Samir nodded encouragingly when she stopped talking, but the truth was, the day she told Alf was one of the worst in her life.
“He wasfurious.”
Samir made a harsh noise of surprise.
“He wanted to not have kids as desperately as I wanted them. He wanted me to have an abortion so things could go back to ‘normal’.”
Samir’s eyes showed such rich sympathy that her heart hurt.
“That wasn’t an option for me. It’s why we broke up.”
“Oh, Cora.”
“And then, two days after I left him, I miscarried.” She sniffed, unable to meet his eyes. “It was awful.”
“I am so sorry you went through that.”
She nodded painfully. “It was still the first trimester, but I had to go into hospital to have a procedure.”
“You think that’s how the media got wind of it?”
“Either that, or Alf spoke to someone about the pregnancy and his wishes and things got distorted, as they so often do.”
“What a pig of a man.”
She forced a tight smile to her face. “So when I thought you were suggesting—,”
“I wasn’t. I wouldneverask that of you.”
It was something she hadn’t known she needed to hear.
“Even when this baby is the last thing you want?”
His expression was impossible to read, carefully guarded. “This baby wasn’t in either of our plans, but that doesn’t mean I regret it.”
Her heart stammered. “You said you wished you weren’t the father…”
“For your sake,” he clarified quickly. “Because of what my involvement means for you. For my part, your pregnancy solves a not inconsiderable problem.”
She furrowed her brow. “An heir?”
He nodded once.
She chewed on the inside of her cheek, eyes hidden behind her thick black lashes as she regarded him. “And if I hadn’t been pregnant, you would have needed to marry, and soon?”
His eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched. “Yes.”
Her stomach did a strange series of flip flops. “Who?”
He lifted a pastry to his lips and took a bite, his features difficult to read, his eyes even more so. “I hadn’t decided yet.”
She bit down on her lip. “There must have been…someone?”
“No.”
“Then how does that work?”
“There are options,” he said firmly. “Suitable women who are as interested in a strategic alliance as I am. Women from ancient Al Medinan families, or from neighbouring countries.” His eyes lifted to hers, piercing her with their intensity. “It’s a moot point.”