She frowned. "I don't understand you."

"You will. It's quite simple. I have a proposition for you." His gaze held hers steadfastly. "I need to join with you in marriage."

Her eyes widened, and she could feel the muscles of her stomach go rigid as if she were warding off a blow. "What?"

"I need an irreversible bond between Tamrovia and the El Zalan. King Lionel has seen fit to refuse an alliance between us. He regards the El Zalan as just another wild tribe of Bedouins. However, in my country a marriage tie is as strong as a political agreement. Brother does not fight brother. The tribes would assume a marriage with a member of the Tamrovian royal house would also offer me military protection." His hands tightened on the cushioned arms of the chair until his knuckles turned white. "I have to unite the tribes of Sedikhan under one rule, and the only way I can do it is to show them that my forces are more powerful than theirs. Might is everything in Sedikhan. An alliance with Tamrovia would—"

"Stop." She shook her head dazedly. "Why do you come to me? I have no say in this. My father will choose my husband, and he—"

"Will not choose a wild sheikh from Sedikhan," he finished for her.

She nodded slowly. "I meant no offense."

"None taken. I know how the court of Tamrovia regards me, and that's why I've come to you. We will wed tomorrow." He smiled. "And we will not bother to tell your father until it's too late for him to act."

Incredulous, she laughed. "That time will never come. Do you not realize I'm his property? If I married without his will, he would only petition the pope to annul it."

"Do you wish to remain his property?"

"I have no choice."

"I'm giving you a choice, one a woman of your station seldom gets to make." Galen's voice deepened persuasively. "Freedom."

Tess felt a flutter of hope stir deep within her. "Marriage is not freedom."

"It could be. It will be." He smiled. "Have you ever thought how it might feel to be free? To do what you wish, when you wish?"

"No." She had not let herself think of it because it hurt too much. "It's not possible."

"I can make it happen."

She jumped to her feet and went to the window to stare blindly down at the courtyard below. "You're no different from other men. You said it yourself. You like to own things."

"I also said I could control myself. Wed me tomorrow, and in three years I'll send you to Paris or London, wherever you wish to go. I'll give you a fine house and take care of your every need. You can play the great lady and have a fashionable salon. You'll live the life you wish to live." He paused before adding, "Without the encumbrance of a husband. Naturally, I'd remain in Sedikhan."

"According to tradition, that is not at all natural."

"I don't think you care a snap of your fingers for tradition."

She turned to face him. "You'd truly do this?"

He nodded.

It was too wonderful to be true. She would not have to go back to Belajo ever again. She would not have to subdue her behavior and act the mindless chattel as her mother did.

She began to pace back and forth, her hands clasped behind her back. "It could never work. My father would capture us before we reached the border."

Galen shook his head. "The border is only a day's ride from here."

"He would follow us to your Zalandan."

"He might be tempted," Galen agreed. "But once in Sedikhan I anticipate no problem. We're a warrior breed. Your Tamrovians are soft in comparison."

She lifted her chin defiantly. "Then why do you need us as a show of power?"

"An invisible sword is as good as a real one, if the enemy believes it's pointed at his heart."

"Wouldn't your show of force be useless if the other sheikhs realized Tamrovia was against this marriage?"

A flicker of surprise crossed his face. "Very perceptive. Yes, it would. But it won't happen. I only need six months to soothe your father's ire and make him tolerate me as a son-in-law."

"You won't have six months."

"Yes, I will. Perhaps a little longer." He paused. "It depends upon when he decides to send word to the convent that you're to come home to Tamrovia."

"But he's already brought—" Realization dawned. "Sacha?"

"He paid a visit to his uncle and took the opportunity to write a letter to the Mother Superior and affix your father's seal to the letter."

She remembered Pauline's sudden desertion at the last moment. "And Pauline?"

"She would have been in the way on the journey to Zalandan. I assure you that she was more than content with the compensation we forwarded her."

"I see. You've been very thorough."

"But eminently civilized," he said mockingly. "My father kidnapped my mother and forced her to wed him after my birth. But I'm not my father. I've always found choice is far better than force."

She gazed at him shrewdly. "As long as the choice is in your favor."

"Why should marriage not benefit both of us?"

She nibbled at her lower lip. "Why me?"

"You're the only daughter of the brother of the king of Tamrovia." He met her gaze. "And you impressed me as possessing a certain boldness and sense of purpose that would be essential to my plan."

"Three years and I'm free?"

He nodded. "You won't find your life in Zalandan intolerable. We have certain comforts."

"Could I have a horse? A wonderful, beautiful horse like Telzan?"

A tiny smile appeared on his lips. "It's just as well I have little vanity, or I might be insulted that you require a four-footed bribe to wed me."

"Could I?" she persisted.

He nodded gravely. "One beautiful horse. I have a golden palomino mare that would suit you admirably."

Excitement and fear churned within her. "I don't know…"

"One more thing."

She looked warily at him.

"I'll require a child as quickly as possible."

She stared at him in uncertainty. "A child?"

"You seem surprised. I don't believe I'm being unreasonable."

"No, every man wants a son."

"It doesn't have to be a son. Just a child to strengthen the bond. Your father would have a good deal more trouble making a match for you if you were carrying another man's child." He stood up. "And in my people's eyes a child would prove the strength of the alliance."

It had been drummed into her from childhood that it would be her duty to bear her husband as many children as she was capable of bearing, but the possibility had seemed as nebulous as the man who would give them to her. "A child…"

"The babe would be no bother to you. I'll keep it in Sedikhan when you leave."

For some reason that thought brought a wrenching pain.

Galen's gaze narrowed on her face. "What's wrong?"

"I don't know." She spoke haltingly. "But it hurt me when you took Apollo and Daphne away. What if… I might want—"

"I suggest we discuss the disposition of the child when it becomes a reality." He smiled. "By 'as quickly as possible,' I didn't mean tomorrow. I will let you become accustomed to me before the marriage is consummated. I've waited a long time. I can wait a little longer. Suppose I leave you to think about my offer." He glanced over his shoulder as he walked to the door. "It's a very good bargain. Everything you could want. Would you rather Sacha took you home to Belajo?" He read the answer in her expression and added softly, "Then be bold, kilen."