The doctor smiled. ‘He—or she—is strong, that’s for sure.’
A shape was appearing on the screen now, like a curled-over nut. The head was visible. And the spine. So delicate and fragile, yet there. Growing. Becoming someone. A son or a daughter.
Emotion suddenly erupted in Leila’s chest and she had to put a hand to her mouth to stop a sob escaping. The love she felt, along with a fierce protectiveness, made her dizzy. Up to now it had been largely an intellectual thing. But this was visceral and all-consuming. Primal.
The doctor was saying reassuringly, ‘Everything looks fine to me. We’ll have you back in another few weeks, to see how things are progressing, but for now just eat well, take some gentle exercise and get lots of sleep.’
Leila just nodded at the doctor, too emotional to speak. He patted her hand, as if he saw this every day—which he probably did.
When Leila felt a little more composed she looked at Alix. But even steeling herself didn’t prepare her for seeing the closed-off expression on his face. His eyes were unreadable. He certainly wasn’t feeling the same depth of emotion Leila was experiencing, and it was like a physical blow.
His gaze was still fixed on the screen, and then he seemed to come out of the trance he was in and he said curtly, ‘So everything is fine, then?’
‘Yes, yes...nothing to worry about.’
‘Good.’
He didn’t look at her. His jaw was hard, resolute. They’d established that the baby was well. That was all he cared about. Leila was far too emotional to deal with Alix’s smug satisfaction now, and she welcomed the distraction of the nurse coming to help her change back into her clothes.
The doctor and Alix left, and Leila did her best to ignore the ache in her throat and the hollow hole in her chest. She’d never really imagined what this experience would be like, but even if she had she would have expected the father of her child to be slightly more interested.
This had obviously just been a clinical experience, as far as Alix was concerned. And she was a fool to have had even the minutest impulse to seek anything from him.
That protectiveness that had assailed her moments ago surged back at the thought of Alix being so distant once the baby was born.
Once she emerged into the corridor her ire increased when she saw Alix pacing up and down, on his phone. As if they’d not just established that their baby was well. He saw her and gestured to say that they were leaving. She had to almost trot to keep up with his long-legged stride, and with each step she felt angrier and angrier and more hurt.
Alix terminated his phone call once they were in the Jeep and silence reigned. Leila was determined not to break it, feeling far too volatile and emotional. She knew Alix was sending her glances, but she resolutely ignored him, looking at the pretty scenery but not taking it in.
When they pulled up outside the castle she opened her door and got out before he could do it—or anyone else. She all but ran back into the huge stone fortress and blindly made her way down corridors, hoping she was headed in the right direction.
Everything was bubbling up—her hurt, her unwelcome desire for Alix and the need to get far away from the man who had turned her world upside down.
She heard steps behind her. ‘Leila, what the—? Stop!’
She did stop then, breathless and hopelessly lost. She turned to face Alix, who was glowering. Fresh anger bubbled up, and again that fierce protectiveness. She felt the walls of the massive building crowd in on her, squeezing her chest tight. But biggest of all was the hurt.
She put a hand on her belly. ‘You didn’t feel a thing in that scan room, did you? Except maybe a sense of satisfaction that your precious heir is fine.’
Alix looked at Leila. She’d never been more beautiful. Her cheeks were flushed with colour, eyes sparkling with anger. And with something else that he didn’t want to identify.
He saw movement in his peripheral vision and, aware of staff nearby, strode forward, taking Leila’s arm in his hand. ‘Not here.’
He looked around and saw a doorway, recognised what it was. He opened it and brought a resisting Leila in, shutting the door behind him.
She ripped her arm free of his hand and moved away, looking around, her cheeks flushing even more and her eyes going wide as she took in the lavish surroundings.
‘What is this place?’
Leila’s voice was shaky and Alix hated the fact that it twisted his guts. He strode forward into the room. It was an opulent stone chamber with a raised marble platform. Alcoves around the edges of the room held sinks and drains. The ceiling was domed, and inlaid with thousands of mosaic mother-of-pearl stars that glittered.
‘It was the women’s hammam. And the harem is in this section of the palace too.’
Leila sent him an incredulous look. ‘A harem? I thought we were still in the civilised west—not some medieval desert kingdom.’
Alix pushed down his irritation. ‘The harem hasn’t been in regular use for some time.’
Leila let out a laugh. ‘Wow, that’s reassuring. But maybe you’re contemplating starting it up again? Taking additional wives just to fulfil your royal quota of children?’