Chapter 14
CHAPTER 14
S oraiya stretched lazily in the soft morning light that filtered through the gauzy curtains of the royal bedchamber. Zak had already left to go to his office. He had meetings nearly every day from morning till evening as he worked hard to re-build his country’s fortunes.
She was proud of him and all that he did. But sometimes, like this morning, she’d wished they’d been able to laze in bed together in daylight and just talk, touch, laugh. Just been an ordinary married couple enjoying each other at the weekend.
She sighed, rolled onto her side, and checked the time. It was late. Just like her period. A smile played on her lips as a flicker of excitement danced in her belly. Could she be?
A subtle knock at the door broke her reverie. She jumped out of bed and pulled on a robe. “Come in, Daria.”
As Daria ran the bath and selected some clothes for Soraiya to choose between, she pulled open the curtains and leaned on the windowsill, pushing open the window a little further so she could smell the fresh air of the morning, which would soon be replaced by the heat from the desert. She thought about what lay ahead of her. She’d promised Zak that she’d look over the papers recently in from Paris. Plus advise on the itinerary of other foreign dignitaries. It seemed word had got out that Sirun was a country going places and had much to offer joint ventures. She sighed. Finally, the future looked like one she’d fit in to. She turned at the sound of Daria. First things first.
“Daria, I wonder if you wouldn’t mind doing something for me?”
Daria smiled. “Anything—you know that, Sheikha.” They went back a long way. “What is it?”
Soraiya suddenly felt shy about confiding in Daria. She could feel the blush rising and even though she turned away and looked at her phone to disguise it, she knew she hadn’t by the low whistle Daria gave.
“My lady! Tell me. What is it?”
She looked up and grinned. “I’ve missed my period for a second time.” She gave a giggle, which was most unlike her. “Daria, I think I might be pregnant!”
Daria whooped and embraced Soraiya. “That is excellent news. And so soon!”
“But I don’t know for sure. Could you get me a pregnancy test?”
Daria’s eyes widened, a grin spreading across her face. “Of course, Sheikha. Leave it to me.”
Soraiya had only just got out of the bath when there was a knock at the bathroom door, signaling Daria’s return.
She opened it and was faced with Daria’s excited eyes.
“You were quick!”
“I can’t wait to find out! Here you are!” she said, thrusting the package into Soraiya’s hands.
Soraiya closed the door behind her and leaned back against it, her heart thudding with excitement. She pushed herself off the teak door and walked to the table, the marble cool beneath her bare feet. With trembling hands, she unwrapped the package and scanned the instructions. Within minutes, her life could be changed.
She took the test and propped the piece of plastic—so cheap and incongruous looking and yet it had the power to give her information which would change her life—on the side of the bath where she couldn’t be tempted to peek before the time was up.
She gripped the cool basin and studied herself in the mirror. She looked terrified. She smiled at herself. There was nothing to be scared about, she told herself sternly. Either she was pregnant, which would be brilliant, or she wasn’t , which would be a disappointment, but she’d be pregnant soon. No, everything was fine.
She glanced at the clock, still not long enough. She closed her eyes and inhaled a deep breath, imagining Zak’s reaction. She grinned. He’d be thrilled. She knew he would. She listened to her heart beating. It must be time. She checked again. One more minute to go. She was tempted to peek to see if the test had the results yet. But she didn’t.
Then her mind drifted to her father. He, too, would be proud. Because that was what the marriage was all about. A combining of the two families. But then she imagined if it was a girl. Her father would ignore her. But would Zak? Of course he’d want a boy, but would he treat any daughter of his like her father had treated her? A sense of panic filled her, and she opened her eyes, glanced at her phone just as the timer dinged.
Without losing her grip of the sink, she twisted around and looked at the small piece of plastic which contained information with the potential to change not just her life, but the life of a country. She saw two pink lines where none had before been. For a moment, her mind blanked. Two? That meant that she was… She grabbed the instructions and double-checked. She looked up into the mirror once more as her eyes misted over. Pregnant. It meant that she was pregnant. She was going to be a mother!
She burst through the door. “Daria!”
Daria was waiting by the bed. Her eyes lit up. “You’re pregnant!”
Soraiya nodded, and slumped down in a chair, suddenly overcome. “I am. I can’t believe it.” She jumped up again. “I must tell Zak.” She walked over to the phone and then stopped and looked at Daria. “No, I’ll tell him in person.” She grinned. “Tonight. Over dinner.”
Daria nodded enthusiastically. “You must wear something beautiful. Something romantic.”
“We’ll eat on the terrace.”
“Leave it to me,” said Daria. “I’ll arrange everything.”
