She grinned. “Did you read Will’s article?”
He frowned. “It’s out already?”
She nodded. “It’s what finally got through to me.”
“How is it?” He prompted.
“Let’s just say that I think he’s a fantastic guy,” she promised. “It’s perfect. He says that we argue because we’re a real couple. Because we’re not polite and civil to one another, as strangers might be. I don’t mind fighting with you. Just so long as we always make up.”
“Always,” he promised.
Together, they looked out on the ocean and for the briefest second, Abigail could have sworn she saw a mermaid’s tail kick off the surface and then disappear.
There was magic in the world, and it had blessed them again and again.
Epilogue
“You’re sure it is normal?”
Abigail cast her husband a look of pure fury. “This. Is. Not. Helpful.”
He frowned and held his hand out once more. She squeezed it tighter than he’d imagined she could have the strength for but he said nothing.
Her pain made him ache. He wished he could do something to take it away. Though he loved Michael and knew he would love their newest baby too, he cursed in that moment that he had ever caused her to conceive another child.
Her pain could not be eased by anything but delivery and finally, after what felt like an eternity to Kiral (and certainly longer to Abi!) a flailing baby, pink and chubby, was pulled from her body and placed on a nearby table.
The baby wasn’t crying, and Abigail, despite feeling like she’d been run over by a freight truck, pushed up to sitting. “What is it?” She demanded, her tone imperious, her eyes fevered.
The doctors, including R’izar, were bent over the little girl, and Abi turned to Kiral. She was filled with worry. “Is something wrong? Why isn’t she crying?”
No abnormalities had been detected at any of her foetal ultrasounds. The baby had been growing perfectly.
And when Abigail felt like her sanity might snap from worry, the baby began to bellow. Loud, screaming calls that echoed around the hospital and proclaimed the arrival of the newest royal.
“She is perfect,” R’izar glowed, wrapping her in a blanket and carrying her to Abigail’s chest. He placed her down gently and Abi sobbed. The baby was already alert, her little eyes peering up and floating around the room. Though she couldn’t make anything out, of course, beyond a few blurred outlines, she could hear their voices and she could smell her parents.
Abi kissed her forehead and sobbed once more.
“And so our magic continues,” Kiral murmured, running a finger down his daughter’s soft, plump cheek. He had never seen a baby so tiny. She was like a doll, only more beautiful and more fragile.
“Another blessing,” she agreed.
Abi took only a few moments to enjoy the peace before smiling up at her husband. “You can let them in.”
He shook his head. “It is too soon.”
“Nonsense.”
He stood. He was torn between paternalistic pride to show off his daughter and a soul-deep need to provide comfort for his wife.
“I’m fine,” she promised.
He moved to the door and pushed it open. Beyond it stood a huddle of nervous, excited loved ones. Annette, of course, holding Michael against her shoulder. Lilah looking like she was about to jump out of her skin, and Will, who had become somewhat of a fixture at the palace. Even Kiral’s uncle was there, his eyes glimmering and his expression glowing. As they moved into the room, the uncle stopped long enough to put a hand on Kiral’s shoulder. “You have fixed it all,” he said seriously. “You have done what I could not.”
The cryptic remark was not something Kiral could interpret at that time. He simply nodded and put a hand around his uncle’s slender shoulders. “Come and meet our daughter.”
“She’s divine,” Lilah sighed. “A little angel on earth.”
“There’s about ten thousand people waiting downstairs to hear about her, too,” Will said with a rueful grin at his friend. “And you thought your people wouldn’t accept Abi as their Queen?”
Abi’s cheeks flushed. It had become a source of great teasing for her husband that Abi had become more adored and revered than anyone could have foreseen. Her popularity outstripped his in every way. The cruel article that had been written about her had sparked a kind of national outrage. People were clamouring to defend her and point out how brave she had been to raise a sick child on her own simply because she respected the royal customs of Delani. She had been touted as a perfect bride and even Melania, herself now married, had sent a secret note months after Abi and Ki’s wedding. We would never have married. He would never have lived without you and I always knew it. I’m pleased for you, your highness, and hope we can meet when ‘the dust settles’. M.
In the months after her daughter’s arrival, Abi thought about fate often, contemplating the magical whims that chose one path over another, then veered to a new direction out of nowhere. Fate, people’s decisions, their motivations — so many paths had run together to form this reality for Abigail. And one man’s particular choice had been, almost, the most vital. And so Abigail called for a man of whom she thought often, and always with gratitude.
The guard approached the Emira’s private office cautiously. After all, he was a lowly palace sentry, and this was the inner sanctum of the royal family.
But when he entered, Abigail stood and smiled brightly. She crossed to him and extended her hands. He did likewise in instinctive response.
“You remember me.” It was a statement rather than a question.
“Of course, your highness,” he said, bowing low.
She laughed. “If you hadn’t taken pity on me on that very hot, unbearable day, when my nerves were torn to shreds and I was certain everything was about to go wrong, I don’t know what would have become of me, or my son.”
His eyes sparkled with pleasure at the unexpected compliment. Though he had often felt relieved that things had turned out as they had, he never once felt she owed him another thought.
