AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She wrapped steadying fingers around the handrail and stepped from the plane straight into a wall of heat. A pool of sweat bloomed in the small of her back.
Khaled, looking annoyingly cool, had reached his mother and bent to kiss her cheek. Even as he straightened, Lily saw the other woman watching her approach.
Dressed in a lilac linen dress, with a matching jacket draped casually about her shoulders, the Queen was even more beautiful in person than in her photographs.
The marriage of England’s ‘It’ girl, Eleanor Wallace, to the widowed King of Nabhan had been the romance of the age. She’d been eighteen, he twelve years her senior, when they’d been introduced and fallen head over heels in love. Her family had objected to the match, arguing she was too young to take on the role of consort to a foreign king...too young to be stepmother to his three-year-old son.
Eleanor hadn’t agreed.
Within two months they’d been wed. Ten months later little Faisal had gained a half-brother with the arrival of Khaled. Three decades on and she’d made an art form of bending people to her will.
Such was the nature of the creature awaiting Lily has she arrived at Khaled’s side.
‘Mother, allow me to introduce Lily Marchant. Lily, this is Her Majesty the Queen of Nabhan, my mother.’
‘Please, call me Eleanor,’ she said, raising Lily up from her curtsy. ‘And there’s no need for that, my dear. We’re not big on ceremony here. I’m only sorry it’s taken you so long to visit us. The girls in particular will be thrilled to meet you.’
‘Nate suggested they holiday together in Nabhan,’ Khaled explained. ‘As he couldn’t join her straight away I offered to bring Lily with me, so she wouldn’t have to travel alone.’
‘That was thoughtful of you, darling,’ Eleanor said, watching Khaled’s bags being carried from the plane.
Lily’s were conspicuous by their absence.
‘Miss Marchant’s luggage has met with an accident,’ he said. ‘Her hotel had a problem with its sprinkler system.’
‘How unfortunate.’ Eleanor glanced at the plasters on Lily’s shin. It was obvious she didn’t believe the story.
‘Mother...’ Khaled’s eyes were grey flint ‘...I hadn’t expected to see you this morning.’
‘I found myself with a few spare hours.’ She flashed him a dazzling smile. ‘So I thought it would be a nice surprise if I came to meet you.’
Khaled remained unmoved. ‘I see. And the cars I requested?’
‘Oh, I sent them away, dear. I presumed you would be coming to the palace with your guest.’
A muscle ticked in Khaled’s jaw. ‘Miss Marchant won’t be staying at the palace. I’ve offered her and Nate the use of the waterfront penthouse. One of the cars was to take her there.’
‘At the new harbour development? What a lovely idea. It’s so close to the old city and it makes a wonderful base to explore from. You’ll love it there, Miss Marchant.’
At that, Khaled appeared to relax.
Which was the moment Eleanor made her move, stepping between them and taking Lily’s arm.
‘But I won’t hear of you staying alone while you wait for your stepbrother,’ she said, leading her away.
Lily could almost taste the anger pouring off Khaled. They might have just met, but she decided she liked Eleanor already.
As they climbed into the limo Khaled moved to join them.
‘No, darling,’ said the Queen. ‘You take the other car. You must have calls to make, and Lily and I will only disturb you with all our girl-talk. We’ll see you back at the palace.’
Before he could protest, Eleanor’s door had closed and the car was pulling away. Leaving her son standing on the Tarmac, entirely out manoeuvred.
Lily glanced back to see him, with an expression like thunder, stalking towards the remaining limo as the security team scattered to clamber into theirs.
‘Oh, dear,’ said Eleanor, with a mischievous glint in her eyes. ‘Does he look much put out?’
Lily nodded.
