‘Be careful with Felicia,’ Rina said. ‘Be careful with a young woman’s heart.’
Kedah shook his head. His mother did not have to concern herself with his sex life, and especially not with Felicia’s heart. This was a business arrangement, and if anyone could handle it, it was Felicia—she was the toughest person he knew.
‘You don’t have to worry about her.’
‘But I do. You have never brought one of your lovers to the palace.’
They walked on and Kedah said nothing. But his mother was right. It was in part the reason he would not be staying longer. He wanted Felicia in his bed, and that could never happen here.
‘You are choosing a bride soon,’ his mother warned. ‘It is not fair to her to be here.’
‘Felicia is fine.’
Rina wasn’t so sure. She had seen Felicia’s angry glare as Kedah had made her walk behind him and ignored her.
And now there Felicia was, standing on a balcony, looking out at the view.
‘Think about staying for a little while, Kedah,’ Rina said, and kissed his cheek. ‘I miss you.’
‘I know.’
‘Come home.’
He wanted to.
‘I cannot sit idle for years like...’ He halted.
‘Like your father has?’
He nodded, and after a moment of sad thought Rina cupped his cheek.
‘I do understand.’
Could he ask his mother for the truth? If he was his father’s son then he could confront the rumours and douse them before the sun went down on this day.
If he wasn’t...?
Kedah was ready to know.
‘Mother...’ He stood there and felt as if he had removed his sword and now held it over her head.
‘Yes?’
Rina smiled. And he did not know how to ask her.
‘Why don’t you give Felicia these?’ she suggested.
‘You tell me to be careful and then you suggest that I give her flowers?’
‘I often pick some flowers to sit on Vadia’s desk while she works.’
Indeed Rina did.
‘I need to get on,’ he said to his mother.
No, he would not go to Felicia with flowers.
* * *
Felicia didn’t turn when he came to join her—she was still smarting. She was a very modern woman, and while careerwise she would have been fine walking two steps behind him and being ignored, having just left his bed she could not accept it—though she was doing her best not to let it show.
‘I want you to take some photos of this wing while I go and have my portrait finished...’
‘Sure.’
They walked around the Crown Prince’s wing as the staff prepared his office and brought in the artist to add the final touches to the painting.
‘I think this area could be better used,’ he mused. ‘Perhaps as a pool or spa area?’
Felicia tried to keep her features expressionless, though she was aghast at the very thought. It was an ancient palace and absolutely beautiful. To think he would consider tearing up these walls and floors to transform them into some modern gym was appalling.
‘You don’t approve?’
‘I think that it’s far too beautiful to risk spoiling.’
‘You’ve seen my work?’ Kedah checked, and she nodded. ‘So why do you think I would ruin it? I want to enhance what is already here. I want somewhere I can live rather than a museum.’
They stopped by the portraits, and possibly she could see what he meant. Cool grey eyes seemed to follow them, and they were a forbidding sight indeed.
‘I’m meeting with Vadia in an hour,’ Felicia said. ‘We just spoke on the phone. She wants to take some time to go through your schedule. September is the King’s birthday, yet that week you’re booked to be in New York.’
‘I have a friend’s wedding.’
‘Oh, and speaking of weddings... Vadia wants to go through potential dates for yours.’
She said it so calmly that Kedah honestly thought his mother was wrong and Felicia was fine with their arrangement.
‘Tell Vadia that, given I haven’t chosen my bride yet, it’s a bit early to be discussing dates.’
‘Sure.’
‘I have a family dinner to attend after the portrait,’ Kedah said. ‘Your meal shall be served to you at your desk. Just call through with your order. We should fly out around midnight,’ he told her. ‘You’ll be home by morning.’
But tomorrow was a day too late, Felicia thought.
If only this visit had been arranged for yesterday...if only she could have held out for a couple more days... Then she wouldn’t be feeling as she did now.
She looked at the portraits of the men who had come before him. They were dressed in robes of black or white and the familiar chequered headwear. Kedah wore a gorgeous silken robe and an embroidered coat.
Somehow, even traditionally dressed, he made a statement.
‘You’re going to stand out amongst the others,’ she said.
‘I always do,’ he answered, and looked at the portraits of his father and grandfather. The fact that he dressed differently had little to do with it. ‘I don’t look like any of them.’
He walked off and Felicia stood there, frowning—not at what he had said, more at the way he had said it.
She knew she was already in too deep, yet as she looked up at the portraits he dragged her in ever deeper.
She was beginning to understand.
* * *
Kedah stood for his portrait.
The artist was indeed ancient, and it was hard to believe that those shaky hands could produce something so beautiful.
‘I have painted your grandfather, your father, and now you,’ the old man said as he added the final touches. ‘I hope to paint the next Crown Prince.’
‘It might be Crown Princess,’ Kedah answered. He was bored from standing so long, and ready for a little disagreement, but the old man just smiled at the provocation.
‘That is something to stay alive just to see.’
Yes, Kedah thought, the people really were ready for change.
The painting had been done over many sessions and Kedah, who hated to be still for more than a moment, had found the entire process excruciating.
‘Just turn your face a little to the left,’ the old man said. ‘And look out to the desert.’ The sky was orange and he wanted it to light the gold flecks in Kedah’s eyes.
And so Kedah sighed and stared out to the desert. No wonder the portraits were of men looking stern, Kedah thought as he dwelt on his problems and pondered again discussing things with Felicia.
A woman’s view on things might help, and she might know better how to broach the subject with his mother.
And, given her own family and her job, if there was anyone who would not be shocked by an illicit affair it was Felicia.
But could he trust