The Duke's Runaway Princess Page 0,5

I mean,” he grumbled and pulled her closer. “She shouldn’t be living like that. She doesn’t understand the danger she’s in by living so unguarded.”

“But you do and you’re here to fix it, eh?”

“Don’t joke, Sidra. She’s a princess and the world isn’t as kind as you would like to think it is.”

“I’m sorry,” she sighed and snuggled against him. “But she’s also a woman and an independent one at that.”

“The men I’ve considered for her to marry will take that into consideration.” At least he hoped so, but he didn’t say that to his wife. He knew there were certain things that riled her up, with that crazy American independent attitude of hers. Sometimes he really didn’t understand her, but he always appreciated her gentleness of spirit and kindness towards the world.

Sidra didn’t respond, but she couldn’t help but worry about her sister-in-law who wasn’t much younger than she was. She could definitely imagine how she would feel if someone told her that she couldn’t work anymore because it had happened when she’d married Rashid. As an interior designer by education and profession, it had been hard to let that go but there hadn’t been any hesitation. She loved Rashid too much and if it were a choice between her career and him, she’d choose him any day. Oh, he let her redecorate the palace when the mood struck her but she couldn’t offer her services to other clients. She didn’t mind though because she had Rashid and her sons, and hopefully a daughter on the way.

Sidra strongly prayed that one of the men Rashid had lined up as possible grooms might tempt Zarah and be an interesting possibility for a husband. Unfortunately, she didn’t hold out much hope of that after living in the palace for so many years and meeting some of the men who came through to speak with Rashid. They were just as stubborn and opinionated as he was which didn’t bode well for her young sister-in-law’s independent mindset.

Chapter 2

“What’s wrong?” Zarah’s best friend, Suzanne, asked as she sat down in the chair next to Zarah in the coffee shop they frequented in between classes. “I would think you’d be on cloud nine with excitement now that classes are over and graduation is two days away.”

Zarah took a sip of her green chai tea and grimaced, not at the flavor but because she had to face her future and it didn’t appear to be very exciting. “I have to get married.”

Suzanne’s eyebrows went up in surprise. That was the last thing she had been expecting to hear from her friend. “Since I know this can’t be a pregnancy crisis because you don’t date any of the guys around here, I’m guessing it has to do with your position as your big brother’s very protected baby sister. Is this one of those royal things that continue to baffle me and the rest of our group?”

Zarah smiled slightly at her friend’s reference to her position in the Tasain royal family but she nodded. Very few people knew who she was, but Suzanne and a few others knew. They were a circle of friends who she cared for a great deal and had confided in over the years. As expected, they’d all been interested to learn more about her and her country, but thankfully they hadn’t changed the way they treated her. Her secret had been kept between them the whole time and she was extremely grateful to have friends she could trust so implicitly. “Yes, one of those ‘royal things’,” she teased with a soft laugh as she lifted her tea for another sip.

Because of her breakfast with her brother, she was much more aware of her surroundings. Zarah wasn’t sure she appreciated that though. Whereas before, she went about New York as she pleased, unconcerned with who she might run into or any possible threats. But her brother had reinforced the issues she could be facing by being so unprotected and unconcerned with where she went and who she spoke with. It was a bit intimidating but she was trying to shake it off so she could get back to that carefree living for her last few days of freedom before she became an engaged woman.

“Who is the guy?” Suzanne asked and opened the top of her cappuccino so she could sprinkle some chocolate powder on top of the foam, making the coffee slightly more decadent.

Zarah sighed and glanced down at her tea. “I don’t know