Trish Morey - Harlequin romance author

Chapter One

'Who's the woman?' With just three sharp words, Sheikh Tajik al Zayed bin Aman cut off the tedious affairs of state update being delivered by his secretary as he wandered closer to the window. It had been a long flight and the stranger he'd just spied sitting near the pool was far more interesting than the latest exchange rate fluctuations of his Emirate's currency. 'What is she doing here?'

Kamil temporarily abandoned his recitation of numbers and followed his ruler's gaze through the wall of windows and past the palm lined lawns to the pool area beyond.

'This is the one we employed as your mother's companion after Fatima was taken ill. I sent word to you while you were in Paris for the oil summit...' His secretary trailed off, suddenly hesitant, as if concerned he'd overstepped the mark in retaining a local woman to be Nobilah's companion during their Gold Coast sojourn.

'Ah yes,' Tajik said, recalling the case of appendicitis that had seen Fatima packed off to hospital for emergency surgery. 'I just did not expect Nobilah's new companion to be quite so young.' Or quite so attractive. Even from this distance he could see her features were far from plain, her figure, even though demurely dressed from neck to knee in light trousers and shirt, no chore to behold. 'So why is she alone and not looking after my mother?'

As if on cue, Nobilah emerged from the pool-house behind, the dark abaya she'd favoured since her husband had died swirling about her like a cloud as she walked. He watched the younger woman rise and then adjust the umbrella shading his mother from the Queensland sun as she settled herself into the chair alongside. Then the young woman sat back down, picking up a newspaper from a wrought iron table sitting between them, her lips moving as she read aloud.

His mother laughed at something and he could almost hear her musical chuckle. He couldn't help but smile. It had been a tough year - for all of them - and it was good to see her laugh. Very soon he would hear it for himself. After the tense and at times heated negotiations of the past week, he deserved it. And now they would have the last weeks of their summer break together.

'I must go and let Nobilah know I have returned from Paris,' he said over his shoulder. 'Was there anything more, Kamil?'

His secretary cleared his throat. 'As a matter of fact, Excellency, there is one more item I must bring to your attention...'

'Can it wait? I am anxious to catch up with my mother.'

'I think you will want to hear this, Excellency.'

Tajik looked around in surprise. His secretary knew him too well to keep him over some trifling matter when he was already taking his leave. He moved away from the window, his attention now fully on his secretary, the stranger all but dismissed from his mind. 'Well, what is it?'

'There have been murmurings from home... It appears Qasim has raised with the council of tribal leaders some concerns about the ascendancy...'

Tajik's blood chilled at the news but it was to Kamil that his ire was directed right now. 'And you thought it more important to relate Jamalbad's exchange rates than my cousin's machinations behind the scenes?'

His secretary had the good sense to look nervous. 'Reports have just come in,' he said, bowing deferentially. 'They have yet to been confirmed-'

'Then have it confirmed!' he snapped as he began pacing the spacious living area in long purposeful strides. 'And tell me why should my cousin bring such concerns to the Council? If anything happens to me, he knows he is next in line to the throne. His place is assured.'

'He has apparently told the council members he believes Jamalbad's future cannot be assured unless there is solid provision for the future. Unless there is an heir.'

Tajik's feet came to a sudden halt. 'My father has been dead but one short year and Joharah with him! Would Qasim have me casting my seed at the first woman to cross my path? Besides, everyone knows that my cousin is more an agent of instability than of peace - otherwise why would he be stirring up trouble while my back is turned?'

'Qasim cloaks his desire for the throne in concerns for Jamalbad. Some of the Council will take his words at face value.'

'And some members of the Council would be swayed by the dance of the cobra.' Tajik thumped his closed fist against the nearest piece of furniture with so much force it made his secretary jump. 'He must be stopped! If these reports are true, we must return to Jamalbad immediately. Prepare to make the necessary arrangements.'

Kamil hesitated. 'Before I do - there's one more thing you should know. There is a suggestion that he has told the Council that he has found you the perfect bride.'

'He has WHAT? Who is the delightful creature this snake of a cousin of mine would see me saddled with?'

'His daughter, Abir.'

Tajik laughed out loud. 'In the name of Allah, the girl is but a child! She must be no more than ten years old. He wants the throne so badly he would sacrifice his own child to his cause?'

'Abir is fourteen at her next birthday. More than old enough to become betrothed if the Council so approves.'

'Not to me, she's not! I will not manipulated by a madman into marrying a child less than half my age, especially not his own spawn, merely to give him greater access to the throne.'

Kamil frowned. 'Beware, Excellency. From what's been said, some of the council are in favour of the match. They believe you have mourned long enough, that it is time you gave away your playboy ways and find a bride to provide Jamalbad with an heir. Qasim has intimated that he is acting in your best interests and that the best way forward for both you and Jamalbad is a betrothal announcement that is just days away.'

'So now a single life is to be interpreted as "playboy ways".' He sighed. Given his age and his position he'd had his pick of women if and when he'd wanted - but losing Joharah had taken the edge off his needs and the nameless and faceless women since then had been few and far between, his wants nowhere near approximating what his cousin's words had implied.

He stared blindly out the window, the blood hammering with fury in his veins. So Qasim meant to tie him into a betrothal in his absence, a betrothal he would otherwise be neatly boxed into on his return? No wonder his belligerent cousin had been so accommodating when Tajik had informed him of his plans to take his mother away from Jamalbad's month of horror heat to the relative cool of tropical Australia.

But there was no way he would allow himself to be manipulated like that. And there was no way he would marry his cousin's teenaged daughter. No way in the world.