“You have good instincts, sir,” she said. “I respect good instincts.” She squeezed his hands and then stepped backwards. The guard couldn’t believe how beautiful and regal she looked; even as a dusty, heat-worn woman, she had been pretty, but now? She looked like she belonged in this building more perhaps than anyone ever had before.
“I want someone like you on my children’s security detail.”
He froze. “Madam,” he shook his head. “It is not, how you say, possible.”
“It is not only possible; it is done.”
“I do not have the rank necessary …”
“You do now. My husband has promoted you at my request. I believe you have, as I said, the instincts that I want around my children. They are the most precious people to both His Highness and me. If you had not acted so courageously on that day it is possible that neither Michael or Astrid would be here now.”
“You are as magnanimous as reported,” he said, his expression a mix of delight and pride. “I am in your debt.”
Her smile shone with the power of every ray of sun that had ever blessed the earth. “No, sir. We are all in yours.”
THE END
A NOTE FROM CLARE CONNELLY
Hello, dear reader.
I hope you enjoyed THE SHEIKH’S SECRET BABY.
You might be wondering about Jalilah and Will. These two characters really jumped out at me, and the next instalment in this family’s saga will focus on their lives and mysteries. I won’t tell you too much, except this: their story starts with a daring high-rise escape from a potential palace coup, and I’ve never written a couple with such different backgrounds before. Sparks fly off the page!
To be amongst the first to peek at this upcoming release, don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter.
I adore being an Independent author.
It gives me the ability to write what I really w
ant to write, and to share those words with you: The Reader.
Reviews are incredibly important to authors.
Leaving your thoughts on the Amazon or GoodReads sites (no plot reveals please!) is a great way to support Indies like me and to make sure our books find their way into the right hands… people just like you.
About the Author
Clare Connelly grew up in a small country town in Australia. Surrounded by rainforests, and rickety old timber houses, magic was thick in the air, and stories and storytelling were a huge part of her childhood.
From early on in life, Clare realised her favourite books were romance stories, and read voraciously. Anything from Jane Austen to Georgette Heyer, to Mills & Boon and (more recently) 50 Shades, Clare is a romance devotee. She first turned her hand to penning a novel at fifteen (if memory serves, it was something about a glamorous fashion model who fell foul of a high-end designer. Sparks flew, clothes flew faster, and love was born.)
Clare has a small family and a bungalow near the sea. When she isn't chasing after energetic little toddlers, or wiping fingerprints off furniture, she's writing, thinking about writing, or wishing she were writing.
Clare loves connecting with her readers. Head to www.clareconnelly.co.uk to sign up to her newsletter, or join her official facebook page.
Books By Clare Connelly
HARLEQUIN TITLES
Bought for the Billionaire’s Revenge
Innocent in the Billionaire’s Bed
Off Limits
Her Wedding Night Surrender
Burn Me Once
Bound by the Billionaire’s Vows
The Season to Sin
Bound by their Christmas Baby
SINGLE TITLES
Her Guardian’s Christmas Seduction
Stolen by the Desert King
In the Hands of the Sheikh
His Nine Month Seduction
The Sheikh’s Contract Bride
Seduced by the Vengeful Tycoon
The Sheikh’s Stolen Bride
The Sheikh’s Secret Baby
The Sheikh’s Million Dollar Bride
The Tycoon’s Virgin Mistress
The Sheikh’s Virgin Hostage
Bartered to the Sheikh
The Sheikh’s Arranged Marriage
Marrying for his Royal Heir
The Greek’s Marriage Revenge
The Velasco Love Child
The Sultan’s Virgin Bride
Bound to the Sheikh
The Medici Mistress
His Loving Deception
The Sheikh’s Convenient Mistress
The Princess’s Forbidden Lover
Marrying her Enemy
Rakanti’s Indecent Proposition
Seducing the Spaniard
The Italian’s Innocent Bride
The Greek Tycoon’s Forbidden Affair
The Terms of their Affair
A Second Chance at Love
The Sheikh’s Christmas Mistress
At the Sheikh’s Command
The Billionaire’s Christmas Revenge
Seduced by the Italian Tycoon
Raising the Soldier’s Son
Warming the Sheikh’s Bed
The Tycoon’s Christmas Captive
The Brazilian’s Forgotten Lover
Betrayed by the CEO
The Billionaire’s Ruthless Revenge
The Italian Billionaire’s Betrayal
The Sultan’s Reluctant Princess
Love in the Fast Lane
Bought by the Sheikh
The Tycoon’s Summer Seduction
All She Wants for Christmas
One Night with the Sheikh
A Bed of Broken Promises
Tempted by the Billionaire
The Sheikh’s Christmas Wish
To the Highest Bidder
The Tycoon’s Secret Baby
Bedding His Innocent Mistress
The Sheikh’s Baby Bargain
The Greek’s Virgin Captive
Claiming His Secret Baby
COMPENDIUMS
Casacelli Brides
Mediterranean Tycoons
Desert Rulers
Billionaire Bad Boys
Too Hot to Handle
Desert Kings
Happily Ever After
The Darling Buds of May Café
Royal Weddings
Clare Connelly Pairs II Page 32
