The Sheikh's Last Mistress (Harlequin Presents)

by Rachael Thomas

  ‘I have made a new tea for you,’ Mina said in her accented and gentle voice, making her sound very motherly, which provoked a new urge to succumb to tears. ‘It will help to put some colour back into your pale face.’

  Destiny was too emotionally out of sorts to argue or be aggrieved at the comment and sat looking out at the garden and the path which wound its way through the exotic plants towards Zafir’s private garden—the path he’d walked many times as he’d secretly visited her to spend the night in her bed. Nights that would never happen again.

  Destiny took a sip of the warm tea, more to please Mina than to satisfy any need of her own for food or drink. The tea was fresh and reviving and settled the heartbroken queasiness of her stomach. Was this what it was like to be lovesick?

  ‘This is good.’ She smiled at Mina, who looked pleased. ‘I guess I’m feeling a little homesick.’

  ‘You do not like my country?’ The older woman’s smile had dropped and a worried frown creased her brow. Destiny realised she would miss Mina’s kindness when she left.

  ‘I love Kezoban. I’m really happy here, but my work with Majeed is almost over and it’s time to think about going home. In fact can you arrange for me to leave earlier than planned?’

  Once the words were said and she’d committed herself to leaving Kezoban, Destiny’s sense of equilibrium returned. Today she would ride Majeed out of the palace. He was ready and had been for some time. She’d just put it off in order to stay in the dreamlike state she and Zafir had lived in for two weeks. But all that was over. Zafir had had enough of being the playboy Sheikh meeting his mistress in secret and wanted to return to being the duty-bound man his country believed him to be.

  She had what she wanted—distance from her father’s control—and, thanks to the deal she’d struck with Zafir, a means to start her new life in a flat near Milly. Thoughts of her sister crowded in on her and, not for the first time, she wished she could talk to her, but there would be time enough for that when she returned to England. Right now she had one more hurdle to cross with Majeed, then her job would be completed. She would be free to go, but she knew she’d never be entirely free of this desert land or its ruler. He would always be in her heart.

  She dressed in her usual clothes for working with Majeed and Mina watched as she returned from the bedroom, an uncustomary look of concern on the older woman’s face. She liked Mina, who was like the mother figure she’d lost when her mother had died so suddenly. Tears prickled at the back of her eyes as she thought of not having Mina around and inwardly she cursed the unfamiliar highly emotional state she’d slipped into.

  She really must sort herself out. It was time to regain control of her life once more. Time to move on and admit her newly realised love was a lost cause. Zafir had made it clear when he’d bartered for more time with her that it could never be permanent or public. She only had herself to blame and now it was time to put it all behind her. She would finish her work with Majeed and leave.

  Several hours later, she realised she’d had no idea of the time—she’d been so pleased with Majeed’s progress, his trust in her—until the nausea had combined with tiredness and heat, forcing her to seek shade. She knew she shouldn’t have stayed out so long. The sun scorched down on her and, despite the scarf which covered her hair, she felt as if she was on fire.

  The shade of the large rocks at the foot of the mountains she’d ridden past with Zafir the morning of their ride would offer some respite from the heat and a chance for both her and Majeed to rest.

  The stallion stood silently after she’d slipped to the ground to sit on a rock. She tried to push from her mind the story of Zafir’s sister being bitten by a venomous snake, taking comfort in the fact that Majeed was calm, which meant he at least didn’t sense any danger.

  ‘Just a little while and then we will head back,’ she said as much to herself as the horse. Suddenly Majeed’s head lifted, his ears pricked forward. ‘What is it?’

  Destiny hoped it was someone and not something that the horse had heard, but when he whinnied she almost jumped and forced her weary limbs to move as she stood, gathering up the reins and trying to ignore the way her head spun. ‘We’d better go.’

  With more effort than she’d ever needed, she mounted Majeed and, as she pushed him out from the shade of the large rocks, he whinnied again. She glanced quickly around, anxiously scanning the ground for slithering forms, but the pounding of approaching hooves made her look up and out towards the desert sands.

