Olivia shook her head, and forced a bright smile to her face. “You haven’t upset me, ma’am.”
She steered the conversation to safer ground, but nonetheless, she felt like she’d been through the ringer when she emerged from the salon less than an hour later. She hadn’t seen Tamir all day, and it occurred to her that she needed to see him.
But she couldn’t need to see him. She couldn’t start to think like that! To let herself believe any part of this was real or good. It was all a terrible mess.
Two of her assistants, who had waited while she met with Fatima, followed in her wake, but their constant presence was enervating. She stopped walking abruptly and turned to face them. “I would like to walk on my own, please.”
They looked from one to the other, uncertainly. “I apologise, your majesty. We have been told to remain with you.”
Olivia narrowed her eyes. “Why?”
Neither spoke, but she could see by the way her primary aide, Yasmin, lowered her eyes, that they were embarrassed to announce their reasons.
“Why?” She pushed, more forcefully.
And then, she realised. She was a security risk!
Though she was technically a princess, she was still a prisoner. The possibility that she might steal, or do something equally nefarious, was a cloud of accusation that was following her everywhere. “Where is my husband?”
Yasmin looked to the other assistant, her expression concerned. “His highness is still in meetings, ma’am.”
“Where?” She hissed between two teeth.
“We will lead you to him,” Yasmin finally conceded quietly.
Olivia gritted her teeth. “Fine.”
His meetings were taking place in the other wing of the palace, and it took them almost ten minutes to walk there, even at a good pace. Yasmin cast Olivia one last look. “Are you certain you would like to interrupt?”
“Yes,” she muttered darkly.
Yasmin nodded and raised her fist to the door. She knocked on it three times, then stepped back guiltily. If Olivia had been less incensed, she might have stopped to realise that she was putting the poor woman in a position that was untenable. As her assistant, Yasmin was obliged to follow Olivia’s orders, but more than that, she served the Sultan and the palace.
The door opened inwards, to a large, elegant office. Tamir stood there, on his own, but for the servant who’d opened the door.
Olivia looked around to be absolutely certain, and then expelled an angry breath when she saw that he was indeed alone. “Wait here,” she said to Yasmin. Her temper only flared hotter when she saw her assistant look past her, to Tamir, for approval.
“Oh, for goodness sake,” Olivia said wearily, stalking into the room and planting her hands on her hips.
Tamir dragged his eyes over her slowly, and felt an answering anger bite into his already dark mood. “Go now,” he encompassed his own servant in the command. Instantly, they were alone.
Olivia stared across at him, and her breath caught in her throat. A whole day apart, and her body instantly jolted to a state of awareness. He was handsome and he was sexy, but he was a ruthless bastard. She needed to remember that.
“My assistants won’t leave me alone. Apparently, they suspect I’m going to stuff royal treasures into my robes and make for the border.”
He forced himself not to show his amusement. “Their job is to protect you. Even from yourself.”
“I don’t need protecting from myself,” she snapped, lifting her fingers to her temples and rubbing her tired head. “I am not a thief, and I’m not a princess. I don’t want to be with people all day.”
“They’re not people, they’re assistants.”
Olivia glared at him. “That’s ridiculous.”
He nodded. “I don’t mean that they’re of less value,” he added quickly. “Only that their job is to be invisible. They are there in case they are needed. Until you require them, you ignore their presence.”
“I can’t do that. And I don’t like feeling like I’m being watched all the time! Do you really think I’d be stupid enough to steal from you, Tamir?”
He sighed. “It is a concern, yes.”