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His mother shrugged. “I would not have said so. Until seeing you with Cassandra, I did know any better. Now? I see you were missing half of yourself.”
“Mother,” he shook his head, though secretly he was thrilled by her words. “You are a romantic.”
“Of course I am.” She flicked her gaze up at him, thinking of the Emir. “Of course, the fact that you have married for love might change things. Perhaps you and Cassandra would like to spend more time together, as a couple, before thinking of creating a child.”
Elena’s cheeks flushed at the personal and invasive statement. Her look was apologetic. She already felt her son’s lineage had become far too public a subject.
“And this would be acceptable to you? And my uncle?”
“Your uncle will be comforted by your marriage.”
He nodded, pretending to give her assertion consideration. “You know, we have spent three months together in London, before getting married.”
“Yes, I know.” She sent him a slightly peevish look. “I was waiting a long time to meet the woman who has stolen your heart.”
“She didn’t steal my heart,” he corrected. “She gave it to me.”
Elena could have been knocked down by a feather. To hear her son speaking in such floral t
erms on the matter of love was the last thing she’d ever expected.
At that moment, Cassie looked over at him, her eyes warm with happiness.
Layth strode toward her, as if drawn by magnetic force. “Cass, mother was just assuring me there’s no rush on the matter of a royal heir.”
Cassie nodded, her pale blue eyes sparkling with their secret. She stood, so that she could put her hand in Layth’s.
“Of course, if we’d known that before …”
Elena looked from her son, to Cassie, to her husband Adin. “What do you mean, Layth?” She’d slipped into her language out of confusion and excitement.
Layth responded in English. “Cassie already carries the continuation of our family.”
Adin stood, embracing his son, and then Cassie. “You are certain?”
Cassie nodded, catching her lower lip between her teeth.
“Oh, your uncle will be thrilled. Every day weakens him. To know a child is due will relieve him hugely.”
Layth shot Cassie a look of encouragement, and she understood the words he hadn’t spoken. Your turn.
“Only imagine how delighted he’ll be to learn there are two little Satis on their way.”
The silence was deafening.
A pin could have been heard dropping.
“Two … little … two? Did you say two?” Elena looked at Adin and switched to her native tongue. “Did she say two?”
Adin rubbed his eyes, and as though he couldn’t help himself, put his hands on Cassie’s stomach. It was not flat. When he touched it, he could feel for himself the burgeoning lives. Only the flowy outfit she wore had concealed it so well.
“Two!” His face beamed.
“How is it possible?” Elena was lost for words. “Two babies! Layth, it is lucky we named you as we did. You will need all that courage with two children at once.” She shook her head and then embraced Cassie. “Oh, my dear daughter, you must take care of yourself. Carrying one baby I found difficult enough. But two!”
Layth wrapped an arm around his wife’s shoulders. “It is why we waited in England so long. The first trimester was hard for Cassie. She was very sick and tired from very early on in the pregnancy.”
“Of course,” Elena nodded sympathetically. “We will do what we can to make it easier for you. Anassi has arranged good care?”
