display of male jealousy, Avery forced herself back to the immediate situation. ‘He was obviously trying to wind Mal up and he succeeded, which is why he said all that about marriage … That doesn’t have any impact on what is going on here. Of course he wants to marry you. We’ve just spent two days chasing through the desert trying to find you.’
Kalila looked at her steadily. ‘Together.’
‘Not together as such—’ Avery felt her cheeks darken as she thought about their night in the tent ‘—just because that’s the way it worked out.’
‘He went straight to you with the problem because he loves you and trusts you.’
‘He came straight to me because he thought I might know where you were! That doesn’t mean he loves me. He doesn’t! I’d be a terrible Sultan’s wife. Actually I’d be a terrible wife, full stop. I don’t have any of the qualities necessary, in particular the fundamental one of actually wanting to get married.’ She was stammering, falling over her words like a child practising public speaking for the first time, exasperated by Kalila’s insistence that Mal loved her. ‘We’re just friends. And not even that, most of the time.’
Mal remained silent.
Why on earth didn’t he speak? And why couldn’t Kalila stop talking?
‘You’re the only woman he’s ever loved,’ she said. ‘He was just marrying me for political reasons. Because it was agreed between our families.’
‘Well, political reasons are as good a justification for marriage as any. I’ve known many fine, successful marriages that started from a lot less than that—’
‘Avery—’ Mal’s voice was soft and he didn’t turn his head in her direction ‘—you’ve said enough.’
‘Enough? I’ve barely started. And you’re not saying anything at all! Honestly, the pair of you just need to—’ Her voice tailed off as he lifted his hand and she wondered how it was that he could silence her with a single subtle gesture that was barely visible to others.
Kalila bit her lip. ‘You don’t need to worry about it. It doesn’t bother me that you don’t love me, Your Highness. I don’t love you either. It says something that we’ve known each other for years and we’ve barely spoken. To be honest—’
‘Don’t be honest,’ Avery said quickly, interrupting before Kalila said something that couldn’t be unsaid. ‘Honesty is an overrated quality in certain circumstances and this is definitely one of them.’
‘I need to say how I feel.’ Kalila stuck her chin out and Avery sighed.
‘Oh go on then, if you must, but you’re not displaying any of the cardinal signs of shyness, I can tell you that. From where I’m standing you’d be fine at a public gathering.
The challenge would be allowing someone else to get a word in edgeways.’
Kalila ignored her. ‘Mal is gorgeous, of course. But he’s also intimidating.’
‘That’s just his Prince act and he has to do that, otherwise he’d be mobbed by well-wishers, but underneath that frown he’s a really gentle, cuddly guy—’ Avery caught the lift of his dark eyebrows and cleared her throat ‘Well, perhaps not gentle, exactly, but very decent. Principled. Good. And—’
‘All right, that’s enough. We’re going to discuss this now and then the subject will never be raised again.’ Finally Mal took charge and Avery relaxed slightly.
About time too.
Mal’s eyes were fixed on his bride. ‘You don’t want to be married to a man who will become the Sultan?’
Avery gave a growl of exasperation. What was he doing? That was hardly going to persuade Kalila, was it? And, as if to prove her right, Kalila shook her head vigorously.
‘No. I’ll be hopeless, especially at all those meet and greet things you do. Parties.’ She shuddered. ‘The very worst of me would be on display.’
Giving up on Mal, Avery intervened again. ‘Did your father tell you that? Because honestly, it’s nonsense. You have a lovely personality. Stop putting yourself down! You have plenty to talk about. And anyway, all you have to do at these meet and greet gatherings is get people to talk about themselves. That’s what I do all the time at my parties. I barely have to say a word. It’s stopping people talking about themselves that’s usually the problem, not starting them.’
‘I’m nothing like you.’
‘I know! And that’s what makes you perfect for Mal. And you are perfect for him.’ Avery beamed at her, hoping that her body language would reinforce the positive message.
‘The moment I saw the two of you together, I knew you were a match made in heaven.’
Kalila’s startled glance made her realise she might have been a bit too enthusiastic. Afraid that her response might have a counter-effect, she moderated her tone. ‘There is no “right” personality for being a Sultan’s bride. You’ll be friendly and approachable and a real hit.’
‘But I’ll hate it. I will dread every moment.’
‘It will get easier with time, I’m sure. I have some girls working for me who were pretty shy when they started and now I can’t shut them up. Honestly, Kalila, you’re going to be a huge success and very popular. I wish you’d just talked to someone about this instead of running away.’
‘I did. I talked to you! You were my inspiration.’
Avery gulped. Heat rushed into her cheeks as she remembered Mal saying something similar. ‘Me?’
‘Yes. You told me to face my fears and that’s what I did. I can’t thank you enough.’
Avery made a vow never to give another person advice again as long as she lived. ‘I was speaking metaphorically. I didn’t actually mean for you to run off into the desert just because you’re afraid of it.’
‘That wasn’t the fear I was facing.’ Kalila lifted her chin, surprisingly stubborn. ‘The fear I was facing—am still facing—is my father. All my life he’s used fear to control me. I’ve never been allowed to do what I wanted to do. I’m not even allowed to express an opinion.’
Sympathy was eclipsed by her own feelings of panic as Avery watched the situation unravel. ‘Your father doesn’t even know you’re gone yet. Everyone has been covering for you. You haven’t actually faced him. You’ve avoided him.’
‘I’ve faced the fear of him. For the first time in my life, I’ve done something I know will incur his disapproval. I know there will be consequences and I’m willing to take them. I knew that if I ran off he would never forgive me. He will not have me back in his house, under his roof. I will no longer be his daughter.’ Kalila clasped her hands together nervously. ‘And that’s what I want.’
‘Well then, that’s perfect, because soon you can be Mal’s wife. This doesn’t mean you can’t marry the Prince. I’m sure there’s a way round this that is going to be fine for everyone—’ Her voice tailed off because Kalila was staring at her in disbelief and Avery realised how crazy she must sound. Apart from admitting that the last thing in the world she wanted was to be the Sultan’s wife, the woman was clearly obsessed with her bodyguard. There was no way on this planet Mal would marry her now. How could he? And truly, she wouldn’t want that for him, would she? She, who knew how badly so many marriages ended, would never want one to start in such inauspicious circumstances.
Avery’s shoulders slumped. She stole a glance at Mal but he seemed maddeningly calm about the whole thing.
‘So this is what you want, Kalila?’ His blunt question brought colour pouring into Kalila’s cheeks.
‘Yes. I’m in love with Karim. I just want to live with him quietly.’ She gave her shrinking