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She’d thought of her stepfather, her mother, her father, her aunt, and finally, she’d thought of her womb. She’d retraced the last few weeks in her mind, trying to recall if she’d been as diligent with her birth control as she should have been. It had all been such a whirlwind though, that Cassie was ashamed to admit she couldn’t possibly say with any degree of certainty that she’d taken the pill every day.
Finally, when the sky was fading to a purplish grey, Cassie eased her feet over the side of the bed. She cast a look at Layth, sleeping comfortably, one strong arm tossed casually over his head. Her heart turned over in her chest.
Today, one way or another, they would find out.
And if she were pregnant?
Her stomach rolled at the very notion.
Out of excitement? Or fear?
What would they do if she carried the heir to Takisabad in her body? She knew how important Layth’s descendant would be, not just to him, but to his family and his people.
It would not be a simple matter to negotiate.
Layth would never allow her to raise their child in the United Kingdom. Nor Australia. Layth would want the baby to be born in Takisabad.
And she would go with it.
She, the woman he had no intention of marrying, whom he had proclaimed to be manifestly unsuitable to be either a royal bride or the mother to a royal child. Had he changed his mind?
Cassie moaned softly, and pushed up from the bed.
These answers would not come to her easily. She needed time and space. And she needed to know, for certain.
With a heavy heart, Cassie dressed quickly. The doctor would see them today. Soon, she would know for certain.
If she wasn’t pregnant?
Far worse than contemplating the complications of a child that Layth might resent was the possibility that there was no such baby. That life, and Layth’s plans, would go on as he’d intended. If there were no baby, he would marry one of the three women deemed suitable for him.
He would leave her.
Cassie would be left behind, alone, lonely and miserable without him.
She stuffed a hand against her mouth, struggling to comprehend just how she’d got here. For a woman who prided herself on keeping footloose and fancy free, she’d become utterly hooked on one very unavailable man.
The apartment was dimly lit. Cassie made her way through it, scooping her bag up on the way.
Waiting was an agony.
Coffee would help.
It occurred to her, as she rode the lift down to the elegant foyer of the prestigious hotel, that she should possibly not drink coffee.
She lifted her phone out of her pocket and google searched coffee and pregnancy. She read the first article that came up, barely noticing when a slightly tired looking Agent Two fell into step beside her.
“Where do you come from, just like that?” She murmured, slipping her phone into her bag to fix him with a curious stare.
“Good morning, madam.”
Forever formal, Agent Two’s manner was strangely reassuring. Cassie forced a smile to her lips. She was exhausted. “I’m just popping out for coffee. You don’t need to come with me.”
The look he sent her was difficult to interpret, but she was sure she sensed disparagement in it. Oh, God. Did he know? Had the kind-seeming Doctor Anassi informed security staff of her possible new status as royal baby-maker?
Cassie squirmed inwardly, and focussed her gaze straight ahead.
The Pret a Manger on the corner was bustling, even at this early hour. Crowds of workers, setting about their journey, were jostling to be served inside. Cassie joined the back of the queue and shuffled forward slowly, all the while aware of Agent Two hovering nearby. She ordered a coffee when she reached the front and distractedly handed over some money.
