Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50149 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 251(@200wpm)___ 201(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50149 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 251(@200wpm)___ 201(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
“Perhaps I can persuade you to change your mind tonight,” the sheikh said huskily.
Harper jerked. “Tonight?” What did he mean tonight? But the sheikh had already moved on to a different topic, enlisting the duties of his future queen and his manner so business-like she just couldn’t make herself ask.
“You will have your own secretary to keep track of your appointments as well as the events that you are expected to attend with me. You will also be expected to join the board of your favorite charities and help them raise funds.”
“What about my studies?”
The sheikh’s face became serious. “That, I am sorry to say, must be temporarily put on hold. Your first year as queen will be busy, but after that, I will be more than happy to support you in continuing with your studies in one of our universities.” Khalil paused. “I am sorry for this, Harper. I know how much it means to you.”
“It’s only a temporary delay, so I’ll survive.” But she couldn’t quite meet his eyes as she spoke. She had always thought her studies meant everything to her, but now it was slowly becoming evident to Harper that they had been only there to fill a void. Given a choice between furthering her studies and being a good queen, she would have unhesitatingly chosen the latter—-
And that made her uneasy.
Forcing her attention back on the sheikh, Harper realized that he was now discussing the possibility of children, and her heart skipped a beat. A child, she thought dizzily. She had never thought of having kids. She had never even thought of other men, beyond crushing on the sheikh. But now that he had mentioned it –
“You are fine with this?”
“It would be nice,” she heard herself say cautiously.
“I am glad to hear that.” And now, Khalil thought, there was only one last thing to say. No doubt the most important to Harper, but also the most difficult, even possibly a deal breaker.
The sheikh took a deep breath. “There is one last thing that will be expected of you, and which unfortunately I have no time to repeal.”
“Repeal?” Harper was confused. “It’s a law that concerns me then?”
“A law that concerns you as my future queen, yes.” The sheikh’s tone was heavy.
Harper didn’t like the way the sheikh was talking. “You’re scaring me.”
“It’s nothing to be scared about,” Khalil said right away. “But it is also highly unorthodox.”
“Just spit it out,” Harper muttered.
“Very well.” And so he did.
Harper flew to her feet in shock. “Are you serious?”
“Unfortunately, it is the law, has been so for hundreds of years. I have already taken the steps to repeal it, but I do not believe it will be abolished before our wedding.”
So he was serious, Harper realized with a gulp. “I don’t think...”
“I promise you, Harper. I will take care of you, and I give you my word that you will have nothing to worry about.”
Chapter Seven
It was almost one in the morning when the sheikh joined Harper in his suite. She was already fast sleep, curled under the covers, and her hair spread against the pillows like a blanket of cinnamon-colored silk.
For a long time, he simply looked at her, letting his gaze feast on her delicate face. In her sleep, she looked even more innocent than usual, so much younger than her twenty-three years –
Was he really going to make this woman shoulder all the burdens of being his queen?
Most women would have jumped at his offer of marriage instantly – that was a given. Those women would only have thought about the money they could spend as his queen, the adulation they would receive, and the power and authority that came with the position. None of them would have bothered to worry about the duties that came with it, none of them would care – and because they didn’t care, being a queen would have been easy for them.
But it would be different for his Harper. He knew this deep in his bones, knew it the way a soul recognized its kindred. Duty and honor meant a lot to Harper, not only because she was Howard Griffiths’ daughter, but also because she was simply that kind of woman. She was, in many ways, born to be his other half, destined to care about the same things he did, destined to serve and suffer beside him.
Her life as his queen would be as much heaven and hell, and knowing this made the sheikh feel guilty. It almost made him want to tell her to forget everything, to forget him.
But he couldn’t.
Because he hadn’t been lying when he told her he needed her – and so did his kingdom.
WHEN HARPER WOKE, IT was to the unusual feeling of warmth, and of strong, hard arms wrapped around—-
Her?
She stiffened.
Was this a dream?