‘I can’t believe how far you’ve come.’
‘I know.’ Georgie admitted, closing her eyes and letting joy flood through her, because a couple of years ago today would have been impossible, the thought of a spa abhorrent, but now she could relax, could enjoy healing hands on her, and it was her dream to in some small way impart the same experience in her work. She wanted to help others as she had been helped.
‘Your Highness!’ Georgie had forgotten for a moment her sister was now a princess and she was jerked out of her introspection as a nervous receptionist approached. ‘We would, of course, never normally disturb you, it is a strict rule of the spa, but the palace has called …’
‘It’s fine,’ Felicity said, and took the phone and then spoke with a nail technician, who was standing by. ‘Would you excuse us, please?’ Only when they were alone did she take the call, a smile on her face as she listened, her voice reassuring when she spoke. ‘No, you’re not making a fuss … I’ll come now.’ She paused for a moment. ‘You were right to call me.’
‘What’s going on?’
‘Jamal,’ Felicity said. ‘She’s done this a couple of times. Hassan’s away and she’s anxious, she’s not sure whether or not she’s having contractions.’
‘Surely there are a million doctors on call for her?’
‘Exactly.’ Felicity rolled her eyes. ‘The whole country is holding their breath about this baby and the palace doctor isn’t taking a single chance—last week she ended up being taken to hospital and monitored. There were the press waiting before she even arrived at the hospital and it was only Braxton-Hicks’ contractions. She probably doesn’t want another repeat.’
‘Poor thing.’
‘You stay here and finish. If we both dash off, they’ll suspect something,’ Felicity said. ‘I don’t want to give anyone here a hint—I’ll make out that Azizah’s fretting for me or something.’
Georgie stayed for a little while, had her feet hennaed with pretty flowers and her toenails painted, but it wasn’t as much fun without Felicity and after an hour or so Georgie chose to head for home, or rather the palace that she called home for now. Even as the car swept into the driveway, still she had trouble believing this was where her sister actually lived. It was just a world away from the small house in which they had grown up, in the North of England. A house Georgie had never considered home. A house she had run away from at every opportunity.
For the first time the palace doors didn’t magically part as Georgie climbed the steps, but just as she was wondering if such a magnificent door even had a doorbell, it opened, and there, most unexpectedly, was Ibrahim.
‘Where’s Felicity?’ She peered over his shoulder as he let her in.
‘At the hospital,’ he replied. As she stood in the hallway two maids dashed up the stairs without stopping to greet her or bow their heads to Ibrahim. ‘Jamal is having the baby, so things have been thrown into chaos here—they are trying to get hold of Hassan.’
‘I thought it was a false alarm. It’s too soon!’ Georgie said, but Ibrahim seemed unperturbed.
‘Your sister says it is a little early, but it will be just fine. My father just left for the hospital. Felicity explained you were at the spa. She was going to have a message sent for you but things started to move rather quickly, otherwise I’m sure we would not have been left alone.’ And that small comment told her he had been warned about her, but he did not linger on the matter, just stood silently as a group of robed man swept past, all deep in urgent conversation.
‘Where’s Azizah?’
‘With the nanny. She is getting her ready.’ At first she assumed it was a slight slip in English, that the nanny was changing a nappy or getting her niece dressed, but Georgie soon realised there had been no miscommunication.
‘She will bring her to the car. You need to get your things together too. We should leave soon,’ he said, but Georgie just stood there.
‘Leave?’
‘We need to get to the hospital.’
‘Me?’
‘You’re family,’ Ibrahim said. ‘And the future king is about to be born. Why wouldn’t you want to be there?’
‘Because I’ve never spoken to my sister’s sister-in-law before for starters!’
Felicity had warned her to hold her tongue, to think before she spoke, and Georgie wondered if she’d gone too far, but his mouth moved into a smile she hadn’t been privy to in a very long time, a smile like no other because it told her that his question had been teasing, that he took no offence at her response. It was a smile that welcomed her to his world, that told her he understood how bizarre this all must seem. Then he must have remembered he was still sulking because his smile faded and his words were stern when they came.
