Read Online The Sheik's Secret Bride by Susan Mallery - Free Book Online Page B

although most of the parrots are gone.” Fatima sipped her tea. “Parrots were always kept around the harem so that men could not hear the voices of the women and be tempted to climb the walls.”
    “I see,” she said, even though she didn’t. Harem. “So there are women there? Women kept for the princes?” She deliberately kept her voice sounding mildly interested so that the queen would not guess her repugnance at the thought of females on demand for any group of men. She’d thought that El Bahar was a forward-looking country, but obviously she’d been—
    “I’m the only resident of the harem now,” Fatima said blandly. Her calm expression gave Liana the uncomfortable feeling that the queen knew exactly what she’d been thinking. “The harem as you would define it was disbanded a year or so after I was married. King Givon , my son, never kept any women there for himself and none of the princes do either. So it can be a bit lonely for an old woman like myself .”
    Despite her embarrassment at being caught out with such obvious questions, Liana couldn’t help laughing. “I doubt anyone thinks of you as an old woman, Fatima. You are too elegant.”
    “Thank you, my dear. One tries one’s best. Now, enough about my life. Tell me about your relationship with my grandson. I’ve heard several different rumors, and I’m not sure which one to believe.”
    “There’s nothing to tell,” Liana said, refusing to think about the kiss they’d just shared. While it had been amazing, it didn’t mean anything. She quickly recounted her meeting with Malik and how she’d come to be at the palace rather than the teacher residences at the
American
School
.
    “Most intriguing,” Fatima mused. “Not like Malik at all.” She regarded Liana thoughtfully. “ Malik is a great many good things, but he’s not what you Americans refer to as a people person. He’s generally reserved. Heidi, his sister-in-law, can get through to him. She always has. I believe it’s her irreverence for his authority, and the fact that she treats Malik like a regular person.”
    “He is a regular person,” Liana reminded the queen. “He has exceptional responsibilities, but that doesn’t make him any less human.”
    “Really…” Fatima took another sip of tea. “How interesting you should think so. Most of Malik’s acquaintances would not agree with you. They would say he was quite removed from the rest of us.”
    Probably because they hadn’t been kissed by him, Liana thought humorously. There was nothing like a passionate embrace from a handsome prince to remind a woman that he was very much a mortal man.
    “So how are you adjusting to life in El Bahar ?” the queen asked.
    As far as smooth transitions went, it left much to be desired, but Liana was determined to play along. She found herself liking the grandmother of the Crown Prince.
    “I’ve never lived in a palace before,” she admitted. “It has its benefits, as well as its drawbacks.”
    “The palace is very beautiful,” Fatima said. “You and your daughter must visit me in the harem for tea. Perhaps on Saturday.”
    “That would be nice.” Liana answered politely even as she wondered if they would still be here on Saturday. Just because she’d had a moment of mind-stealing passion didn’t mean that she’d changed her views on having her own place. If Malik thought he could seduce her into staying at the palace, he was going to find himself very startled when she left.
    Fatima smiled at her. “I hope you’re going to be very good for my grandson. He needs that.”
    “Because he misses his late wife?”
    Fatima ’s friendly expression faded as if it had never been. Her expression hardened just as Liana had seen Malik’s do. Fatima stiffened, then set her teacup on the table.
    “I will not speak of that woman,” the queen announced as she rose to her feet. “She might have been of royal blood, but she was not worthy of the house of Khan.”
    “I’m