They were led to a private dining room with a view of the Thames. Leila stood at the window engrossed in the scene before her; grateful she had something to do as the tension in the room seemed to elevate after the maître d’ took his leave. 

The bridge across the Thames was alight with tiny twinkling lights. Every now and then shadows dashed passed. The smooth silver river was dotted with gloomy outlines of barges that trailed a white wake.  

Marco came up to stand behind her. The view seemed to lose its captivating magic when she inhaled the powerful male scent and sensed the dizzying heat his body radiated toward her. He didn’t need to touch her to send her pulses rocketing again. Unable to think coherently, Leila moved away. 

She had to keep a clear head. Her instincts screamed danger. But she struggled to deny the charge between them. How could she? When it sizzled like something alive with a mind of its own. 

That surge of electricity hardly seemed to ease as they pondered their menus. Once they had ordered appetisers, Leila sat back and waited for Marco to take the lead and he obliged.

“It must have been a challenge to leave your old life behind. I believe you were quite a promising student of journalism.”

Leila arched her delicate brows. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that you know so much about me. In business, it is always advisable to know as much as possible about the person you’re having dinner with, I suppose.” 

“It is a good idea especially when you run the risk of being mesmerised by the beauty of your dinner companion,” Marco said smoothly. 

“I bet you say that to all your dinner companions.” 

Marco laughed. The creases around his eyes softened his features and Leila thought him even more handsome. He should laugh more.

To prevent her hands from shaking, she gripped the stem of the wine glass and slowly brought it to her lips. He’d paired their wine with each course earlier, insisting on a particular red for appetisers. It was delicious and she took another appreciative sip. But she kept her expression neutral.

 “I read some of your work. You’re very talented. It almost seems a waste you won’t continue.” Marco stated matter-of-factly. She set the glass down as carefully as she could. She could not come undone, not now.

Marco had been the only person who thought to ask her about how her dreams were affected by her new life. Everyone seemed to assume that being a princess was what every young girl dreamt of. For Leila it was writing her own stories and being a journalist like her father. Grayson Brown would have understood. He had been over the moon with pride when she had told him she wanted to be a journalist, like him. 

While her father had not been able to be the world renowned writer he had hoped to be, he had high hopes for Leila to succeed where he had not.  

Leila searched Marco’s face for signs of ridicule but found none. He seemed genuinely interested in her response. 

“It doesn’t matter whether I can write an article or not. Right now I seem to have much more important concerns.” Leila replied, managing to keep the flicker of emotion at bay.

“Such as salvaging the hopes of the people of your adopted country?” Marco asked.

“It is not a bad thing to put others before your own needs. You make it seem as if it is a huge sacrifice. But I feel otherwise. These people, my people, deserve to have hope after the devastating few years, they have suffered. And yes, I believe I can bring about some comfort even if it is just to my grandmother. I will have to find another way now that I was unable to get the ruby.”

“Ah. The Heart of Oudh,” Marco leaned back in his chair and deeply inhaled. “A symbol of hope and fortune when in the hands of the royal bloodline of Oudh. Do you really believe that Princess?”

“Centuries of such a belief cannot be thrown aside just because of western impudence,” Leila replied, realising she was beginning to sound more like Bismah.

“You did not answer my question; do you believe it?” Marco insisted.

“Yes!” Leila said emphatically; suddenly becoming aware of her own struggles with the traditions and beliefs of the people of Oudh. She wanted to fit in with her new life. After all it was all she had. 

She stood up abruptly and walked across to the window. Arms folded, she was quietly aware of Marco coming up behind her. 

“They are my family now. I may have been brought up in a western world, but they are still a part of me.” Leila turned around and faced Marco. She struggled to keep a control on her over-flowing emotions. When she thought of her kindly grandmother whom she has known for only a short period of time, she became suddenly protective. Her lips trembled ever so slightly and her eyes filled with tears. “They are all I have. She is all I have.”

Marco had never experienced anything like it before. This raw emotion, tippling his control. Something new, he told himself. He wanted to reach out and comfort her and make all her fears disappear. The urge overwhelmed him and he gently pulled her toward him. But Leila resisted and started to move away.  

Marco’s arm slid down her shoulders. Then back up again. Gently, his touch soft. Slowly her resistance faded and she crumbled against him. His senses seemed to fire on over-drive. The silky mass of her dark hair smelt like jasmine and honey and he inhaled it deeply, imprinting her scent to memory. Her warm soft body against his sent his heart-beat into race mode. 

He tried to remember that he was merely comforting her although he wished that he could tilt her head up and kiss her full lips with all the passion that seared within him. In an instant, Leila pulled away from him and started toward the door. She was careful not to let him see her face. 

“It has been a long day; I—think I need to go,” Leila’s voice was shaky. 

“You haven’t heard my proposition yet.” Marco hoped he kept the urgency out of his voice. 

“Marco I don’t want to waste your time. If you are planning to sell me the ruby, you should know the extent of my funds. My last bid at the auction was all I had. I have nothing more to offer you.”

“Oh, but you do. You have a lot more to offer.” At Leila’s cautious expression, Marco paused and indicated they should sit. “I believe I have a way for both of us to possess the ruby.” Marco took a deep breath and then cooled his tone. “Marry me!”