Page 13 of The Sheikh's Matchmaker Bride

Chapter Four

"You and Shahid were in the garden for a while," Nadyah said.

"It wasn't that long," Aliyah said trying not to sound too defensive.

"Azim told me you and Shahid are good friends," Lucy said.

The three women were seated in one of the large sitting rooms of the palace. Azim and Shahid had left them a short while before, saying they had something to do in another part of the palace. The truth was probably that they didn't want to be around to listen to some girl talk.

When Shahid and Aliyah had returned to the palace, they'd found Lucy seated next to Azim. Knowing looks had been exchanged between Aliyah and Nadyah, and between Shahid and Azim. She'd wondered what people had thought had gone on in the garden. It was as well they didn't know the truth, she'd told herself.

Now the women were sharing tea in the cool room. Aliyah gazed across at Lucy. There was no doubting how much Azim loved Lucy, and Aliyah could see why. Not only was Lucy pretty, with blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes, but she had a razor sharp wit as well as an obviously good heart. Azim was a lucky man.

Aliyah was very fond of Lucy although she'd only known the beautiful American woman a short time. The first time she'd met Lucy had been two years before, when Lucy and Azim had originally been together. Aliyah wasn't sure of the details of Lucy and Azim's first split, but she was glad everything had worked out.

"So, tell me the details," Nadyah demanded with a grin.

"There's nothing to tell,"Aliyah replied.

Nadyah lifted a brow. "Are you telling me you spent some time alone in the garden with my brother and there's nothing you need to tell me?"

Aliyah smiled and shrugged. "That's exactly what I'm saying."

Nadyah frowned. "I'm not buying that, Aliyah. Not one bit."

Nadyah turned to Lucy who was looking a little perplexed by the exchange. "My brother has a reputation, Lucy. You know what I mean. With the ladies."

Lucy nodded. "Ah, I know what you mean," she said with a grin. "He is a very handsome man. Your parents must be real proud of him," Lucy said to Nadyah.

Nadyah grunted. "They would be even more proud of him if he didn't get his name in the gossip columns as much as he does. My father is quite traditional."

"Times have changed," Aliyah said.

"I suppose they have," Nadyah replied. "But, that doesn't stop my father being more than a little disapproving of how Shahid behaves in public."

Aliyah wondered if she really knew all she should know about the man who had kissed her in the garden only a short while before. She was aware of some of the stories to which Nadyah was referring. For a long time Shahid's image had been plastered across the society pages of the Qazhar media. She'd seen him plenty of times on TV, attending parties and social events, every time with a different woman on his arm. She was under no illusions about the man who had kissed her in the garden.

Aliyah sipped some tea and placed her cup back on the table. "The way you're talking about your father's reaction to Shahid sounds familiar. I remember my own father being just like that when it came to my own brothers. Things turned out well though."

Lucy laughed. "Azim was telling me all about your brothers. I'm glad I won't be the only American wife in Qazhar," she said.

Nadyah shook her head. "American and English women seem to popular choices as brides in these parts." She lifted her cup, took a sip of tea and then continued. "Except maybe for Shahid, of course," she said glancing at Aliyah.

"From what I hear from Azim, Shahid has been very popular with Qazhar women," Lucy said.

Aliyah felt a jolt of emotion, and not a welcome one at that. At first she wasn't sure whether Lucy was referring to Aliyah or to someone else. But, right now, because of the need to appear disinterested in Shahid she wasn't able to press Lucy for more details. In an instant, Nadyah took on that job with obvious relish.

"It's true that he's popular. There's no denying that. Is there Aliyah?" Nadyah said looking straight at Aliyah.

"He's had quite a life these past few years," she admitted.

Nadyah sighed. "Maybe it's time for him to be settling down." Nadyah's eyes flickered in Aliyah's direction.

Aliyah tried to ensure her face was as impassive and unreadable as possible. "Shahid will never settle down," she said, finding it difficult to say the words with any real sense of conviction.

"Really, you think so?" Lucy said. "I got the impression from Azim that Shahid's been under a bit of pressure from his father to choose a bride."

Aliyah's stomach twisted when she heard Lucy's words. She was sure her face had paled because she could feel the blood draining from her face. Nadyah looked at Aliyah and frowned.

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