Free The Sheik and the Bought Bride by Susan Mallery Page B

child?”
    Six simple words that changed everything , he thought grimly. Pregnant. He hadn’t considered the possibility. Last night he’d be unable to think of anything but having her.
    He didn’t bother to question how Yusra knew they’d had sex. The ripped dress would have been clue enough and he’d left it on a chair in his rooms. Word would have spread quickly. He knew there were those who wanted him to take another wife, to have a child. They would hope Victoria was someone he would consider.
    Or at least they would unless they found out the truth about her.
    Could she be pregnant?
    He hadn’t thought to use protection. Was she on birth control? He remembered her plan to marry Nadim. No doubt had he been willing to take her to his bed, she would have been delighted to use pregnancy to trap him. There was no reason to assume she would act any differently with him.
    He returned his gaze to Yusra. “She can’t be allowed to leave until we know if she is pregnant or not.”
    “As you wish.”
    “You will tell me either way?”
    “Of course. In no more than twenty-eight days, sir. Then you can let her go.”
    Having her gone tomorrow would be easier, but not possible. A little less than a month. That shouldn’t be a problem. As Yusra had pointed out, Victoria was only one woman. He could handle her easily.
     
    Exactly at three, Victoria knocked on the door of the old house on the corner. A woman answered right away. She was probably close to fifty, tall and very beautiful, with dark hair hanging in a long ponytail and large, expressive eyes. Gold chains hung around her neck and bangles jingled on both wrists.
    “You must be Victoria,” she said warmly. “Welcome. I am Rasha.”
    “Thank you so much for letting me see where you work,” Victoria said as she stepped into the building.
    From the outside it looked like a house, but on the inside, it was a big, open space with skylights and windows. The floors were stone. Interior walls had been removed and work stations set up in several places. Heat billowed from the left side, where several women poured molten gold into molds.
    “I’ve admired your jewelry ever since I came to El Deharia two years ago,” Victoria said. “I just didn’t know it was yours. I bought these in the market in the city.”
    Rasha touched her earrings. “Yes, I recognize the piece. Very nice.”
    “They’re beautiful. The weaving is incredible.”
    Rasha led her around the room. “We use many techniques to make our jewelry. Molds, as you see them doing here. The weaving involves long wires or threads that are just soft enough to bend. The delicate beadwork is the most difficult. We also set stones.”
    Rasha introduced her to many of the women working in the house, then showed her their inventory. The rows ofcompleted work was dazzling and for a moment Victoria felt a little light-headed.
    “I’m practically a professional shopper,” she joked. “Seeing this much all in one place isn’t good for me.”
    Rasha laughed. “We get used to it.”
    “That’s almost sad.” Victoria touched a pendant. “I know you sell in the city and here in the village. Anywhere else?”
    “We have a man who takes our jewelry to El Bahar and Bahania. They do well.”
    Both neighboring countries, Victoria thought. But still relatively small markets.
    “What about selling on the Internet?”
    Rasha frowned. “Is that possible?”
    “Sure. You set up a Web site with pictures and set prices. You’d have to deal with shipping and boxes and insurance. I wonder if mailing into other countries would be a problem? Customs and import fees. Maybe it would be better to find a distributor in, say, the U.S. and Europe.”
    “You have many ideas,” Rasha told her. “We are a small factory. No one would be interested in what we have to offer.”
    “Don’t underestimate your work. People would be very interested. Handmade jewelry is something to treasure. Your prices are reasonable and the work