  Zafir.

  What was he doing here?

  Like a fantasy image, he was riding fast towards her, the long grey mane of the stallion flying out and his robes joining in the speed-induced dance. A cloud of dust billowed behind him and all she could think about was that he’d come for her, that he couldn’t stay away, that wanted to be with her.

  As he drew closer, Majeed shifted restlessly but that didn’t alarm her nearly as much as the anger she saw etched in Zafir’s face, anger which didn’t fit with the thoughts she’d just been having. Once again she’d got it all wrong.

  He pulled his grey stallion to a halt, dust spiralling from the ground, and Majeed spun round, anticipating some excitement after standing quietly in the shade with her. She tried to keep her gaze focused on Zafir but the effort made her dizzier than she cared to admit.

  ‘What are you doing here?’ she snapped at him, trying hard to control the thud of her heart at the image he created. He looked wild and untamed and the thud of desire leapt to life within her. As Majeed continued to prance excitedly her stomach lurched uncomfortably.

  ‘I could ask the same of you. Have you taken leave of your senses?’ His raised voice was hard, killing any last hope of him wanting her.

  ‘I was doing my job. The one you contracted me for. To take Majeed out beyond the palace walls.’ Majeed shifted restlessly beneath her and she forced every ounce of strength she had into her words. She would not be dominated by this powerful Sheikh. The attitude which radiated from him now was exactly what she wanted to escape.

  ‘Come,’ he demanded and turned the grey stallion around.

  Before she had a chance to answer, he’d pushed the horse into a gallop, dust flying upwards in its wake, and Majeed reared up, waiting for her command to follow. Only the slightest pressure of her legs was enough to propel him forward and after his master. Majeed’s fast pace jolted her, doing little for her unsettled stomach, and it took great effort to stay on board. Finally the palace was in sight and Destiny breathed a sigh of relief. Her head was spinning and her stomach lurched uncomfortably as the pace slowed to a trot and then thankfully a walk. All she wanted was to rest, to close her eyes and block everything out.

  * * *

  Zafir’s blood fizzed in his veins as he marched ahead of Destiny, back towards her suite, sensing her following with every muscle in his body, but he was too angry to heed that now. What the hell had she been thinking to take Majeed out into the desert alone—in the heat of the day? The anger that had rushed over him as he’d learnt she’d brought forward her departure date had intensified as he’d ridden hard across the desert, knowing instinctively she’d be in the very place he’d taken her that morning they’d gone out, the same area that Tabinah had lost her life.

  Guilt thrashed at him again and he gripped his hands into tight fists as he entered the suite, to find Mina waiting anxiously, the relief on her face at seeing Destiny behind him short-lived when she realised just how angry he was.

  ‘You will rest.’ He turned abruptly to Destiny, causing her to almost walk into him. The urge to reach out and steady her was intense, but he couldn’t. Not yet. His emotions were running wild and he had to analyse them first, get himself completely back in control.

  How had she managed to creep beneath every barrier he’d ever erected around his heart? How had she been able to make him feel, make him care for her? Worse still, how had that care changed to something much deeper, something he just wasn’t able to accept, let alon
e act on?

  ‘I have packing to do.’ Her flippant reply tested him further, but the paleness of her face worried him and he recalled Mina saying she’d been unwell for the last two mornings.

  He tempered his reply. ‘First you rest, then you can prepare to leave. My plane will be at your disposal whenever you should choose to leave Kezoban.’

  ‘My work is done now, Zafir. I want to leave—tomorrow.’ He noticed the slightest rise of Mina’s brow at Destiny’s familiarity in addressing him, but he didn’t care any more what anyone thought. Right at this moment he wanted Destiny to stay for a little while longer at least and give him the chance to deal with the way she made him feel. The fact that he now wanted to put her above his duty to his kingdom, even above the guilt he felt over Tabinah’s accident, was alien to him. He couldn’t think past it yet.

  ‘I understand that, but I wish to hold a feast for you. A mark of my appreciation.’

