The Christmas Bride Read online

  “A lot has changed in a short period of time,” she told him. “This morning I woke up in my usual bed in the orphanage. Tonight I’m here.”

  “And before you lived in El Deharia? Where did you sleep?”

  She smiled. “In the Midwest. It’s very different. No ocean. No sand. It’s a lot colder. It’s already November. Back home the leaves would be gone and we’d be bracing for the first snowfall. Here, it’s lovely.”

  “One of the great pleasures of the most perfect place on earth.”

  “You think El Deharia is perfect?”

  “Don’t you think the same of your birthplace?”

  Not really, she thought. But they came from very different circumstances. “I guess,” she murmured, then felt awkward. “I was a teacher there, too,” she added, to change the subject. “I’ve always loved children.”

  “Which makes your employment more enjoyable,” he said. “I would imagine a teacher who dislikes children would have a difficult time.”

  Was he being funny? She thought he might be, but wasn’t sure. Did princes have a sense of humor? She’d assumed being royal meant being serious all the time.

  “Yes, that was a joke,” he said, proving she was as readable as he said. “You are allowed to laugh in my presence. Although I would suggest you are sure I’m being humorous. To laugh at the wrong time is a grave mistake most people only make once.”

  “And we’re back to the head-chopping. You’re not like anyone I’ve ever met.”

  “Not many princes in the Midwest?”

  “No. Not even rock stars, which in my country are practically the same thing.”

  “I have never been fond of leather pants on a man.”

  That did make her laugh. “You could be considered fashion forward.”

  “Or foolish.”

  “You wouldn’t like that,” she said without thinking, then covered her mouth. Oops.

  Something flickered in his gaze. He folded his arms. “Perhaps a safer topic would be the three sisters you insisted I adopt.”

  “What about them?” Had he changed his mind? She would hold him to his promise, no matter how nervous he made her.

  “They will have to change schools. The orphanage is too far away. The American School is closer.”

  “Oh. You’re right.” She hadn’t thought that part through. “I’ll get them registered in the morning.” She hesitated. “What do I tell the administrator?”

  “The truth. They are my adopted daughters and are to be treated as such.”

  “Bowing and scraping?”

  He studied her. “You’re an interesting combination of rabbit and desert cat. Fearful and fearless.”

  She liked the sound of that. “I’m working to be all fearless. I still have a ways to go.”

  He reached out and before she realized what he intended, he touched a strand of her hair. “There is fire in your blood.”

  “Because I’m a redhead? I think that’s just an old wives’ tale.” She’d always wanted to be a cool blonde, or a sexy brunette. Well, maybe not sexy. That wasn’t her style.

  “I know many old wives who are wise,” he murmured, then released her. “You will be responsible for the girls when they are not in school.”

  She nodded, wishing they were still talking about her being brave and that he was still touching her hair. Which was strange. Prince As’ad was nothing more to her than her employer. A very handsome, powerful employer who could trace his lineage back a few thousand years. She didn’t even know who her father was.

  “What are you thinking?” he asked.

  She told him the truth.

  “And your mother?”

  Kayleen regretted the change in topic. “I, um, don’t really remember her. She left me with my grandmother when I was a baby. She took care of me for a few years, then left me at an orphanage.” She gave a little shrug as if the rejection hadn’t mattered. “She was older and I was a handful.”

  In the darkness it was difficult to read As’ad’s expression. She reminded herself there was no reason to be ashamed of her past—she hadn’t been able to control it. Yet she felt as if she were being judged and found wanting.

  “Is that the reason you defended the girls so fiercely?” he asked. “Your own past?”

  “Maybe.”

  He nodded slowly. “They live here now. As do you. You are all to consider the palace your home.”

  If only. “Easier said than done,” she murmured.

  “It will be an adjustment. Although it would be best if they did not roller-skate down the hallways.”

  “I’ll make sure of that.”

  “Good. You will want to learn about the palace. There is much interesting history here. Perhaps you and the girls should take one of the daily tours.”

  She stared at him. “Tours? People come here and take tours?”

  “Only of the public rooms. The private quarters are off-limits. There are security people on duty. You are safe here.”

  She wasn’t worried about being safe. It was the idea of living somewhere grand enough to have tours that made her mouth go dry.

  “What does your family think of this?” she asked. “Will anyone be angry?”

  He seemed to grow taller. “I am Prince As’ad of El Deharia. No one questions my actions.”

  “Not even the king?” she asked.

  “My father will be pleased to see me settling down. He is anxious for his sons to start a family.”

  Kayleen had a feeling adopting three American sisters wasn’t exactly what King Mukhtar had in mind.

  “You said you have brothers,” she said.

  “I am one of six,” he said. “They are in and out of the palace. Kateb lives in the desert, but the others keep rooms here.”

  Six princes, one princess, one king and her. What was wrong with this picture?

  “You will be fine,” he said.

  “Would you stop knowing what I’m thinking? It’s not fair.”

  He shrugged. “I am gifted. It can’t be helped.”

