Protecting the Desert Princess(86)

                Trinity was in silver too, and Zahid remembered the last time she had been a bridesmaid as she walked towards him.

                Demyan tried not to catch Alina’s eye, because she kept laughing at the sight of him in robes and head-gear.

                Mikael saw no one except Layla.

                Her dress was gold, and she had on a gold veil, and as she stood beside him Mikael saw that her eyelids had been painted gold too.

                The first time he had seen Layla he had been reminded of the beauty of a new moon.

                Now it felt as if the sun was stepping into his life.

                It was a very short ceremony and there was no kissing the bride! The formal service was followed by a long meal, with laughter and love at the top of the menu and all the promise of the desert for the night.

                As darkness descended Jamila handed Layla a goblet of liquid that should ensure their wedding night was a fertile one, and for the first time Layla’s smile faltered.

                Mikael watched her cheeks burn as she drank it down. She swallowed the drink and then looked to him, and she had never been more grateful for a person who understood her—a person she could be herself with and a wedding night that she did not fear now.

                I feel guilty, her eyes told him.

                It’s fine, said his small smile.

                As they went to leave and say their goodbyes again Layla’s smile wavered as she embraced Jamila, and both women started crying.

                ‘Thank you.’ Mikael said it in Arabic to the old lady, and wished he could say more, but still Layla did not know that there had been a time when Jamila’s love had been all she had had. ‘Thank you for taking such good care of her.’

                ‘Father, please!’ The emotion of the day was catching up with her now, and at the thought of leaving Jamila behind Layla was crying. ‘Why won’t you let Jamila come to Australia with me…?’

                For the last time the King stepped in.

                ‘Layla, Jamila is staying here. You do not have to worry—she will be kept in splendour…’

                ‘But I want her with me!’

                ‘Well, you can’t have her,’ Fahid said. ‘For Jamila has agreed to be my bride.’

                There was a very stunned silence, followed by a shocked gasp from Layla.

                Mikael dared not look at Demyan, for he knew his lips would be twitching—as were Mikael’s.

                Trinity smothered a laugh and Zahid closed his eyes as Fahid broke with tradition and in view of everyone kissed his future bride.

                ‘Congratulations!’ Alina beamed, delighted to see the couple looking so very happy and not comprehending what an incredible shock this was.

                ‘We were going to wait till after the wedding,’ Fahid explained. ‘But you all have what you want, so why not us?’

                ‘Congratulations.’ Zahid spoke next, and even if his voice was a touch strained he was always polite, and he followed tradition and kissed Jamila’s hand.

                ‘Congratulations!’ Trinity was more effusive, and she kissed not just Jamila’s hand but the King’s cheek too, for she had told him herself once that she hoped he would again find love.