  ‘That is not necessary.’ She walked across the room and pulled her scarf from her head, letting her hair tumble free, again heightening Mina’s speculation as to what was going on between them. ‘You have paid me to do the work.’

  ‘It is tradition,’ he impatiently tossed at her, wishing they were alone. But then perhaps it was for the best they were not. ‘You may leave after the feast.’

  Without waiting for her response he strode from the suite, marvelling at how a woman he found so attractive could be so infuriating. He was not used to his decisions being challenged—and she’d challenged every single one from the moment they’d met.

  She’d also challenged his duty, the memory of his sister and the promise he’d made to his father.

  CHAPTER NINE

  THE NEXT MORNING, as the pink rays of dawn spread across her bedroom, Destiny felt the nausea return and she knew. She couldn’t dress it up as homesickness any more. She had to face the truth. She was pregnant with Zafir’s baby. Acknowledging that, even silently to herself, made everything not just terrifying but much more complicated.

  Could it really be possible when Zafir had always been so careful? Almost always. There had been just that one time during their first night together when they’d been so consumed with need for each other that she’d had to remind him of the need for contraception. Was it possible that brief moment had been enough?

  Fear speared through her as the nausea engulfed her, but it wasn’t fear of facing Zafir—it was fear of being pregnant. What if she became ill like her mother? If only she’d had those tests done—tests that would reassure her she wouldn’t have to leave her baby alone in the world. A baby that wouldn’t have an older sister to care for it, bring it up and protect it from the wrath of a dominating and controlling father.

  She pressed her hands against her eyes, fighting nausea and fear as they battled for supremacy. If she had this baby she could die, but that wasn’t what she feared most—it was the thought of leaving behind a baby.

  So far she’d made every mistake her mother had made, from falling in love with a man who wanted nothing but to be in control to getting pregnant with his child. There was only one part of the pattern left to replicate.

  Zafir certainly wouldn’t want to discover she carried his child, not when he was about to make a marriage, one that would provide heirs for his kingdom. Legitimate heirs. She closed her eyes against the thought of how he would react to such news. She needed to see her doctor, the one who knew her mother’s medical history. She dreaded what she might be advised to do about the pregnancy, but still there was no way she could tell Zafir yet.

  All she needed to focus on was leaving Kezoban as soon as possible, but definitely before Zafir sought her out this afternoon.

  As the room lightened she packed her few belongings and then took her mother’s diary, holding the tattered box with suspicion. Had keeping such a thing, bringing it with her, been a bad omen, meaning she’d do exactly as her mother had done? She inhaled deeply against a fresh wave of nausea, then stuffed the box hard into her bag, trying not to think too much now.

  She couldn’t cope with such questions; she just needed to get home. But where was home? Her father would be furious about the deal she’d made with Zafir, but even more so when he discovered that she was returning pregnant—a fact she couldn’t hide for long. There was only one place she could go and that was to Milly’s.

  With haste she dressed in her usual clothes, forgoing anything but the headscarf for modesty. She didn’t want to arouse anyone’s suspicion, especially Mina’s. It would hurt to leave the friendly face she’d come to rely on without saying goodbye, but it was for the best. As far as she knew, the plane she’d asked for would be ready to take her away from the desert kingdom and the ruler she’d foolishly fallen in love with.

  She put the final belongings into her bag and zipped it up. Mina could arrive at any time with breakfast. Just the thought of that made her even more nauseous than she could cope with, but she forced herself on, needing to be ready to leave as soon as possible.

  She pulled her headscarf tighter, then picked up her bag and took one last look at her room, especially the bed where she’d discovered the joys of loving, the bed in which she’d given everything to Zafir and conceived his child. Thoughts of him brought tears to her eyes but she shut them tight. Crying was something she hardly ever succumbed to and now she knew why it was all she’d wanted to do lately, but tears were for later, not now.

