deserves to be in love.'
'You are happy for her, are you? What about your poor brother?' Zahir's silky dark eyes belied his reprimanding tone. They were positively twinkling...
'Perhaps...perhaps you could revise your opinion about the jewel and open your mind to the possibility of being with someone that you adore as well, Zahir? It's not outside the bounds of feasibility that a woman—a lovely woman—might fall in love with you.'
His powerful shoulders lifted in what might have been a resigned shrug. 'Maybe... It is definitely a consideration.' The smile now touching his lips grew wider. 'In fact, it would not be a lie to admit that I am coming round to believing that perhaps it is completely the right thing to do after all...to marry a woman I adore and cherish.'
As he finished speaking his dark chocolate gaze was drawn to Gina. And as her hungry eyes were magnetized by his she felt them well helplessly with tears.
'Gina and I found our great-great-grandmother's journal, and in it she mentions the Heart of Courage,' Farida related eagerly. 'She affirms that she had total belief in the truth of the prophecy because all our ancestors before her had enjoyed very happy, successful marriages, and most of them died of natural causes. There was no mention of any terrible tragedies being visited upon them.' She took a deep breath, and her smile was wistful and sad for a moment. 'It was a terrible blow for me to lose Azhar...but I will not rail at the heavens for it. I think that would be sheer arrogance—because clearly I do not know the mind of the Divine, or for what reason Azhar was taken from me so young. But just because that happened to me, Zahir, it does not mean that it will happen to you. You mustn't spend your whole life dreading such a thing. As for our parents—we already know that Father had a weak heart. It simply gave way because Mother died. It was his time...'
Reaching across the table, Zahir tenderly covered his sister's small hand with his own much larger one. 'You are very brave, Farida...I am truly blessed to have such a one as you as my sister. I know Azhar was the love of your life, but perhaps, given time, you might open your heart to the possibility of loving again? You are young yet, and have too much to offer to be alone.'
Relaxing back in his chair, he almost immediately moved his attention to Gina again. His intense examination of her gave her goosebumps. It made the hope rising inside her almost bubble over—just as though she had imbibed too much champagne. She felt quite heady with joy. Yet an old fear that she might not get her heart's desire after all dampened it down a little. Whoever heard of a boring academic marrying the handsomest Sheikh in the world? it mocked.
Determined to ignore it, she pulled her glance determinedly away from the strong, handsome face at the opposite side of the table, to contemplate the delicious selection of food on her plate instead.
'You are hungry, Gina?'
Zahir's tone was teasing but she found she didn't mind it...didn't mind it at all. 'I am as a matter of fact,' she admitted shyly.
'Then, seeing as I do not want to be responsible far my treasured guest fainting with hunger, please go ahead and eat. You too, Farida.'
The grin hijacking his wonderful features elevated his handsome face to the most stunning male visage Gina had ever seen, and for a few moments it was all but impossible for her to look anywhere else.
'Let us enjoy this wonderful feast that my sister has organised for us,' he continued. 'There will be plenty of time for conversation afterwards.'
'A thousand apologies, Your Highness.' The twin doors opened abruptly, and Jamal appeared. He went straight to Zahir.
'What is it?'
'A telephone call from the house of Masoud.'
The rest of the servant's explanation was in their own language, and both Gina and Farida tensed as Zahir stood up from the table and threw down his napkin. As he surveyed them, his dark eyes were fever-bright. Was that fear she saw reflected there? Gina thought anxiously.
'I have to go out, I'm afraid,' he said. 'My secretary Masoud has taken a sudden turn for the worse. Please try and enjoy your food without me, and I will see you both later.' Turning to Jamal, he laid his hand on the other man's shoulder. 'I am charging you to look