  “Apparently not.” He also seemed to have no problems with his ego. What would it be like to grow up so confident, so sure about everything, including his place in the world?

  “Kayleen, you are here because of me,” he said, his voice low and mesmerizing. “My name is all the protection you require. It can be used as a shield or a weapon, however you prefer.”

  “I can’t imagine using it as either,” she admitted.

  “It is there for you. Know that. Know no harm can befall you while you are under my care.” He looked at her. “Good night.”

  Then he turned and was gone.

  Kayleen stared after him, feeling as if she’d just had a close encounter with a character from a book or a movie. Who said things like “My name is all the protection you require”? Yet, he was telling the truth. She believed that down to her bones.

  No one had ever taken care of her before. No one had ever protected her.

  Oh, sure, the nuns had always made sure their charges were safe, but that was different. This was specific.

  She hugged her arms across her chest, as if feeling the comforting weight of his protection. As if feeling the strength of the man himself.

  It felt good.

  * * *

  As’ad walked into the king’s offices the next day and nodded at Robert, his personal assistant.

  “Go right in, sir,” Robert said with a smile. “The king is expecting you.”

  As’ad walked through the double doors and greeted his father.

  “I hear you have taken in a family,” his father said from his seat behind his impressive desk. “Lina tells me you are to adopt three orphans. I did not know you cared for such causes.”

  As’ad took one of the chairs opposite the desk and shook his head. “It is all Lina’s doing. She insisted I go to the orphanage to prevent a nun from jumping off a roof.”

  “A what from what?”

  “Never mind. There was no nun. Only a t
eacher.”

  A small kitten who had spit in fury and outrage. He smiled at the memory of Kayleen’s determination.

  “Three American girls were there,” he said. “Their father was born here. When their mother died, he brought them back and then he was killed. Tahir heard of their situation and wanted to take them back to his village.”

  “Admirable,” the king said. “Three orphaned girls would be of no value. Tahir is a good man.”

  “Yes, well, their teacher didn’t share your admiration. She insisted the girls could not be separated, nor could they give up their education to be servants.”

  “Without family, what choice did the girls have? Tahir would have given them the honor of his name.”

  “I agree,” As’ad said. “Yet that, too, was lost on their teacher. She attacked Tahir.”

  The king’s eyebrows rose. “She lives?”

  “She’s small and apparently did him no harm.”

  “She is lucky he didn’t insist on punishing her.”

  “I suspect he was pleased to find a way out of the situation.”

  “So you solved the problem by taking the girls.”

  “Yes, and their teacher, who will be responsible for them.” He looked at his father. “They are charming girls,” he said, hoping it was true. “Almost like granddaughters for you.”

  The king stroked his beard. “Then I will visit them and their teacher. As’ad, you did the right thing. This pleases me. Obviously you are settling down as you grow older. Well done.”

  “Thank you, Father.”

  As’ad kept his voice respectful. Lina was right. Now As’ad would be spared the royal matchmaking for a while.

  “What is she like, this teacher?” the king asked. “Is she of good character?”

  “Lina thinks so.” He was nearly convinced himself. Her sad history could have made her hard or bitter. Instead she led with her heart.

  “Have you any interest in her yourself?”

  As’ad stared at his father. “In what way?”

  “As a wife. We already know she likes children and is willing to face a chieftain to protect her charges. Is she pretty? Would she do for one of your brothers?”

  As’ad frowned. Pretty? Kayleen? “She is not unattractive,” he said slowly, remembering how she’d looked the previous night with her long hair glowing like fire. “There is a spark in her. A pureness.”

  Pureness? Where had that thought come from?

  “I wonder what she thinks of the desert,” the king mused. “Perhaps she would do for Kateb.”

  “She would not,” As’ad said sharply, suddenly irritated, although he could not say why. “Besides, I need her to care for my daughters. Find my brothers’ brides elsewhere.”

  “As you wish,” the king said easily. “As you wish.”

  * * *

  As’ad stared at the three bridge proposals in front of him. While each provided the necessary access, they couldn’t be more different. The cheapest bid offered a utilitarian design while the other two had an architectural element that would add to the beauty of the city. There were—

  His phone buzzed. He stared at it a second, then pushed the intercom. “I said I was not to be disturbed.”

  “I understand, sir. Your orders were very clear.” His normally calm assistant sounded…flustered. “It’s just, there’s someone here to see you. A young woman. Kayleen James. She says she is the nanny for your children?”

  The slight rise in Neil’s voice probably came from the fact that he wasn’t aware As’ad had any children.

  “I’ll explain it all later,” As’ad told him. “Send her in.”

  Seconds later Kayleen walked into his office. As she moved across the open space, he took in the plain brown dress that covered her from the neck to down past her knees, and the flat, sensible shoes. She’d pulled her hair back in a braid. Her pale skin looked bare, and although her eyes were large, she did nothing to enhance her features. Even her earrings, tiny gold crosses, provided little adornment.

