than Fatima could tie them.
Amy knew every new tooth in their heads, every smile was a gift for her, and she could not stand to walk away.
Except she had to.
Amy packed cases for the little girls, putting in their swimming costumes, because she knew there were several pools at the Alzirz palace.
‘They won’t be needing those,’ Fatima said. ‘I shall not be swimming with them.’
And their father certainly wouldn’t, Amy thought, biting down on her lip as she struggled to maintain her composure.
She helped Fatima bring them down to wait for the King and board the helicopter.
‘Be good!’ Amy smiled at the girls when she wanted to kiss them and hold them. She was terribly aware that this might be the last time she would see them, that perhaps it would be kinder to all of them for her simply to leave while they were away.
As Emir strode across the palace he barely glanced at his daughters, and certainly he did not look in Amy’s direction. He was dressed in military uniform as this was to be a formal event and she loathed the fact that this man still moved her. His long leather boots rang out as he walked briskly across the marble floor, only halting when Patel called out to him.
‘La.’ He shook his head, his reply instant, and carried on walking, but Patel called to him again and there was a brief, rather urgent discussion. Then Emir headed into his study, with Patel following closely behind.
‘I’ll say goodbye now!’ Amy spoke to the girls, for they were getting increasingly fretful and so too was she. She must remember that they were not her babies, that they would be fine with Fatima, that they were not hers to love. But it killed her to turn around and walk up the grand staircase. It was almost impossible not to look around and respond to their tears, but she did her level best—freezing on the spot when she heard Patel’s voice.
‘The King wishes to speak with you.’
‘Me?’ Slowly Amy turned around.
‘Now,’ Patel informed her. ‘He is busy—do not keep him waiting.’
It felt like the longest walk of her life. Amy could feel eyes on her as she walked back down the stairs, trying to quieten her mind, trying not to pre-empt what Emir wanted though her heart surely knew. She had never been summoned to speak to him before, and could only conclude that his thoughts were the same as hers—while he was gone, perhaps it was better that she leave.
It was terribly awkward to face him. Not since their night together had it been just them, for Fatima was always around, her silent criticism following Amy’s every move. There was no discomfort in Emir, she noted. He looked as uninterested and as imposing as he had the last time that she had stood there, and his voice was flat.
‘You are to accompany the children to the naming ceremony of the new Prince of Alzirz.’
‘Me?’ Amy swallowed. This was so not what she had been expecting. ‘But I thought it was considered more suitable for Fatima to travel with them? She is more well-versed—’
‘This is not a discussion,’ Emir interrupted. ‘You are to go now and to pack quickly. The helicopter is waiting and I have no intention of arriving late.’
‘But—’ She didn’t understand the change of plan. She needed this time alone and was nervous about travelling with him.
‘That will be all,’ Emir broke in. ‘As I said, I did not call you in here for a discussion.’
It was Patel who offered a brief explanation as she left the office. ‘Queen Natasha wishes to discuss English nannies and has said she is looking forward to speaking with you.’
This made sense, because of course a request from Queen Natasha during the new Prince’s naming ceremony must be accommodated.
It mattered not that it would break her heart.
Amy packed quickly. She selected three pale blue robes and her nightwear, and threw a few toiletries into her bag. Even if there was the helicopter, the King and his entourage waiting, still she took a moment to pack the twins’ swimming costumes and her own bikini—because, unlike Fatima, she would swim with the girls.
Emir was at the helicopter, and she felt his air of impatience as she stepped in. He had already strapped in the girls and Fatima gave Amy a long, cool look as she left the aircraft, for it was an honour indeed to travel with the King.
It was not the easiest