“Because you are taking it too seriously.” He picked up her hand and kissed her knuckles. “You look beautiful. Elegant and unapproachable. Yet I know the woman inside, the one who cries out my name.”
She cleared her throat. “Yes, well, that woman is busy today. I’m here in her place.”
“I find this one charming, as well.”
“Good to know.” She looked around. “I’ve never been to a royal wedding before.”
“They are much like others you have attended. Long and filled with tradition.”
Would his wedding be like this? she wondered. When he finally found the woman he wanted to marry? Speaking of which…
“Jon and Elaine have left,” she told him.
“I had heard that. All is well?”
She nodded. “They’re still together and in love. Jon and I haven’t figured out what we’re going to do about the baby, but he no longer thinks we have to get married. We’ll figure out the details later. Maybe weekends or summers. At least that’s what we discussed. I was wrong to suggest he give up his child. I think that freaked him out. He reacted in the only way he knew how.”
Kateb approached. “Ms. Collins, how nice to see you again.”
Qadir frowned. “How do you know Maggie?”
“We met in the garden,” she told him.
“I am not sure I approve.”
What was it with these imperious men? “I’m not sure I care about your approval.”
Kateb laughed. “It is too bad you are not involved with this one,” he told his brother. “She has much to recommend herself.”
Maggie knew Kateb meant his words as a compliment, but they still cut through her. The reminder that this was all a game to Qadir hurt more than it should. Not that she was surprised to be the only one who had fallen in love.
The orchestra had come from London, the flowers had been flown in from around the world. The church itself, a cathedral built in the 1600s, seated at least six hundred. Maggie sat next to Qadir in a hand-carved pew that dated back over five hundred years.
While she wouldn’t want to admit it to anyone, she’d imagined her own wedding many times. For years she’d assumed she would marry Jon in a short ceremony, with her father giving her away and people she’d known all her life around them. She’d wanted a summer wedding so the days were long and the nights warm. She’d wanted to dance until she was exhausted, then drive to a secluded cabin in the woods for a week-long honeymoon.
Simple dreams, she thought now as they rose in anticipation of Kayleen walking down the rose-petal-covered aisle. Dreams that had been altered by so many unexpected turns. The loss of her father. The ending of her relationship with Jon and now falling in love with Qadir.
She might be foolish enough to fall for him, but she wasn’t stupid enough to think anything would come of it. The prince and the mechanic? Who thought that was possible?
She looked down at the dress she wore. It was beautiful and expensive. Nothing she would have picked for herself. It was part of the role she played, as Qadir’s girlfriend. But it wasn’t who she was. She was Maggie Collins, who wore jeans and didn’t bother with makeup and expected an ordinary life.
But what happened when a regular woman fell in love with an extraordinary man? How could she find happiness?
Under different circumstances she might have tried to talk herself into making things real with Qadir. But he was in line to the El Deharian throne and she was pregnant with another man’s child. What was the point in telling him the truth? He would only pity her.
The first of the three girls Kayleen and As’ad had adopted stepped into view. The girls were pretty and obviously thrilled to be a part of the ceremony. They walked slowly, one after the other. Then the bride entered the church. A veil covered her face, but it was sheer enough for Maggie to see the love shining in her eyes. A radiant bride, she thought. Love made everyone beautiful.
Kayleen continued down the aisle, where an equally smitten As’ad waited.
Maggie’s heart ached. She wanted this for herself. Not the fancy wedding, but the love. She wanted someone to love her forever, to hold her and never let her go.
She glanced at Qadir. She couldn’t find that with him, but was it possible with someone else? The congregation sat. Qadir reached over and took her hand in his.
It was just for show, she told herself, even as she desperately wanted it to be real. Just a game. A game that was going to break her heart into so many pieces, she was unlikely to ever find a way to make herself whole again.
Maggie sanded the fender with a piece of fine sandpaper. She wanted the finish perfect, which meant doing the details herself. The work was tedious, but she didn’t mind. Focusing on the car was a kind of mental vacation from the weirdness of her life these days.
She adjusted the mask she wore, wishing it weren’t so hot. But she didn’t want to risk breathing in any of the particles. Not while she was pregnant.
Someone tapped her arm. She jumped and turned, then jerked off the mask as she recognized King Mukhtar.
“Your Highness,” she said in surprise, setting down the sandpaper and wiping her hands on her coveralls. “I didn’t hear you come in.”
What was she supposed to do? Bow? Curtsy? Offer to shake hands?
“Stealth is important for a monarch,” he said without smiling. “Might I have a moment of your time, Ms. Collins?”
That didn’t sound good, she thought grimly. “Yes, of course. My office is through here.”
She led the way and motioned to a seat. But the king remained standing so she did, as well.
“I will get right to the point,” he said, gazing directly into her eyes. “It is time for you to leave El Deharia. You are far too pretty a distraction for my son.”
Maggie didn’t know what to say. The king’s attitude wasn’t a surprise, but she didn’t think he would be so blunt.
Mukhtar continued before she could think of how to respond.
“I didn’t object to the relationship initially,” he told her. “Times are changing and fresh blood is always a good thing. It is not as if there are an excess of princesses or duchesses around for my sons to marry. While your circumstances are modest, so are Kayleen’s and she is an excellent match for As’ad. However, recent changes in your circumstances have convinced me you are not suitable for Qadir.”
Maggie stiffened, but didn’t back down. He was talking about her pregnancy. She doubted anyone expected a virgin bride, but she’d gone a little to far over the line.
“Qadir needs to be available to find someone suitable. He will not look as long as you are around. Perhaps this sounds harsh to you. Unfortunately I have more to consider than most fathers. I have a country and a responsibility to my people. As does Qadir.”
She’d been willing to offer a protest right up until that last bit. But how was she supposed to ignore the needs of an entire country? The king was right-she didn’t belong.
“I will not ask you to pack your bags immediately,” he told her. “But I would like you to begin making arrangements.”
Maggie found her voice. “I have another three weeks’ worth of work on the car,” she said. “I don’t need to stay to see it finished, but I have a few more things I must do. I’ll stay through the end of the week.”
“Thank you for understanding. It is most unfortunate. Under other circumstances…” He cleared his throat. “I wish you well, child.”
The king left.
Maggie stared after him. Her nature was to stand up for herself, to fight for what she wanted. But how could she? The king had told the truth. She wasn’t right for Qadir and she didn’t belong here. It was time for her to leave.
