Heart of the Desert by Carol Marinelli Read Free Book Online

anything, anything at all, and picked up the bedside phone. It didn’t even ring once before it was answered, and in no time at all there was a tray laden with coffee and fruit and juices being delivered not just to her room but onto a bedside table. Her pillows were rearranged and Georgie cringed at the attention and wondered how Felicity could have so easily got used to it.
    The coffee was too strong, too sweet and had an almost smoky flavour to it and she sipped it slowly, then chose to take her tray and enjoy the sight of the sun rising over the ocean.
    Opening the French windows, she stepped out onto the balcony and watched the magical display—the sky lit up with pinks and oranges, the air warm on her skin. She was filled with a yearning to see a desert sunrise, to follow those warm fingers of light and see them awakenall that was behind. But as much as Georgie wanted to witness the splendour, she knew that again this trip it would be unlikely—Felicity was very busy and wouldn’t want to leave little Azizah overnight.
    One day she’d see it. Georgie told herself to be patient, but she was drawn to the magic Ibrahim had so readily dismissed, wanted to find out more for herself about the tales of the desert, to sample the food and inhale the oils, to see more of Zaraq than just the shops and the palace.
    And then she saw him. A man on his horse. It could have been any of the brothers, from this distance it might even have been the king, but her heart told her it was Ibrahim. He certainly didn’t look like a man who was recovering from the previous night’s excess and not for the first time Georgie wondered if Felicity was mistaken about how Ibrahim spent his evenings. There was something about the speed of his riding, a combination of youth, vigor and power as he hurtled along the beach that told her it was him. He pulled up suddenly, patting the beast’s neck and guiding him to a slow walk in the water, and then he looked up and saw the sun glisten on the palace and saw Georgie watching him.
    He did not acknowledge her, did not lift a hand to wave. He just turned and kicked his horse back into a gallop, leaving a white streak of surf behind him, and she knew she’d just been snubbed. Still, you didn’t say no to a man like Ibrahim and then expect a cheery wave the following morning.
    Why was he here? Georgie wondered, as she showeredand dressed. What had suddenly prompted him to return unannounced? Oh, she’d seen him dashing and smiling, descending on Zaraq oozing charm and bearing gifts.
    She’d seen the torment in his face too—only not even Ibrahim knew that.
    The thought stayed with her as she showered and, dressed, joined her sister for breakfast.
    ‘Is this okay?’ she asked as she took her seat. It was a perpetual question for Georgie while in Zaraq. She was dressed in a loose-fitting cream shift dress with flat, strappy sandals and even though it was modest, she still felt as if she was showing way too much skin.
    ‘Relax!’ Felicity said. ‘You look wonderful. It’s only if you come out with me on official business, which you won’t,’ she hastily added when Georgie’s eyes widened in horror, ‘that you would have to cover up.’ And then Felicity gave a wry laugh. ‘Actually, technically you wouldn’t. You’re married after all.’
    ‘Not any more.’
    ‘Oh, but you are in Zaraq.’ Felicity said, but didn’t get to elaborate as the king came out to the courtyard where they were taking breakfast.
    ‘Have you seen Ibrahim?’ Felicity didn’t turn a hair, but Georgie felt her heart pound because the king was a formidable man, especially close up, and he didn’t look best pleased. ‘No doubt he is still sleeping.’ She wanted to correct him, to tell the king that Ibrahim was, in fact, out riding, but she knew it wasn’t her place, even though the king sounded irritated. ‘Where is everyone?’
    ‘Karim left early to attend a meeting on the healthsituation with the