  With a sigh she turned and made her way to the door, only to see it open and Mina walk in carrying a breakfast tray, followed by a younger maid, carrying the most gorgeous deep purple and gold silk abaya. Mina directed the other maid to leave the abaya before retreating. As the door closed behind her, Mina frowned, glancing down at the bag she carried as she crossed the room to place the tray on the table by the open doors as usual. ‘The Sheikh has requested your presence in his office as soon as you have eaten.’

  The efficient tone of the maid gave nothing away but, even so, she would be sorry to leave her. ‘Thank you. I will go there now—before I leave.’

  ‘You are leaving? Now? What of the feast tomorrow? The Sheikh has sent a gift for you to wear.’

  Destiny looked at Mina, not sure if the older woman would sympathise with her if she knew all the facts. What was she doing, thinking she could confide in a member of Zafir’s staff? Pregnancy was really muddling her mind. Gift or no gift, she had to leave.

  ‘Yes, now.’

  ‘Are you well enough?’ Mina’s dark eyes met hers, unsettling and questioning. Destiny had the distinct impression that Mina knew she was pregnant with the Sheikh’s baby. She thought back to the ginger tea she’d first prepared several days ago. Was it possible that Mina had known long before Destiny herself had acknowledged the sickness for what it was?

  Dread raced through her. If Mina knew, had she told Zafir? Her loyalties would certainly be with her ruler. ‘Of course I’m well enough. I just need to go home now my work with Majeed is done.’

  Mina stepped towards her and took the bag from her, which she let go of without a fight. ‘Eat some breakfast, then see the Sheikh before you make any more decisions.’

  ‘There is nothing more to stay for,’ she said quickly, panic at the thought that Mina might have informed Zafir making her legs weak and her head spin. She didn’t want to inflict on herself, or her baby, a life empty of love because, although she loved Zafir, she knew he didn’t and never could love her. Even if everything went right and she could go ahead with the pregnancy, she had no wish to raise her child in the shadows while he raised a family with his new wife.

  Her mother’s diary told the same story. It left her in no doubt that her mother had hoped for so much more when she’d become pregnant with her first child. She’d wanted love and the kind of happy-ever-after Destiny seriously doubted existed. Those longings had poured onto every page and she’d read the page which told her why she’d been named Destiny many times since.

  Her mother had believed a baby would bring her closer to th
e man she loved, but her father was the same kind of controlling man as Zafir. He was as hungry for power and the unexpected birth of a child had not been what he’d wanted, but he’d done his duty and married her mother.

  The horror of her mother’s death, the blood disease she herself could have inherited, rushed at her. What if she had complications with the birth? What would happen to the baby if she too became a victim of that disease, as her mother had? It was why she’d been adamant she never wanted marriage or children.

  ‘But there is time for breakfast,’ Mina urged gently, so that those stupid tears threatened again and for a brief moment Destiny was tempted to confide in her. No. If Zafir didn’t already know he most certainly would then. He had to be free to do what his position in life dictated. She didn’t want to stop him doing what he needed to do, not when she might never be able to have the baby, a thought which was as devastating as the fear of following in her mother’s footsteps.

  The idea of putting off this last encounter with Zafir suddenly became far more appealing. If she lingered at breakfast, maybe he would be busy with other work and unable to meet her. Much to Mina’s delight, she sat at the table and tried to look delighted with the array of sweet pastries and fruit before her, but her stomach turned and it was almost impossible.

  ‘I have made the ginger tea again—to help with the sickness.’ Mina’s words confirmed her suspicions. Of course the woman would know the signs of pregnancy. She’d probably served many women.

  Destiny nodded. ‘Thank you.’ She couldn’t say anything else. All she could do now was go and see Zafir and hope that he didn’t know, then she could leave, allowing him to make his marriage deal. Only when she’d seen her family doctor could she decide how and when she would tell him.

  * * *

  Zafir stood by the desk as Destiny entered. She looked pale but a determined strength shone from her eyes. Had he got it all wrong? He was sure Mina’s near insolence as he’d demanded to know where Destiny had taken Majeed had been an attempt to highlight not only Destiny’s health but the reason for her current pallor.