Chapter Fourteen
Nassor opened the door to his bedroom.
For the last several days, he’d ended up sleeping in Izzy’s room. He loved seeing her after a long day. He removed his jacket, and was about to take a hot shower when someone knocked on his door.
He opened it to find his mother standing in front of him.
“May I come in?”
“Sure,” he said, opening the door wide to let her in. After closing it, he strode behind her. “What’s happening?” For the past few days, his mother had been suspiciously quiet. He’d expected her to have criticisms after her phase of “getting to know” Izzy, but she’d surprised him by not meddling. Maybe this is it.
“I wanted to talk to you in private, and I assume you’ve been in enough conferences in your office.”
“True.”
She smiled. “You look good, honey. Happy.”
“What is this about? Izzy? Are you going to try to convince me—”
She tossed her braid to the side. “Give me more credit. I’ve raised a good man. Do you think I’d be so petty as to fool her into thinking I liked her?”
He ran his fingers down his face. He really had no time or will to guess what was in his mother’s mind. “I’d hope not.”
She touched her necklace, playing with the colorful beads made from unique stones. “I’m not going to deny that it would have been easier if you had accepted to marry Morowa and a couple of other great women from prestigious families. But at the end of the day, it’s your life and your decision.”
“Thank you.”
“Have you thought about the practical aspect of this courtship? Are you planning on marrying her?”
“Yes. I’ve been busy with other things, but I want to marry her,” he said. He had waited to propose until everything with her stepmother was sorted out. Somehow, it seemed wrong to take the focus from the reason she’d entered the auction—what had brought them together.
Her eyes sparked with interest. “Will she be the only one?”
“Yes,” he said, no doubt in his mind. He’d face the surprise and maybe shock from his supporters and pundits, but he didn’t see his life any other way. Izzy added more to his life than a handful of wives.
“You’ll need a statement to our people. There may be some havoc at first, but with good public relations you’ll be able to circumvent it.”
“I’ll have it figured out when the time comes.”
“I wanted to give you this…the royal engagement ring.”
Affection clogged his throat, and he had to swallow before speaking. His mother didn’t take matters of the heart lightly, so for her to do this meant she really believed in him and Izzy together. “You really mean it, Mom.”
She handed him the box, and he opened it. The large diamond solitaire was surrounded by smaller stones, each one representing the colors of the flag. Even the jewel made a reference to a life of servitude and obligation. Was Izzy ready for such commitment? Not just to him, but to his country, his people, and their future?
“I do, Nassor. I want you to be happy, and you’ll be a better king if you come home to a wife who loves you and whom you love. You have too many obligations at work to have to marry out of duty too.”
He kissed the top of Kesia’s head, then squeezed her shoulders. “Thank you. I wasn’t expecting so much support, but I appreciate you.”
His mother patted his back. “Good. Because my caveat is I’d love to be involved in the wedding. You know, what with Izzy being so brand new, she’ll need someone to guide her through our traditions.”
Aha. “I’m sure you can offer, but it’s her call,” he said. Izzy probably wouldn’t refuse, but why not give her the decision-making power?
“I’ll convince her. If you need me for anything, please let me know,” she said, and he detected a trace of vulnerability in her voice.
Did his mother worry about being shoved to the side once he took a wife? Especially a wife from the western world—unlike the ones from his culture who would be certainly a lot more agreeable and submissive than Izzy. The thought amused him.
He couldn’t wait to propose to Izzy, but he couldn’t do it before the situation regarding Mary’s death was sorted out. Wouldn’t be fair. When it happened, though… He glanced at the ring again.