‘I am looking forward to this about as much as you are. There is no choice.’
Rina came down with little Azizah, who was wrapped in a delicate cream shawl ready to meet her new cousin, and the enormity of what lay ahead hit Georgie then.
‘I really don’t think anyone would notice if I didn’t attend.’
‘Oh, they’d notice.’ Ibrahim said. ‘You are to bring Azizah.’
‘I’m not ready …’ She gestured to her clothing. The loose white dress was crumpled from the oils, her hair heavy and greasy from her scalp massage, and she didn’t have a scrap of make-up on. Worse was the thought of being amongst the royals. Being a part of such a prestigious event had her head in a spin—but a maid slithered a veil over her and Georgie was grateful in that moment for the robes, for the shield, for the anonymity it would afford her.
Without it, she would never have made it through the day.
As they all walked out to the waiting car and she saw the police motorbike escorts waiting for them, it was all too intense for Georgie. The silver limousine with blacked-out windows that had taken Felicity and herself to the day spa had been replaced by a black vehicle that was far more formal. There was even a flag at the front.
‘It’s like a royal parade,’ Georgie attempted as the door opened, and then she swallowed at Ibrahim’s response.
‘That’s exactly what it is.’
One minute she was enjoying a spa day with her sister, the next she was to be a visible member of Zaraq’s most prominent family. One minute she was an occasional, albeit enthusiastic aunt. Now, though, when Rina handed her Azizah, she carried in her arms Zaraq’s newest princess.
‘Why aren’t the windows blacked out?’
‘We are on official duty!’ Ibrahim informed her. ‘The people of Zaraq want to see their royal family on a day like today.’
Perhaps he mistook her panicked eyes. ‘We can go separately if you prefer,’ Ibrahim offered, but it wasn’t being with him that had Georgie nervous, it was the thought of doing this without her sister.
‘No,’ Georgie croaked. ‘Stay.’
She was a complicated mix, Ibrahim thought as he climbed in beside her. So outwardly confident, so bold and assured, and yet … He looked over, but she stared ahead, her blue eyes unblinking, and he could hear her drawing in deep breaths. There was a fragility to her that his brother missed, that others missed, and he could not just abandon her on a day like today. As the car moved from the palace and into the streets, Ibrahim told her a little of what she could expect.
‘Now that the king has arrived at the hospital, there will be great excitement, people gathering.’
It was all more than Georgie could immediately take in, though later she would surely go over it in her mind again and again, for as they approached the hospital, crowds of people were waving and cheering as the latest royal car arrived. It was the most bizarre moment of her life, and as she climbed out, holding Azizah, never had Georgie felt more responsible. She was filled with a need to take care of her niece as Felicity would want her to. She held Azizah close and pulled the shawl to shield the baby’s eyes from the fierce afternoon sun. Ibrahim waited patiently and then walked beside her, greeting waiting staff members who briefed him as they we
nt to join the rest of the royals.
‘It won’t be long apparently,’ Ibrahim informed her. ‘The birth is imminent, and Hassan has just arrived.’
They arrived at a waiting room like no other. There were staff on hand offering refreshments, and Rina, who had followed in another car, offered to take Azizah, but Georgie declined. ‘I’ll hold her. Where’s my sister?’ she asked, and it was Ibrahim who found out.
‘Felicity is staying with Jamal for the birth.’ He saw her blue eyes shutter. ‘I know it’s a bit overwhelming.’
‘A bit?’
‘Very,’ Ibrahim conceded. ‘I will stay with you.’ Even if it had been forbidden by his brother—in fact, just that morning, as Ibrahim had been heading out for a ride, Karim had issued an updated warning for him to stay away from Georgie—he did not care. The ways of his family overwhelmed even Ibrahim at times, so how much harder must it be for Georgie? And without the help of her sister too. ‘You don’t have to worry about anything.’
Georgie blew out a breath. ‘I don’t know how Felicity copes …’
‘It’s the life she has chosen, though it’s not like this all the time’ He watched as she held little Azizah closer, more, he guessed, for her own sake than the baby’s.
