“Alex O’Hare, this is my daughter, Ziva Abadi bin-Tuleb,” the Sheikha said as they arrived in a bright conservatory filled with lush green plants.

“Pleased to meet you,” Alex said sincerely, taking the hand of the woman who stood by the table. Her sharp eyes and strong, tired, body reminded her of Kate in a way.

“And I, to meet you,” Ziva replied, studying Alex. “You seem to have caused some trouble.”

“Yes,” Alex began, wondering how best to proceed. “And I am sorry for that. But I believe that it was the right thing for both Zaiman and Amia, in the end.”

“I may come to agree with you, in time,” Ziva said, her lips pressing together. “For the moment, public relations are in disarray.”

“To be expected in the wake of any political scandal or great change,” Sabira said dismissively, pouring a drink. “Wine, Ms. O’Hare?”

“Yes, please. Would you like to call me Alex?” She phrased the question clumsily, not knowing if an outright invitation for casual address would be offensive to the Sheikha.

“I would,” Sabira said. “And you may call me Sabira.”

“Mother!” Ziva exclaimed in shock. “She’s a nanny, and you hardly know her!”

“She is my son’s inspiration and anchor, and my granddaughter’s caretaker. She is clearly invested in their lives beyond her duties as a nanny, and is as welcome in my home as Bassam is.”

“Mother, really? You would trust Bassam with your life.”

Ziva crossed her arms and glared at her mother from across the room. Alex hovered uncomfortably, caught between wanting to say something and wanting to disappear. Sabira pressed the wine into her hand and gave her a gentle smile before turning back to her daughter.

“And I trust Alex with my legacy,” Sabira said. “Though I didn’t choose her. Then again, I didn’t choose Bassam, either. One thing you must learn, my dear Ziva, is that sometimes the people who are most important in your life are the ones who you never expected to be there.”

“That worked out very well for Zaahir,” Ziva said bitterly.

“Poor Zaahir,” Sabira said, taking a seat and gesturing for Alex to do the same. “Did you hear about my eldest son’s romantic troubles?” she asked Alex.

“I did, I’m afraid,” Alex said, cringing. “I am so sorry he went through that.”

“Yes,” Sabira said pensively. “A learning experience for him. A painful one, unfortunately. But now that things are changing, perhaps he will have better luck the next time around.”

“How do you mean?” Alex asked, ignoring Ziva’s scoff from across the room.

Sabira smiled. “My poor boy has been desperately in love with the palace cook’s daughter since he was fifteen years old. Rules are very important to him, more important than they are to even his father. He has forcefully detached himself from her, filling the empty space with appropriate consorts, but it did no good. He craved something that many women of our class do not possess—a grounded way of thinking, and a rough humor. He desperately desired the rough edges the cook’s daughter flaunted so carelessly, and was drawn to the very next person who exhibited a similar personality.”

“But if he was in love with the cook’s daughter, why did he go after the journalist?” Alex asked, confused. “Wouldn’t he have been in as much trouble with her as with the woman he really wanted?”

“Almost,” Sabira said. “But not quite. You see, were he to take up with the palace staff, it would be a matter of an unbalanced power structure. That is likely to be the case whomever he ends up with, simply because of his position, but it’s far more blatant when the person is employed by the family.”

“Which is what makes you a liability,” Ziva interjected, finally taking a seat but not relaxing her severe posture. “You are employed as Zaiman’s nanny, but it is painfully obvious that there is more to it than that. Rumors fly quickly around here. Kissing someone at a television station, of all places, will not go unnoticed.”

Alex blushed furiously, and Sabira watched her with a cool, even expression.

“Yes,” Alex admitted. “There is more to it than that, much more. I…I’m not sure how much more, exactly. But Amia approves, at least…” she finished desperately, trying to clarify her elusive attachment to the royal family.

“She does?” Sabira asked, glancing at Ziva with raised brows.

“She really does,” Alex said eagerly. “She and I have developed a very strong bond. She reminds me of myself at the same age, which—to be frank—was what prompted me to take her outside in the first place. She and I…well, we were born with wings on our feet. Clipping them only makes them grow back stronger and more restless.”

“So, you’ll pick up and leave them when you get restless?” Ziva demanded.

“Oh, no, never,” Alex promised. “If anything, I’m dying to take Amia with me. There’s a whole world out there for her to explore, and I would be thrilled to be there when she experiences it. Zaiman, too, has a lot of places to see. Those two…they give me life, and I want to return the favor.”

Sabira was watching Ziva, who was beginning to look a little less severe.

“You do realize, don’t you, that even with the loosening of the rules, you will still be required to prove yourself?” Ziva said. “You will have to learn many things in very little time; are you capable of that?” She narrowed her eyes at Alex, reminding her once again of Kate.

“Oh, yes,” Alex replied. “I thrived in college. I adore new information, and I learn very quickly, when I’m interested. A little more slowly when I’m not, but…” Alex glanced at Sabira, and offered a cheeky grin. “When I have something to prove, I can master anything.”

There was silence for a beat, and Alex was afraid that she had said the wrong thing. Suddenly, Ziva burst into laughter.

“Excellent,” she said with a grin. “In that case, Alex, I dare you to learn everything you need to know about being a royal in one year’s time. I don’t believe you can.”

Those words sparked a fire inside of Alex, and the twinkle in Ziva’s eyes said she knew they would.

“Challenge accepted,” Alex said, tossing her hair back. “What do I need to know?”

“Bassam has the books you require,” Sabira told her mildly. “And, of course, you will be taking your etiquette lessons from me.”

“I can’t wait,” Alex said with a grin.

Ziva gave her an appreciative nod, and Alex was finally able to breathe. She hoped that the men of the family were not so severe in their assessments.