Desert Rogues Part 2. Susan Mallery

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СКАЧАТЬ And I’ve arranged to have all my medical records transferred.”

      He released her immediately and walked to the phone. “What time is your appointment?”

      “Eleven.”

      “Good.” He dialed four numbers, then waited. When the phone was answered, he identified himself, then ordered his secretary to clear his appointments from ten-thirty until one.

      “You don’t have to do this,” Cleo said when he’d hung up. “I’m perfectly capable of going by myself.”

      “I do not doubt that, however I wish to speak with the doctor. I am interested in everything about your pregnancy, your health and the health of our son.”

      “Again I point out that we could be having a girl.”

      He didn’t even acknowledge her statement. Instead he returned to the sofa.

      “There is something else we must discuss,” he said, sitting next to her. “Initially I simply made arrangements myself. However, I reconsidered. Your temperament is not as yielding as I would desire.”

      “If you’re trying to say I’m stubborn, that’s hardly news. Otherwise, what are we talking about?”

      “You are Princess Cleo, now,” he said. “And my wife.” Surprisingly, his expression softened. “I find everything about you beautiful and desirable.”

      “I know,” she murmured. “I have to admit, it’s your best quality.”

      He smiled. “It is time you dressed the part.”

      Cleo was neither shocked nor hurt by his words. She’d known she was going to have to change her dressing ways, and soon. Being pregnant might complicate the transformation from mere mortal to actual princess, but it didn’t change it.

      “So you’re saying there are stores that specialize in dressing today’s modern, pregnant princess?”

      “Yes.”

      “Who would have known?”

      “I will have my secretary give you the name and number if you would prefer to set up your own appointment. The boutique owner will, of course, come to the palace.”

      “Of course.”

      Cleo rose and crossed to the window. The rain had stopped for the afternoon but had returned with the sunset.

      “It’s really exciting,” she said without turning around. “I mean the thought of getting all new clothes and being well dressed in designer stuff.”

      Sadik watched her closely. “You do not appear happy.”

      She shrugged. “I remember the first time I was here with Zara. We were given fabulous dresses to wear to a state dinner. I thought it was a great game, but Zara didn’t agree with me. I guess the difference was that I was going home and she wasn’t. For her the situation was very real.”

      “As it is real for you now?”

      She nodded slowly. “I’m really grateful and everything, it’s just I never planned to be a princess.”

      “You survived your first day. Speaking of which, you never told me what you did to occupy your time. I believe your actual words were that you had ‘the best time.’ Tell me what made it so.”

      Cleo hesitated. She wasn’t sure she wanted to share her new find with Sadik. What if he didn’t think she could do it? Not that his opinion mattered, she reminded herself. She might not be as prepared as she would like, but she was willing to work hard. So much of life’s successes were about showing up and being willing to do the work.

      “I went to the university,” she said, gazing at the floor rather than at Sadik. “The king suggested a tour of the city, and part of that was through the grounds of the university.”

      Her enthusiasm grew as she remembered the tall, old buildings blending with modern structures. There had been treasures everywhere she looked. Small gardens tucked into courtyards, fountains, benches for reading and studying.

      “I walked around and then I went inside. The library is amazing. This very nice man took me on a tour and showed me ancient manuscripts dating back over a thousand years. Sabrina’s really into that stuff, so I guess she would already know about it, but I thought it was amazing. I also—”

      Sadik stood and glared at her. “You drove through the city on your own, then went to the university and spoke with a man who is not a member of this family?”

      There was no mistaking his outrage. Cleo bristled as she put her hands on her hips—what she could feel of them, what with being five months pregnant—and glared right back.

      “First of all, I was not alone on my tour. I was taken around by a driver. Someone the king approves of, so don’t even go there. Second, I spoke with the senior librarian at the university library. I didn’t dance naked through the halls of a prison.”

      “You are my wife,” he announced, as if that explained anything.

      She couldn’t believe it. She’d thought that Sadik might make fun of her for thinking she could get her degree in something, but they couldn’t even get that far in the conversation. He was hung up on the fact that she’d spoken with a strange man.

      “You need to join the rest of the world in this century,” she told her husband of one day. “Here’s a news flash—the time of the harem is over. You can’t keep your women locked up anymore. We have gained the right to move around and—” she placed the back of her hand against her forehead and sighed dramatically “—we can even think for ourselves.”

      He frowned. “Cleo, I do not find this humorous.”

      “I’ll bet you don’t. But here’s another news flash. I don’t care what you think on this subject. Because my touring the library was just the beginning of it. Hang on to your shorts, Your Highness. I might be married to you and having our baby in a few months, but I’m not willing to be tied down to this palace. I plan to go out and do something with my life.”

      Sadik looked as if she’d slapped him with a wet fish. “What exactly are you talking about?”

      Each word was clipped shorter than a buzz cut on a new military recruit.

      “I’m going to start attending classes. I want to get my college degree.” She leaned toward him and set her jaw. “Don’t try to stop me on this, Sadik. I’m more stubborn than you could begin to imagine.”

      She’d obviously caught him completely off guard. He didn’t speak, didn’t do anything but stare at her. Finally he shook his head and turned away.

      “I forbid it.”

      Figures. “The least you could do is not be predictable,” she said to his back. “Forbid away. I’m still going to do it.”

      He spun toward her, his expression outraged. “You are my wife and will be the mother of my son. That is enough for any woman.”

      “It’s not for СКАЧАТЬ