him between bites. “What’s the party for? A birthday, or a national holiday?”
“The crown prince is searching for a wife,” he said casually. “Do you know of the crown prince?”
“I know there is a crown prince, but I don’t know anything about him.” Her tone was light and easy, as if they were friends, or at least acquaintances and not standing in an off-limits garden together. “But I don’t follow royalty. Of any country. I do wonder why he needs to throw himself a party in order to find someone to marry. He must be incredibly full of himself to think that a bevy of women are just going to line up for him to choose from.” Her mouth sprang into an O. “I’m—wow. I’m sorry, that was—that was completely inappropriate.” She lay the fork on the plate and bit her lip. “This obviously isn’t the place to say things like that.”
“Your words are safe with me.” He stifled another smile. “Do you have any idea what you might do now? Given that the contract is legal.”
Her eyes widened. “I don’t know. I’m not going to get anywhere with an empty gas tank, but I have to figure this out. I can’t leave my grandfather to deal with the fallout alone. I was just trying to get some space and time to think.” Determination flashed in her eyes. “Maybe I can challenge it in court.”
“That may not be the safest route for you,” he warned. An American in Raihan, with only one elderly relative to vouch for her? And that relative had dementia and had signed a marriage contract on her behalf? “This is likely to be complex, given the nature of the situation.”
“Well, I’m not going to marry a creep, so what choice do I have?” She wrung her hands. “This was supposed to be a research trip. I’m here to learn about Raihani pottery. The pottery here—” She gazed up at the sky, looking almost rapturous. “It was legendary in my master’s program in London. This was going to be the foundation of my career, really. I’m particularly interested in a modern potter from this era.” Laila’s eyes lit up. “She—at least I think it’s a she—signs an intricate symbol into her work instead of a name. I was hoping to learn—” She laughed. “Sorry—it’s beside the point, and you don’t care about any of this.”
He opened his mouth to tell her the truth—that he did care. He planned to leave out the fact that he had no explanation for why he was so drawn to her, and how he wanted to listen to her talk for much longer than would be appropriate on a night like this one. But footsteps on the path cut him off. Footsteps, coming fast.
“Prince Zayid.” The aide wore the staff’s fanciest livery for the party, a white suit with silver trim that made him easily identifiable. No doubt the man had already been accosted by several people wanting a word with the crown prince. “Prince Zayid, your absence—” It was two aides, both in the same uniform, and they both skidded to a stop a few feet away from where he stood with Laila. “Your absence has been noted at the party.”
“Let them note it, then.” He waved them away with one hand. “I’m in conversation.” Not only was he in conversation, he was in conversation with perhaps the only woman on the planet who didn’t care that the hunt for a bride was on. Talking to Laila the Garden Trespasser was far more restorative than even the fresh night air and solitude. Give that up to go back into the party? No, thank you.
“We’ve been sent by Queen Aanisah. She’s requested your presence with the other guests,” said the second aide. A loud crash swept his retort from his mind.
Laila stood in the path, hands still hovering in the air as if she hadn’t dropped the plate. The royal china lay shattered on the cobblestones, the fork topping the mess. Her pretty lips had dropped open.
“Oh, no,” she whispered. “Oh, no.”
4
The crown prince. The crown prince. Of course—how could she have so badly misunderstood her conversation with none other than Zayid Hasan, first in line to the throne of Raihan? She’d seen a picture of him in the in-flight magazine on the way over. Hmm, she’d thought. He’s attractive. But she’d been so excited to travel that she’d put it out of her mind. What were the chances she’d end up