‘Well, I couldn’t do it.’
‘She does very well.’
She frowned as she turned to him, surprised by the genuine admiration in his voice when he referred to Felicity. ‘I thought you didn’t like her.’
‘I like her a lot,’ Ibrahim said. ‘My concern is for you.’ And then he gave a wry smile. ‘Not that you want it.’
‘She’s not using me.’
‘Of course she is,’ Ibrahim said. ‘And I don’t blame her a bit for it. She is here alone in a foreign country, she wants her family close—and she wants you to use her too.’ He’d voiced every one of her thoughts. ‘She wants you, the sister she loves, to share in the riches, but you feel beholden.’
And she closed her eyes, so raw was that nerve.
‘Look after yourself, Georgie.’
‘Like you do?’
He was about to say, yes, give his usual arrogant reply, yet she made him think, made him pause, and rather than answer her question, he looked at his niece, sleeping the sleep of the innocent. He ran a finger down the baby’s cheek and his reply was honest.
‘Like I try to.’ Ibrahim said, ‘but we are all beholden.’
For now, circumstance dictated he be here for the royal birth. It was his duty to see it through, yet he was surprised at his building anticipation. He had been touched by the people’s joy as they had driven through the streets. He was relieved perhaps because, when his father had been ill, when Hassan and Jamal had failed to produce a baby, there had been talk of Hassan renouncing his birthright, which would have bought Ibrahim one step closer to the unthinkable—that he might one day be king.
He was relieved, that was all, Ibrahim told himself as the lusty cries of a newborn assured Zaraq’s future.
‘A son!’ The king beamed. ‘Our future king has been born. A little small, a little weak, but the doctor assures us he is healthy, that he will grow and be strong.’ He looked over at his errant youngest son and in a rare tactile moment embraced him. ‘It is good you are here to share in this day.’
It felt good.
The unvoiced admission surprised him.
‘Come,’ the king ordered. ‘We move to the balcony to share the joyous news with our people.’
It was a good day, an exciting day, a miraculous day. Ibrahim looked at Georgie, who was completely out of her depth and more than a little lost, and as he went to her side he could see the terror in her eyes. As promised, he stood by her as they moved to the balcony.
‘This,’ he explained, ‘is the announcement. This tells our people all is well. When Hassan and Jamal’s first son, Kaliq, was born and we knew he would not survive, there was a small press release and no further comment. Today the people of Zaraq will know all is well.’
She stepped onto the balcony, holding her tiny niece, and heard the screams and cheers from the streets below.
‘You’re doing great.’ He was being incredibly nice.
‘Thanks.’ Georgie shivered through her teeth. ‘The thing is I have no idea what it is I’m doing.’ Still, the excitement was palpable and Georgie joined in, even waved to the people below and had an ‘if only they knew’ moment when she thought of her friends back home. ‘Luckily it’s just for today.’
But it wasn’t just one day for Ibrahim. This was what he was being asked to return to, he thought as he stared out at the crowd. This might be his future.
CHAPTER SIX
‘DO I have to wear this?’ This was so not what Georgie had come to Zaraq for. It was a trip to see her sister, to spend time with her niece, but now she was to dine tonight with the princes and the king, and it seemed there was no getting around it.
‘The heir was born today.’ She could hear the exasperation and guilt in her sister’s voice. ‘Georgie, we will have time together, it’s just with Jamal’s baby coming early … Please, just go with things for a couple of days.’
It was arguably worse than the wedding. To ensure she was fit for the king’s table, maids had braided her long blonde hair and kohled her eyes, and now a garment had been laid out on her bed—a long lemon dress with beading and patterns down two front panels. It wasn’t even close to anything she would have chosen.
‘You look gorgeous,’ Felicity lied, because the lemon would have looked stunning with olive skin and a coil of dark hair, but it clashed with blonde and both sisters knew it.