“But you must keep it a secret. Don’t let anyone know.”
Daria looked shocked. “As if I would betray your confidences!”
Soraiya gave Daria a hug. She’d been with her since she was fifteen years old and had shared every triumph, every sadness over every day of the intervening years. “I’m sorry. It’s just… we must be careful. It’s still early.” Doubt clouded her mind. “Perhaps I shouldn’t tell Zak until everything is secure. I heard that it’s easy to lose the baby before three months.”
Daria frowned. “My own sisters have suffered early miscarriages, but I don’t think you should keep this from His Highness.”
“You’re right. I’ll tell him tonight.”
Soraiya waited impatiently at the edge of the terrace, her ivory silk gown the same shade as the moonlight which shone directly overhead, bathing the city and her in its brilliance. It seemed auspicious. Her stomach was fizzing with excitement, which had nothing to do with the tiny baby she’d just discovered now dwelt safely inside of her. A clock struck the half-hour from inside the palace, its melancholy tone making her frown. It wasn’t like Zak to be late.
She gave the table a sweeping glance. Everything was in order from the silver place settings, the single rose in a crystal vase and candles whose gentle light flickering in the wind couldn’t compete with the moonlight. The only thing missing was Zak.
She took a deep breath to calm herself. He was a busy man. There was always something. She picked up her phone on the table. Still no message. Which must be good news, she reasoned. He’d just got caught up.
She paced the terrace, her excitement slowly turning to worry as the minutes ticked by. The distant sound of the muezzin’s call to prayer echoed across the city, and still he hadn’t come.
She’d resisted trying to find out what had detained him. She didn’t want to be one of those wives always pestering his office. She understood his business, respected it, and trusted him to turn up whenever he could. But she also understood that something unusual must have happened because she knew his schedule. And she also knew that he rarely changed it.
Soraiya was about to go in search of him, now really concerned that something had happened to him, when Zak appeared, his expression somber.
“Soraiya, forgive my lateness.” He came straight to her and kissed her lightly on the lips. His eyes narrowed as he inspected her face. “You look pale. Are you well?”
“I was worried. I thought…” She trailed off and shook her head. Perhaps she should tell him immediately, as he’d brought up her pallor. She liked he was aware of the subtle changes in her appearance. But on second thoughts she didn’t want to blurt it out. She wanted an evening to remember. “It doesn’t matter. I’m just glad you’re here.” She moved away. “I’ll ring for dinner to be served.”
He nodded, but turned away with a distracted look on his face. She frowned as she rang for dinner and watched him. He seemed pre-occupied.
She went up behind him, put her arms around him, and pressed her cheek against his back, loving the feel of him in her arms, adoring their closeness and love. Because she knew she loved him in a way she’d never thought possible. He had never spoken of love before, but she knew he had feelings for her. And that was enough for now. She hoped the rest would come. Especially when she told him her news.
He caressed her hand and then turned in her arms. He lifted her chin with his finger and she struggled to hide her smile.
“What is it, habibti ? You are hiding something from me.”
She couldn’t wait any longer.
She nodded. “I have something to tell you.”
She took in a deep breath and opened her eyes wide with excitement, but before she could continue, there was a sharp rap at the door. Zak sighed and glanced across the room. “I’m sorry, but this could be important. But tell me what you wanted to say first.”
She bit her lip in indecision, but didn’t want such momentous news blurted out before someone came in. She shook her head. “It can wait.”
“Enter!”
As soon as his vizier entered the room, Soraiya knew something serious had happened.
“Aabid? Please tell me the rumors are untrue.”
His grim voice shocked Soraiya. She looked at the vizier, who pursed his lips and shook his head. “I only wish they were. No, Your Highness, unfortunately you have a visitor.”
“Take her to the office. I’ll meet her there.”
The vizier looked across at Soraiya and then back to Zak. “She wants to meet you both. In her sitting room.”
“She doesn’t have a sitting room anymore and who she meets isn’t up to her. I will see her, deal with her, and then she will leave.”
“She was clear that this involves Her Highness, as well.”
Soraiya touched Zak’s arm. “What is this all about? Who wants to see us?”
Zak’s face was dark with anger. “Someone whom I do not wish you to meet.”
She frowned, puzzled. “But why?”
“Because the woman is poisonous.” Zak turned to his vizier. “I will come. I will meet her in the office. If that’s not good enough, she can leave.”
His vizier bowed. “And Her Highness?”
“She will not come.”
“Of course I will come if it’s necessary,” said Soraiya. “But what’s going on? Who is this visitor?”
“Sheikha Alishaba. My mother,” Zak said grimly.