More Precious than a Crown. Carol Marinelli

protective towards his sister. Not that Layla knew why, for the time of the queen’s death and its aftermath must never be discussed.

      ‘I want to announce a royal wedding,’ the king reiterated. ‘I want to hear cheering in the street when you walk onto the balcony with your chosen bride.’

      ‘Chosen?’ Zahid’s word was tart. For all the dining with families that would take place, for all the pomp and ceremony that went in to choosing a bride, both the king and Zahid knew it was a given. Zahid must choose Princess Sameena of Bishram and right his father’s wrongs for Fahid had not chosen wisely.

      Instead of choosing Princess Raina of Bishram, a younger Fahid had fallen in love.

      Zahid though, would choose wisely. Sameena was his father’s first choice, for the long-ago snub to the now Queen Raina still caused problems and both men hoped for friendlier relations between Ishla and Bishram.

      Zahid, though, leaned towards Sheikha Kumu.

      Her country, though small, was prosperous and had an extremely efficient army.

      It was a business decision to Zahid and one he would not take lightly.

      ‘You do not need to ask the Fayeds to dine just yet.’ Finally Zahid relented. ‘You are right: the people have already waited long enough for their prince to choose his bride. Six months to a year sounds a suitable time frame.’

      ‘I am pleased to hear it,’ the king said, and then called his aide to join them again. ‘Abdul, do what is necessary for the renovations to commence.’ He did little to contain the smile of victory that played on his lips as he continued speaking. ‘And send out the invitations for potential brides and their families to dine.’

      Zahid walked through to the master suite and on the king’s instruction a servant opened the huge shutter and the sun streamed into the room and fell on a large carved wooden bed. Here, Zahid and his bride would first live till, on the king’s death, they moved to the first palace to rule the land that he loved.

      Zahid did not have six months left to enjoy being single for once his bride was officially chosen his playboy reputation must become a thing of the past.

      It was a very sobering thought and one that did not go unnoticed by his sister.

      As he prepared to fly to London for Donald’s wedding, Layla came to his suite.

      ‘Father says that the renovations are starting.’

      ‘Correct.’

      ‘Do you know who you will choose as your bride?’

      Zahid did not answer, not that Layla let that stop the conversation.

      ‘Perhaps Sheikha Kumu?’ Layla fished. ‘She is well connected and very pretty, or maybe Princess Sameena, she’s so beautiful—’

      ‘It is not about looks,’ Zahid interrupted. ‘I will choose the bride who will best serve our people. One who will understand that my heart belongs to them.’

      Layla rolled her eyes. ‘Ah, but I bet you take looks into consideration when you are choosing your lovers.’

      ‘Layla!’ Zahid warned, but she would not quiet.

      ‘Why don’t women get to go overseas? Why were you allowed to leave Ishla for your education?’

      ‘You know why, Layla.’

      ‘Well, it’s not fair. At least you have had some fun before you choose your bride. Father is speaking about the Fayeds again. I don’t want Hassain to be my first love.’ She pulled a face and Zahid suppressed a smile. He wanted to tell his sister that when he was king he would change things, but that conversation was too dangerous to have just yet.

      ‘I want to know what it is to fall in love.’ Layla pouted.

      Zahid could think of nothing worse than a mind dizzied by emotion. He truly could not stand the thought of a life lived in love.

      Yes, there was a year of her life that Layla didn’t know about.

      The first year.

      He looked at his sister who lived with her head in the clouds, yet he cared for her so. He could still remember her screaming in the crib, could still recall their father’s repeated rejection of his second born, who he had blamed for his wife’s death.

      No, Layla must never know.

      ‘Layla, the palace will be busy preparing for my wedding. You do not have to worry for a while.’

      ‘But I do worry,’ Layla said. ‘Zahid, can I come to England with you? I would love to see the sights, and to go to a real English wedding...’

      ‘Layla, you know that you cannot travel until you are married.’

      ‘No,’ Layla corrected him, ‘the rule is that I cannot travel unless I am escorted by a family member. If you took me...’

      ‘I am not taking you to England with me,’ Zahid said. He would already have his work cut out with the Fosters and their debauched ways, let alone adding Layla to the mix. Zahid rolled his eyes. There was no doubt in his mind that his best-man duties would involve policing Trinity.

      Once he had agreed to attend the wedding, Zahid had looked her up and his face had hardened as he had read on and flicked through images. Having completed school, or rather, as Zahid knew from Donald, a stint in rehab, Trinity had, it would seem, jumped straight off the wagon. There were several pieces about how she loved to party, combined with several images of her falling out of nightclubs. Things had gone quiet in recent years, though. She was now living in California and only came home on occasion, such as for the wedding of her brother.

      His curiosity about Trinity surprised even Zahid. He could barely remember most of the women he had dated, yet the one kiss that he and Trinity had shared still remained clear in his mind, so much so that it took a moment to drag his mind back to the conversation.

      ‘Can I come on your honeymoon, then?’ Layla persisted.

      ‘I will hopefully be busy on my honeymoon,’ Zahid said.

      ‘Not the desert part.’ Layla laughed. ‘After. When you travel overseas, can I at least come with you then?’

      It was not such a strange request—sisters often travelled as companionship for the new bride.

      ‘You might not like the bride I choose,’ Zahid pointed out.

      ‘You might not like the bride you choose.’ Layla smiled. ‘So I will entertain her so that you do not have to worry about such things as shopping and lunch.’

      ‘We shall see.’

      ‘Promise me that you will take me, Zahid,’ Layla said. ‘I need something to look forward to.’

      ‘You are up to something?’

      ‘No,’ Layla said. ‘I am just bored and I want something to dream about, something to look forward to.’ She glanced at the clock. ‘I need to go and meet my students.’

      ‘Then go,’ Zahid said, but Layla would not move till she got her way.

      ‘How can I teach my students about the world when I have never even left Ishla?’

      Zahid accepted that she made a good point. ‘Very well, you can travel overseas with us when I take my bride on honeymoon.’

      It was no big deal to Zahid.

      Romance was not part of the equation in any marriage that he had in mind and that was the reason he said yes.

       CHAPTER TWO

      AN ASH CLOUD, perchance? Trinity’s heart lurched in hope when she saw that her flight was delayed.

      A really, really big ash cloud that would ground aviation for