Free His Arranged Marriage by Tina Leonard Page A

giving her the courtesy of a royal with important duties, not the more minor position of an out-of-power queen. Gratitude swelled inside her. “My son and your daughter like each other very much. They came here to protect you. Prince Kadar told your daughter the truth in Balahar. She could have left his side at any moment, revealing him to be an imposter and remaining in her father’s home. For the sake of your rule, she went with Kadar, knowing that it was best that a strong marriage bond be portrayed. They came here because already thepalace spy had drugged Kadar’s drink, hoping to keep him from honoring the princess with a true marriage. An annulment is what I suspect Queen Layla is after, Your Highness, and if Prince Kadar and Princess Serena were unwilling to give it to them, then I humbly suggest that we give them the time to work out the marriage they both seem content to keep.”
    “And you have told me that my daughter is still—”
    “Yes, Your Highness. My son was unwilling to consummate the relationship under false pretenses, nor did he feel that dancing to the tune of a palace spy and pretender suited him. He would honor your daughter by giving her the time she needs to fall in love with him, to trust him, and more importantly, to be happy married to him.”
    “Very unusual for a young man to restrain himself from a bounty when it is laid before him,” King Zak observed.
    A soft laugh escaped Rose. “There is much gnashing of teeth and wearing of pride at The Desert Rose right now, Your Highness.”
    “So they do like each other?” he asked, his tone husky.
    “Yes. Very much so, it seems. Enough to want the other to be happy. I would say that it is a very good start.”
    “I remember the feeling of wearing my pride and gnashing my teeth,” King Zak said thoughtfully.
    “As do I,” Rose said, her voice wistful.
    “Falling in love is a beautiful thing, my lady.”
    “Yes.” She could hardly speak for the pain of remembering just how beautiful it had been for her—before her whole life had been ripped from her by Layla. “I would give this gift to our children, if we can, Zakariyya.”
    “I think you are right,” he suddenly said, his tone authoritative once again. “I am intrigued by your suggestion, and will accept an offer of one Desert Rose foal to make reparation for the pride your son’s conduct has cost me.”
    “You are more than generous, King Zak.”
    “How many were you going to offer me?”
    Rose smiled. “The very best next three The Desert Rose produced.”
    “You got off lightly,” the king said. “Shrewdness is appealing in a woman, for when her beauty fades, she still has that attribute left to her. I will be anxiously awaiting an update in one week’s time. If I do not hear from you, I will come for my daughter myself. This will cause me bad humor. And two weeks’ time is all I can allot for the prince and princess to do more than posture and crow at each other. Surely that is long enough for a man to know his own mind. Tell Prince Kadar I am displeased that he deceived me. Tell him that I will cut off his handif he compromises my daughter before she decides she will be his. Tell him the Balahar royalty does not need to send to Texas for a stud—we have plenty of young men here who would pay handsomely to wed my daughter. A man who comes in and steals my daughter out from under my nose in the cover of night in his jet should be good for a couple of grandchildren—er, royal heirs.”
    “Yes, Your Majesty,” Rose said, knowing that the pompous tone covered his pleasure with the situation.
    “I will send you some pictures of the wedding. It was a small, impromptu affair, of course, but you will enjoy seeing the two of them in royal wedding attire.”
    “Yes, I will. Thank you. Your kindness is more than I deserve.”
    “Your time away from court has taken nothing from the sweet manner with which you are trying to assuage me, Rose. I can see why your husband