‘HE’SADIFFICULTclient then,’ Marian mused.
‘Hmm.’
Rosanna’s reply was noncommittal as she shifted on the seat of the rose-covered arbour in what she thought of as her private courtyard. The warmth of the day lingered, producing a honey-rich scent that urged her already relaxed muscles towards torpor.
A day after that life-altering afternoon in Salim’s private rooms and she still felt the aftereffects. She’d gone there impatient at his determination to find fault. But after his confession thatshewas the reason he couldn’t focus on the beautiful women brought before him, it was hard to remain angry.
‘You don’t think he’s difficult?’ Marion sounded surprised.
‘He certainly knows what he doesn’t want,’ Rosanna said carefully. ‘But as well as choosing a life partner he’s picking a consort. She will have to be someone quite special to fulfil those royal duties.’
The more Rosanna saw of Salim’s work and responsibilities the more she appreciated he had to choose wisely. Especially with the country’s traditionalists trying to direct his choice.
For the first time she found herself feeling sorry for those born royal. He couldn’t simply choose for himself.
‘That’s a relief,’ Marian interrupted her thoughts. ‘I was afraid you might feel overwhelmed by the task. Not because you’re not up to it,’ she hurried to explain. ‘But because it was always going to be difficult.’
‘You knew that? Why didn’t you warn me?’
Rosanna thought of the hours she’d spent second-guessing herself, wondering how she could have done better.
‘I didn’t want to scare you. Especially as it was your first solo effort since I’m still stuck here. I’ve only done one royal match but I remember how tough it was. It wasn’t just the bridegroom who had to be satisfied but his family and any number of powerbrokers in the kingdom.’
‘I’m sure Salim will make the final decision.’
‘Salim? You’re on first-name terms? That’s a good sign.’
Rosanna was grateful her aunt couldn’t see the guilty heat climbing her cheeks.
She thought of what she’d been doing this time yesterday in Salim’s bed and had to draw a calming breath. He’d led her back to her room via a private passage, one that went directly from his suite to the cluster of apartments in what he’d informed her used to be the harem.
She’d been both horrified and thrilled at being led along a route made solely to give the ruler easy access to the women’s quarters. She was thankful it saved her from being seen by palace employees in her crumpled clothes. But it reinforced the disparity in power that had always existed between the sheikh and his lovers.
Now she was one of them.
She was torn between illicit excitement and dismay. That hadn’t stopped her disappointment when he’d led her to her room, kissed her hand in a courtly gesture of dismissal and disappeared the way they’d come. She’d hoped he’d make love to her again and through the night she’d found herself looking at the concealed door, wondering if it might open and he’d come to her.
The fact that he hadn’t had made Rosanna wonder, once more, if he needed her as much as she needed him. When she’d agreed to an affair she’d felt empowered. Yet now she felt uncharacteristically unsure.
She grimaced. Her experience with Phil had knocked her confidence more than she’d thought. Either that or this attraction to Salim was more powerful than she’d imagined.
‘Rose?’
She gathered her scrambled wits. ‘He’s only formal in public. But it doesn’t make him any easier to please.’
That was a downright lie, she realised. Sexually they were very attuned indeed and she’d pleased him very easily.
‘Sheikh Salim has to be particularly careful in his choice. My sources tell me the country was troubled while his brother governed for their ill father. There were whispers of power abuses and shady dealings. The country even came close to war with its neighbour Nahrat until the Nahrati king married Sheikh Salim’s cousin.’
‘I didn’t know that.’ Rosanna had heard about the previous king and his elder son who’d acted as regent when he became ill but not much more.
‘Ah well, I have my sources.’
She sure did. Marian’s insider knowledge of the rich and famous was second to none.
‘And those sources tell you there’s pressure on Sheikh Salim?’
Strange how protective that made her feel. As if she could do anything to protect Salim!