‘I look like a lemon meringue pie.’ Georgie responded, but she didn’t want to add to her sister’s guilt. She actually managed a laugh as she peered in the mirror. ‘And why is my rouge orange? Anyway, it doesn’t matter, it’s just dinner … I’ll be fine. You will be sitting next to me?’ Georgie checked, but her heart tripped to a race when Felicity grimaced.
‘I will, but I might have to pop up and feed Azizah. She fell asleep straight after her bath so I don’t think she’s going to last the whole meal.’
‘You can’t leave me with them.’
‘I wouldn’t normally—who could know Jamal was going to have the baby early? And I didn’t know there’d be a formal function the day he was born.’
‘Formal!’ Georgie gulped.
‘Well, not formal exactly,’ Felicity quickly backtracked. ‘I mean, it’s family but Jamal’s family are coming too and they’re very traditional … Georgie, I don’t want Rina to feed Azizah unless I really can’t be there. I have had to stand my ground with this—it’s the height of bad manners here to excuse yourself during a meal, but Karim’s spoken to his father …’
‘You’ve got an exemption.’
‘I can’t back down.’ Felicity was torn. ‘But if it is too much for you … If it’s going to set you back …’
‘Felicity.’ Georgie was firm. ‘Not everything goes back to my eating disorder. Any person would be nervous at having to attend a formal dinner with a king.’
‘I know. I’m just so sorry that it’s on your second night. It won’t happen again. We don’t usually dine with the king—normally it’s Karim and me in our suite.’
‘So who’s going to be there?’
‘The king, and Hassan will be there with Jamal’s parents and family. Ibrahim, I hope.’
‘Hope?’ Georgie closed her eyes for a moment. She really did not want to face him looking like this.
‘That’s all you can do when he’s around.’ Felicity gave a wry smile. ‘How was he today?’
‘He seemed to enjoy the celebration—he was thrilled for his brother.’
‘Karim said you two spent a lot of time together.’
‘He speaks English,’ Georgie said tersely. She did not have to explain herself, they had done nothing wrong, but she quickly changed the subject. ‘What about the queen?’
‘You know she doesn’t live here.’
; ‘So when will she get to see her grandson?’
‘When Hassan and Jamal take him to see her—like I did when Azizah was born. Mind you, with him being a little bit premature, it might not be for a while.’
‘So she won’t get to see him?’
‘Georgie, please …’ Her sister was nervous and it irritated Georgie.
‘We’re not allowed to talk about it even in the privacy of my bedroom?’ Georgie shook her head in disbelief. ‘I don’t know how you live like this, Felicity.’
‘I have a wonderful life,’ Felicity said, ‘and of course we can talk about things. It’s just …’ Felicity screwed her eyes closed for a second. ‘Just not at dinner. Georgie, I’m asking you to be discreet. There are things that aren’t to be discussed.’ She tried for the umpteenth time to explain to her younger sister the strange ways of Zaraq. ‘It’s a very delicate subject, The king misses her terribly, he mourns for her.’
‘She’s not dead,’ Georgie pointed out. ‘All he has to do is pick up the phone.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘Don’t worry, I’m not going to say anything to embarrass you—I’ll be suitably demure.’
She was, and it had nothing to do with Felicity’s warning. The vast table, the company, the introductions, the surroundings had Georgie overwhelmed.
There was no sign of Ibrahim and she heard the king say his name a couple of times to Karim.
‘When do we eat?’ Georgie asked her sister, when they had been sitting for what seemed ages.
‘When the prodigal son appears.’ Felicity answered, and Georgie felt nervous on his behalf. ‘Are you okay?’
‘I’m fine.’ But even if she appeared calm, inwardly she was dreading that her sister might have to leave. Especially as Felicity had told her that though they usually did their best to converse in English when she was around, it wasn’t possible tonight as Jamal’s family spoke only Arabic. ‘They are discussing when a photo of the new heir will be released.’ Felicity did her best to keep up with the conversation, but even that lifeline was lost when a maid whispered in her ear and Felicity, with a rather terse nod from the king, excused herself.
Heart of the Desert Page 5
