughter, tell me, how have you managed to pour oil on trou led waters16 67 wish 7 could tell you that 7 had an inspired idea all of my own, that my skills alone rought a out this truce,6 Silvia said, 6 ut the truth is, apart from asking them to treat me as an honorary man and your trusted envoy, 7 had a solutely no idea what to do. So 7 asked myself what you would say, and 7 said that. And it worked. 5hey listened, ut only ecause 7 promised that you would say it again in person. 7 knew you would come, ecause whatever you felt a out me, you would not allow war to reak out, and96 67 came here for you and you alone, Silvia. 8ou are my kingdom. 5he only star in my sky.6 Silvia linked away a tear. 67 was afraid that you would divorce me for diso eying you.6 .is hand tightened around hers. 65o e without you would kill me. 7 will never release you from my side again. And if that means taking you to )ouncil meetings&6 6?ood grief, "unir, they would e3pire with shock,6 Silvia said, laughing with sheer happiness. 65hat won't e the only shock. 7 intend to put the ma!ority of them into well#earned retirement. But enough of the )ouncil, let us get the formalities of this treaty you have rokered over and done with. 7 want to make love to you.6 5he gleam in his eyes made Silvia shiver. .e stroked her reast, and heat pooled in her elly. 67t is a full moon tonight,6 she whispered. 6A honey moon.6 "unir's husky laugh gave her goose umps. 67 love you. 'very night will e a honeymoon. 7 have no intention of ever spending another apart from you, 7 promise you, my wife.6 And it was a promise, like all his others, that "unir kept all the days of their lives. 5.' 'ND