More Precious than a Crown

‘For years,’ Trinity said. ‘Till you took me in your arms.’

EPILOGUE

‘WHERE’S TRINITY?’

Zahid heard the whisper from Dianne as he stood in the palace gardens, waiting for his bride to arrive, and, yes, she was more than fashionably late.

Zahid stared ahead. He was dressed in military ceremonials with a red and white kafiya tied with gold braid, which indicated he was the groom. His concern was not that Trinity might have changed her mind, his concern was for all she faced not just today but in the two days preceding the wedding.

He stood with his back rigid, feeling all the eyes of the guests on him. It was forbidden that they see each other in the lead-up to the wedding. Tradition did not take into account that the news of the future princess’s pregnancy might have broken forty-eight hours before the wedding service.

Tonight they would be in the desert, Zahid thought.

Tonight, whatever the people’s reaction to Trinity, he could put her mind at ease and then, in a week’s time, they were heading overseas.

As the guests coughed anxiously Zahid actually managed a smile. He had asked Trinity where she would like to go for her honeymoon and, even though they were getting on much better, her answer had been as far away from her parents as possible, so they were heading for Australia. He simply couldn’t wait to get away with his bride. The only teeny fly in the ointment was that he had promised that Layla could join them for a week.

Love had been the furthest thing from his mind when he had agreed to that.

It was the closest thing now.

He had watched his father’s skin pale when the scandalous news had first hit and, no, when the king had called for him, Zahid had not denied it.

As strong as he was, guilt had washed over him as he’d seen his father, so old and so thin, struggle to take in the latest change.

‘I am sorry if you feel I have let down you and my mother’s memory.’

‘Your mother was as vague as your sister now is,’ the king sighed. ‘I went through the mandoos last night and I thought how she would be with the news. I held her favourite amulet and I just knew that she would have been delighted.’

Fahid called in Abdul, who immediately said he would issue the strongest denial.

‘You shall neither confirm or deny,’ the king said, and Zahid watched as Abdul’s face paled when he realised the rumour was true, and then the king said the strangest thing to Zahid.

Words he could not wait to share with Trinity.

Yet he had not been able to get to her yet.

* * *

‘I am so excited.’ Layla’s endless chatter did nothing to ease Trinity’s nerves. ‘You don’t mind me coming to Australia with you?’

‘Of course not.’

‘I’m only there for a week...’

‘It will be wonderful,’ Trinity said, but she could not focus on Layla’s conversation or the maids who were doing her hair. Outside the crowd was building and they stood silent, awaiting the news of the formal union    .

Layla’s chatter was not selfish. She was trying to take Trinity’s mind off her pregnancy being referred to as a scandal in some of the papers and that Ishla was alight not just with wedding preparations but with the news that Zahid’s bride might already be with child.

At the time she needed to speak with Zahid most, to finally lean on someone she trusted, it was denied. ‘Have you seen your father today?’

‘No,’ Layla said. ‘The men’s and women’s celebrations are kept separate.’

‘You must have heard something.’

Layla went a little bit pink. She still felt guilty and a little embarrassed by her naïve reaction when Trinity had clearly needed her advice. Obviously this birth control thing Trinity had spoke of did not work!

‘Only what I told you. Zahid asked one of the maids to pass on that you were not to be concerned, to just enjoy the celebrations and that you would be together soon.’

Trinity knew that Zahid would be there for her and no doubt he would already have discussed the revelation with the king. Zahid’s rapid departure from Ishla had been noted and there had been an image of them coming out a famous obstetrician’s office. As well as that, despite a hastily arranged wedding, despite the gold gown she was wearing, given that it was her second pregnancy, Trinity was already starting to show.

Only it wasn’t the king’s reaction that worried her, or the damage to Zahid. It was the how the people would respond that gnawed at Trinity. Their reaction mattered, not because it changed the outcome but because it might change how Trinity felt towards them. She had already had one pregnancy steeped in shame, she refused to let this be another.

‘You look beautiful,’ Layla said, as Trinity stood to have her headwear arranged.

‘Thank you.’

‘We need to go,’ Layla said. ‘You are already late.’

‘I’ll just be a moment.’

Trinity had been raised to care only what others thought, and what others thought mattered terribly now.

No, it didn’t.

Trinity knew that their baby had been conceived in love, knew that Zahid and she were meant to be together. Since that night in the woods their love had waited patiently till the time had been right, and she had to trust the timing of their baby had been chosen too.

Trinity peeked out at the silent crowd, who gave no indication as to their response to her.

She would find that out on the balcony.

Right now she had a wedding to attend and she wanted to be there.

Zahid turned as she arrived and it was not the Trinity he had been expecting. Instead of being wary and truculent, her eyes shone with confidence and as her eyes met his her cheeks infused with pink as they did whenever she saw him.

And, yes, the papers would confirm that the rumours were surely right, for the soft breeze pushed the fabric of her dress and there was the curve of her stomach.

Zahid smiled, and, just as she had been at Donald’s wedding, so lost was she that she did as her body instructed and walked to be by his side.

‘You look amazing.’

‘Thank you.’

He had expected a hurried question, to ask if all was well.

It was.

Whatever the ramifications, they would face them together.

The service was quick, given that it was held in the fierce midday sun, but the part she would always remember best was after Zahid made his vows and then offered her a bracelet that had an Arabic saying engraved in English.

‘I mean it,’ he said as she read what was inscribed inside.

What is coming is better than what is gone.

With Zahid it was always better, Trinity knew.

There was no kissing his bride. Instead, he took her hand and led her back to the palace.

Trinity smiled at her parents and at Yvette, who was a few months ahead of Trinity in her pregnancy.

They were friends now and, as Zahid had pointed out, their children would be cousins.

She would be taken care of too.

There was Princess Sameena, who curtsied to the new princess as her parents stood severely at her side, and they shared a small smile, for the future of both their countries was so bright.

The rest of the guests followed them and still Trinity did not ask his father’s reaction to the news.

‘We meet the people now,’ Zahid said, and squeezed her hand. The memory of Trinity scowling at the camera did not make him smile now. He was, not that he could show it, worried by the reception from the people. He did not want their wedding day to be one where he asked her to force a smile. ‘It won’t take long.’ Zahid cleared his throat. ‘If they are a little hesitant, know that soon they will take to the news...’ He frowned as she simply nodded and Zahid actually wondered if she had been shielded from the scandal that had hit Ishla. ‘They may—’

‘Zahid,’ Trinity said, ‘I’m not going to apologise or be ashamed.’

‘Good.’

As the balcony doors opened and they went to step out, they were halted, as instead of the happy couple leading the way King Fahid did instead.

Zahid blinked.

His father had at that meeting reminded his son that he was still king and that he would sort it.

Zahid had wondered how.

Now he knew, for Fahid walked out onto the balcony to the surprise of the people and met them with a smile they had not seen on his face since before Princess Layla had been born.

He held out an arm and welcomed the couple.

‘He welcomed the news,’ Zahid said, and Trinity swallowed.

‘Really?’

‘It took only an hour for him to say that he could not be happier. He does not have much time and this way he gets to meet our child...’

With the king’s clear blessing, as the happy couple stepped onto the balcony they were met with cheers and waves. The silence had been broken for things that had never been discussed in Ishla were being talked about now.

How, Trinity wondered, as Zahid now kissed his bride, could she rue the years that had been wasted?

Time knew best.

They were together now.