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‘You have a brother?’
‘Yes. I was very lucky. I had, for a while, the most perfect family.’ She pulled her lips to the side, lost in thought.
He ran a finger over her cheek, saying nothing, promising nothing. What could he offer, anyway? He’d been completely honest with her. Love would have no part in their marriage, and it was love that had made her family perfect. Love between her mother and stepfather, and both parents and children. They had been a team. She and Khalil would never be that, but with luck, they could love their children enough to compensate. She had to cling to that hope because she had always sworn she would never get married unless she could find someone who made her as deliriously happy as her stepfather had her mother.
‘Excuse me, Your Highness.’ A servant appeared as if from nowhere. ‘The Prime Minister is asking for you.’
A scowl—unmistakable and fierce—crossed Khalil’s face. ‘I’m sure he can wait until tomorrow.’
‘He says it’s important.’
‘It’s fine.’ India took a step back, the appearance of the servant offering her a reprieve from their play-acting.
Khalil’s frustration was palpable, though, and she understood it: he didn’t like to be interrupted. ‘Tell him I’ll be a moment. There’s someone I’d like to introduce India to first.’
Astrid was a very kind and thoughtful companion. She spoke flawless English, courtesy of having attended university in London, and while beautiful and immaculately dressed, she was also friendly enough to set India completely at ease.
‘It’s a whirlwind, isn’t it?’ Astrid laughed as India’s eyes skimmed the crowd, mesmerised by the beautiful dresses and elegant guests.
‘It really is. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anything so beautiful.’
‘Then you should ask my cousin to take you to see the fireflies of the Athani Caves. They will captivate you more than you can imagine.’
‘I’ve never seen a firefly.’
‘At Athani, you will see thousands. They are blinding in their beauty.’
‘I’m sure they are,’ India said, almost wistfully, because she suspected Khalil would have little interest in taking her to some caves to see the insect life. After all, what would the point be? There was no chance of being photographed to substantiate their relationship somewhere so remote, and that was what this dating charade was all about—giving his people a chance to adjust to the idea of his girlfriend before she became his wife.
‘Khal seemed to enjoy dancing with you. It’s nice to see him happy again,’ Astrid said with a gentle smile, flagging down a passing waiter. ‘Would you like a champagne?’
‘Just a juice would be great, thanks.’
Astrid gave the order to the waiter then turned her attention back to India.
‘Was he ever unhappy?’ India asked, feeling a hint of guilt for prying. After all, if Khalil didn’t want to discuss his break-up then she shouldn’t try to extort information from his cousin.
‘Has he told you about Fatima?’
India hazarded a guess that this must be the name of his fiancée. ‘His fiancée,’ she said with a soft nod. ‘He’s mentioned her, in passing.’
‘I see.’ Astrid’s manner changed, her expression growing more circumspect. ‘It was a messy break-up. He wasn’t himself afterwards. I was worried he might suffer the effects of her...choices...for a long time. But you seem to have brought him back to life, India, and for that I am most grateful.’
The waiter returned with two glasses of juice. India thanked him in his own language, having been listening to tutorials since arriving. After all, her children would speak this as their native tongue, so naturally she needed to learn the language also.
As their conversation moved on, India found herself dwelling on Astrid’s final remark, surprised to realise how much she wished that were true—that she could have been responsible for bringing Khalil back to life. The truth was, though, he was still as cold as ever before; he was simply acting out a role tonight.
