More Precious than a Crown

Only Layla was oblivious to the tension.

‘We were talking in my class about transport today,’ Layla said, filling in a gaping hole in the conversation as dessert was served. ‘Can I learn to drive, Father?’

‘Why would you want to drive when you can be driven?’

‘I would like to drive. Do you drive, Sameena?’

‘I do.’

‘Do you work?’

‘Layla,’ the king warned, ‘it is Zahid and Sameena’s time to speak with each other.’

‘We must go soon,’ Queen Raina said.

‘Perhaps Sameena and I could walk in the gardens before you leave,’ Zahid offered, and Trinity knocked over her drink.

Better that than throw it in his face, Trinity thought as a maid mopped it up.

‘Layla might like to join you.’ The king smiled.

‘Of course,’ Zahid responded, and the Queen and King of Bishram nodded their consent.

‘It was a lovely dinner,’ Sameena said, as Layla walked behind them.

‘It was,’ Zahid said. ‘Were you looking forward to it?’

There was a slight hesitation before she said yes.

‘Is there anything you would like to say?’ Zahid carefully offered, and Sameena glanced over her shoulder at Layla.

‘She is listening to her music,’ Zahid said. ‘She has her headphones in.’

Sameena laughed and then she stopped laughing, for it was almost an impossible conversation to have. ‘My mother is talking of abdicating,’ Sameena said. ‘Of course, that is just between us.’

‘Of course.’

‘Soon I will be Queen of Bishram.’

‘What is your hope for your country?’

‘I have many,’ Sameena said. ‘Naturally, I hope that relationships between our countries will improve, whatever choice you make.’ Zahid looked at her and saw tears in Sameena’s eyes.

‘Be honest,’ Zahid said, ‘because whatever you say, I look forward to better relations between our countries.’

‘Even if there is anger between them for a while?’ Sameena checked, for her parents would be furious with Ishla if she was not the prince’s choice.

‘We will work well together,’ Zahid said, as they carefully forged an alliance but one that did not involve a marriage.

There was a small chink of hope in his heart as he headed back, and Trinity did not like the edge of a smile on his lips or the look that passed between Sameena and Zahid as the families said their goodbyes. It served only to confuse her.

‘I need to get my things ready,’ Trinity said. ‘My flight is soon.’

‘You are not boarding the plane tonight,’ Zahid said. ‘You are not leaving till I have spoken with my father.’ He strode over to the king. ‘I would like to speak with you now,’ Zahid said to his father.

‘Not yet,’ Fahid said. ‘I would like more coffee.’

They returned to the table and the king smiled like the cat that had got the cream. ‘That went very well.’

‘Really?’ Zahid checked. ‘I have never endured a more uncomfortable dinner.’

The king looked at Trinity. ‘You have been a wonderful guest. Forgive me for not serving champagne tonight, it would have been offensive to our guests. Of course, we are more relaxed here, and it is right that we wish you farewell with a toast.’

He gestured the waiter and champagne was poured. Trinity took the smallest sip of bubbles, for she did not want them to guess the reason she could not join in with the toast properly.

Zahid didn’t even raise his glass of sparkling water, for she was not leaving tonight.

Trinity caught the king’s eye and as the bubbles went down she topped up her glass and it was time to ensure that she and her baby left safely tonight.

‘Is Queen Raina the one you rejected in favour of your wife?’

‘Trinity...’ Layla breathed, for there were things that must not be openly discussed.

‘I get a bit confused,’ Trinity explained.

‘You are correct.’ The king nodded.

‘You must miss your wife,’ Trinity said.

‘Very much.’

They chatted further and after the king said what a wonderful, dignified woman Annan had been, the tone of the conversation moved down.

‘You must get lonely,’ Trinity said, and she felt the squeeze of Zahid’s angry fingers on her thigh as he attempted to warn her quietly just how inappropriate that line of conversation was.

He looked at his plate and did not see the king give Trinity a small smile and he did not see the tears that flashed in Trinity’s eyes. ‘You’re a good-looking man, Fahid. Surely...’ she gave a shrill laugh ‘...you think about dating.’

