CHAPTER ELEVEN

      THEY ATE DINNER in Rashid’s private dining room with Kadir and Emily. That was an exercise in torture for Sheridan since those two were so clearly in love that it hurt to watch. Not because she expected Rashid to love her or because she wanted to love him, but when you found yourself pregnant and married without a mention of love, you felt rather cheated over the whole thing.

      Why had she used that word earlier? Because she’d been hurt, that was why, and she’d tried to cover it up. She’d blundered, and then she’d found herself stumbling down a path where her new husband had informed her that he wasn’t capable of love. It was not an auspicious beginning to a marriage.

      She’d half expected Rashid to stop her when she’d walked out on him earlier, but he’d not done so. When she’d walked out of his office, Daoud was there. And for the first time ever, he dropped to his knees and bowed his head.

      “Your Royal Highness.”

      Sheridan had started to shake then. “Daoud, please. Get up.”

      He’d done so, his dark eyes searching her face in a way that warmed her. As if he’d been looking for sadness and willing to pummel whomever had made her so. But then he’d dropped his head again and she’d realized that Rashid was in the hall behind her.

      “Take Her Highness to her room, Daoud. She needs to rest.”

      “Yes, Your Majesty.”

      So she’d rested. And when she’d finished resting, she’d gone to the stables to check on the puppies again. They were getting bigger by the day. Soon, Daoud informed her, they would be given to new homes and she wouldn’t get to see them anymore. She’d picked one up and held its soft furry body against her cheek before handing it back to the groom and returning to the palace.