She shook her head in disbelief. “Because… I’m not from here.” She opened her hands wide. “It’s obvious.”
“Not to me, it’s not.”
“But how can I, a European, born in France, raised in England—”
“Only until you were five when you moved to Havilah to be with your grandfather—”
“Sure, only until I was five. But even so, that hardly makes me a native of your country.”
“It does in my book. Your heart and soul are pure Havilahi, and until you can see that, your work isn’t finished.”
She sat back, unable to believe what she was hearing. “What do you mean, it’s not finished?”
He finished his whiskey. “Exactly that. It’s not finished.”
“Do you mean you won’t sign it off?”
“That’s exactly what I mean.”
“But, Zavian,” she said in a low voice, deliberately speaking his first name, trying to grab his attention. “Itisfinished. If you don’t sign it off, none of the team can go back to their other work.”
He shrugged. “Then you’d better hurry up then, hadn’t you?” He rose. “The bottom line is that what you’ve done isn’t enough. Not by a long chalk. You still don’t understand.”
“I understand full well. What I don’t do is agree with you.”
“It’s the same thing.” He shrugged.
“Let me get this straight. You want me to change my mind about whether I fit into this country or not?”
“Exactly. I’m glad you understand. It makes it easier.”
“Easier? What the hell are you talking about?”
“Tomorrow, you will be joining me at dinner in honor of Sheikh Mohammed.”
She shook her head. She knew the old sheikh from old but not in any official capacity. “But why? What role do I have? Surely that’s official business?”
“It is. And as to the role? You’ll be accompanying me as my consort.”
She spluttered, unable to get any word out.
He smiled. “Perhaps I forgot to mention to you about the reason for my meeting with the kings. I told them that the forthcoming marriage negotiations are off.”
She frowned. “You’re not getting married anymore. But I thought—”
“You thought that my engagement would be announced at the bi-millennial celebration? Yes, that was the original plan. But it’s all changed now.”
She swallowed drily. “In what way?”
“In the way that Roshan, King of Sharq Havilah, will now progress negotiations to marry Tawazun’s sheikha.”
“Why? But surely nothing has changed?” The answer throbbed in her head, but she ignored it. She must be wrong.
“Gabrielle.” He smiled slightly. “Everything has changed. I intend to make you my wife.”
Chapter 8
Gabrielle felt her mouth open wide, but no sound emerged.