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Becca had been told something, otherwise she wouldn't have known about Grace feeling unwell earlier in the day. Grace felt a tightness in her chest. Qazim had definitely said something to his family. He had broken a confidence. She felt a rising wave of indignation. How dare he do that!
Grace tried to disguise her irritation. Becca was still waiting for an answer, her eyes wide, an expectant smile on her face.
Grace thought for a moment. Could she really face a family encounter, right now? They would all be there. Zaheer, Riaz, Eva. Qazim, as well. It would feel almost like she was being assessed, Grace told herself. As if she was being examined as a potential wife. Because she was sure they would all know that Grace was possibly going to become Qazim's wife. Even if he hadn't said as much, even if he hadn't spelled it out, they would all know.
Grace thought about the possibility of Qazim revealing even the slightest detail, the merest hint of their situation. She felt indignation tug at her. She tried to make sure her features were stony and impassive. She didn't want Becca knowing how that revelation had made her feel.
Even if she was going to leave tomorrow, the fact that Qazim might be playing some kind of game, irritated her. Who did he think he was?
Maybe a visit like that would clear some things up, Grace thought. At the very minimum, she would be able to get something off her chest when she finally spoke to Qazim.
"Okay," Grace said abruptly to Becca. "I'll come."
Becca smiled. "Great!" she exclaimed. She seemed genuinely pleased.
"Let me get ready, Grace said.
Becca glanced down at Grace's outfit. "It's nothing formal," she said. "You can come as you are."
Grace nodded. "Okay. If you say so." Maybe Becca was right. It would be a quick visit. Grace would get everything sorted with Qazim and then she'd leave. That sounded like a plan, she told herself.
They went back into the apartment. There was squealing and laughter coming from the far side of the room.
Becca went to Tariq and lifted him up. "What have you been up to?" she asked, snuggling up against Tariq's face. He responded with a huge smile and a determined attempt at pulling Becca's nose off her face.
Grace started to get ready to leave. It was going to be a brief visit to Zaheer's palace. If she had anything to do with it.
Qazim was going to give her some answers to some tough questions. The problem was, would she have an answer to the only question he would ask her.
Was she willing to stay and become his wife?
CHAPTER TEN
'They're here," Eva said as she walked back into the sitting room in Zaheer's palace. "And Grace is with them," she added with a note of victory in her voice. Eva glanced toward Qazim and smiled broadly.
Qazim's heart quickened instantly and stood up from his chair. He started to pace nervously. Zaheer and Riaz were seated on a wide sofa. His brothers watched him and they both laughed out loud.
"Calm down, brother," Zaheer said. "It'll be fine. I told you Becca would persuade Grace to come."
Eva smiled at Qazim. "There's nothing more persuasive than an American woman, Qazim. Don't you know that, already?"
"I suppose I should," he answered hesitantly.
It was a good-natured jibe from his brother Riaz's wife. Qazim smiled weakly at Eva. She was elegantly dressed in a plain traditional robe that clung to her figure. Her head was uncovered, showing her blonde hair which was tied back in a bun. Her soft skin was tanned, the effect of having lived for almost a year in the desert with Riaz. Her bright blue eyes had a mischievous glimmer in them.
Qazim felt nervous, but that shouldn't have surprised him. This was probably the most important evening of his life, so far. Everything rode on this last, desperate effort he'd arranged. If he didn't persuade Grace that this was where she belonged, he didn't know what he would do.
He glanced around the room. These three people were amongst the most important in his life.
Apart from Grace, of course, who had become everything to Qazim. The entire focus of his existence. Especially now that she was carrying his child.
His heir.
He paced a bit more, glancing from time to time at the others. His oldest brother, Zaheer was leaning back nonchalantly, one arm stretched along the back of the sofa. Zaheer was obviously enjoying watching Qazim suffer.
He recalled Zaheer's comments from their earlier conversation. Qazim wished he had Zaheer's confidence that everything was going to work out. That Grace would consent to staying, even temporarily.
His other brother, Riaz, sat stiff-backed and erect, looking out of place and mildly uncomfortable in these sumptuous surroundings. Truly, Riaz looked like a figure out of the past, an exotic figure, with his traditional robe draped around him, and his headdress with the corded wrap.
