The Sheikh's Impatient Virgin

The Sheikh's Impatient Virgin Read Free Page A

Book: The Sheikh's Impatient Virgin Read Free
Author: Kim Lawrence
Ads: Link
when required to blend into the background. They were blending and if he had not been watched and guarded all his life, Karim would not have given the anonymous vehicle a second glance—but he had.
    It said a lot about his frame of mind that he only glanced with mild curiosity towards the building they were watching as he squinted in the dim light to bring the name on the red brick façade into focus.
    Church Mansions…a grand name for a not very grand building, a typical Edwardian villa divided like most in the street into flats. The groove between his dark brows deepened as he impatiently pushed away a hank of wet hair that dripped a steady stream of water droplets into his eyes from his forehead.
    Now why, he puzzled, did that name seem familiar? And why could he not string two syllables together, let alone two thoughts?
    Then as he was turning to retrace his steps it hit him: this was where King Hassan’s granddaughter lived. This was the address where on Thursday evening he had been meant to pick her up. The arrangement had been made prior to Amira’s diagnosis—presumably Tariq, his right-hand man, had made his apologies.
    What day was it now? Thursday, no Friday…just, and now he was here, led by what…fate?
    Karim did not believe in the arbitrary hand of providence; the idea of not being in charge of his own destiny was total anathema to him. A man made his own fate; he took responsibility for his own decisions, the bad ones and the good ones.
    Was this a bad one? he wondered as he scanned the names on the doorplate until he found the one he was searching for.
    There was a logical reason for his decision, though in truth at that moment it eluded him, but it would be logical and probably to do with duty. He shook his head in the vain hope of clearing his tangled thoughts—the lift wasn’t working so he took the stairs—his life involved a lot of duty.
    It had been duty that had made him agree to the meeting with this girl, the meeting that had never happened.
    He had agreed out of duty and respect for Hassan Al-Hakim, King of Azharim, a country that shared a border with Zuhaymi. The two desert states had been allies for many years, as had the royal families, but before that they had been traditional enemies.
    King Hassan was not the first to suggest that it was time he married again, but he was the first to actually suggest a possible bride.
    ‘You don’t need me to point out your duty, Karim, but while you are without a wife every politically ambitious ruling family lives in hope, they plot and connive. Being born who you are has given you status, power and wealth, but at a price. A hereditary leader’s first duty is to his country and people. They look to you for stability, a sense of continuity and permanence—an heir…’
    ‘And preferably a couple of spares.’
    His flippancy, though not appreciated, had been tolerated, but it was not in the same league as refusing to meet the granddaughter of his neighbour with a view to marriage. Such an insult might not have returned the respective countries to war status, but it would have strained the relationship, so Karim had been willing to go through the motions and treat the suggestion with the gravity it did not deserve.
    Karim could readily appreciate the King’s desire to see his granddaughter married, and of course by birth this girl fulfilled all the criteria for a royal bride.
    But birth was not the only consideration.
    Karim was one of the few who were privy to the story of thelost princess who had been ignorant of her birthright. It made for good romance and an even better headline when the media found out, which to his mind was inevitable. But to expect a woman brought up knowing nothing of tradition to take on such a role as his wife would be called upon to perform would be like expecting a ten-year-old to conduct a lecture on astrophysics!
    Karim knew he had to marry and his expectations were realistic. He was not expecting to find a soul mate

Similar Books

Riot Most Uncouth

Daniel Friedman

The Cage King

Danielle Monsch

O Caledonia

Elspeth Barker

Dark Tide 1: Onslaught

Michael A. Stackpole

Hitler's Forgotten Children

Ingrid Von Oelhafen

Noah

Jacquelyn Frank

Not a Chance

Carter Ashby