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His absence from the country had lessened press interest in his mother’s guest, and they’d leave her alone completely once he announced his marriage plans. No one would dig any deeper, and Lily’s fantasy about her parents could stay intact.
Either way, in less than thirty-six hours he was sending her home. He had no business concerning himself any further in her life.
He closed the laptop. He should try for some sleep. There was another packed day ahead of him, and at the end of it his father’s party.
The corridors were deserted as he made his way back to the Family Wing. Leaving him with the sensation of being the only human creature in the Royal Court.
Alone.
Despite the countless people around him, the life of a prince was a solitary one. Would his marriage remove this crushing loneliness? He imagined Aisha waiting for him in his bed. Then tortured himself by putting Lily there instead, her glorious hair spread across the pillow, her slender arms lifting in welcome as he eased into her.
He crossed the last quadrangle and arrived at the stairs to the first floor of the Family Wing. From across the courtyard he caught the flicker of the TV screen in the family room. His steps faltered.
It couldn’t be...?
No. She’d be asleep. Safe in bed.
He ignored the disappointment that flared in his chest. It was becoming familiar and, like his other regrets, he’d learn to live with it. He’d have to.
At this hour it could only be his father. Since his heart attacks he often suffered bouts of insomnia. Perhaps he’d catch him watching re-runs of a melodramatic Nabhani soap. It had recently become the King’s guilty addiction.
Feeling in profound need of his father’s company, all at once Khaled changed direction, heading for the family room.
Sleep just wouldn’t come. It had been difficult enough for the last four weeks, but tonight it was impossible.
The reason was due back at any moment.
Lily pulled a wrap over her silk camisole and shorts and slipped from her suite, meaning to seek fresher air out on the veranda, but somehow making her way to the family room.
She flopped down on the sofa in front of the TV. Watching something light-hearted might help. Stop her wasting time thinking about Khaled. Because his leaving the country to put thousands of miles between them had made it pretty clear how he felt about her.
His absence had also changed the nature of the press interest in her. There’d been some reports, dredging up stories of her mother’s death, but she’d been carefully protected from the worst of it and their interest seemed to have moved on to Khaled’s appearance in New York.
In a few hours she’d see him again.
The shiver of excitement hit instantly, but she tamped it down. She’d had nearly a month to practise controlling the stormy emotions the man unleashed in her. Plenty of time to think about how she’d conduct herself when they next met.
She’d decided she was going to be polite, but distant, as if nothing of any note had ever passed between them. She would attend Bassam’s party and the next day ask, politely but firmly, to go home.
Being here, and being welcomed as part of this family, had been wonderful, but at some point she’d have to return to reality.
She wasn’t a child any more, enchanted by fairy tales. Princes didn’t sweep nameless girls off their feet and put their needs before everything else.
And she’d be fine—really, she would. She’d always looked after herself before. She could do it again.
The TV was tuned to the local news, in English. Before she could switch programmes there was an announcement of the next segment: a repeat of the Crown Prince’s speech to the General Assembly of the United Nations.
Khaled’s visit to New York had been a resounding success. Everyone in the palace—family and staff—had talked of little else for the last few days, but she’d not seen the speech before, pleading a headache when the family had gathered to watch the broadcast live, cravenly avoiding any coverage since. She hadn’t wanted any reminders of the man.
She should change channels now, but her fingers stalled on the remote.
On screen, the General Assembly appeared. The great hall was full to capacity. Millions more would have watched around the world. Waiting to hear a speech from the enigmatic Crown Prince of Nabhan.
An expectant hush descended as all eyes fell on the heart of that iconic hall: the podium of green marble.
Lily lifted her legs and wrapped her arms tight about them as the camera zoomed in.
Khaled stepped up. His impeccable suit was a sharp dark navy. His tie ice-blue. The white shirt made a stark contrast to his olive skin and haunting grey eyes.