  He was used to women who took the time and made the effort to be as beautiful as possible. Women who dressed in silk, who showed skin, who smelled of enticing perfumes and glittered with diamonds. Did Kayleen not care for such adornments or had she not had the opportunity to dress that way?

  She could, he acknowledged, easily transform herself into a beauty. The basics were already in place—the perfect bone structure in her face, the large eyes, the full mouth.

  Without meaning to, he imagined her wearing nothing at all. Pale and soft, covered only by her long hair, a naked temptress who—

  “Thank you for seeing me,” Kayleen said, interrupting the erotic image that had no place in his head. “I guess I should have made an appointment.”

  “Not at all,” he said as he came to his feet and motioned toward a sofa in the corner. “How can I help you?”

  She sat down. “You’re very polite.”

  “Thank you.”

  She smoothed the front of her dress. “The palace is really big. I got lost twice and had to ask directions.”

  “I can get you a map.”

  She smiled. “For real or are you teasing?”

  “Both. There is a map of the palace. Would you like one?”

  “I think I need it. And maybe a computer chip implant so security can find me.” She looked uneasy as she glanced around the room. “This is nice. Big, but I guess that comes with being a prince.”

  He couldn’t tell if she was just nervous or stalling. “Kayleen, is there a reason for your visit?”

  “What? Oh. Right. I enrolled the girls in the American School this morning. It all went well. I used your name.”

  He smiled. “Bowing and scraping?”

  “Some. Everyone was very eager to help. And to have me tell you they helped. That part is weird. You’re probably used to it.”

  “I am.”

  “The school is great. Big and modern with a real focus on academics. Not that the orphan school is terrible. If they had more funding…” She sighed. “Asking about that is probably inappropriate.”

  “Will knowing that stop you from asking?”

  She considered for a second. “Not really.”

  “I will see if funds can be made available.”

  Her eyes widened. “Just like that?”

  “I have made no promises. But I’m sure a few dollars could be found.”

  “That would be great. We’re not working with a big budget over there, so anything would help. Most of the teachers live in, which means the salaries aren’t huge.”

  He doubted they would ever be huge. Teachers didn’t choose their profession in an effort to amass a personal fortune. He frowned.

  “Why did you become a teacher?” he asked.

  “Because I couldn’t be a nun.”

  An answer he never would have expected. “Did you want to be a nun?”

  Kayleen nodded slowly. “Very much. The orphanage my grandmother took me to was run by nuns. They were wonderful to me. I wanted to be just like them. But I don’t really have the right personality.”

  “Too outspoken?”

  “Too…everything. I’m opinionated, I have a temper, I have trouble with the rules sometimes.”

  She seemed so quiet and mousy in her baggy brown dress, but there was something in her eyes, a spark that told him she was telling the truth. After all, she had attacked Tahir.

  He’d never met an almost-nun before. Why would a pretty woman want to lock herself away from the world?

  “Our Mother Superior suggested I go into teaching,” Kayleen continued. “It was a great idea. I love it. I love the children. I wanted to take a permanent position there, but she insisted I first see the world. That’s how I ended up here. Eventually, I’ll go back.”

  “To the convent school?”

  She nodded.

  “What about a husband and a family?”

  Kayleen ducked her head, but not before he saw her blush. “I don’t really exp
ect that to happen to me. I don’t date. Men are… They don’t think of me that way.”

  He recalled his earlier fantasy about seeing her naked. “You would be surprised,” he murmured.

  She looked up. “I don’t think so.”

  “So there has never been anyone special?”

  “A boyfriend?” She shook her head. “No.”

  She was in her midtwenties. How was that possible? Did such innocence truly exist? Yet why would she lie about such a thing?

  He found himself wanting to show her the world she’d been avoiding. To take her places.

  Ridiculous, he told himself. She was nothing to him. Only the children’s nanny.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Kayleen backed out of the kitchen, her hands up in front of her, palms out. “No really. I mean it. Everything we have is terrific. I love the food. I’ve gained three pounds.”

  When she could no longer see the head chef’s furious expression, she turned and hurried to the closest staircase, then ran up to a safer floor.

  She’d only been offering to help, she told herself. But her offer of assistance had been taken as an insult.

  With the girls gone all day and a kindly worded but clear letter from the orphan school saying it would be too awkward to have her teaching there, now that she was under Prince As’ad’s “protection,” Kayleen had nothing to do with her time. Sitting around was boring. She needed to keep busy with something.

  She couldn’t clean the suite she and the girls lived in. There wasn’t even a vacuum in the closet.

  She wandered down the main hallway, then paused to figure out where she was. The wide doorways looked familiar. Still, what would it hurt to have a few “you are here” maps to guide newcomers?

  She turned another corner and recognized the official royal offices. In a matter of minutes she was standing in front of As’ad’s assistant, Neil.

  “I really need to see him,” she said.

  “You do not have an appointment.”

  “I’m his nanny.” It was a bluff. She was staff and she had a feeling that all staff needed an appointment.

  “I’m aware of who you are, Ms. James. But Prince As’ad is very particular about his schedule.”

  Neil was British, so the word sounded like “shedule.”