‘Perhaps I have had my time.’

‘Oh, come on,’ Trinity said. ‘You could have your pick, a handsome man like you...’

She was flirting with his father, she was being inappropriate, and Zahid’s rage simmered as again she knocked over her glass and then refilled it.

‘How would a king date?’ Fahid enquired politely.

‘I have no idea,’ Trinity admitted. ‘Where I work, at the beach bar, we have a night for the over-forties...’

‘Trinity,’ Zahid warned.

‘What?’ Trinity turned to Zahid. ‘I’m just being friendly.’

‘I want to speak to you alone.’

He took her wrist, pulled her away, marched her through the palace and to her room.

She could spill her drink, she could be wild, but he had never thought he’d have to tell Trinity that she could not flirt at the king’s table.

He turned her to face him and his eyes were black, not with anger but with disappointment, with pain.

‘What on earth was that?’

‘I was just having fun.’ She gave him a look. ‘Oh, sorry, that’s not allowed here, is it?’

‘Of course it is, but tonight—’

‘Oh, am I misbehaving?’

‘You know that you are.’

‘So I’m just supposed to sit quietly while you go for a walk with your future bride, while you make simpering eyes when you say goodbye to her—’

‘Do not even suggest that I flirted with Princess Sameena,’ Zahid said. ‘Tonight I have done everything I know how to secure us some time together, I have spoken with Sameena, I have asked for a formal meeting with my father and then you sit there, pissed, and you flirt with my father, the king.’

‘I had two glasses,’ Trinity lied, for she’d had none.

‘Is that all it takes for you to act like a tart?’ Zahid demanded. ‘I don’t get you, Trinity.’

‘I never asked you to,’ Trinity said. ‘Am I not being respectful enough for you?’

‘No,’ Zahid said. ‘You are not being respectful to yourself.’

‘Don’t worry, in an hour or so I won’t be your problem any more.’

‘Go to bed,’ Zahid said.

‘What?’

‘You heard. Go to bed and I will speak with you tomorrow.’

Even at her supposed worst, he would not let her leave, Trinity realised.

Zahid, her eyes begged, let me go, for she was terrified what would happen if the king found out she was with child, not just for herself but for the shame it would heap on Zahid.

‘Bed,’ Zahid said.

‘My flight—’

‘Will be cancelled.’

‘I want to go home.’

‘You are not leaving now. It will all be sorted tomorrow,’ Zahid continued, ‘once and for all.’

‘What if I don’t want it to be sorted?’ The grip on her arm loosened. ‘What if I don’t want to be your chosen bride.’

‘I understand that you—’

‘You don’t understand,’ Trinity choked, because for the first time in her life it was almost impossible to lie. ‘Because you’ve never asked.’

‘I thought we felt the same.’

‘No,’ Trinity said. ‘We don’t. I don’t want to be your bride.’

‘You’re sure?’

‘Very sure.’

Zahid gave a curt nod and she watched as the beautiful man she knew literally disappeared before her eyes, for he was back to yawn-yawn dignified in that second.

‘I will have a maid come and sort out your things.’

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

IN A LAND where emotions were considered best contained, it was Layla who broke the rules, for she sobbed loudly as the driver arrived to take Trinity the short distance to the royal jet. ‘I will come with you to the plane.’

‘We’ll say goodbye here,’ Trinity said, and hugged her hard. She would miss Layla so much.

She gave a small curtsy to the king, who gave her a brief nod in return, and then she stood before Zahid and did not know how to say goodbye.

‘I will see you to the plane.’

This time she did not refuse.

It was a very short drive to the runway, but if it had been a hundred miles it would have gone by too fast for she was saying goodbye not just to Zahid but her baby’s father too.

‘I am sorry for my behaviour tonight.’

‘It was funny really.’ Zahid gave a pale smile. ‘I’m sure my father has not enjoyed himself so much in years.’

‘You’re not cross?’

‘Temporarily,’ Zahid said, ‘then you make me laugh.’ He was not laughing now and he only ever had with her. ‘I apologise for assuming,’ Zahid said, as the car pulled up at the plane. ‘I assumed this madness was mutual.’