Unknown Royal Baby by Annie West

Author:Annie West
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2024-07-24T14:24:58+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

RELIEF COURSED THROUGH Isam’s veins, making him light-headed for a second.

Her agreement secured Maryam’s future.

But this wasn’t just about his daughter. He wanted Avril with a visceral need he couldn’t explain. Not just as the mother of his child. But not just as a sexual partner either, despite the throb low in his body.

What then? This wasn’t a romance.

He shied from the thought. He had no time for sentiment, he had a nation to secure. Besides, all the people he’d ever loved had been taken from him. He wasn’t interested in opening his heart up to anyone and risking more grief.

Except for Maryam. How could he not love the tiny mite who was his own flesh and blood?

‘Excellent.’ He kept his tone measured, disguising a disturbing jostle of emotions. ‘Together we can build a solid marriage and a wonderful future for our daughter.’

‘I...hope so.’

Hardly an effusive agreement. Isam battled annoyance at her lack of excitement.

He knew Avril wanted the best for their baby, but surely he hadn’t been mistaken, believing he read attraction in her unguarded looks.

No, he couldn’t have been mistaken. She wanted him, and he’d been her first, her only lover. That gave him an advantage he could use.

But not now. She needed time.

He’d be taking another long, cold shower tonight.

The gravity of her expression quenched any feeling of celebration. She looked more doubtful than convinced, as if unsure she’d done the right thing.

And she doesn’t know the half of the problems facing you.

If she knew about Hafiz and his attempts to undermine Isam, would she still have agreed to marry him? Or would she have been frightened off?

Isam thrust away the thought. With the determination born of confidence in his own abilities, he refused to worry over something that wouldn’t happen. He’d overcome the plot against him.

Hafiz had acquired a taste for royal power and was doing his underhanded best to make people believe Isam’s head injury had permanently affected his judgement and character. Today’s problem with the timetable was part of that attempt. But he wouldn’t succeed.

‘It’s been a big day and you’re no doubt tired.’ While Isam had to fit in several hours of work before he retired for the night. ‘We’ll talk tomorrow in more detail, but I’ll announce our betrothal in the next few days.’

She jumped as if touched by a live wire. ‘Days!’

He held her gaze, watching the gold flecks in her soft brown eyes. She was intriguing. Alluring. And his...almost.

‘It’s better for us to announce our news than for you to become the object of speculation, which will happen now your presence is more widely known.’

She didn’t look convinced and it struck him that Avril Rodgers was the antithesis of a gold-digger. She seemed uninterested in his money and his authority, much less the idea of becoming Queen.

He smiled. Perhaps this was cosmic justice for his casual arrogance as a much younger man. He’d been so certain of his desirability, given the number of women who had chased him, eager for attention and to bask in the reflected glow of his wealth and power.

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