One Desert Night - By Maggie Cox Page 0,67

do not want formality to be a barrier to our friendship.'

'Zahir,' Jeremy Collins said, an embarrassed little quirk to his lips, 'I hope I am not being presumptuous by raising the topic right now, but I was wondering if you might in the future consider bringing the Heart of Courage to London. Perhaps to be exhibited in the British Museum? I have no doubt it would excite much interest amongst not only historians and those interested in ancient artefacts but in the general public, too. Especially because of the way it inadvertently brought you and my daughter together.'

'What do you think, Gina?'

She was a little taken aback when her handsome husband asked her opinion. Clearly this was a new side to him that she would have to get used to. He had barely let go of her hand since the ceremony, and even now, as they sat informally with family, he still held it. Glancing into the gaze that definitely reflected the tender feelings of his heart on this most special of all the days since they had met, Gina nodded lightly. 'I agree with my dad that it would definitely excite interest. But the point is...would you be prepared to bring it to London to be shown, Zahir? It is, after all, a family heirloom first and foremost.'

'Why not?' He touched his palm gently to her cheek. 'It might be nice to go to London in a few weeks' time, when it can be arranged. We still haven't reached a solution about a honeymoon because you will not make a decision on where to go.'

'I like it here,' Gina confessed, dimpling, 'I like is so much I don't want or need to go anywhere else for quite a while.'

'Well, if we go to London you can show me the sights and give me a personal guided tour. When I was at university in Oxford I was too fond of my studies to go there very often. I confess I have a great desire to experience the view from the top of the London Eye.' He turned back to his father-in-law. 'So my answer to your question is, yes, Jeremy, I would be prepared to take the jewel to London.'

Gina and Zahir—accompanied by a sturdily built palace bodyguard—swept by the eager queue that had formed outside the small private gallery where the Heart of Courage was making its much anticipated debut. With her handsome attentive husband holding her hand all the way, Gina felt as if she was on the set of a movie—her role that of the very fortunate heroine, and Zahir's the devastatingly gorgeous and strong hero. Every female in the audience would breathe a collective sigh of longing when they saw him.

The whole scene had a very dreamlike quality to it, but in truth all she had to do was glance up into Zahir's mesmerising dark gaze to learn that it was no dream or illusion. It was real, and it was true.

They had been married for three months now, and every day and night felt like a honeymoon. Every morning when she woke up in their bed, either in the palace or in the beloved Bedouin tent that they continued to visit often, Gina would find some exquisite gift left by her husband on her pillow—each one more beautiful and precious than the last.

Now, as she stood beside him to gaze again at the breathtaking jewel that had brought them together, arranged in pride of place at the centre of a collection of ancient Persian artefacts that included items from both temples and tombs as well as from royal houses, Gina found herself pulled gently against Zahir's side. Dressed in his now familiar robes, his luxuriant hair loose round his powerful shoulders, as he wore it in Kabuyadir, he might have been some dark exotic bird in the middle of an aviary of sparrows, she thought, smiling. Such was his imposing presence. The head curator of the gallery, a tall, slim redhead with glasses, looked as if she'd won the Lottery every time Zahir so much as glanced her way.

When they turned round, there was a bank of photographers, eager to take their pictures—Zahir, Gina and the famous jewel. With no time to prevaricate, Gina tugged her husband's hand to get his attention.

'What is it?' he whispered urgently, his intense dark gaze mirroring faint alarm.

'I'm pregnant.'

'What?'

'I was going to tell you tonight at dinner, but suddenly I...' She felt herself blush hotly. 'Suddenly I just couldn't