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“Oh, please.”
Sayed spent the next five minutes quoting statistics for crime against women traveling alone, particularly out of their home countries.
“Why do you know all this?”
“My cousin Samira wanted to go backpacking across Europe without bodyguard or chaperone a couple of years ago.”
“How old was she?” He was thirty-six, Liyah knew. She couldn’t quite picture a woman in the same age bracket wanting that kind of trip.
But then again, why not?
“Twenty-two. Her mother is my father’s younger sister.”
“And you said no.”
“Actually, my father refused permission on the request of my aunt.”
“Why not her own father?” Or Samira’s mother, for that matter?
“Her father died in the explosion that killed my older brother.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It is an old grief.”
“But not one that ever goes away completely.”
“No.”
“So, I bet Samira was mad.” Or maybe being raised in the royal family had made it easier to accept restrictions for the woman who was four years younger than Liyah.
“We found her a well-trained female bodyguard team and a companion to travel with her.”
“And they went backpacking?” Liyah asked in shock. “Seriously?”
“With a few travel compromises, yes.”
“Let me guess, they rode first class on the trains and had drivers in the cities they visited on a well-ordered travel itinerary.”
He smiled winningly. “Something like that.”
“So, is Samira your only cousin?”
“No, she has a younger brother. Bilal. My aunt was pregnant when she lost my uncle.”
“Are you close?”
“He is twelve years my junior.”
“I’m sure he looks up to you.”
“I spent what time I could with him since moving back from the States, but he left for his own years at university. Bilal was to return to Zeena Sahra in time for my wedding.” Sayed’s lips twisted in a grimace.
“He is close with my father. He stepped in for his deceased brother-in-law from the beginning.”
“Bilal is lucky to have you both.”
Sayed shrugged. “He is family.”
