‘Trinity, you do not understand how delicate this is.’
‘Your father has accepted me.’
‘Layla is his daughter!’ Zahid said. ‘You came and moved to Ishla—do you think Mikael will do the same? Do you think my father will let Layla leave the country?’
Trinity blinked as it dawned on her just how impossible this situation was.
‘Never.’ Zahid shook his head. ‘My father will never agree to a commoner marrying his daughter, let alone taking her to live overseas. Go and help Layla get ready. You are not to let her know that Mikael is here.’
‘Zahid, surely she should be able to see him? Even if nothing can come of it!’
‘Trinity, I know my father and sister best, and I am asking you…’
‘Or telling me?’ Trinity challenged.
‘Both,’ Zahid said. ‘You have to trust that I will try to do the right thing by my sister.’
Trinity did trust that Zahid would do his best.
She just didn’t know if it would be enough.
* * *
Jamila handed Layla a cloth to wash her private parts as she readied herself to choose her future husband.
‘You get to wear make-up today for the first time,’ Jamila said.
‘The second time,’ Layla corrected.
‘Ah, yes, you were wearing make-up that time you had a seizure.’
Layla turned at the slightly wry note in Jamila’s voice and for the first time since she had returned to her family they shared a small smile. And then Layla’s eyes filled with tears, because Mikael was right: she loved Jamila too.
Horrible, horrible love, Layla thought, hugging her handmaiden.
‘Please come with me when I marry,’ Layla begged.
‘You know that I can’t,’ Jamila said. ‘On your wedding day it will be my time to retire. Hussain will give you new maids and a new handmaiden. A young one who will help you with your babies.’
‘I don’t want babies,’ Layla said, and then defiance crept back as Jamila helped her out of the bath. ‘Anyway, who says that I am going to choose Hussain?’
‘You will do the right thing by your father and King, I am sure,’ Jamila said as she started to pull out all the rags that had been put in Layla’s hair the night before.
‘Have you ever been in love, Jamila?’ Layla asked.
‘I have never been married.’
‘Nor have I,’ Layla said, but she had been in love—she was in love and for ever would be—and she did not want to be with another man.
‘You are in a funny mood today, Layla,’ Jamila observed.
‘I don’t feel funny,’ she said as Trinity came in.
It was a dangerous mood she was in, and Jamila had every reason to be worried—for she knew that Layla was volatile at the best of times.